Nate looked at Zen's phone when it buzzed and looked at the text. "Fuck. She can't see you like this." He whispered. 'Sorry. Now I'm kind of busy. Whenever you're free we can meet. And yeah, I've gotten most of the pictures taken down. I'll take care of that situation. See you :)' He sent the text and sighed. "How is he?" He asked his mother who shook her head. "Still passed out. Let's see." She spoke and sighed. The door burst open and Zen's father came in.
"Is this useless bastard still in bed?" He asked angrily with a scoff. Before Nate could stop him, he roughly grabbed his son's arm and pulled him up, making him gasp. "Two shoots and three meetings. With all this, you plan to have your butt still in bed, you lazy bitch?" His father sneered. "Sir, please-" Nate tried but the man glared at him.
"If you're going to be useless like your mother then shut the fuck up." He growled. Zen got pissed off. Yes, he was exhausted and half dead but no one insults his second family, more like his only family. So he just punched his father square in the jaw again. "Kill me if you want. No one talks to them like that." He growled back, angry and he did look really scary as his father scooted back.
"I'll bring him back safe after work is done, mom." Zen spoke to Nate's mother whose eyes widened. "Touch them and I will make sure that you won't have your hands." Zen threatened his father before taking Nate's hand and leading him out. 'Let's meet now. The Cafe.' Nate sent the text to Aelise.
"Who the fuck gives him permission to touch MY best friend huh?! How the fuck dare he?!" Zen was pissed and Nate knew the only one who could calm him down.
Nate held his hand and took him near the Cafe where he hoped Aelise would come. "I don't fucking care what his reasons were. How can he touch you?! How dare he even lay a finger on you?!" Zen exclaimed as he looked at his friend and hugged him close, ignoring the pain he felt.
"How could he hurt the only person whom I have left, huh?" He whispered as he desperately held onto him but he was still very angry. Nate hugged him back and held him close. Sometimes it really felt like they both were dating but no. They were like brothers. "Calm down, Zen."
They had seen so much of each other's lives and knew so much already that they'd grown so close. "Calm down?! Nate, come on. I had to rush you to the hospital. It was critical, Nate! I didn't know if you would survive or not. All because my ass didn't show up on time?! I'm not joking, Nate. Even if I have to go to jail the next time, I will fucking kill him if he lays a hand on you, your mom or Natalie." Zen spoke, his hands trembling in anger.
Nate just sat him down on a bench near the Cafe and caressed his back. He got out a mask for Zen and put it on. "There. Calm down." He spoke. Zen didn't have too much damage to his face. Only the cut on the bottom lip. His father cared too much for the shoots. All the bruises and scars were underneath. Dark, purple bruises which indicated internal injuries.
Miyu had to check them out. Other doctors couldn't be trusted. The girl said that she'd be there by tomorrow and Nate waited. He didn't trust anyone else around Zen. "Hikaru got the pictures taken care of. You're good." Nate informed but he got no response from Zen and he didn't even ask.
"Sir!" Arai rushed to them, panting. "You've got a shoot, Sir." He spoke and Zen shook his head. "I'm not going." Zen spoke, his voice husky and low from all the yelling. "But Sir-" Zen cut him off instantly. "I said no."
"Move on." Those two words rung in Aelise's head. For five years until now, she had been repeating those words to herself. In fact, it was an easy thing to say but a hard thing to do.
Her bedroom was enveloped in soft snores, gradually turning into loud ones, then soft ones again. That and the sound of rustling of the covers which were just so warm around her. The warmth she expected from someone other than Zen but she failed to get. Thankfully, God gave her a sweet dream unlike a while ago. Her mouth was slightly open with drool coming down her chin.
All of that peace got interrupted as her phone rang. Aelise jolted as she was hesitantly got woken up by her loud phone. There were marks all over her arms and face. They weren't hickeys. She rubbed her eyes groggily then reached out for her phone just laying upon the nightstand. Her thumb clicked the notification she received which was from Zen. She sighed at the message and replied. 'Okie, I'm on my way. Better not waste my time since you just interrupted my precious sleep. (ง'̀-'́)ง'.
She got up from her bed and looked at her reflection in the mirror. Her pajamas were colored pink with unicorn designs on it. She slumped her shoulders and rolled her eyes. This wasn't the first time that she was meeting up with him like this anyway. So it was no problem at all.
Aelise slipped on her pink slippers and headed out to the cafeteria. She couldn't help but chew the inside of her cheek over the thought of why he called her over at a time like this. However, she wouldn't be surprised if he would've done when they were a couple.
'Good thing the cafeteria is open 24/7.' She thought. Aelise let out a long yawn, bringing up her hand to cover her mouth. She sighed in relief as she finally reached the cafe. What she saw shocked her beyond belief. Nate and Zen looked so beaten up. She started to suspect that they really did. They looked horrible.
Her eyes widened as she rushed towards them, panicking. "What happened to the both of you?!" She blurted as she stared at them and their bruises. Aelise didn't even realize that she was crying a river. When she did, she knelt down and pulled Zen into a hug gently because of his state. "You worry me a lot." She mumbled against his shoulder. She was so worried for the both of them.
Nate sighed as he looked up and saw Aelise. He smiled but it turned into a nervous one when he heard her question. "Well.." He hesitated and saw her hug Zen. He smiled and stepped away just a little to give them space. Zen's eyes widened when he heard the voice he wanted hear so desperately. "A-Aelise?" He mumbled as he hesitantly wrapped his arms around her and hugged her. "Gosh why are you here this late?" He asked. "I called her." Nate interrupted and Zen sighed.
Aelise facepalmed as she found out that it was Nate who called her, not actually Zen. However, she doesn't mind about that. All that mattered now wass that they got beat up and harshly especially for Zen.
He pulled away from the hug and looked at her. "Hey, now. No crying. I'm sure I've told you this so many times. A smile suits your face so much better." He smiled and wiped her tears away, cupping her cheeks. "I'm sorry for worrying you, okay?" He spoke and smiled. He shouldn't get attached to her like this. "I'm fine. I will be. I have been. Nate is fine too. Look. You should go home and rest up, okay? I'm sorry for interrupting you this late at night." He spoke and stood up, gently picking her up too.
She let go of him and wiped her tears with the back of her hand, sniffling. She pouted at the both of them. "The both of you are certainly not fine. I suppose you two got beat up by your dad." She pointed at Zen and continued. "You skipped work just to see me. You dumbass." She rolled her duo-colored eyes.
"Want two big boys to walk you back home?" He asked with a smile. Nate came from behind, placing a hand on Zen's back to which he shook his head just a little. The female shook her head. She definitely would not let them do that; walking her home. She literally wasted minutes of walking here and then he'd immediately tell her to walk back home. She pinched the bridge of her nose. "Are you for real?"
He couldn't let himself be so happy again. He shouldn't let himself get used to this again. He wasn't sure if he'd be able to make it if it happened again. She had a boyfriend after all. Even though he cheats on her. Wait. "Aelise." He started, his words holding curiosity and face, seriousness.
"Why are you still with your boyfriend?" He asked. He couldn't see a reason. He wasn't trying to compare at all. The new guy probably gave her the life she dreamed of but became a jerk later on but still. Zen cheated with one girl and she said that the new one cheated with so many. How come she hadn't left him yet? Of course he was jealous of the dude. It didn't mean that he wasn't guilty for what he did. He still felt so horrible every single day.
"Aelise? Why?" He asked as he slowly walked closer to her. It slowly started to make sense. She was crying when she was on call with her boyfriend. "What is he doing to you?" He asked in a soft whisper as he cupped her cheeks, gently caressing her soft skin. Oh he felt horrible for butting into their business but if she was getting hurt then he might just kill the guy. "Please. Are you happy with him? If you don't want to tell me then don't answer but don't lie. I know I shouldn't be butting in but I can't help it. I'm an idiot." He spoke and looked into her eyes.
"Just push me away if you want me to get away and I will. I won't ask you any more questions at all. If you don't want to answer mine, just don't, okay? It's your choice. I would like to know though." He told her, giving her a soft smile.
Not long after, her figure tensed. Her anxiety consumed her whole being. She started tearing up again. At this moment, she felt so pathetic. Everyday. Every hour. Every minute. Every second. Especially now.
She felt so pathetic and stupid for making such fucked up decisions. Hell, Nate and Zen even got beat up by who knows who. "I'm so sorry." Was all she said in response even though she wanted to say so much more.