SCARLETThat woman was Stacy? No, no. She could be another Stacy, but why was my heart throbbing, sending me a feeling that she was the Stacy that Luke didn’t want me to know?Everything fits the harder I think about it. She was the exact definition of Luke’s type, except for the wheelchair part.I didn’t have the right to ask her who she was, so I didn’t say anything further. But I don’t have a good feeling about her. Should I just leave?“Excuse me, how can I help you?” The woman in the lobby appeared in front of us.“I’m looking for Luke,” Stacy answered first.“I’m Mr. Alejandro’s assistant. He’s currently in a meeting.”“Are you new here? Don’t you know who I am?” She eyed the assistant coldly.“Do you know what time the meeting will end?” I asked the receptionist nicely instead.“No, Ma’am. I’m very sorry. Do you have a message I can relay to him?” she asked.“Miss, I did not come all the way here just to get kicked out by a mere employee,” the woman ranted. “Are you blind, or y
SCARLETIt’d been a week since Mom and Thomas returned to Manhattan, and it’d been eight days since I last saw Luke. Every day, my stomach felt tight, and my chest felt heavy. I tested myself; how long could I endure, and to what extent could I hold back?The food didn’t taste right. My classes felt like a burden. I couldn’t sleep well for the past few days. In the last two days, I checked my phone to see if I had a message, hoping to hurt myself more if I saw his name. But I realized that it hurt even more when I found nothing.I was sleepless. I had no appetite, and I felt that I had lost weight. I already lost it. Still, I was so proud of myself. I didn’t beg for him, make a scene, or stalk him, not like I did before.My ninth day made no difference. Same routine. I was getting up in the morning bored, going to school only to gawk, and going to the cafeteria only to stare at the food. It’s the same pasta I loved, but it’s just food in red for me. Nothing more. Not even appetizing.
SCARLETLast night, I slept very well. Thanks to Katherine and the sweet live acoustic music. For the time being, I forgot how lonely I was—until the moment I opened my eyes in the morning. Luke’s face flashed back into my mind. I expected my day to be the same for the past nine days.Katherine and Nate told me why Luke and I should not be together. I did not disagree because they were right about everything.First, he was my stepbrother, and that was the biggest deal. Second, we may have had a relationship, but it was only temporary. With Luke, there will be no happy endings. Third, he had issues, and they were as serious as mine. He had a secret woman; he was keeping this whole secret life. Lastly, they had a child together. They were a family. Who was I to get in the way?Every fact was right in front of me. I had the evidence. He didn’t deny it or even explain himself. Staying away was the right thing to do. But why couldn’t I stop loving him?I kept forcing my mind not to think a
SCARLETI stared at myself in the mirror before I went out on stage. I had never experienced standing in front of a crowd. I didn’t exactly understand why I wanted to sing live in an acoustic bar. I also had no experience. All I knew was I had to move on. I had to divert my attention and do something new.“Hey, newbie! We’re about to start.” An Asian man in a baseball cap appeared behind me.“Yes, of course. Thank you.” I smiled at him.“I’m Scott. I play percussion. You are Scarlet, right?” he asked.“Oh, yes. Hi, Scott.” I reached out my hand to him.“Pleasure.” He shook my hand.Scott smiled. He was pretty charming, and he looked younger than me. He had black hair under his cap, covering his forehead.“If you don’t mind me asking, are you… Japanese?” I guessed, trying to be friendly and making small talk.“I’m actually Korean,” he corrected, then grinned.“Oh, sorry!” I covered my mouth, embarrassed.He chuckled. “You ready? I heard you have a good voice.”“I’m not a professional,
SCARLETWhat the hell was he doing here? My heartbeat quickened in damned fright. Damn it, why here? When did he come? Did he see me on the stage earlier?But it’s not what caught my attention. He was with another woman again. A woman of his type. It had been almost two weeks, and he had already found someone else? My blood began to boil in anger and disgust.I put out my phone and typed a message for him. My hands were shaking.Going out again as Jax, are we? Just like old times. I hit send. She was probably someone he met on the app to fuck tonight. I wiped my tears with my fingers right away. I hid in the back of the restroom.I didn’t expect that he would reply right away.Where are you?I wanted to turn away, but I couldn’t help it. His date was now leaning over the table, whispering words to his ear. She playfully stroked his chin with her fingertips. I almost wanted to puke. I couldn’t take it anymore.I replied to his message but did not tell him where I was.Seriously? For s
SCARLETI pressed my lips into a thin line. “Do you think those words would turn me on?”“Yes…” His fingers trailed the hem of my shirt, brushing his thumb against my skin. “Just stop avoiding me.”“Get your hands off me!” I tried to jerk away, but I couldn’t. “Go back to your date. You already said what you had to say. I’m never sleeping with you again. I hate you.”“Do you mean that?” His eyes narrowed as his fingers traveled on top of my breast. He pulled down one cup of my bra and pinched my nipple softly.“Yes, every word.” my voice was a whisper.“Okay, so answer these few questions, and if you give me an honest answer, I will let you go.”“What if I don’t want to?”“You don’t have a choice.” He pinched my nipple once more. I sucked my breath. I nodded, unable to breathe properly.“So, you don’t want me anymore? You don’t enjoy this?” He pulled down another cup of my bra.“That’s not the issue.”“And that’s not the correct answer. Come on, tell me.”“I do…”“You remember that ev
SCARLETI texted Katherine and Nate that I would be late tonight and told them I would be joining the band for a celebration. I knew that she wouldn’t buy it. She knew me too much. But I had to lie because she was with Nate. Nate wouldn’t like it, of course. I didn’t care much about his opinion, but it’s good to be peaceful. I didn’t want to trigger something again.In Luke’s car, it was very quiet, so I turned the stereo on. I thought he was going to react, but he didn’t.“Can I ask you something?” I said.“I’m honestly wondering why you still haven’t.”“Hmm, how shall I say this?” I cleared my throat. “You don’t have any relationship with her?”“Excuse me?”“I mean, you still have to see your ex because of your child? I just want to make sure that it’s the only reason.”“I thought we had sorted this out in that—room.”“Yes, but I’m curious. You can’t leave the whole story like that.”“Scarlet, I told you I don’t talk about my past. I’m not a person who talks about feelings. I’m sur
SCARLETYou’re coming home to us soon… to me…That was Luke’s last message to me last night. I pressed my phone on my chest. He still thought that I’d come home after I graduated. The time was getting close. The tension in my chest continues to grow.“Hey.” A pat on my back interrupted my thoughts. It was Sean.“Hi.”Sean put a glass of red wine in front of me. “Here. Have a drink.”“Thanks.” I smiled a little.“We’re about to start. You okay?”I nodded. “I’m just thinking about my graduation.”“I heard from my brother. He’s graduating too. Congratulations.” He flashed a grin.I grinned back. “Are you coming to graduation?”“Yes. I’m Joseph’s guardian.”“How about your parents?”“They’re not around here anymore. It’s just me and Joseph.”“Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t know.”“It’s okay. Is there something wrong? You seemed in too deep. Boyfriend problems?” he grinned.I chuckled. “It’s not like that.”“So, you do have a boyfriend?”I shrugged. “I wouldn’t call it like that either.”“Ah, so