Fate in Captivity

Chapter 10- The Aftermath

(Aubrey)

I got home safely, opened the door of my apartment and put my bag on the table. With all that lights are off, I walked towards my bedroom and flopped on it. These whole dinner and social interactions makes me tired and numb. I hate those kinds of parties especially if the person you are with are the person you don't considered as close or worst you have a sour history with them. Just like that jerk, how could he asked me that? Did he think that marriage is just like some game that if you decided to get serious, you could just explicitly say it and do better next time? I hate his guts, I always said that since earlier but I just cannot be with the same room as he is. I just let out a deep sigh and stood up, looks like my stomach was not able to digest those hard food I had earlier, I suddenly felt the ache and somewhat coming out from my mouth. I run towards the bathroom and start vomiting, it is really hard to swallow food that were not for fulfilling ourselves to from hunger, it was for fulfilling the greed they wanted from us. 

I just let out a deep sigh after vomiting and sat on the tiled floor gasping for air. I tried to stand up even if my legs were still weak and being wobbly, I just have to get to my bed and lie down until the morning sky went out. I looked at my side clock and I saw the time at three in the morning, I suddenly felt thirst which is why I have no choice but to force myself to get something to drink. I went out and I suddenly felt some sadness, I don't know why. I stare at my whole apartment, I am living here for almost a year but this is the first time I felt this lonesome feeling, being alone standing in the middle of darkness and silence. I just chuckles and shook my head in disbelief, what in the world was I thinking about?, I just said in my mind and make my way towards the fridge. I got myself a bottled water and gulped it down like I am thirsty for a month or year. 

*Phone rings*

I looked at my bag where my phone is currently ringing and I walked towards it to get the phone. I looked at the screen but it only displayed unknown number. Without any thought, I just answered it right away as I sat on the couch. 

"I am just thinking there is now way you would answer, but you actually answered it." a man said on the other side of the call. Being out of my mind, I did not answer him but the phone is still on my ear listening to the words he wanted to say. 

"Hello? Are you there?" He asked to me. 

"What do you want?" I answered in my monotone voice.

"Did you got home safely?" He asked like we knew each other for a long time and sounded like he is worried. 

"Thankfully not lying at the street." I plainly answered and I can hear him chuckles. 

"Are you still drunk?" He asked again, just how many questions does he kept just to call me at this hour and bombarding me with his huge curiosity. 

"Just say what do you want, I am tired." I just said and lie down on the couch with my phone staying on my ear without me holding it. 

"Can't I really do it seriously this time?" he seriously asked to me. His voice were resonating desperation to me, I know I should call him out for being a jerk but my voice was not coming out. 

"Are you still listening to me?" he asked again. 

"Hmm." I just answered but words cannot make its way out. 

"I know you don't want to talk to me, but I just want to test my luck. Maybe you could give me another chance, to make up for the humiliation I gave to you." he kept on speaking but my eyes and my mind starting to get white and blank, I feel sleepy. 

--

The next day came and I felt my back aches as soon as I moved to the other side. I opened my eyes and realized that I fell asleep on the couch, maybe because of the alcohol he kept on pouring to me last night. I get up and tried to think what happened last night, maybe I went out and called Aly to pick up my parents who were so happy partying like they were still teens and don't have arthritis to suffer the next day. Then, I safely went home, ah maybe that is when fall asleep here. I looked at the clock and it is already ten in morning, and I am freaking late for work. I grabbed my phone at the edge of the couch and tried to call Aly, when I noticed a call for fifteen minutes, what is this? I noticed the time again and it keeps on ticking, God! I dialed Aly and she shockingly answered it in one ring. 

"Aly! I am sorry for being late, I would be there in 15." I quickly said to her before she could scold me for being wasted and ignoring my responsibilities as the owner. 

"It's alright, you could take your time." She kindly said to me. I stopped and looked at my screen if I called the right person. 

"Are you really Aly? Am I calling the right person?" I continuously asked her these questions. 

"Shut up, just do what am I gonna say." she firmly said to me. 

"You are really scary, cousin." I said to her. 

"Go to work within an hour, wear the prettiest dress you have there." she said to me. 

"What do you mean?" I asked to her but she already hang up. 

What a witch, how dare she hang up on me? But why does she want me to wear something pretty? I was just going to work and not to a party, again. However! Of course I need to follow her orders, sometimes I am confused of who is the boss between us, but it does not hurt listening to a brat like her. I just started fixing myself and began browsing the clothes I have here. I decided to wear black today, cause why not? I made beach curls for my hair and a bit of red heels for an accent. I looked at the clock and realized that I got finished in just fifteen minutes, should I wait for another fifteen minutes before I leave? or should I just leave now? Ugh. 

I sat down on the couch and stare at nowhere and trying to let the time passed by without me doing anything. But I just can't! I can't just sit here doing nothing just to wait for the time. I stood up and grabbed my bag, I need to leave now. I locked my apartment and went down through elevator until underground parking and get in the car. I started the engine and drive towards the store, I parked the car and went quickly to the office. I saw Aly sitting at her usual place and saw me striding towards my office , she stood up and greeted me- in a rude way. 

"Why are here? I told you you must go in an hour." she immediately scold me as soon as I stepped in front of her desk. 

"I can't wait the time to be wasted, I feel bored." I answered to her and she just let out a deep sigh. 

"Alright, I get it. You just need to have huge patience as soon as you entered your office." she warned me. I looked at her and was about to ask something more but she just nodded and guided me towards me office. 

I grabbed the doorknob and I suddenly felt the chills on my spine. But I just ignored it and make my way inside, the second I stepped inside, I got this regret feelings and blaming myself why I did not follow the order of my dear cousin? I saw a man, sitting on the couch with his back turned from me. Even if I haven't seen his face, I already knew who is that person is. I just walked towards my table and loudly put my bag on the table, he looked at me and he grinned- the most annoying thing on Earth he ever did. 

"Why are you here?" I plainly asked to him and he is still smiling at me. 

"Why are you looking at me with a disgusting smile on your face?" I said and leaned on the table. 

"Don't you remember our conversation last night? Or should I say a while ago?" he asked with his playful tone. 

"What do you mean? Our conversation ended last night, without any hitch." I confidently said to him and he just scoff at me. I became confused, why is he acting like this?

"Are you really sure about that?" he asked and began walking towards me slowly while staring at me. 

"Of course, how could I not be?" I answered and crossed my arms. 

"Is that so? Then I would repeat it again, I will court you." he directly said and I cannot react right away. 

"What in the world are you talking about?" I asked to him in disbelief. 

"I want to court you, starting all over again." he confidently said to me. 

"No! I won't let you to." I firmly said and his smile vanished. 

"I am not asking for your permission, though. I am just informing you." he answered to me. 

"Julius, what do you want me? from us? This company? Our money? You are also freaking rich! You could get other girls than me." I complained to him. I said to him the things I want to ask last night. 

"That's the problem, they are not you. I am freaking rich, but I don't have you." He answered and I just awe in amusement, this is way ridiculous than I have ever expected. 

"Are you insane? Do you think I could just agree to your terms? Do I looked like a pushover to you?" I said to him and he did not answer. Did he really insulted me? Just him being in front of me directly?

"I am sorry." he suddenly said. I looked at him in shocked. This jerk can say sorry, can ask for forgiveness. 

"If you are worrying about that history we had, you don't have to. I already forgot everything and I just don't want to get involve at you." I explained to him and he only looked to me with his sad eyes, this type of acting does not suit him and it does not looked real to me. 

"It's not about that, though." he mumbled. 

"Then, what is it? Don't say that you suddenly liked me after we met yesterday? Don't force yourself to be a human, Julius." I said to him and grinned. 

"But that's what happened." he answered and my grin just faded. 

"You got mad. Leave before I told my parents that I want to call this marriage off." I threatened to him. 

"I won't give up on you, Aubrey. I would still court you, whether you like or not." he finally said before he left me. 

I just let out a deep sigh, what sin did I committed in my past life that I deserve this huge stress I am having here? Do we have some ill-fate encounter and we must live our lives encountering and hurting each other? Like on a play repeat. 

"What do you want again?" I said upon hearing the door opened again and still my back turned from it. 

"I haven't say anything. yet." I looked at the person who entered and it's Aly. 

"Sorry, I though you are him." I answered and walked towards the small pantry to make myself a coffee. 

"So, what would happen now?" she asked to me. 

"He gone insane, he said he wanted to court me." I plainly said and I got receive no reaction. I looked back on her and she was smiling, or much more grinning. 

"What face are you showing right now?" I said and got myself the cup of coffee. 

"What did you say to him?" she asked. 

"I rejected him, I said he should stop before I put off the marriage." I confidently answered. 

"You are such a fool, my dear cousin." she said to me and I looked at her in confused.

"Then, what do you want me to do?" I asked and her devilish smile was back in the game again. 

"Do the same thing he did to you." she confidently said. 

---