Twenty-nine. Alpha realm
Monalissa felt her heart heavy at those cold words from him. She wasn't one to mind but couldn't understand why her heart was reacting to his cold demeanor towards her. Was it because she woke up in his bed? She knocked her head as said, "Fool". She swore for the second time that say never to drink again.
Ezekiel appointed Louis to take her back to the factory which the latter complied to. He was limping when he came out to open the car door for her. Monalissa noticed. She was going to ignore him but her mouth was faster than her mind.
"Are you okay?", she asked.
Louis looked at her. He wanted to get mad at her but understood that it wasn't her fault that he had to run laps.
"Try not to be drunk next time".
"What? I made you limp?"
"Please get in the car".
"Yes", she said and entered the car.
From his room, he saw her enter the car and leave the environment. His handsome face scowled as his body reacted again. He was going to bear with it but found him self in his bathroom in two minutes. He needed a relieve.
On their way to the factory, Monalissa gave Louis an ointment for his leg that was hurting.
"Here", she said.
"Use it on your sore legs. I'm sorry for stressing you".
Louis looked at her from the corner of his eyes. "You don't need to bother".
"Why not? You were the one who carried me yesterday".
"No. That's not me".
"Then...", Monalissa paused mortified at the thought that had formed in her mind. As if confirming her thoughts, Louis added,
"Boss took you up yesterday. I was punished for leaving your side at the party"
"Oh..."
Monalissa didn't know if it was from the warm weather but she felt her cheeks heat up and her body do a doodle jump.
"He was the one that took care of you last night".
"What?"
"Yes".
Monalissa arrived at the factory at midday. Hanabi was the happiest at her return. She wasn't just happy that she returned. She was more happy that she was in good shape this time.
"I missed you", she said as she hugged her. She had missed her a lot.
"I missed you too", Monalissa said.
"You look good this time", she said looking her all over.
"I know right?"
The two girls chuckled. Monalissa was exempted from work that day as per Mr Andrews, the deputy manager's orders.
"Mr Andrews exempted you from work today".
"Yeah. I think it's the boss's orders".
"Ha...", Hanabi scoffed. " What's he trying to prove?"
"Don't worry Hanabi. He's not as bad as you think", she said in his defense. The thought of waking up in his room today was a sign that he was still a good person, though he hated her. He had also carried her up.... However, she couldn't fathom the reason why she had to think of that morning for the whole day.
That evening, after work was done, the trio, Monalissa, Hanabi and Luke sat on a pavement the was beside the their own section. Luke brought out something and put it in their hands one after the other.
"What's this Luke?", Hanabi asked her eyes shining when she saw what it was.
"Peanuts?", Monalissa asked.
"Yeah", he answered. "It's a snack I got for us to celebrate your return".
Monalissa chuckled. "That's so funny Luke. I was only gone for a day".
"Yeah. I wonder why I even bought it ".
"Don't worry Luke", Hanabi added, "I also got us something too".
"What's that?"
"Wait here", she said and left.
"How're you feeling?", Luke asked the moment Hanabi left.
"I'm good", she replied.
"I get that you might have done some wrong to him, but that's not enough for him bring you to death's door".
"It's not like I'm the only one who experiences his wrath".
"Sadly, that's a lie. You're the only one who gets to suffer his torment ".
Monalissa sighed. Her sin was thicker than the others.
"What did you do? To have you brought here?", she suddenly asked.
"Me?"
"It's just me and you here".
"I...leaked information on his company. I was one of the best technicians and hackers in the Alpha realm".
"Alpha realm?"
"Yeah. That's Mr Don's secret organization".
"Oh..."
"But, why would you leak his info?"
"That was a trap I didn't see coming. I was stabbed in the back by one of my colleagues".
"That's bad", she said and plopped a peanut into her mouth.
"Yeah".
"What about your colleague?"
"He still works there".
"What?", Monalissa almost shouted as her face scrunched up. "That person is a threat".
"I don't know how he hasn't been found out"
At that moment, Monalissa began making plans on how to get Ezekiel to look into that issue.
Hanabi came back with what she went to bring.
"Beers", she cheered and handed them one each.
When Monalissa saw this, she declined immediately. She had swore not to drink again.
"No Hana, I don't drink".
"Don't worry. This one is just two percent alcohol".
"Really?", she asked.
"Yeah", Hanabi replied and uncorked hers. She took a long gulp which enticed Monalissa. She suddenly had the urge to drink too.
"Well...it won't hurt to drink a little", she said and uncorked hers.
"But Hanabi, you know you're breaking the rules", Luke reminded as he took a sip.
"It's not bad to break the rules once in a while", she said with a chuckle. "Let's make a toast"
"Yeah", the other two concurred and brought their drinks forward.
"To our friendship", Hanabi said, "cheers".
"Cheers", the other two replied and they clinked their beer cans.