Only You

Ch 4

"Rise and shine my little munchkin," I groaned when the side of my bed dipped. It was supposed to be one of those days where I slept in and did not need to get up early. So who the heck called me?

"Go away Brie or Tess! Let me sleep woman!" I swatted the hand that squeezed my cheeks but instead, a deep chuckle resonated as the fingers held tighter.

Wait, what?

"I'm not Brie or Tessa dear. Wake up now," Frowning, I open one eye to see my dad grinning. Even in my dozy state, I could see how amused he was.

Wait, did I sleep at my parents' last night? And damn it, he opened the curtains, the morning light seeped in and my eyes can't fully open yet. Oh I hate this!

"Dad?" He laughed at my throaty call, pinching my cheeks harder. I honestly think he still sees me as a baby. Not sure when that will end. Or if it will ever.

"Wake up now deary. Your omma made you some breakfast. Go freshen up and then come downstairs," he kissed my forehead then left. Yet not before telling me that I had pushed all of my pillows to the floor, reminding me of my bad sleeping habits.

"Some things just don't change, no matter how old you're getting," he chuckled before closing the door, making me moan. Great, more reasons for them to still see me as a baby.

Why did I stay here last night?

Groaning, I roll around in bed as I recall what happened and why I stayed. I was tired when the night ended, plus stupidly, I can't get him, them, out of my head. So I just crashed here.

"Curse you! Cruses! Ryan and Rowan! UGH!!!" And after a few more deadly thoughts go through me, I finally decided to get my sorry ass off the bed. Yeay me!

After quickly checking my phone, I did my business and then joined my parents for breakfast. Dad left soon after for an emergency with one of his residents and mom followed suit, to check in her staff at the pharmacy.

Locking their door, I left. Instead of going straight back to my shared house, I walked around the neighborhood, the same one I grew up in. So many memories of my childhood here flashed as I see familiar faces and spots. After greeting some friendly neighbors and a fresh morning walk, I decided it was time to head back.

"How's omma and dad?" Brie greeted me as soon as I took my shoes off. Dragging my worn-out body, I slump next to her and send her my parents' regards.

"Dude, it's like ten in the morning. Why are you so worn out? What movie did you watch last night? Or was it one of those nights where they wanted to play monopoly?"

"No, just a movie. Nothing exciting though. Not sure why I feel like this,"

I wasn't sure if I should tell her and Tessa about what happened last night. Maybe I would but in time. Tessa would probably freak and want to meet with Rowan, then get angry but Brie? I wasn't sure how she would react. She was a ticking time bomb sometimes.

"What happened? Why do you look like a worn-out moose?" Tess slapped my butt out of nowhere, making me groan. They laughed when I whined at their stupidity and no sense of empathy.

Yep, well... this is my life. Yeay me! Again.

***

Two months and a half passed by after the incident with my parents and luckily for me, I don't have to go over this week, again. The thing is my parents had been acting strange since Rowan showed up, and not as pushy as before. And another, Rowan was also quiet, which was strange, not if I recall the way he acted when we talked. It's like what happened was a joke.

Why is it hard to push him out of my mind? Sometimes during the day, his words echoed and I hated it. Why would I be curious about Ryan's request? And why was he so crazy to ask that of his older brother?

Sadly, I haven't tried to tell Tessa or Brie about it. I was scared of what they'd do or say. And honestly, I don't want any drama. Especially not from someone related to Ryan Green. Most importantly, I don't want my friends to be sucked into mine.

Not when one has less and the other just finished hers.

"So... No dinner with your folks and you rejected Mr. Gerald, again. What do you have plans for tonight?" Brie got home early today, something about someone taking her shift. That's something new.

"And we are not doing any classes tomorrow, so we can pig out if you want?" Tessa adds and that's when I noticed.

She and Brie had me sandwiched between them, something they do when they want me to agree to them. They love to claim, I used my long legs to escape if I ever wasn't between them. They are probably right, but heck, sometimes these two can be very annoying.

Very... Very annoying...

"Did you girls have something planned behind my back?" They didn't say anything but they did grin meaningfully, making me raise an eyebrow.

"Spill," they shared a look and I can't help but sigh. "Come on babes. We don't have all day,"

"Okay, so Wren and his friends are throwing a party tonight," looking at Tessa, I can't help but frown at her words. "Why are your boyfriend's friends throwing a party? What is he? They? In high school still?"

My best friends deadpanned at my response, and out of nowhere, they flicked my forehead simultaneously. "Owww! What the heck!? What was that for?!"

"Stop being ridiculous! We are trying to be serious right now," Brie had her arms crossed and Tessa was no less, "I haven't finished speaking and you had to cut in. Couldn't you just wait till I finished?"

"Fine! Talk and tell me now unless you want me to make more assumptions,"

"They are throwing a party to celebrate the success of their sales! Don't you remember, I told you that Wren and his friends are doing interior designs and redevelopment business? This is what they are celebrating about!"

"Okay, I get it that Wren is throwing a party makes Tessa happy. So why are you grinning like an i***t over there Brie?"

Brie's happy face deflated and without warning, my forehead got attacked again. "Dude!!! Stop that!"

They laughed like crazy, seemingly enjoying my misery. "Ugh! If none of you are going to talk, then I'll just leave and stay in my room," before I could go far, they pulled me back and looked at me in anticipation.

"What?!"

"Zach wants to see you!" They screamed suddenly, so high and giddy, making me blink in confusion, "What?" This time, my tone was clear with puzzlement. I'm sure of it because they reacted with an unamused expression.

"What do you mean ‘what’. Aren't you excited?" Tessa poke my shoulder and I can't help but raise my eyebrow. "I'm not?"

"What is wrong with you?"

"We just told you Zach wants to see you!"

Did they have to shriek it out loud and simultaneously? Are they trying to get my eardrums to bleed?

"So?"

"Babe! You used to have the hugest crush on him," Brie squished my cheeks in her palm as if trying to make me see the sense of their sense. Huh!

"So? I don't have that stupid crush anymore. That was like, over ten years ago,"

"What?! Babe, he's hot, single, and rich now! What more do you want!?"

Okay... What are my friends getting at? "So?" And this was the reason why they decided I should get another flick on the forehead. Owww!

***

I still think this was a bad idea, and I hated it. It was hard to convince my best friends that I did not want to tag along, but not so hard for them to convince me otherwise. Sigh, I got no choice.

The only reason why I caved to their request was that I didn't want to stay home alone. I mean, how would a night fill with free drinks, some fun, and a little dancing could go wrong? Right?

It was exactly an hour later was when I realized, everything could go wrong. Everything. The guy Zach, my old high school crush, was a total d**k. Just because he had the looks and money, he thought it was easy for me to open my legs for him. I mean hello, I have a thing called pride and honor.

It made me question why I had a crush on him in the first place. But oh well, high school was a place for mistakes and hardships, I guess falling for the wrong and hot bad boy was one of them. Pushing his smirking face away, I headed towards the booth and took my clutch purse.

Telling my friends that I will head home first, ignoring their pleas to stay, I left out the front door of the club. The night air was crisp, a bit humid and the loud booming music from the club accompanied my environment. The club was huge, I had been walking but still, I can see it.

I was still cursing at Zach and my choice of likes for men when my eyes spot a familiar-looking silhouette from a few meters away. "Ryan?" My heart thumped loudly as I see the man talking to a few men, face serious like no other. It was dark, barely any light illuminated the place but I know the side of his face when I see it, I can tell.

Hiding behind the wall, I decided to observe them, whatever is it that he said, it must be an order. The men looked at him with undivided attention and nodded once in a while. A few moments later, they began to walk towards the darker allies and I wasn't sure if I should follow.

The only thing on my mind is, what is he doing here? He told me he was leaving the country the night he rejected me. He ignored my calls and said I should stop looking for him. So what was he doing in a back alleyway with a bunch of men?

Now that I think of it, I have never been to this part of the city, nor have I ever been to this club. Is this where he usually goes to when he's ignoring me? I know he sleeps around and I was never with him, but sometimes back then, I can't help but wish, he was mine.

Slowly following them as I try to press my body to the wall, I began to hear voices now. I just hope that my dark red cocktail dress can conceal my body in the dark. Getting caught is the last thing I want. Creeping on the wall, I slowly made my way to the edge and peeked.

My eyes almost budged out of the sockets. There were roughly five men, including Ryan when I saw him earlier. But now there was more and even though I can't see clearly what they are doing, it seemed like a negotiation was going on.

Before I can comprehend anything, gunshots were heard and as much as my brain told me to run, I can't.