Fate in Captivity

Chapter 7- The Afterparty

(Aubrey)

Sleepovers might be an exciting thing for some, they could stay up all night talking to each other, complaining and telling stories that are remarkable with them. But on the other side of positivity, this kind of timings is also suitable for open-ups, probably because no one could hear your secret stories aside from your friends who are by your side right now, it usually opens the Pandora's box, you don't want to share but you just got the urge to spill it out to them- a sudden race of emotions. 

Zyrie and I are still here standing at the balcony, the two are already sleeping and we are the only one you could say, the nocturnal. But the real reason behind it is we are not that comfortable to sleep tight, pretending to be alright and ready for a new day. 

"I saw my parents' divorce papers." she answered and smiled bitterly. I looked at her and she just kept on staring onto the sky. 

"Did you say it to them?" I asked in concern and she plainly shook her head but keep on smiling. 

"What would happen now?" I continued and fully faced on her.

"I don't know, it feels like my life is now on a timebomb. It would just explode anytime in a minute now." she answered and was in the verge of tears. 

"You have to be strong, though. We are always here for you." I said to her and patted her shoulder. 

"Yeah, but I am still not okay about how did you stole my dress." we looked back and we saw the two standing behind us, while Camilla is still rubbing her eyes. 

"What dress? What is she saying?" Camilla exclaimed and I just saw Zyrie chuckles. 

"It just somewhat happened, I bought her customized dress." Zyrie answered and Cheen just scoff. 

"I also heard you paid it higher than me? What a brat." Cheen said and I just chuckles. 

"Is that the reason why you wore the same color as hers?" I jokingly said and she did not respond. Oh My God! So it is true, I just want to tease them but it turns out it was the real reason behind. 

"Don't ever buy someone's clothes, did you know how long I planned for it?" Cheen exclaimed and sounds like she is very hurt by what Zyrie did to her. 

"I know and I was about to give it back to you but I saw your name showed up upon I dialed the number, I want to tease you." Zyrie to her and Cheen's mouth was hanged open. 

"How could you do that to me? But it doesn't matter, I asked them to create a new gown with the same color as yours. So let's just say we are quits." Cheen said and shrugged her shoulders. 

I can't understand what is the point of their conversation but I am sure for one thing, they just wanted to get in the nerves of one another. I just chuckles and walked towards the bed, I suddenly felt tired and I wanted to sleep. But of course, sleeping is not an option for a sleepover, I know, what a huge irony, right? I saw the three of them looked each other and finally looked at me, no this is not good, I sensed something huge was about to happen. They started to run towards me and splurge towards me who is just comfortably lying on the bed. 

"Let's stay friends forever." Zyrie whispered to us. 

"Aww, someone is being sentimental." Cheen teases on her. 

"Shut up, if you don't want then you can go." Zy fight back to her and Cheen just make faces. 

"We can stay friends but can you please give us some time to be peaceful?" Camilla sarcastically said and we looked to her. 

"Ohhh! Someone is changing." I broke the silence and they just burst out laughing while Camilla is having her little pout, yeah she's trying to be cute all of a sudden. 

"Stop teasing me!" Camilla exclaimed and we are just laughing at her. 

We just lie down on the bed and looked at the sky, remember when Zyrie opened the roof because they want to do some stargazing? she still haven't put the roof back and there's a transparent cover just to prevent us from being cold. 

"Zy, we heard what you've said earlier." Cheen suddenly said and no one answers right away. 

"It's okay, it's not like I am hiding it or something." Zyrie answered some time. 

"I think you should tell them you saw it." Camilla suggested and I felt that Zy just shook her head. 

"There's no need, I want them would be the first one to open it up to me. Let's just say I want to test how much I meant to them." she answered to us. 

"What a fool." I mumbled, and I saw they looked at me. 

"There's nothing like testing the waters when in comes with your family, they won't tell you until you asked it. It's their way of protecting their child, not telling the truth." I explained to them. 

"Do you have any problem, Aubs?" Cheen asked. 

"Nah, I just felt like parents are all the same, acting like they do want to protect others but they just wanted to keep the truth and protect themselves, some people are like that." I answered quickly, without any pause for thinking or whatnot. 

"Maybe you are right but some parents just can't tell it directly to their children, they afraid of what would be the reaction." Camilla explained her side. 

"Right, it really depends on what kind of family you grew up." I plainly answered. Because in me, they kept everything in hidden because they do want to protect the things we have now. 

The room became silent suddenly, I looked at them and seems like they were about to sleep or they just looked so tired. I also got my eyes closed and letting myself fell into deep sleep. 

The next day came and the sunrays kept on touching my face, I slowly opened my eyes and blinked a few times, I realized that those girl just left me sleeping without putting back the roof in original form. I moved towards the side table and my hand kept searching for that freaking remote control. When my hand felt it, I quickly grabbed and press the button to bring back the roof. As how the roof kept changing its cover, I rubbed my eyes and looked at my surroundings, I am really alone and the whole place is quiet that the usual. I stood up and walked towards the fridge, hoping that they left some note of saying goodbye, hoping that they don't really forgot that they have another friend sleeping on the bed. 

I reached the fridge but there is not note or anything, I just let out a deep sigh and started making my breakfast. I make coffee and toast some bread, I also heated the leftovers from last night's afterparty. Now, I just remembered I should try finding my phone, I went back to bed and to the other places we went yesterday, and why am I not surprised that I found my phone inside the bathroom? Oh well, I opened it and thankfully it still works even though I haven't charge it since yesterday. I saw their messages:

Zyrie: Sorry, Aubs. I did not know that today is my interview at the medical school mom just called me a while ago. You can do whatever you want, we will see each other later again.

Camilla: Aubreeeey! I should go, another issue broke and I need to cover it. See you!

Cheen: Aubrey, I hate to go but my interview with Mark got some problems, Camilla would brief us later about it.

I just let out a deep sigh, my friends are all really busy than it seemed. People might have been confused why we have our own jobs or work when Zy just got 18th. I don't know before as I am just living my life simply and plain, we just have food on our plates three times a day- but now that we got the company, I encountered these girls, my amateur and young life just got matured and our parents began to pressure us to take over the seat of being owners or presidents. Truth to be taken, we are all still eighteen years old and Zy is the youngest in terms of birth month, Camilla is the first then Cheen then Me and last is Zyrie. We are currently graduating students having internship so we decided to take the jobs in our own companies but Zy is different, it's a medical school, it sure years long before a person can reach the internship or residency, I am not sure of her real status. 

I don't know why Camilla must brief us, we don't take people lives like ours, we have no time to solve issues when we cannot solve our own, so what is the point for that? But oh well, I just have to listen to them. I already texted my secretary yesterday that I might be late or might be absent because of the party, she can decide when I am not there but she can call me in case of emergency. 

*Phone rings*

I just hate saying things, it really happened immediately, I looked at the screen of my phone and I saw my secretary's name. 

"I think I told you that you must only call me if it is an emergency." I said to her upon answering the phone. 

"Ma'am urgent, your father is here." she directly said to me. Oh shoot! I put down the mug I am holding with my coffee and run towards the bathroom. 

"I'll be right there in 15." I said and ended the cal. I swear, this is the fastest preparation I've ever made. After some minutes I wear my new clothes and grabbed my bag on the couch. 

I get in the car quickly, I did not have any time to greet Zyrie's parents but I can just message them or personally meet them later. Dad won't let me go on leniency, he reall hate people who are making their life easy without hardworking, now it really feels like there is a surprise auditing for the company. I drove faster and in a snapped I arrived at the building, I gave the car key for valet parking and run towards the building. I fixed myself first inside the elevator and walked confidently upon the elevator doors opened, people are greeting me but my secretary is saying otherwise. I just nod at her like saying she can call the police in case she might not hear back from me. I had a deep breath before I opened the door of my office. 

"Hi dad! What brings you here?" I cheerfully asked to him and he just looked at me. 

"You must be coming from Zyrie's house, did you drink again?" he said to me in his stern voice. I sat in front of him and just smiled.

"It's her birthday yesterday, we just got some fun, extended." I answered and he clears his throat. 

"I talked to their parents yesterday." he said to me and why do I felt nervous about it?

"Did you have a great talk? You did not say anything strange about me, did you?" I said to him, hoping for him to take my joke but he just stare at me. 

"They are getting a divorce and none of them can take Zyrie." dad said to me. I don't now what to react, how could her parents can simply say it to other people but not to their own daughter?

"Why is that?" the only that come out from my mouth. 

"They both have affairs." dad finally said those words, the only thing I could think as a reason. I just chuckles, and dad only stare at me like thinking I am now insane. 

"What a great interpretation of afterparty." I just mumbled and I stood up ready to run and meet Zyrie, she needs to throw tantrums, she needs to vent out, she needs to complain. 

"Where do you think you are going?" dad asked. 

"Zyrie's." I plainly answered. 

"Sit down, we haven't talk about yours." I was froze, I don't know what to react but I just found myself sitting back and looking at nowhere.

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