Blacked Out

TIFFANY

My body stilled and my jaw dropped. I wanted to say something, but I couldn't bring myself to speak.

Stephanie's eyes were glued to me the entire time; she kept giving me different glances, trying to signal that I should end the call.

But I didn't.

It wasn't easy to get Ethan to call me, I won't ruin this with my own hands.

“Ethan, I-"

“I know how selfish this sounds but I'm not sorry about it because you're selfish yourself, Tiff. I'm doing this for us and you know it," Ethan cuts me off.

His tone was flat and clipped, as if he was forcing himself to talk to me.

“You know I love you, right?" He suddenly asked, and a small smile tugged at my cheeks despite myself.

Ethan rarely tells me he loves me but I've made it my habit to say that to him at every little chance I get.

But he's actually telling me that he loves me now. He… loves me.

"I know, baby, I know you love you and I want you to know that I love you more,” I turned to the side a little, as if I didn't want Steph to see that my heart is softening already.

"Don't marry Oscar, be with me. I might not have the best things in the world and I might not be the most handsome man ever seen but think of the three years we've been together, Tiff, and do this for me," he pressed.

The way his voice went from cold to soft and filled with all his emotions, something at the right corner of my heart started tingling.

If I was feeling dread a while ago, I'm feeling butterflies now. My feet curled on the wooden floor.

“Ethan, I'll-" I was about to tell him that I'll think about it when Steph snatched the phone from my hand, her expression was wild and daring.

“She'll call you back later, we were in the middle of an important conversation before,” Steph said and angrily pressed the red button, shutting Ethan out.

I turned to her immediately, my face was completely baffled. Why would she do that? At least I won't be marrying her brother anymore.

“Steph, why'd you do that?" I asked straightforwardly.

“And are you out of your senses, Tiff? You love Ethan so much that you've lost all your reasoning?” She seethed, scoffing here and there.

"That doesn't mean you should hang up on him like that? That was the love of my fucking life right there, you should be respectful to him as my best friend,” I stood up, my voice pitched instantly.

That was really rude. Especially when I'm still looking for a way to get back to him.

“Respectful, my foot! Just because I'm your best friend doesn't mean I should have the same front lobe as you, I'm older than his stupid ass,” Steph cussed, spitting on the ground.

I crossed my arms over my chest, tapping my feet on the ground as I stared at her.

"You keep making wrong choices over another without even letting yourself breathe, Tiffany, you will regret this,” She pointed her index finger at me as she also stood on her feet.

"You just slept with a stranger this morning, you haven't figured out how you'll sort yourself out and now, you're planning to elope with a man that might end up leaving you. You haven't gotten out of your engagement to my brother either, what exactly is wrong with you?” She continued, trying to make me the problem.

“Are you done?" I asked and she sighed. “Steph, can you please stop controlling me?" I spat, not caring what spot my words would hit on her sensitive ass either.

“Controlling you? How am I-"

“See? I gave you time to speak, now it's my turn so listen to me," I cut her off, annoyed.

“You can't do this, you can't do that, listen to me, I know what's best… you're always trying to tell me what to do. I thought we were best friends, we should make decisions together and we should always stand against whatever obstacle is coming against us but with you, Steph, it's as if you're actually the one against me,” I continued, watching as her "know-it-all” shoulders shrunk quietly.

"Why is my happiness a problem to you? When have I ever come to your home to dictate to you? I've never done that. I mind my business and only do what makes you happy, so why can't you do the same for me?” I pressed.

"Tiff, you think I'm actually against our happiness? Can you just reason and see the truth? Ethan doesn't love you, he's just using you and you are already in enough mess, don't get further tangled in his own," she spread her palms in desperation, as if that'd make me understand where her words were coming from.

Such a shame they didn't.

"I'm on the right path, your stepbrother is on the wrong path and I won't tread on whatever thorns you laid down for me as land,” I said through gritted teeth, my voice felt so dry.

So lost of feelings.

"Tiff, I-”

"You'll see, I'll show you that you're wrong,” I said to her as I grabbed my phone and walked out of the room.

I left the hotel completely, not bothering to reply to the bartender who kept greeting me as if he couldn't read the expression on my face.

I spent the next two weeks pondering over Ethan's request.

I was mostly in my room; Grandpa would yell at me from time to time, Hazel would ask to talk but I'd ignore her and Ethan would call me sometimes just to reassure me that I won't regret my actions.

Steph didn't come over nor did she bother to call, I didn't call her either, it'll be best to be friends from a distance. We stopped clicking a year ago anyway.

Today, I've finally made my decision: My happiness matters the most, we only have one life so we have to live it to the fullest.

Running away from home to stay in a completely strange country with a man I've only known for three years, it's going to be a whole new experience for me.

But… we pay prices for love anyway.

I took a deep breath as I stood up from the bed, I walked to my phone on the nightstand and picked it up.

Scrolling through my contacts, I instinctively stopped on Stephanie and sighed, she was always my go-to place when life feels suffocating.

I scrolled further and clicked on Ethan, he picked up after the second ring, as if he was already expecting my call.

“Hey Tiff," he said.

“Hi baby," I smiled.

“So… what do you say?”

"Let's meet up first, I want to see your face while I say it."

“Okay, I'll be at the academy," he said and hung up.

A wide smile filled my cheeks at that moment, as I grabbed my car keys on the nightstand and made my way out of the building.

I had just reached my car outside, Paul was still opening the gate when a sharp pain shot right from my abdomen and travelled through my entire body.

My body went numb and it felt as if my soul was forcibly ripped out of my body, I fell to my knees and screamed at the top of my voice.

Paul left the gate open and ran to my side, worry and concern etched on his face as he kept asking, "Young lady, what's wrong? What happened to you? Young lady!”

I couldn't answer, I couldn't bring myself to say anything. The pain was unbearable and it refused to go, it had me buried on my knees, my head lowered slowly.

It felt as if my organs were slowly ripping apart and mixing together with my stomach acid, I bit my lips down on my lips so hard, as if I had no regard for my health.

Grandpa and Hazel weren't home, they went to check on the company and I was trying to use that opportunity to meet Ethan and plan our escape.

This sudden pain is so impromptu. What exactly is wrong with me? Whom can I ask for help? Paul can't leave the house alone.

"Fuck,” I groaned when the shearing coursed through me again.

“Paul," I called with a slight gasp.

“Yes, Madam?” He scurried around me.

“My phone's in my bag, c-call Steph,” I winced as I closed my eyes.

Steph was my emergency number, Paul grabbed my phone from my bag and dialed her number immediately.

"Hello, Miss Vance?” I listened as he talked to Steph over the call.

"Miss Perkins was heading out just now when she suddenly slumped, I don't know what's wrong with her, she…”

Paul's voice started to trail off and it felt as if he was moving far away from me.

The black space that appeared when I closed my eyes started to turn, my head ached so bad and I became dizzy.

I didn't know what happened or what I was doing but everything suddenly blacked out.