ALAYNA“Mom, don’t cry, please? I know it’s hard that we’re going to be apart again, but you know I have to leave, right?” I hold her face between my palms then brush her tears away. “Elman, can you take care of everything for me? Can I count on you?” I ask him as the eldest.Elman sniffs back his tears and wipes his nose with his shirt. “Yes, Laynie.”They are all crying like there’s no tomorrow. It breaks my heart every time I leave home.“Oh, Alayna.” Mom envelops her arms around me. She can’t stop crying. “Can you call me face-to-face when you return to New York?”“Yes, I will, of course.”“Laynie,” Cassius calls, using my nickname. “Everything’s packed. We’ll leave whenever you’re ready.” He closes the cab’s trunk after settling our things inside.“Your boyfriend.” Mom looks into my eyes. “He’s a good man. You better be good to him.” She sniffles again. “No one’s going to check my blood pressure every morning now,” she adds, a final attempt to get us to stay.I chuckle between te
ALAYNA“Alayna, dear.” Ms. Lennie is at the front door when we arrive and greets us with a sweet smile and widespread arms.“Ms. Lennie!” I curl my arms around her and squeeze her against me. “I missed you so much!”“I’ve missed you too, but I’m sure Casey misses you more,” she says kindly and releases me.I giggle. “Yes. She texts me every day.”“This house has lost its light without you, I must say.” Her remark is so sweet, but Ms. Lennie’s tone remains firm. Typical Ms. Lennie; yet, her words are words of motherly affection. I finally see that after living with her for a year.“Alayna? Did I hear my best friend’s name?” Casey’s voice suddenly echoes throughout the hallway. I lift my head and see her coming from the stairs. “Alayna!”I grin. “Casey!”“Oh, my God!” She holds me in her arms as if we hadn’t seen each other for years. “I’ve missed you so much. I thought you wouldn’t come.”I return her affection. “Happy early birthday! I wouldn’t miss your special day.”She releases me
ALAYNAI’m not used to seeing Ms. Lennie without the maids around her, but Oliver helped her set the table with the food we prepared. It’s not often we eat together, but Casey already notified me that Brandon eats with everyone now. From the moment I heard it, my heart just couldn’t stop pounding.I knew it was time to face my fear, otherwise I wouldn’t get any better. At least that’s what Cassius told me.Cassius first comes into the dining room, obviously fresh from the bath. He greets me with a sweet smile and fondly sniffs my hair. “Laynie.”Ms. Lennie notices, but she doesn’t react. Oliver grimaces a little.“Cass...” I fidget away. I got used to gestures like this from Cassius in the past three weeks; his flirting is like a habit now. I’m still uncomfortable with the display of affection in front of his siblings. He might be forgetting where we are now, but I definitely am not.“I’m sorry,” he apologizes, chuckling. “Can’t help myself, but I should probably keep that in mind.”“
ALAYNAAfter the intense dinner, we wait for Pauline and Brandon to leave. I admit I felt a little bad for her when Brandon dismissed her like that. Honestly, I can say I hardly know him or his character anymore. Knowing someone isn’t always sharing your past or telling a person your struggles, but giving yourselves time to learn from each other. Brandon and I barely even dated before he left for Athens. We never really had a normal relationship, so I shouldn’t be as demanding as I am.He could make me crazy for him with the little things he did, but he could also make me feel like crap when he tossed me aside like yesterday’s trash. I would never know how his mind truly works. Is it maybe because we led a different life in the first place? Or because a normal person like me wouldn’t be able to understand a wealthy man with great responsibilities on his shoulders?However, much as I want to move on, I can’t stop my heart from loving him. I want him to take me back, and nothing I, or a
ALAYNAAfter finishing my chores, I go to my room to get ready for tonight. I don’t know how long I’ve been standing in front of my limited wardrobe, but I still can’t think of anything to wear. I see the dress I wore last time I went clubbing with Oliver, but of course, I can’t wear that again.I pick up the fancy, shimmering, black and silver off-shoulder dress Casey gave to me on my birthday two months ago. It’s lovely, but I haven’t worn it yet because I have never tried to wear anything this short on normal occasions. I guess this is the right time to wear it.Honestly, I’m expecting tonight to be fun because Brandon won’t be there. Besides, we’re celebrating Casey’s birthday, so it will be extra entertaining. I just love being with her. She’s a breath of fresh air and has always looked at things positively—which I need more of in my life.I slide the dress on and grab my silver stilettos. I only wear them on formal occasions, so I hope I can still walk in them. Shortly after, I
ALAYNAFor the entire hour, as we wait for midnight, we drink, talk, and mostly listen to Casey sharing her experiences in university. She’s into the third year of her second undergraduate degree, which I find awesome. But our conversation jumps to an annoying cooking partner who pretty much made her do all the work. However, he was also an excellent condiment mixer. Whenever she speaks about him, I’m not sure if she hates or admires him.“Wait.” I laugh. “Did you say ‘him’?”She sips her drink. “Yes.”“Aha!” I snap my finger. “You like him!”“What?” she shrieks. “No, no, no, way! He’s lazy, and he’s rude, and he’s—”“Hot,” I add.“And hot...” Her mouth drops. “No. Alayna!”I burst out laughing. “I knew it! What’s his name?”“E-Eric.” Her face turns so red that she avoids my eyes. “But I don’t like him. I swear!”“We can hear you,” Oliver interjects. “The last time you had a boyfriend was two months ago, Casey. And you came running to me, crying your eyes out.”She puffs. “It’s a part
ALAYNAI open my eyes, but I see nothing. Oh my God!“Hmmph! Hmmph!” I struggle in horror, but the arms around me are so firm, I can’t let go. Shivers travel my whole body. I feel my blood pressure rising, and my heart is violently pounding.Cassius! Oliver! Casey! I scream inside.Am I being kidnapped? Is this how I am going to die? Is this man going to rape me?The thought instantly brings disgust all over my body.No, I can’t go through that hell again!I struggle more against him.“Hmmph! Hmmph!”Let me go! I cry inside, but the man tugs me to the deepest, darkest side of the room.Then my kidnapper suddenly releases me. The adrenaline slithers through me, and as I’m about to scream, the kidnapper spins me around and covers my mouth again.“Hmmph!”“Hey, hey, hey. Shh... It’s me,” he whispers, and he sounds too damn familiar. “It’s Brandon.” He takes his hood off and reveals his face.“Brandon?” I say, and my eyes seem to have adjusted. I can somewhat see his face now.“Hmm.” He n
ALAYNAAt first, I think I’m dreaming as if it were the first time Brandon kissed me. He feels so familiar—a lost lover I’ve yearned for. I give in to the kiss, letting him devour my mouth. He groans at my response. His kiss grows relentless and more demanding. And right when we can’t get enough of each other, wishing to feel more, he picks me up and brings me to his lap. His hands are all over my body, pulling me harder against him. We are panting between each other’s mouths, my nails slashing into his shirt as I try to pull him closer.I moan, and it doesn’t matter. At this moment, he is mine and mine alone. My fingers grip his back as his tongue plunges into my mouth aggressively, gaining much more access. Brandon has become fierce and confident. He used to be gentle with me, and I was always careful while touching him before. My hands are freely gripping his biceps, then his muscular chest, tangling in his hair. He is so passionate, and he knows exactly what I need.I can taste th