Episode 8
1988 Words
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"All of them? including......Brian?"
"Of course silly, he's part of the Reyes family isn't he? I heard all the Reyes are good looking but none of them stands out more than Brian" she said blushing
"Why do you like Brian?" I asked caressing her cheek.
"Well......I like him because he's Brian Reyes, he's one of a kind and the rightful owner of my heart, I don't think I'll ever love any other person this much, the first day I set eyes on him, I knew he was the one for me" she responded smiling brightly
"Then I guess I'll be your beloved brother and stay by your side until the day you guys finally wed, how does that sound?"
"Perfect, just like you oppa"
"You flatter me too much sweetcakes, no one is perfect, especially me, but I'll try to be for you"
She giggled as I held her to me, under my comfortingly warm embrace. Resting her head on my shoulder, I gazed forward surprised to see Brian quietly standing at the door, anger evident in his eyes as he slowly backed away, walking out of the classroom.
Feeling the urge to go after him, the weight of my sister on my shoulder held me down physically and emotionally, successfully suppressing the feeling, the burden in my heart growing even heavier.
After the close of the day I boarded a cab with Alison, feeling restless at Brian who suddenly disappeared from school, not attending any class or spotted anywhere by anyone else but me who saw him come in initially.
Alison kept constantly calling him on his phone pulling a long face, fixating her gaze on her mobile phone.
"Oppa! what do I do? I really hope he's okay"
"Why wouldn't he be? I'm sure he's fine, it's just skipping school, rich kids do it all the time"
"But not Brian, he never skips school unless he's sick, anytime he skips school something is always wrong"
"Really? I never saw him as the studious type, how do you know this anyway?"
She chuckled. "You're staring at his biggest fan girl, I know everything about him"
"Really? Are you sure you know everything?"
"uh.....not sure but I should at least know about eighty percent, I studied his life like a course before I even got betrothed to him"
"Wow! you must have really been head over heels for him"
"Of course, what sane person wouldn't be head over heels for him"
I heaved out a sigh, mumbling a "You're right"
Few minutes later the cab driver dropped us off at home, Alison quickly ran ahead into the house all excited for the ball while I paid the fare, slowly following her from behind. Carelessly darting my eyes towards his balcony I stood startled on seeing him standing there just like he was in the morning, staring into space as he occasionally sipped on the content of the same mug.
Trying not to stare for too long I walked into the house, to my room where i took a quick bath, before settling down on my bed to study, which effectively took my mind off anything else as I relentlessly studies for hours.
With Night time drawing nearer, I sprang out of bed, cladding myself in a black fitted suit and a red bow tie, adding a little more touches to my hair before proceeding out of the room where I met my sister dancing clownishly in her glamorously beautiful gown.
"Are you trying to make them cry at the ball with your awful dance steps" I said chuckling
"Oppa! you're ready"
"Of course I don't have much to get ready with anyway, luckily I took a suit from home or else I would have been stranded right now"
"Let's go, there's a limousine outside that'll take us there, specially prepared by Brian for us" she said suppressing her smile
"So you mean...Brian is riding with us?" I asked, my heart already racing
"No, he's long gone, he drove there on his bike" she responded looking disappointed
"He sure does love his bikes"
"You have absolutely no idea how much he loves bikes, he owns more than five hundred of them, all cost a fortune"
"Wow! I knew he loved them but not that much, five hundred? that's just crazy"
"He's a hardcore bike rider, I heard he actually used to be a hardcore car racer but his taste changed overtime"
"Why?"
"No one knows, maybe he grew sick of them" she said shrugging her shoulders as she walked towards the front door
"But why isn't---"
"Oppa! let's go, I'm kind of in a hurry here, save your questions for later"
Chortling at her bratty attitude, I tried to keep up with her pace as she rushed into the classy limousine, with me entering right after.
The an hour plus enticingly comfortable drive which left me drifting in and out of sleep, finally came to an end as the car parked in front of a large mansion, equally classy cars parked around it with numerous people all dressed richly trooping in and out.
Alison opened the door slightly raising her dress with a hand as she elegantly came down, taking her arm around mine as I attentively stepped out. We walked into the astonishing ball like a couple, ladies and gentleman elegantly dancing, countless worth salivating over foods and drinks at every nook and cranny.
"There's mum and Mrs Reyes!" Alison yelled pulling me towards them.
As I got closer, my heart skipped at the sight of Brian with my parents and his, looking breath taking in his blue tuxedo, smiling beautifully as he talked with them. I wanted to hide, not wanting him to see me but my overzealous sister already had me in front of them. There was no escaping.
"Oh my gosh! if it isn't the Jordan's, son, you better take good care of our bride and treat your In-law nicely" Mrs Reyes said to Brian who responded with a single nod.
While my mom and Mrs Reyes had their full attention on Alison, I stared into Brain's face, who deliberately kept his gaze off me, few seconds later calmly walking away.
I quickly went after him, who had now walked some distance away from them, blocking his path.
"Brian you and I need to talk"
"I have nothing to say to you neither am I interested in what you've got to say, move out of my way this instant!" he said bluntly
"No, I've got something to say and I'm gonna say it right here if you don't agree to have a private conversation with me"
"Fine! its not like I don't already know what you're gonna say, but if you want to say it so badly then i guess I have no choice but to listen"
Aggressively taking me by my hand, he dragged me further into the mansion to a quiet, lonely passage. Letting out a sigh, he closed his eyes for a second or two, opening them, now having them fixated on me.
"I'm all ears"
"I..uh...what I want...to say..is..I'm...uhm"
"Just spill it already!"
"my point is, I would really like if you focused on my sister, I don't want to have anything intimate to do with you, its not right"
"Says who? who gets to say what is right and what isn't!"
"Can't you see people will just end up getting unnecessarily hurt!"
"People like who? your sister or your sickly pathetic boyfriend?"
"Don't insult Mark!"
"f**k your darn mark! I know you like me, so why the hell are you stupidly placing other peoples happiness before yours! are you Jesus Christ!"
"I'm not placing other peoples happiness before mine, I'm simply not gonna ruin theirs because of my greed"
He held my hands in his, drawing closer to me, looking into my eyes in a searching manner.
"Leech love isn't greed, if you agree to be with me, you'll be the one I'll be marrying next month, I'll fight until you become my groom, what do you say?"
I slowly removed his hands from mine "I'm sorry Brian but I can't do this"
Already walking away he drew me back by my arm, holding my shoulders to the wall as he forced a kiss on me, already getting mesmerized by the kiss a memory of Alison drooling over him flashed in my mind, I immediately pushed him away from me.
"Please don't do that ever again, I'm leaving" I said not meeting his gaze.
With that I turned my back on him finding my way back to the ball. Joining my family which was now complete due to the appearance of my dad, we all sat making small talks about Alison's marriage as we ate and drank to stupor. Fighting off all thoughts of Brian which threatened to leave a scar in my mind, I tried keeping my focus on other things no matter how insignificant, looking for ways to distract myself.
While we were dining, I offered to open the wine relieving the waiter of his duty, as i absentmindedly opened it some ended up pouring on my suit.
"s**t! my clothes have been suffering of recent!" I yelled in regret standing to my feet as Brian was once again at the centre of my mind.
"Oppa, use this" she said handing her handkerchief over to me.
"Thanks, I'll go clean this outside, look out for some chocolate cookies for me again, I don't wanna miss it" I said winking to Alison
"Yes sir!" she responded feigning a sergeant's voice.
Walking out of the ball I stood in a dark corner wiping my clothes when someone's arms wrapped weakly around me, his head on my shoulder, from the scent I already knew it was Brain but his scent strongly reeked of alcohol.
"Brian what are you doing? let go of me, what if someone sees you" I said a whisper frantically looking around.
Not responding, I felt his weight slowly crush me, all at once his body weight rested on my back, the feel of his hot breaths on my neck as he slept peacefully on me.
"Are you seriously asleep? you're killing me! get off!"
Struggling to hold him, I managed to get him off my back supporting the now half awake but still dead drunk Brian in walking, his hand around my neck we staggered towards the limousine, the driver quickly started running towards us on sight.
"Master Brian does not like cars, I'll try to look for his bike so---"
"What nonsense are you saying! help me get him in! how are you going to find his bike in this crowded place, also I think you'd better get him home as fast as possible before people notice this"
Nodding his head in affirmation, the driver joined me in getting Brian into the back seat, as I turned to leave he held on to my jacket not letting go of me while still seemingly asleep.
"If you don't mind sir, I think it'll be better if you join us, In this state he needs a reliable company" the driver said
"And you think I'm reliable?"
"No, but Mr Brian thinks so" he said gesturing to Brian's hand holding onto me.
I sighed in resignation sitting beside Brian in the limousine as it drove off.
Already close to Brian's house, he slowly opened his eyes smiling directly at me who held back my smile staring blankly at him, his smile instantly died as he furrowed his brows, frantically looking around the limousine wide eyed with fear instilled in them.
"Is something wrong?"
Sending his hands to his throat, gasping for breath, he repeatedly kicked against the car's door trying desperately to get it open, his facial expression revealing intense pain.
"Brian!! what's wrong!!! Stop the car!!!! now!!!!!"
- Writer
