Aelise sighed then spoke. "Fine. Whatever you say then." She tried to shrug the thought off as much as possible. However, it wouldn't budge. She knew his father was a strict one, like really strict even though she barely had conversations with him back then. It would usually be short ones. Overall, his demeanor gave her chills down her spine.
She snapped out of her thoughts when he spoke. She didn't say anything in response though. Just stayed silent, poking at her food with her fork, most likely playing with it now. Curiosity rose within her when she heard him whisper something. Looking up to him from the food she was staring just a mere second ago, she questioned. "What was that?"
She sighed deeply, the frown on her face was replaced by a mischievous grin. "Hm? Vacation? What's that?" She tilted her head in 'curiosity' like a puppy. Aelise thought she'd possibly or most likely move in here again for some reasons that'll remain unknown to all for now.
Aelise laughed upon hearing his words, but the grin on her face was still there. "You don't have to worry about me. I'm fine with being blind." She answered. It sounded like she was serious about it but she was actually kidding obviously. For her, her future was unpredictable. She wouldn't even dare to try and predict it. She just let the things happen.
Aelise's grin vanished into thin air, turning into a frown once again as she felt a weird feeling in her stomach. She was not pregnant. It wasn't even the food. This happened whenever she felt like something bad was going to happen. Apparently, she experienced this the day she and Zen broke up and then other events such as when her cat died because her neighbor skinned it alive then hung it in front of her door. Even when her aunt and uncle got into a car crash.
Aelise ignored the thoughts as much as possible, also hoping that this wouldn't involve Zen. She leaned her head onto the palm of her hand and then questioned, curiosity evident in her expression. "Well, what job do you have, anyway? As far as I remember when I was drunk, I heard some 'processes' thingy your father said on the phone." She spoke, not even caring that she might be being really nosy.
Zen looked at her and smiled. "Well, I'll have the company in a few days so he wants me to run around doing chores for him like a robot." He chuckled as he said it just like he felt it. "But oh well. For your answer. A vacation is a time.." He said and thought. "Actually. Google it. I have no idea." He said as he took a sip of his coffee. "I work as a model too unfortunately. As much as I love the support that I'm getting, I'm not getting the right kind of support. If you understand what I mean then amazing. But if not then I'll just look like an idiot as always." He spoke and played with his straw.
Aelise hummed in entertainment but at the same time, she felt kind of bad for him? She couldn't explain why. "That's cool as long as you're not getting forced to- wait a second, like a robot? Are you kidding. Do you even want this? If you don't want to do it then just simply decline-" The female halted her words and cursed at herself. She shook her head then apologized. "I'm sorry. I got carried away just now." Her shoulders slumped as she looked away. "I understand, Zen. Always do and always will, right?"
"What about you? What are you up to?" He asked casually and looked at her. "And being blind isn't good. Of course it isn't." He smiled. 'But I'm sure you'd choose that over getting back with me.' The thought just coursed through his mind so casually. His self esteem and self confidence had plummeting so bad but he didn't know how to fix it. He knew he wasn't depressed. Way worse things would've happened for sure otherwise. He just felt this little spark of joy within him whenever he spoke to her or was even around her.
His phone lit up and he looked at it to see a text from Nate. 'Come back, man.' It read and he sighed. 'Come on, Nate. Just a few minutes. Can't cover up?' He texted back and waited for a text back and also the girl's response.
Nate was laying on the floor, holding his stomach as he coughed out blood. "Fucking call him. Call that bastard!" Zen's father yelled. The people were of course watching. The employees were scared of the man. Ever since Zen started to look after the company, they had relaxed but then after his father started to show up again, they were scared for their lives. They felt so bad for Nate and for how much pain he would be in but they couldn't get themselves to move.
Nate picked up his phone and looked at the text. 'God, the things I do for you, Zen.' He thought as he pretended to call Zen but he didn't actually do it. "I-It says unreachable." He whispered, feeling too weak to even speak as he looked up at the man who kicked him again on his side, making him groan in pain. He knew for sure that something was broken. 'Just a few minutes more.' He thought to himself.
Aelise bit her lip. "Well, I was an idol trainee before, since that was my dream ever since I was young- to become an idol or some shit like that. But I quit for some reasons." She explained. She had the need of telling him why, she wanted to open up. But she knew Zen had problems as well and she didn't want to add more salt to his injury. So, she'd have to keep these problems to herself. Maybe she won't tell anyone what happened during the five years that she was gone.
The other trainees she was with bullied her or they even went as far as hurting her, not just mentally, but physically as well. She didn't even have the guts to report it at all. She just went silent. After quitting as a trainee, which her parents didn't know the reasons for as well, she got into an abusive relationship.
She set the thoughts aside and laughed. Aelise stopped and got herself together as she spoke. "It's obviously, isn't it?. I was just kidding." She sighed. But if you were to let her choose if she'd rather go blind or lose someone she loved a lot, she'd go for the first choice with no hesitations. 'As long as I'm with you, I'm happy.' She thought to herself as she looked at him, a small smile, which was not visible, was on her face.
But the fact that the feeling in her stomach just worried her. Absentmindedly, she groaned and slapped herself. 'I need to calm down.' She said to herself as she took a sip from her cup of water. "Hey, are you really free today?" Aelise asked Zen in a low voice, her expression was serious, which was just so sudden.
"Yeah. I mean, I think so. My dad isn't blowing up my phone so I should be fine.." He trailed off as he saw his phone light up. He checked it and saw Nate's text. 'Zen, please.' He could almost hear the desperation in the boy's voice. "Fuck fuck fuck." He mumbled as he opened his father's chat. Nate was so wounded. He saw it in the pictures. "I'm going to kill him." He was pissed. How dare his worst excuse of a father even lay a finger on his best friend?! He got up and looked at Aelise. "I don't know why you gave your dream up but I won't push it. Let's catch up some other time." He said as he took his blazer.
"And decline? Yeah, I'd rather not die." He scoffed and looked at her. "Fucking hell." He whispered as he leaned down, cupping her cheeks and looking into her eyes. "You're still so pretty." He smiled sadly and pecked her cheek. "I miss you so fucking much." He whispered and stood back up. "Kill me next time we meet if you want." He smiled and gave her a small wave before heading out and getting on his bike, the look changing in his eyes completely and turning into a murderous glare.
"Oh dad." He smirked as he put his helmet on and revved up his bike before taking off to the company.
He got there pretty soon, seeing that he broke almost all the speed limits. He saw Nate on the ground, bleeding heavily as his father continued to kick him. His body was shaking from the rage as he got off his bike and rushed inside, pushing his father off harshly. He heard the people gasp but that was the last straw. All the sound tuned out and he was blinded with rage. "Leave." He spoke but he noticed that no one moved. "Leave!" He exclaimed in a more commanding voice and the employees scurried away.
Zen went to his dad, holding his collar. "How the fuck dare you touch my best friend?" He growled as he saw his dad smirk. "Yeah. Now you remember him? Not when you just left him for your own fucking selfishness?" His father provoked him and he didn't hesitate to punch the man hard. "You bastard!" He yelled and looked at him. "If anything happens to Nate, I will make sure that I will either make your life a living hell or kill you. I'll go to jail but I don't fucking care." He growled and rushed to Nate, his eyes immediately softening.
Arai was already rushing to get to the car. Zen easily picked his buddy up and took him into the car. "Keep your eyes open." He said and he got in the back, placing Nate's head onto his own lap gently and patting his cheek. "Okay? Just stay with me." He spoke, his eyes getting teary. This was his fault. "I-I'll look at your beautiful face." Nate whispered with a smile as his eyes were begging to be closed. Zen let out a small laugh and nodded. "Yeah. Do that please." He spoke. He didn't care about how much of Nate's blood got on him. "You can't leave me too." He whispered.