Chapter 2 Kissing The Strangers

• “I never thought they were capable of such cruelty,” Bianca exclaimed.
• “Neither did I,” I replied, taking a sip of my drink.
• Bianca ordered a glass of soju and rum for herself and asked, “Are you sure you want to drink soju?”
• “I just want to get drunk right now,” I responded.
• “I understand you’re devastated. You and Terrel have been dating for a long time,” Bianca said sympathetically.
• “I trusted him completely, but people are good at hiding their true nature,” I said, feeling a lump form in my throat.
• As if to distract me, Bianca tried to offer me mineral water, but I waved it away and took another gulp of my drink.
• “Don’t drink too much,” she cautioned.
• “I’m fine,” I said, trying to steady my voice.
• Bianca sighed and said, “I know they’re evil for conspiring like that. But your mother is still behind you. She would worry if her youngest daughter came home drunk.”
• I told Bianca everything that had happened earlier that day, how a five-year relationship had fallen apart due to their deceit.
• “No one defended me, except for my mother,” I said, feeling the tears well up in my eyes.
• “I don’t understand why they would do that to you,” Bianca said, her voice filled with confusion and anger.
• She then suggested, “I have a friend who is still single. Maybe I can introduce you to him?”
• “What are you planning?” I asked, feeling my mind grow hazy.
• “I have some acquaintances who are single. One of them is already a widower, but he’s genuinely nice,” Bianca replied.
• “I bet the widower is more experienced,” I muttered under my breath.
• Bianca pouted and said, “I can’t believe you prefer widowers to single men.”
• “I was just joking,” I said, my words slurring.
• “You’re drunk,” Bianca said with a shake of her head.
• “I’m not drunk,” I whispered, feeling my world spin out of control.
• Bianca’s voice echoed in my ears, her words a constant whine as she accused me of being drunk. I took a deep breath and downed a slug of soju, feeling the warm liquor burn its way down my throat. Bianca’s protests grew louder, but I waved her off, confident that I could handle my drink.
• I poured another slug, and Bianca’s voice grew more insistent. She fetched me water, but I felt nauseous and dizzy. I grasped at her hair, desperate for something to anchor me, and whispered a spell under my breath.
• Bianca recoiled, her face contorting in anger. She slapped me, and I chuckled, feeling the slap jolt me back to consciousness.
• “Can we get another bottle?” I asked, hoping to chase away the queasiness in my stomach.
• “No, Leslie. You’re too drunk,” Bianca said sternly.
• “Just one more bottle, and we can head home,” I pleaded, but Bianca shook her head, her eyes hard.
• A woman in a revealing outfit approached us, and Bianca paid for our drinks. She left to go to the bathroom, and I stayed behind, my head spinning.
• I stumbled towards the bathroom, feeling the need to vomit. As I emptied my stomach, I heard the sound of water splashing from the next stall. My vision blurred, and I couldn’t make out who was there.
• “What are you doing here?” a man’s voice asked.
• “I want to sleep,” I slurred, feeling a wave of dizziness overtake me.
• “This is the men’s bathroom,” the man said, his voice tinged with annoyance.
• I gazed up at him, my vision clearing slightly. He had a kind face, and I reached out to touch his cheek.
• “Your face is like the moon,” I said dreamily.
• The man shook his head, a look of exasperation on his face. He tried to help me up, but I resisted, feeling too weak and disoriented.
• “You can’t stay here,” he said firmly. “Let me help you to the lobby.”
• I looked up and saw Terrel standing in front of me, his lips curved into a warm smile.
• “Don’t leave me here alone,” I murmured, feeling unsteady on my feet.
• “I won’t,” he replied gently, extending his hand to help me up. “Let me take you to the lobby, get you some water.”
• But I didn’t want to go to the lobby. I wanted to stay with him, to be near him.
• “Come and stay with me,” I said, my voice pleading. “We can live together, just the two of us.”
• Terrel’s expression turned serious. “I can’t do that,” he said firmly. “I have responsibilities, a son to take care of.”
• “But you love me, don’t you?” I pressed. “You said so yourself.”
• Terrel’s frown deepened. “I never said that,” he said. “And even if I did, it doesn’t mean I can just forget about everything else in my life.”
• Tears pricked at my eyes. “Please,” I begged. “Don’t leave me alone. I’ve sacrificed everything for you.”
• Terrel sighed. “I’m not leaving you,” he said. “But we can’t be together like that. It’s not fair to anyone involved.”
• I didn’t want to hear that. I wanted him to love me, to be with me. Without thinking, I pulled him close and kissed him deeply.
• Terrel pulled back, his face stern. “Stop,” he said. “This isn’t right.”
• I ignored him, kissing him again. But he pushed me away, his expression pained.
• “Please,” I said, desperate now. “Just forget about Irene. We can be together, right here.”
• Terrel’s brow furrowed. “I don’t know who Irene is,” he said. “But I can’t just forget about my son, or everything else in my life. That’s not fair to anyone.”
• I felt a sob building in my throat. “You love me, though,” I said. “I know you do.”
• Terrel shook his head. “I’m sorry,” he said. “I can’t do this.”
• He pulled out his phone and made a call. I watched as he spoke quietly into the receiver, his expression troubled.
• I knew then that it was over. I had lost him.