Chapter 9

She struggles to find her voice, her throat tight with emotion. After a few moments, she manages to speak.

“Where are you, Eryx? Did... did you get home?” She forces a pained smile as she speaks.

There’s a pause on the other end. For a moment, she fears he’s hung up on her, especially since he’s with his fiancée.

“Where are you now?” Eryx’s voice is firm but caring.

She hesitates, unsure how to respond. “I’m heading home. I just called to check if you got home safely, since you were drunk.” She tries to downplay her distress.

“Oh…” Eryx’s single reply weighs heavily on her. The conversation feels like it’s come to an end, and she’s left with a heavy heart.

“Then, I’m hanging up, Eryx,” she says, not waiting for his reply as she pulls the phone away from her ear.

“Where are you now?” Eryx’s voice calls out again, making her flinch. Her tears and whimpers become uncontrollable.

“I... I’m on North Street, R Road, near the Galaxy Bar,” she cries.

“Stay there. Don’t go anywhere until I arrive,” Eryx instructs before ending the call.

Feeling lost, she moves towards a closed shop and leans against its door. The street around her feels menacing, and the presence of drunken people wandering nearby only heightens her fear.

The minutes feel like hours as she waits, her phone now silent. The fear creeps in as she hears footsteps and giggles approaching. She grips her bag tightly, her heart racing.

A group of young men, holding beer bottles, notices her. They stop their conversation, their attention fixed on her. Their giggles turn into predatory smiles as they close in, surrounding her.

One of the guys puts a hand on her shoulder. “Look at this beauty. Did you get lost? Need big brother’s help?” he leers, his voice dripping with false concern.

Revilla shakes off his hand, glaring at him. The group’s laughter grows louder, and she can feel their eyes on her, making her feel trapped and vulnerable.

“Come on baby, don't you know what kind of place or pretending to be pure”, he teases his hair.

Revilla’s heart pounds as the group of men continues to leer and make crude comments. She feels completely trapped, surrounded by the unsettling atmosphere of the red-light district.

Her gaze darts around desperately. The new arrivals, a group of women in revealing outfits with heavy makeup, add to her growing panic. Their presence shifts the scene from unsettling to outright terrifying. The place is not just a dangerous spot but an area where she feels utterly out of her depth.

She can’t believe she’s ended up in such a situation so quickly. The reality of Elijah’s disregard for her safety hits her hard. Her earlier thoughts of ending her misery seem like a distant fantasy now. She clutches her bag tightly, hoping someone will come to her aid, but feeling increasingly hopeless as the situation grows more dire.

At first, she had a bad vibe but didn't think she would end up in a red light area which is famous for entertainment for those who are lusting over a sexy and beautiful girl with a perfect figure and good in bed.

“Why are you asking her, If she is not interested in this kind of thing, why does she have to stay here at this hour”, Another guy pinched her chin, and Revilla hissed in pain.

Did she wake up on the wrong side this morning? Why is this day terrible for her? One guy got close to her and almost kissed her, Revilla shut her eyes, and the tears flowed freely.

She only hears the screaming sound of the man.

Revilla's eyes snap open to see Eryx standing there, his face a mask of anger and determination. The once threatening figure who was about to kiss her now lies on the ground, bloodied and unconscious. Eryx's presence is like a beacon of hope in her darkest moment.

Eryx’s gaze sweeps over the remaining group of men, his eyes hard and commanding. The group, shocked and intimidated by the sudden violence, steps back. Eryx’s stance and expression make it clear that he won’t tolerate any more harassment.

“Get away from her,” Eryx’s voice is cold and authoritative. The men, realizing they’re outmatched, quickly retreat, mumbling and cursing as they leave.

Revilla stands there trembling, her face streaked with tears. Eryx rushes to her, his anger fading into concern as he gently places a hand on her shoulder.

“Are you alright?” he asks softly, his voice filled with worry. His touch is reassuring, a stark contrast to the danger she just faced.

Revilla nods, her tears continuing to fall as she clings to Eryx.

There’s nothing warmer than a friend’s hug after a parent’s. She cried out, saying, “I was so scared, Eryx. I thought…”

“Shh, it’s okay. I’m here, don’t cry,” he said softly, patting her gently. He was worried about her. Even though she was a cop and skilled in self-defense, she couldn’t use it right now.

“Can we go now? You must be tired,” he asked, and she nodded. He led her to his parked car. They got in, and he didn’t ask her anything on the way home, which made her feel even more upset.

He takes her to his private villa, where he lives alone now. He moved out after joining the criminology department, even though his parents tried to stop him. They walk into the villa.

“I don’t have any women’s clothes here, but you can use some of my spare ones if you don’t mind. Make yourself comfortable,” he says, leaving her to herself. She doesn’t respond, which is probably for the best since she’s been through a lot lately.

As her friend, he wants to do everything he can to help. He can’t just watch her suffer. He shows her to the room where she’ll stay for the night, then heads to his own room and collapses onto his comfortable bed.

He can’t put into words how he’s feeling right now. Today, his old friend Braylon returned to the city after four years. They didn’t speak, not even a word. Braylon seemed indifferent and had changed a lot—he even had a child. Four years ago, Braylon had told Eryx that he loved him, so it’s hard for Eryx to understand how he moved on, got married, and started a family.

Eryx can’t accept this. That’s why he left the bar under the pretense of taking his fiancée home. After leaving, he made an excuse and went to the bridge to get some fresh air.

He stayed at the bridge for half an hour. During that time, he received a call from Revilla. Hearing her voice confirmed to him that she was sad and heartbroken. He’s always known about his best friend’s struggles, including Alex, Revilla, and Braylon. He knows more about Braylon than anyone else.

As he reflects on the sweet memories from college that have turned bitter over the past four years, he closes his eyes and tries to sleep. He suspects it will be another long, sleepless night.