Not Anymore

Hit Me

"Pathetic!" Irene shot back, her voice dripping with disdain. She turned on her heel, and the sharp click of her heels against the marble floor punctuated her departure like exclamation points of contempt. Jennifer couldn't help but smirk at the scene, her eyes glinting with mischief. She quickly followed after Irene, and their laughter echoed down the hallway, a cruel symphony that made Chris's humiliation all the more complete.

Meanwhile, Marlin strolled over to Chris, who still knelt on the floor. His face displayed a volatile mix of confusion and anger, emotions warring for dominance. Marlin leaned closer, a smirk playing on his lips. "Want to know what we were up to before you barged in?" His voice was low, dripping with sarcasm and barely concealed triumph. Chris felt his heart race as he shot a glare up at Marlin, fire igniting in his eyes. Every muscle in his body tensed with barely restrained fury.

"She wanted us to help her adjust her stockings, and then..."

Marlin trailed off, letting the implication hang in the air between them like thick fog. The words settled over Chris like ice water. His mind raced, and comprehension hit him like a punch to the gut, stealing the breath from his lungs. His eyes widened in shock. Fury bubbled to the surface as he clenched his fists, nails digging into his palms and drawing thin crescents of pain that barely registered through the haze of rage. "Bastard," Chris mumbled, his voice low but filled with thunderous intensity. Marlin laughed, an arrogant chuckle that filled the space with confrontation. "You want to hit me? Is that what you're thinking?" He leaned in closer, challenging Chris with every ounce of bravado he could muster, daring him to make a move.

Chris felt a storm brewing inside him, his anger boiling just beneath the surface. The rational part of his mind screamed that he couldn't afford to act on his emotions—not here, not now. He lowered his gaze in submission, though a flicker of defiance still smoldered in his heart. The feeling was all too familiar, one he had experienced many times before, yet this humiliation cut deeper than all the others combined. Marlin, with a smug grin plastered across his face, approached him. In a mocking gesture laden with ridicule, he delivered a light slap to Chris's cheek before turning on his heel and swaggering away with the others. Chris felt the heat of shame wash over him, mixing with a seething fury that threatened to consume him whole. The murmurs of the crowd swirled around him—a cacophony of voices filled with judgment and barely concealed glee. He could almost hear the whispers, the snickers, the satisfaction in their eyes as they witnessed his disgrace. Each sound felt like another needle piercing his pride. But Chris gritted his teeth, clenching his fists so tightly that his knuckles turned white. He had been humiliated before, but this felt like a breaking point.

The weight of it all pushed against him like a relentless tide, yet he stood firm, determined to endure. As if sensing his distress, the onlookers cast furtive glances in his direction, their curiosity piqued by his continued stillness. Chris took a deep breath, steadied himself, and resolutely resisted the urge to react. He would not give in. He would not let them see him break. That small victory, at least, would remain his. Chris remained there in silence as turmoil gripped him, gnawing at his insides like a persistent nightmare. His mother's earlier words kept ringing in his mind: "It's time to let go, son."" Maybe I overdid this," he thought, still frozen there like a statue, his body refusing to obey his commands.

"Was I really wrong? All this time?" he mumbled, his voice filled with bitter regret that tasted like ash on his tongue. In the distance, Irene halted mid-step. Something made her pause, an inexplicable pull she couldn't quite name. She cast her glance back at the figure still kneeling there, a shadow of the man she once knew." Why is he—why is he not getting up?" The two reached her and stopped beside her, following her gaze. Jennifer swiveled her long neck around and, with a casual glance at Chris, turned to her friend. "Look at him, can't even stand up for himself like a man." She shook her head with theatrical disgust.

"It's not like Chris to be this obtuse. Maybe something is wrong?" Irene said, making a motion as if to turn around, genuine concern flickering across her features. But Jennifer held her back, fingers closing around her wrist.

"What are you doing?" she whispered urgently."Just look at him; he's faking it. He has always been active and fast, never gets tired. Why do you think he would do so today?" She gave Irene a knowing look, one eyebrow arched skeptically."He's faking it?" Irene repeated, uncertainty creeping into her voice.

"Exactly. Just look at that—if he has the strength to kneel that long, wouldn't he be able to lift himself off the ground? He's just seeking your pity." Jennifer's argument was persuasive, delivered with the confidence of someone who believed every word."Maybe," Irene stated with hesitation, and she swirled her head around. But at that precise moment, Chris's body gave out, and he fell to one side like a loose sack of grain."One chance gone, nine to go," Chris thought dimly. Before the vision completely faded, he caught sight of Irene standing there beside Marlin and Jennifer, and his heart ached with a pain sharper than any physical wound. Then darkness claimed him."Chris?" Irene called out, stepping forward instinctively. But even before she took two steps, three people jumped ahead and caught him before his head hit the ground."Boss, boss!" Cathy called out as she gently shook his shoulder, her voice rising with panic.

He didn't react. His body lay limp in their arms.

The fatigue had finally taken its toll on him. Years of pushing himself beyond his limits, of enduring humiliation after humiliation, had culminated in this moment.

He had collapsed.

Celdric and another young man helped lift him as the crowd watched in stunned silence. They carried him away from the event toward the exit, his arms hanging loosely at his sides. Cathy, with one last pointed glance at Irene—a look filled with disappointment and something that might have been accusation—shook her head and followed after them.

Silence engulfed the entire hall. No one dared say anything as they all held their breath, the festive atmosphere evaporating like morning mist.

Irene stood there dumbfounded, her right hand raised halfway in a gesture she couldn't complete. Her mouth hung open, and her eyes were as wide as saucers, reflecting a confusion she couldn't articulate."What was all that about?" Finally, Jennifer's voice broke the oppressive silence.

Irene's hand dropped quickly as she swiveled around. With an inquisitive look, she asked, "What?"

"That woman—the way she looked at you. It was like she was disappointed in you," Jennifer said, studying her friend's face for a reaction.

Irene shook her head, trying to dismiss the uncomfortable feeling settling in her chest. "I don't have time for your observations, Jenny. I don't even feel like staying here anymore." Her tone was cold, distant, as if she were already somewhere else entirely.

Jennifer and Marlin shared a look, a silent communication passing between them. Then Marlin chimed in, "Is it about Mr. Eaton? I can go apologize to him. I guess that event earlier might have—" She cut him off with a sharp gesture."It's okay, Marlin. It doesn't matter. I'm tired." She mumbled the words, but they carried the weight of something heavier than simple exhaustion.After a while, everyone poured out of the hall as the party came to an abrupt stop. The celebration that had promised so much ended with a whimper rather than the bang everyone had anticipated. Jennifer, Marlin, and Irene were the last ones to leave after they had said farewell to everyone, their smiles now feeling forced and hollow. Irene turned to the two and said, "I'll be going home. See you later." She turned to leave, eager to escape, but Jenny pulled her back.

"Look, bestie, Marlin just got back. He doesn't have anywhere to stay. Maybe you should..." She trailed off meaningfully, her eyes pleading.Irene sighed, her patience wearing thin. "Jenny, there are many hotels in the city. He can book a room for the night before he finds a permanent place to stay."

"Oh, bestie, you can't be that harsh. He's Marlin. You won't do this little favor for him?" Jenny begged, her voice taking on a wheedling quality.Irene sighed again, feeling the weight of expectation pressing down on her shoulders. "I guess I have a few empty guesthouses on my property." She said it reluctantly, already regretting the concession as she turned around.

"Goodbye, bestie!" Jennifer called out cheerfully, giving a thumbs up to Marlin behind Irene's back. He nodded with satisfaction and followed after her, a small smile playing at the corners of his mouth.