CHAPTER 3

–ALORA EUNICE’S POV–

As I woke up from a very long and deep sleep, I recognized the surroundings. It's my hotel room. I felt like I wanted to vomit, and I rushed to the bathroom. I almost hugged the toilet bowl. It’s as if my stomach is being turned inside out. As if every ounce I took last night was pulled and emptied, like a soul wrung dry.

Gosh... I feel so gross. I wiped something on my lips using the tissue I pulled from the rack. I need a shower after this horrible moment. And as if it weren’t enough, my head throbs terribly. It feels like it’s splitting open, each pulse like a hammer blow.

It's not my first time experiencing a hangover, but this is the worst of all. Thank goodness, after I gurgled, I found a hangover drink on the bedside table. I immediately opened the bottle and bottomed up the drink. Damn... that helps a little. I longed to lie down and rest again, but instead, I reached for my phone and started reading messages.

I immediately opened it when I saw the recipient. It was two hours ago, eight in the morning to be exact. My shoulders dropped as I read the message—Oliver had already gone, saying there was an emergency. We didn’t even get a chance to talk properly.

I opened Heather’s message after sulking for a moment. She said they had already left a while ago, with the thought that I was going home with Oliver. But here I am, left behind, completely alone. I barely know the way back, and I’m not used to taking public transportation. Damn... What to do now?

I checked out of the hotel and waited for a miracle to happen. I don’t even know who to call first. I couldn’t bring myself to call my parents—not after I told them I was going home with Oliver. Now, look at what happened.

I was about to call Evan, my boy best friend, when someone pleasantly greeted me.

"Hey, Alora!" A fair lady slightly waved her hand at me.

"Ms. Jana?" She's De Herrera too. As far as I know, they also had an event here, so it didn’t come as a surprise when I saw Raña and Rome De Herrera yesterday—back when Oliver proposed to me.

"Drop the formality. Just call me, Jana. Seriously? Don’t act like I wasn’t your senior back in college."

"Sorry. I just respect you." I shyly responded.

"By the way, are you leaving?" Jana asked.

"Yes."

"With your fiancé?" I'm a bit surprised that she knew, but I guess news really has wings.

"No, uhm..." How would I explain this? "Actually..."

"What? Why? Is there any problem?" She said with furrowed eyebrows, sensing something off.

"My boyfriend and I planned to leave together but..." I looked away. Is it okay to share this to Jana? Anyway, she's like an older sister to me. "It turns out he left already."

"What the heck?" Jana sounds annoyed. "What a big *ss?"

"No, no. Don't say that, Jana. I'm at fault. I didn’t read his message right away." I bit my lower lip while defending my Oliver.

"Still he's an *ss for leaving you here." She rolled her eyes and held my hand. Her annoyed expression immediately switched to a welcoming one. "Why don't you join us? We’re heading home now. We can drop you in front of your house."

"Uh... thanks but—"

"Come on," Jana pulled me. "You might have a hard time taking the ride home. No worries, my companions don't bite,” she giggled and winked at me.

"But Jana—" A Mercedes Benz SUV that had just parked at the hotel entrance beeped.

"I know your history with Raña, and she's sitting in the backseat. Where do you want to sit? Beside her—"

"I'll sit in front, Jana. Thank you," I said without thinking twice.

I realized I didn’t have a choice when the hotel staff put my luggage into the back compartment of the car. I sighed and just opened the door and sat down in the front seat. Raña was asleep in the backseat, so I finally felt a bit of relief.

The last thing I want is to argue with her. I pulled the seatbelt and was about to lock it when I noticed the man sitting in the driver's seat. My soul almost slipped away from my body the moment I recognized who the driver was.

Damn... I'm so stupid! Of course, he is the driver. Why on earth didn’t I think of that?

"Archi, it’s fine if we bring Alora along, right? Her boyfriend is such an *sshole.” Jana ranted at Rome, her older cousin, before putting on her seatbelt too.

Rome cast a quick glance at Jana before shifting his gaze straight ahead of the hotel exit. Our eyes met for a moment, and I only snapped back to reality when he spoke. For a split second, I wasn’t sure if I was the one he was talking with—until I jolted when I realized that he was.

"Buckle up," he said before moving the car gear.

On our way home, silence filled the air and I felt a little awkward, so I forced myself to sleep, but I couldn't. I was a bit startled when Raña woke up.

"What the f*ck?" Raña cussed the moment she opened her eyes and saw me sitting in front.

"Your mouth, Raña," Rome said with a warning in his voice. He really is a bit terrifying when using his deep voice in a serious tone.

"What is she doing here?" Raña asked, crossing her arms on her chest and rolling her eyes at me.

"Long story. And I invited her, Raña," Jana politely said, expecting her cousin's reaction. Jana’s father is younger than Rome and Raña’s, so even if she was the same age as Rome and three years older than Raña, she should treat them with high respect.

"What have you done, Jana?" Raña irritably uttered.

"Just this once, Raña."

"You already know—"

"I know. I know."

"Ugh!"

"Stop complaining, Raña." Rome joined the conversation. I felt his little... annoyance?

"Whatever," Raña grabbed a sealed bottled water, opened it, and finished it in one go.

The truth is, Raña and I had a history but our sincere and pure friendship was tarnished by her sudden change of attitude towards me. One day, out of the blue, she began treating me like I was her rival—whether it be in academics or any aspect of life. It was as if we were in some constant competition I never signed up for, and I’m getting tired of it, really.

"Oh... what the f*ck?!" I was a bit startled by Jana's sudden scream.

"Jana," Rome scolded Jana. Hm... maybe he doesn’t like people swearing in front of him, I see.

"Sorry, Archi," she awkwardly showed him a peace sign. "Is this really you, Archi? And you were with a lady last night?"

"What? Let me see. Let me see," Raña almost snatched the iPad from Jana's hand.

"Gosh, brother!" Raña leaned in front and showed her older brother the news article with Rome's photo with an unknown lady sitting at the bar and near the beach. "It is really you, and who's this lady with you? Hm?"

My eyes widened and I looked away. Is that...

Is that me?