Chapter 3 My Best Friend(3) Emptiness

• Sky’s P.O.V.
• After picking up Zoe, I arrive at the club. She’s dressed in a white body-con dress, her straight brown hair styled perfectly, with curtain bangs framing her forehead. Her makeup is flawless. I, on the other hand, am dressed in a simple black t-shirt and jeans, feeling somewhat underdressed beside her.
• Zoe loves to dress up, and she knows how to turn heads. As soon as we step inside, she pulls out her phone and takes a quick selfie. Then she insists I take a few photos of her.
• “Okay, okay, but just a few, or we’ll be here all night.” I sigh, reluctantly pulling out my phone and snapping a few photos of her, knowing she won’t leave me until I do.
• ***
• “Next month, we have a match with the Wild Flowers College team. We have to win that match, Sky.” Alex speaks, sitting beside me on the bar stool, holding a glass of drink in his hand. Zoe is sitting on my other side.
• Alex has always been the bad-boy type, but I know there’s more to him. Despite his tough exterior, he’s a softie on the inside. When I first joined college, Alex and I were enemies due to his rude attitude. But as a teammate on the basketball team, I got to see the real him. Alex has a good heart, even if he doesn’t always show it.
• “Alex, you don’t have to worry,” Zoe chimes in. “Sky is perfect at everything. If he’s on your team, he’ll never let you lose any game.”
• “I like the confidence you have in me, Trouble,” I say with a smile before taking a sip of my drink.
• Honestly, I like the way she believes in me.
• “I’m just stating the truth,” she responds, shrugging her shoulders.
• As we talk for a while, Alex suddenly nudges me. “Sky, a girl has been watching you since we walked in. I think she’s interested in you.”
• I glance in the direction he’s pointing, but shake my head. “Alex, I can’t do anything today because Zoe is with me. I can’t leave her alone. You already know she’s a troublemaker.” I glance at Zoe with a teasing smile.
• She rolls her eyes playfully. “You go enjoy, Sky. Alex is with me, and he’ll drop me home safely.”
• I hesitate, but Zoe and Alex insist. “Go, Sky. Have fun. You deserve it after winning the match.” “Yeah, I’ll drop her. You go.”
• I finally agree. “Alright, but Alex, please make sure she gets home safely.”
• Alex nods. “Don’t worry, I’ll take care of her.”
• I leave with the girl who had been eyeing me, but not without a final glance back at Zoe and Alex. “Trouble, just be safe.”
• She laughs. “I will. Now go have fun.”
• I instruct Alex again. “And Alex, please safely drop her home.”
• With that, I walk away, still feeling concerned. Zoe can handle herself, but I can’t stop myself from being protective of her.
• ***
• Zoe’s P.O.V.
• As Sky leaves, I click selfies and enjoy my drink.
• After a few minutes, Alex receives an urgent call, his expression immediately growing tense.
• He turns to me. “Zoe, let’s go. I have to be somewhere urgently. I’ll drop you home first.”
• “What? No. I wanted to enjoy more. You go, Alex. I’ll stay here.” I pout, not wanting to return to my apartment where no one is waiting for me. Sometimes the emptiness of being alone feels overwhelming.
• “Zoe, Sky will kill me if I leave you alone. You know how overprotective he is.”
• I sigh, knowing he’s right, but still reluctant. “Don’t worry, Alex. I’ll go home myself. I promise.”
• “Are you sure?” he asks, concerned.
• “Yes, I’m 100% sure,” I reassure him, giving him a confident smile.
• I just pray I don’t get into any kind of trouble tonight. Please, God. Or else Sky will lock me up in my apartment after lecturing me.
• He hesitates, but eventually nods. “Alright, but be careful, okay?”
• “I will.” I wave him off as he heads out.
• Left alone, I decide to make the most of the night. I hit the dance floor, moving to the music, enjoying the rhythm, and losing myself at the moment. I even have a couple of light drinks.
• As I drink, standing at the bar, I overhear a girl conversing with her mother on the call. “Yeah! Mom, I’ll be back home on time. Don’t worry.”
• I freeze in my place because it brings back the memories of my mother.
• “Zoe, you’re my strong baby. Momma loves you a lot.” As my mother’s voice echoes in my ear, I feel a heaviness in my chest.
• Sometimes, I miss my parents so much. First, my brother died, and then my parents. When I started living with my grandmother, she also passed away. It feels like everyone I get close to ends up leaving me. This hurts me.
• No matter how much I try to live freely and be carefree inside, I sometimes feel so broken and empty.
• To dull the pain, I start drinking more heavily, losing myself in the alcohol. I’m sitting alone, looking through old photos with my family on my phone, tears welling up in my eyes as I remember the happy times with them.
• I miss them so much. I wish they were with me right now.
• Suddenly, a guy approaches me. At first, I don’t notice him, but then he speaks. “Hey, you look like you could use some company.”
• I look up, blurry-eyed, and shake my head. “I’m not in the mood. Let me go.”
• He doesn’t listen. Instead, he grabs my arm, his grip firm. “Come on, I’ll take you home after we have some fun.”
• “No! Let me go!” I yell, trying to stand up, but I’m too drunk to keep my balance.
• Fuck! I’m in trouble again.
• He laughs shamelessly, holding onto me tighter. “Relax, girl. You’re with me now.”
• “No, I said let me go!” I scream, trying to wrench my arm free, but I’m too weak.
• Just as things start to get worse, I hear a familiar voice. “Get your hands off her!”