Not a One Night Stand [Mature Content Alert]

Chapter 3: My life, My rules

“Huh…I really hate this!” Zyla said looking in a mirror in her bathroom. She noticed some hickeys on her neck, they were fresh and red. She bit her lower lip in frustration. The guys never stop marking her skin. “Can they just do the penetration? Am I their books? Why do they need to mark all over my body?! Is it compulsory in love making?” She kept babbling about how irritated she was. She grabbed her handbag and slipped the foundation bottle back into the bag and she hid the visible bruises under her hair. “Ugh…This will take weeks before it disappears for sure. How am I gonna get laid again?” She reapplied her red lipstick and cleaned the smudge at the corner of the lip and smiled at the mirror.

Her phone rang and she tucked it out of her bag and rushed out of the bathroom. She answered the call, “Hello. Yeah, see you there.” She said and disconnected the call. She grabbed the scarf and wrapped it around her neck. The winter breeze blew onto her face sending shivers to all of her body as she stepped out of the nightclub. Yvonne’s call reminded her that she’s getting late to their school event. A charity concert conducted by her faculty.

She was enjoying the music when her face fell. It’s Eric who was walking towards her. She tried to walk away and disappeared through the crowd but to no avail. Eric blocked her and grabbed her arm.

“May I?” Eric asked her for a dance.

“Sure.” She gritted her teeth - knowing that he could’ve made a scene if she rejected him when the reek smell of alcohol came to her nostril. ‘This guy is rolling drunk.’

He rested his face onto her shoulder and muffled, “Would you be my girlfriend?” She sighed. “I don’t care how people saw you but I know deep down in you, you are always a nice and innocent girl.”

“How do you know? How can you be so sure?” she asked even though she knew Eric was too drunk.

“I know.” he hiccuped - producing a ‘hic’ sound. “I just don’t know why you’ve become like this, so destructive to yourself. You forget to be good to yourself.” He continued and their steps were still in tempo to the music.

Her heart sank when she heard the words. ‘How come this stranger knew her so well? How the hell can he read her mind? Does he know everything about my past?’

“Eric?” She called his name and he simply replied with a ‘hmm’ into her bare shoulder.

“Let’s go, I'll send you home.” She said and made a clutch to his body and make way through the crowd. Once they arrived at the mansion, she asked for his butler’s help to bring him upstairs. She pulled the blanket up to his torso and switched off the light. “Eric, you are too good for me. You should find someone better who deserves you the best.” She said and walked for the door.

Little did she know, Eric was never drunk indeed. He’s a good drinker. Getting drunk wasn;t his weakness. Zyla disappeared behind the closed door and Eric turned his head to the door and sighed.

*****

She glugged down the liquor and walked to a cute-looking guy who was dancing alone under the mistletoe. She wiped her mouth and untied her hair.

“Hey…” She smiled and ran her fingers down his arms and grabbed his hand and placed it on her waist. It’s such a disappointment when Eric from nowhere yanks her away from the guy.

“Zyla, can you please give me a chance?” Eric said.

“No.”

“Zy, please. I will do anything for you, as in, anything only if you accept me as your boyfriend.” Eric stopped her pace.

“Mr. Yan, I don’t know how to love. I even forget the feeling of being in love is. I never had any thought to love or to be loved. I’m sorry. I can’t accept your offer.” Zyla said – grabbing her glass of vodka and walking away.

As she tried to escape, she bumped into someone else’s partner. She did apologise but the girl started to assault her. The girl hit her on her face. She defended herself by slapping hard on the girl’s face. “b***h!” she spatted toward Zyla. The girl started to pull her hair but before the incident got worse, Eric arrived and pulled her away.

“I’m sorry my girlfriend is not quite well.” Eric said to the girl.

The girl gasped. “Eric Yan?”

“I’m sorry for her ill behaviour just now, it’s my fault. She’s upset with me.” Eric reasoned out. The girl is still in a daze saying how much she loves him and supporting his company and music. “Can we just have a photo? Then this scene ends here, okay?” Eric offered. The girl quickly nodded.

Zyla scoffed. “Tch!” ‘b***h!’ she thought to herself. The girl left and Eric faced her. Before Eric could say anything, she raised her point finger, warning him on his face “I’m not your girlfriend. And stop disturbing me.” She grabbed her handbag and left the club too. Eric chased her and stopped her, “I’m sorry.”

“What for?”

“For pushing hard. Can we at least become friends?” Eric tried to persuade her.

“No!”

“At least let me send you home.” He offered. She shook her head and walked away but Eric blocked her and said, “Please let me send you home.”

She ran her fingers through her hair in frustration. She heaved a deep sigh and nodded. ‘Yes!’ Eric's inner side shouted in excitement. Eric escorted her to his car and opened the door.

They arrived at the small room apartment. Eric examined her room. Simple and minimal decoration. He was thinking why would a billionaire’s only daughter live in this small rented room. Zyla unzipped her dress, revealing her perfect cleavage in the red bra and pushed Eric down to the bed but Eric stopped her. “It’s not what I want. I just want to cuddle. No sex.” Zyla walked in her underwear to the closet nearby and took out white baggy shirt. She put on the shirt and lay on the bed facing the ceiling.

“I want to know more about you.” Eric said out of nowhere.

“We’ve agreed before and it's a one night stand. Nothing personal. Only business.”

“Can you open up to me?”

“I never share my private life with anyone.”

“I don’t want to just have you for the sake of your body. I know I sound crazy and yes I am. I’m crazy about you. I want more than what I had that night, I want to have you whole. You mind, your attention, your life, your secrets…”

“Mr. Yan, I’ve told you. I’m not into a serious relationship.” Zyla added. She turned her body facing away from him. Eric snuggled closer to her and hugged her from behind. The room fell into drop-dead silence. Both of them later dozed off.

The sun rays shone through the windows, Eric stretched his body and was puzzled when the ceiling was different from his room. He sat up against the bedpost. Eric examined the room and found her planner on her bed. He eased out the bed and flipped through the pages and found the page written with a red-inked pen.

‘My life’s rules’

Never agree to a serious relationship.

Never slept with the same guy more than once.

Never accept gifts from the guys you’ve slept with.

Never spend all your energy on one guy.

Never have breakfast with your one night stand.

Never give your phone number to the guy you’ve slept with. They’ll get clingy.

Always double check for your things before leaving – make sure none of your belongings are left behind after one night stand – avoid chaos.

Condoms are your best friend.

He found her old photos. Her sweet smiles, her fresh look with no makeup on. Eric's eyes formed a puddle of tears. Weeks went by and she’s been avoiding Eric for a month. Every night she goes back to the nightclub for her show, she’ll be ‘disturbed’ by Eric. He had been ‘booking’ her for a month without doing anything, so he brought her to go shopping, ice skating, and movies. But, he didn’t touch her. She can’t say no as the owner got a million dollars for the booking. After she finished her song, the first person who showed up was Eric. She rolled her eyes. ‘What’s wrong with this guy?! He didn't touch me but I WANNA GET LAID!’