The sound of the engine being turned off muffled my ears, bringing a sudden calmness to the air. The silence that followed was almost deafening, adding to the immeasurable weakness that has enveloped my body since I drove away from the casino.
I felt that I should have just never met Father and just proceeded to kill Nick. That way, things might have been easier. Or may it be worse?
Argh whatever!
Good thing I came back just in time for the motorcycle's owner to go to work. "Hey, Heureu! Good morning!" He cheerfully greeted me, and I responded with a nod.
I sprinted up the fire exit's stairs behind the apartment and carefully lifted the single-panel window to my bathroom before slipping in quietly. I quickly locked the window behind me and took a moment to catch my breath. The familiar scent of my own bathroom provided some comfort amidst the chaos of my thoughts.
Turning the lights on, I looked at myself in the mirror, taking in my disheveled appearance. The adrenaline from my hasty escape was still coursing through my veins, making it difficult to steady my breathing. I splashed some cold water on my face, hoping it would help me calm down and think more clearly.
"What would it be like to live a normal life?" I smiled with so much sarcasm before turning on the hot shower and slowly removing the clothes I had worn since yesterday, stepping in to let the warm water wash away the stress and tension built up over the past few hours. As the steam enveloped me, I closed my eyes and allowed myself a moment of respite, imagining a world where peace and tranquility were the norm.
It was a quick shower, but it provided a temporary escape from the chaos of reality. The soothing water droplets against my skin helped to clear my mind and restore a sense of clarity, even if just for a brief moment.
I dried my body and wore a loose sleeveless shirt with only underwear underneath. It felt good for a long time to feel naked and free from all the crap of reality I have in life. As I stepped out of the bathroom, I dried my hair with a soft towel, feeling the weight of the water being lifted from my strands. The gentle warmth of the towel against my scalp brought a sense of comfort and relaxation as if all the worries and stress were being absorbed by the fabric.
However, I was halted in my tracks by the sudden sound of a door slamming shut, and a pair of furious eyes met my gaze. Startled, I stopped drying my hair and felt my heart race in my chest. The tension in the room was palpable, and I could sense the intensity as I looked into those furious eyes.
"Where...have...you...been?" William demanded through gritted teeth, his voice laced with anger and concern.
"What are you doing here?"
"That is not my question!" He barked, his voice growing louder. "I am asking where you've been?" His face was flushed with anger, and his hands were clenched into fists at his sides.
"I took a shower!"
"LIAR!" William's accusation echoed through the room, causing the atmosphere to become even more charged. The intensity of his anger was evident in the way his voice boomed and his body trembled with rage.
My forehead creased with irritation as I was too tired to handle more of his outbursts. I have had too much since yesterday. I took a deep breath, clenched my hands, and returned to him with an outburst too. I am losing my mind already. "What is it to you if I go out? I can go wherever I want to. But since you insist, I went out to go look for Nick! Happy?" I said firmly, my voice quivering with a mix of frustration and defiance.
William raked his hair back with his fingers, his face contorted in a mix of anger and confusion. He locked the door and took steps toward me, his eyes narrowing. "Are you really trying to get yourself killed? HA! Are you that in love with that psycho?! Are you that stupid to look for someone dead?" he spat, his voice laced with bitterness. I could feel the tension between us escalating, the room growing smaller as our emotions clashed.
I could smell from the distance that he was drunk. His face was flushed, and his breath reeked of alcohol. It was clear that his words were fueled by more than just anger.
As he staggered closer, I could see the pain and desperation in his eyes, a reflection of the turmoil he was going through. "Just leave, William, and let me..."
I was not able to finish my words when he pushed me hard against the wall, his grip tightening around my arms, and devoured my lips. "Will...what are you? Stop!"
With one hand, he reached under my shirt and placed his palm against my bare stomach. My breath caught in a deep gasp. My senses were overwhelmed by his intoxicating kiss; there was neither finesse nor tenderness to it; it was rough, abrupt, and angry. I struggled against him for a moment, but he held me tightly with a fierce grip.
My breath began to come rapidly, and the panic set in as his hand moved down my side, his touch now becoming more aggressive. "Stop, Will..."
At that moment, I could feel the intensity of his longing and desire, overpowering any rational thought. The kiss was a tumultuous mix of passion and desperation, leaving me breathless and conflicted.
"I do not want to hurt you, William!" My voice faltered as his hand moved lower. Suddenly, he paused and pulled away abruptly, staring at me with wild, unguarded eyes.
He did not bother speaking; he just stared at me. I heaved in frustration and immediately gave him a quick kick at his torso, breaking out of his hold. He stumbled backward a few feet until he collided with the bed. I threw him the towel before darting into a run, but he was quick to grab hold of my feet, and down I went onto the floor, painfully hitting my knees with a thud.
"F*CK! I'm telling you, this will not do you good!" I yelled while giving him weak struggles off his grip while I tried to get up.
But he was using all his strength to pull me to him, despite my threats. So, I rolled over to face him and prepared to give him another kick when he was able to catch up on time before hitting his face, and he let out a huge grin.
"Not a second time!" he smirked, and before it registered to my brain what happened, we were brawling, though I never knew how William was able to keep up with my combat skills.
One minute, we were wrestling each other on the floor; the next, we were pinning each other on every corner of the room, knocking over various objects, and cursing the whole time. Inevitably, he ended up picking me up and hurling me down the bed before pinning me with all his weight.
"HEUREU!" the door blasted open and the irritated face of the landlady fell upon us.
Willaim and I looked at her, both of us were gasping desperately for air.
"Oww!" Her irritation suddenly turned into a mischievous smile. "Go on! I won't tell the other one. Naughty gal! Maybe just keep it down a little? Oooh! I missed my young days!" She chuckled, closing the door.
As soon as the landlady left, his lips crashed against mine, his tongue pushing desperately against my mouth as he halted my arms from struggling by tackling them against the sheets with all his strength. I could feel all these muscles tensing up.
"William!" I mumbled between his attempts to lower his kisses to my neck.
He then let go of my hands and started to rip my clothes off against my protests as we continued to battle for dominance, neither of us letting go of the other. His movements were frantic and forceful, and when he was unsuccessful in taking my clothes off, he grabbed hold of my arms again and returned, devouring my lips with unyielding ferocity.
To someone who had been in love with him for a long time, I should have just given up and let myself drown in the intensity of the moment, but I could not. My body, my mind, and my heart were all against it.
I stopped fighting when a sharp realization hit me.
"I am in love with Nick," I whispered, barely audible. The realization made my breath hitch as it left my lungs. How many times had I wished I wasn't in love with him, yet now here I am, falling head over heels for someone weak and unwanted?
William stopped and moved quickly away from me.
"I know," he whispered back before removing his shirt. "Cover yourself, or I'll lose myself. I like you, Heureu, and I cannot just let you end up with someone like him. Take your time to think because he's gone and he'll never come back."
William shut the door behind me, and I was left astounded by everything that happened, but what most surprised me was the tattoo I caught a glimpse of on his shoulder.
I had seen it; it was not our organization's tattoo after all. It was different but familiar. The same figure that I saw with the necklace the man was wearing who was trying to get hold of Nick—the same figure that was engraved in the chamber where my brother was held.