Chapter 3 - Unrequited Love

As the sun had risen, the man woke up with a severe headache. Suddenly, he realized he was not in his room. He shut his eyes again, striving to recollect the previous night's events. He blinked his eyes for quite some time and cautiously got out of bed upon realizing he was naked. The man recalled having sex last night, but his partner wasn't there, which he didn't bother because he was used to doing things like this. However, as he drew the blanket, the bloodstain on the bedsheet shocked him.

"Could it possibly be?" He uttered, and shame rushed over him as he remembered the young lady's horrified face. He walked to the bathroom and had a quick shower, and as the water poured on his body, he felt regretful.

"Perhaps it was her first," he mumbled as he thought about her. "Oh, fuck! I was so drunk that I didn't notice!" he hit the wall out of frustration. "What the hell was she doing at the bar? Is she a prostitute for real?" He thought about it some more.

"Please, Mr., there's a mistake here." He remembered hearing her voice. "Shit! I was her first. Will she be there tonight?" he pondered before leaving the room. He went to the front desk to turn in the key.

The man returned to the bustling road of Mayhem City, where heavy traffic was already forming, adding to his awful day.

"Damn it!" He yelled and loosened his tie in annoyance since he was also exhausted.

"Yes?!" He cussed, answering the phone as it rang.

"Sir, the chairman requested your presence this morning. He was a bit angry and urged me to notify you to contact him as soon as possible." On the other end of the call was his secretary.

"Alright, I'll call him." He responded.

"Sir, are you on your way to the office?"

"Why?"

"The chairman, sir___" The other line didn't finish her sentence because he cut her quickly.

"I'll arrive in the afternoon. Bye!" He raged and abruptly ended the conversation.

"He's not in a good mood as always, and it will be extra hell for me!" Her secretary let out a sigh.

Around two o'clock in the afternoon, the man arrived at his residence. As he removed his jeans, the wallet dropped from his back pocket, scattering all his credit cards and cash on the floor. As he lifted them, he recalled the young lady's terrified expression. Her face flashed through his thoughts, and the guilt stalked him again. He could only sigh and pick everything back up.

Then he headed to the office and went straight to the chairman's office. He must face him first despite his hunger and stomach grumbling. His father was the chairman of Conner Marketing and Enterprise, and he also looked mad.

"Where the hell have you been?" The chairman's voice echoed across the room.

"What's the problem?" He inquired, attempting to reduce the tension while sitting before his father.

The chairman had to gasp before settling into the swivel chair. He paused briefly, glancing at his son with unease but trying to talk calmly.

"The meeting scheduled for this morning has been postponed due to the absence of one of the board's most important members. Are you aware of that?" He was still trying to be patient.

"I understand, Dad. I woke up with a headache."

"Headache?"

"Yes, it's a real headache."

"What could be causing your real headache?"

"I'm not sure. Migraine, I believe."

"Migraine? Is that all? How about spending the night with low-class women?"

"I don't know what you're talking about, Dad!" His tone of voice abruptly altered.

"Around eleven o'clock at night, at a nearby club in the East with a young woman. Is that your so-called real headache?"

"Are you following me?" He became agitated.

"Why should I do something like that?"

"Then why do you know everything?"

"A strange coincidence."

"Really? So, we were in the same bar?"

His father slammed the desk and stood; his lips curled into a frown.

"Don't try to make everything a joke!" They're both furious now.

"Then why are you following me, Dad? Isn't it a little too personal? I am twenty-seven years old! I'm of an age to do things like that! I don't need to ask your permission, whether you let me or not! I'm no longer your boy! Give me some space!" After defending himself, he prepared to leave the office, but the chairman spoke softly and sat back in his chair.

"I know." His father sighed, and he came to a halt at the door.

"I paid someone to follow you to see if you can replace me and assume this position one day, and guess what? I am deeply disappointed in you. You could be right; you're no longer a boy who will do everything I say. However, as a man's opinion, as you stated, didn't you realize what I'm doing is for your benefit? As you can tell, I'm getting older. And unfortunately, my only child will have no choice but to take my position someday. I hope you will be more responsible and manage this company as I do." The chairman became emotional and turned his swivel chair toward the window to hide his pain.

The man felt ashamed while glancing at his father's back. "I am sorry, Dad. I'll get to work." He felt sad and exited the room. He went to his office to deal with his paperwork. He occasionally came to an uneasy break, reflecting on his wrongdoings. He despised himself for various reasons, and his conscience swamped his mind.

As a result, he was exhausted from working hard all day and completed all of his pending work. He was tired and had no plans to go out that evening. All he wanted to do was lie down on the bed. He returned to his flat, where he lives independently.

"This is how I feel every time I work so hard." He sighed and undid his necktie before collapsing into the bed. He closed his eyes and saw the terrified lady he had met again the night before.

"I shouldn't have done that." He muttered as he walked to the bathroom to take a shower.

From then on, the only thing in his thoughts was the young lady's face. He tried to remember every moment he spent with her, who was utterly pure and innocent.

"Stupid me!" He struck the wall once more as he remembered her soft cries.

The man had trouble falling asleep because her soft cry was repeating in his ears as if it were a nightmare intruding on his conscience. He decided to drink some whiskey, hoping it would help him forget about her. But how could he possibly do it when she was the first woman he could call his own?

"I am the first man who had made love with her—making love? I'm a moron! It was all about sex! She works as a prostitute." He was chatting to himself while drinking another shot of whiskey.

Of course, he had numerous relationships with many women, but most of them have been for pleasure, just flings. He had only two intimate relationships.

First was his puppy love, his first girlfriend, with whom he lost his virginity. Unfortunately, the girl lost it to someone else, and he was disappointed but claimed that their relationship continued. They only split up when the girl met another guy but remained friends.

His most recent deep relationship was with a woman who had broken up with him four months ago. He adored Anne and asked her to marry him. He desired to be with her and share every moment of his life with her. However, she intended to leave the country with no guarantee of return. He was brave enough to promise her his willingness to wait. But as time passed, word spread that the woman he wanted to tie the knot was marrying someone else.

He was so frustrated that he started playing with girls he met in bars, or anywhere he could see them. And that night, he met the young lady who confused everything.

"Anne, I know it was not her real name. What the hell? She shouldn't be using that, and I wonder what her real name is?" He murmured as he drank till he fell asleep.

When he awoke, he had another headache, another hangover. His arms hurt, possibly from his sleeping position on the couch.