My eyes slowly opened. My head hurts a little as I tried to move. I turned around and I see my mom looking at me with a worried face. "Mom?"
"Thank goodness you're awake, sweetie." Mom ran her fingers over my face.
I moved my head to the other side and saw Haechan standing on the other side of the bed. Everything's still too flimsy and blurry in my head. I couldn't remember everything that happened before properly. "W-What happened?"
"You fainted." Haechan replied. "Forest was carrying you out of a room when I saw you. She said she doesn't know what exactly happened to you."
Forest… I moved but they both stopped me. "Forest."
"She already left. She was with me when we brought you here but she left after the doctor talked to your mom."
My head stung more. Every time I moved, I felt like needles were pricking my body. It was a strange sensation that I never experienced in my life.
"I haven't even got the chance to thank her. I was too worried about you. I'm sorry, dear." I hear my mom say. "Do you want to see her?" She asked.
"I-It's okay, mom." I managed to say. I was sad not seeing her but I didn't want to be selfish and make her come here when I understand why she doesn't want to stay longer. "Her sister died in a hospital just a week ago so it must be hard for her to be here." I didn't mean to say it but I didn't want Haechan to force her to come here just because I want to.
After chemistry class, I walked out of school with Forest. I know she didn't like me around her but I felt like we've gotten much closer ever since the project started. Call me crazy but I kept the band aid she used for my hands; I kept the hot pack she bought for me; I feel like I'm obsessed with her the more that I spend time with her.
"Were you not worried about me?" I decided to ask her as we headed to the front gate.
"Sure."
I smiled, running to match her pace. "So why didn't you come visit me at the hospital?" I asked more. I can tell she was annoyed by my questions but I wanted to talk to her and even she won't be able to stop me from doing it.
"Does it matter?"
I frowned. "Everything you do matters to me." I looked at her reaction hoping she'd at least show any hint of interest but there was none. We already reached the front gate and Ms. Khan was still not there so we waited.
"You don't know what you're talking about."
"But I do." I replied. 'I'm saying I like you."
A car suddenly stopped in front of us with a loud honk. The window rolls down and Ms. Khan gestures us to hop in the car. I opened the back door for Forest which made her glare at me. She probably didn't want me opening doors for her.
I smiled at her and closed it before I turned to Ms. Khan. "I'll follow behind, Ms. Khan. My car's parked near." When Forest said she'd want to ride with Ms. Khan, I respected that. I wouldn't force her to be in the same car as me if she doesn't want to.
"Okay then."
I ran to my car, hopped in, started the engine and drove to the entrance where Ms. Khan's car stood by. I beeped to let her know that we can go and we started driving.
The place where Ms. Khan chose to treat us wasn't as far as I expected. In fact, the place she brought us wasn't like what I expected. I looked out from my window and realized we were about to pull over in front of an unfamiliar building. I looked up to the sign and read Prism Bar.
I parked my car next to Ms. Khan and got out the same time Forest did. I looked at her then to the building we just reached. It didn't look like a place where drunkards would go considering it's labelled as a bar, but I couldn't help but question Ms. Khan's choice of treating.
"I assume Forest would enjoy more in a bar and I figured you wouldn't mind." Ms. Khan said as we approached the front porch.
"This is fine, Ms. Khan. Thank you." I replied smiling.
When Ms. Khan opened the door, I was more surprised to see how elegant the inside of this so-called bar looked. I've been to local bars and most of them are dirty and reeking of alcohol but this place, it smelled luxurious – like a hotel, almost.
"I'm here for my reservation." Ms. Khan said when we reached the front desk.
"Under what name, ma'am?"
"Khan. Elizabeth Khan."
The lady smiled and brought up her clipboard. "Ms. Khan! This way please."
The three of us followed the lady and we started walking. The hallways were nice, paintings were hung on the wall, and the lights were warm to my eyes. As we progressed, we took a steep path that lead to two doors. The other remained closed and the other, the lady opened with the key she had in her hands.
As soon as the door was opened, we all stepped inside this compact but spacious room – walls were painted in cream with wooden footboards, a huge couch across a small stage that had mic stands and flat screen along its wall. It was a bar but for the higher ups, I believe.
"Would you like the food to be served now, Ms. Khan?�� The lady asked, her poise as formal as her outfit. "Serving takes about thirty minutes."
"Yes. Please prepare the food now and serve right after."
The lady bowed before she left the room to us. I still couldn't believe this place. I was more immersed when I realized the light was a chandelier. This must have costed a lot.
"Ms. Khan, this place—"
"Don't worry. The supervisor paid for this. He's got the riches you know." Ms. Khan cut me off and sat down the comfy-looking couch.
When I turned to look at Forest, she was already sitting down on the other side of the couch with both her legs and arms crossed. She wasn't as astonished as I am but she can hide her emotions well enough to not show how amazing this place looked.
I sat a little close to Forest who didn't seem to mind which Ms. Khan sat across us. I looked at her tempted to start another conversation but then I realized she was beaten up and her face was more swollen than they were the first time I saw her.
Staring at her bruises with this much light made it worse. I already came to accept her stubbornness when it comes to treating her wounds then I see this. I couldn't help but be worried. Blood clots may seem harmless but it could really be serious and I was worried she would have one – not from this one incident but for the many situations that are of similar.
"Oh right. I heard from Forest you were hospitalized two days ago. What happened?" Ms. Khan asked so I diverted my attention to her.
"The doctor said I fainted because of stress and my lack of sleep, but there's nothing to worry about, Ms. Khan. I'm already fine." I smiled. I heard Forest hiss from my side so I turned to her in surprise. When someone does that, it can only mean that they're opposed to what you're saying. "I really am fine now. You're the one with bruises." I said and she abruptly turned to me with a scowl. "I'm just saying." I shrugged.
"Shut up."
Not long after, our food came and we started eating. Ms. Khan told us a lot of random stories which I find interesting. I was never close to any teachers before and to be with one of them felt… refreshing, I guess. They enjoy talking about how their lives were before they became professors. Sometimes they're funny but most times, it's just a little too rusty for me.
"Please bring a bottle of Domaine Leroy Richebourg Grand Cru. Thank you." Ms. Khan ordered through the telecom device that was fixated on the wall behind her. "You don't have to drink if you don't want to." Forest will, I'm sure. "Now where were we?"
I pretend to think but I honestly don't know. The stories she was telling us were all over the place, it's almost impossible to make sense out of it.
"Right! My internship under Callivan. As I was saying, that man was so—" She stopped talking when her phone rang. She frowned and pulled out her phone from her bag. "Hello?" She replied, her voice a little angry by the caller's disruption. "What, now? Why? What about Kim?" She looked serious. "Why didn't you tell me before I left?" She sighed, shaking her head. "Okay, okay."
"Is everything okay, Ms. Khan?" I asked.
She turned to us. "The department is working on a program and one of the members who signed up for it bailed so they're asking me to take her place for tonight."
Tonight?
She got up with her bag and I watched furiously. "You can stay here for as long as you like. Get anything you want. I'll be back after the program okay? I'll let the front desk know."
"W-Wait, Ms. Khan—" But she was already out of the door. I turned to Forest. Being alone with her in a room always made me feel anxious, I don't know why.
Just then, there was a knock before the door opened. A man bowed before he stepped inside, dropping a bucket of ice, three wine glasses and the wine itself. When the man left, Forest grabbed the wine bottle, took its cork off and poured some on one of the glasses. She drank the entire glass in one go after adding ice cubes. Then she went for another glass like it was water.
She lets out a sigh in delight. She leaned back to the couch, staring at the wine bottle with an odd smile. She doesn't look okay. I know her alcohol tolerance was high but this wine Ms. Khan ordered, it must contained a high percentage of alcohol with it.
I scooted a little away from her as I watched her drink her third glass.
She suddenly stood waving her body in a weird manner as she approached the wine bottle. She poured another in her glass and drank dancing like a drunk lady. There was no music, the room was dead quiet. At this point, I was too worried, I don't even know what to do anymore.
"Come on, Mark. Dance with me." She gestures me to go to her but I shook my head. "This is fun!"
When she was about to reach out for another glass, I stood and took the glass away from her. "That's enough. You're too drunk to drink another glass."
She pushed my face away and tried to retrieve her glass but I wouldn't let her have it back. "Give me back my baby!" I hear her exclaim. "I want my baby!" She stumbled over my chest so I crouched away but caught her in my arms. She looked up to me, smirking. "Come on, Marky. Now's your chance to take advantage of me." She started brushing her fingers over my face.
My knees were getting weak. Don't give into temptation, Mark. This isn't right. This is wrong. You know it's wrong. You can't give into—
She took the glass away from me and grinned before finishing another glass. I sighed. What a great distraction, Forest. Very impressive. I grabbed the bottle of wine and poured it all over the floor. "What are you doing?! What the fuck!" She yelled as I rest the bottle back to the table.
"You already drank more than you should."
"What did you do to my baby?" She cried hugging the bottle in her arms. "My baby…" She glared at me deadly which caused me to step back in fear. "You," She slowly stood from squatting. "You killed my baby." She walked closer and closer to me. "You—" She stumbled on her feet so I extended out my arms in an attempt to catch her but she suddenly falls on top of me.
"Are you okay?" I asked in worry.
She laughed.
I frowned, staring at her who seemed comfortable laying on top of me. "Hey,"
Her laughter faded as she crawled closer to my face. I felt my whole body flinch. We were still lying on the ground and she was making me her bed. "You," She lifted her weight up to level with my eyes. She pinned me down the floor between her arms and legs and I remained frozen in my place, unable to properly react to what was happening.
"We should go." I tried to move away but she plants her hands over my chest causing me to stop. My heart raced. It was beating so fast I can feel them against my chest.
"Your heart," She chuckled. "It's going crazy."
I looked away embarrassed.
"Do you really like me?" Her question made me turn back to her. I wasn't surprised by the question. I was surprised that she was asking. "Before you tell someone you like them, shouldn't you be sure if you really like them?"
Her question caught me off guard. "I'm not capable of choosing who I should like. The heart speaks on its own."
"You only truly like someone when you're sure you like every flaw they have."
I stared at her. It's an unwritten rule never to trust a drunk person's words but some believe they say truths more when drunk. I'm not sure what I should believe at this point. "So show me, Forest. Show me and we'll both see—"
"I'm a murderer."
A… m-murderer?
"I killed her."
Killed what? "I killed ants too." I joked but she didn't seem to like it.
She pinched my cheeks and stared at me. I blinked at her confused. Was she trying to make fun of my face as she pinched my cheeks? Does it look funny? My eyes widened when she leaned closer to my face. Her cold lips were on mine.
She kissed me.
My heart was pounding so fast, I felt breathless. I was so shocked by what she did. The way she stared at me the moment she pulled away was so intense. She looked like she was looking for something in my eyes but I didn't know what she was trying to find in me.
"Do you like me enough to stay in my messed up life?"