Silence and then there's noise, deafening noise. Ringing in my ears as I trip back on my seat in disbelief.
This can't be.
He's clearly kidding me.
But... he doesn't seem like it.
Somehow, the words seem unreal and yet so much real than anything I've ever heard before.
Something inside me wants to believe it to be true, just so there is nothing in between us. Just me and Justine. But somehow that part of me that says it's not true seems almost delusional.
"What?", I whisper, swallowing hard.
Ben looks anguished, like he wants to be anywhere but here at the moment.
"He's been dead for two years, Jason", he looks away at last.
That's when it comes out of me. This uncontrollable laughter I can't seem to get a hold off.
"Clinton's dead", I laugh out again even more louder than the words I just spoke.
"T
Next morning I wake up to the sound of birds chirping.Peering open my eyes, I come face-to-face with a bird cage that I'm definitely sure wasn't mine.I pull back just in time before one of the birds in the cage, jump over to my side and peck my nose.If the pounding in my head's any indication, I know I've done something I'm going to regret.Sitting up I realize I'm in a sort of a studio apartment. With tall windows behind the bed I'm sitting on. A slanted ceiling closing in front of me and immense sunlight shining on my back.That makes me realize, I'm not wearing a shirt. Wooden flooring but nothing else in the room except for the birds, the bed and two nightstands beside it.I walk towards the only door in the room and open it. It's an open space. Tall ceilings and an open kitchen, in an open living room and paintings on every freaking wall that's
To say, I was in a phase for a while would be an understatement.I blinked at the cameras, the flashing lights, blinding smiles send my way and the people I didn't remember much, now seemed blurry to my memory.But I nodded their way, smiled at their mentions, answered what I thought was polite enough for them and the only one holding me throughout it was Olivia.Bless her soul, she was really into this.When I asked her about it, she only said, 'I always give everything my best'.And that was it. She matched my vibe, complimented me the way she should've as my date. Light hearted jokes and all smiles despite her playfulness.An aristocrat American indeed.But she wasn't Justine.Who I still hadn't spotted in the party. Nor Ben.Liza and Camilla by the bar, donned in beautiful gowns.
The rest of the evening was very uneventful. I hated every second of that party.I felt like the most lonely person I've ever felt in a while.So, I left the party as soon as possible. Not telling anyone about my whereabouts.I just wanted to be alone. And I made sure nobody could find me while I practically spend a week maneuvering around every other person possible.Keeping myself to a minimum as much as possible.In my week of isolation, I took my time investigating into Clinton's death further.In the midst of my research, I got worried calls from Mom, Ben, Justine, Olivia and even Liza. But I hardly paid it any attention.For some reason, being alone and taking it all in sounded way better than to actually face any of them.I knew I was acting like a brat but I did have all the right to do so. They had time to process his death, I didn't.
And so forth, for another week I was MIA. To be honest, nobody even bothered to contact me this time.I would sniff, smoke, inhale the hell out of my stash of pills and weed. The high of the drug would make me feel better for a while like it always does in the beginning.But sooner it's effect deflates, coming back with twice the pain and the hunger for more. You can't help but keep consuming it until it consumes you.Luckily for me, I had been through a dozen of these phases and came out of them, not stable but stable enough to know when I need to stop.To say, it's not easy would be an understatement. Every time it's twice harder than the last time and had I been my younger self, I wouldn't have been able to get out of it without someone's help.Thankfully, I'm not that person anymore. I'm a changed man. My self control has exceeded in the past few years and to say I'm proud would not do me
The moment our lips made contact, I lost sense of everything. Something snapped in me in a way that made me take every last bit I could take from those lips.It was everything.My hands went around her waist and I pulled her against me, not letting anything come between us. The thought she might've pushed me away didn't even strike me for a second because she was giving me all of her like I was giving it to her.The heat of it ringing in my ears. Her moans, her gasps, her sharp, laboured inhales of breath, I swallowed every little bit of them.Her fingers in my hair. Twisting, taunting, pulling me closer like I was the air she needed to breathe.My own hand on her cheek, holding her face to me, guiding her. We got lost to the point we didn't realize who was chasing who with their lips. Our eyes closed, her body snug against mine, our noses dodging each other's if only for our lips to meet again
Inhaling it in, I let it wander down and about before blowing it out.The wind whips past me as I stand alone in the empty graveyard with just a cigarette in hand.I smoke occasionally but today I needed it. Hopefully, I don't make a habit of it.I look down at the headstone I'm standing next to and the flowers in front of it. I had read somewhere once that poppies were a sign of peace after the end of something.Pretty ironic but I didn't know how else I would've done justice to the situation.Clinton's grave was the last place I wanted to be right now.I had avoided Justine for the better half of a month, it was pretty easy considering she wanted to avoid me too.I had caught upto the work, I had made sure I was upto my neck deep into work this entire time. If only to avoid Justine or even let the thought of her enter my mind.It was until Ben sto
As soon as I was over with my hangover or so I thought, I called in George to pull up the car and set off for work.Even though I scrubbed myself to almost skinning my skin, the pain from my head and the sleep from my eyes didn't waver one bit.Still I pushed forward.On the way over, I dialed mom to inform her on the bullshit lawsuit Justine told me about before."Hey, mom""Hey, I was just about to call you", her voice is too preppy for a morning like this.She seems eager but I have to let her know about the most important matter at hand first."Whatever it was, I hope it can wait because there's a lawsuit in my hand and guess who gave it to me? Justine", I tell her holding in my yawn."What? What happened?", she sounds shocked."I don't know but its something about patent. The document says stealing our technology and fraud whic
We walk out of the conference room, hand in hand.And I can already feel the winds changing.We find Sarah in the hallway who was apparently waiting for us."Sarah, please cancel all of my meetings for the rest of the day. I think I've had enough for one day", she nods at her"Now, I'm heading out for lunch with Jason. Call the car upfront in five. I hope you booked my place for the lunch....?", Justine drags out as she asks Sarah.An immediate smile graces Sarah's lips."I'll get to it right away", she nods obediently.She leaves us but not before subtly winking at me behind Justine's back. Almost as if she was poaching for me.I give her a surprised look which changes to a blank expression within seconds when Justine turns around to face me."I'll just gather my things and we'll be on our way. Just give me a couple of minute