Flora wiped her tears with the back of her hand and tried to recall . "I can't remember everything," she said, her voice trembling . "I was standing by the pool, and a guy came over and handed me a drink. He said there was no alcohol in it, so I drank it. But after a while, I started feeling dizzy . My head was spinning. . . and then another guy grabbed me . He tried to pull me inside the house . I was so dizzy, I couldn't fight back . I wanted to scream, but the music was so loud no one could hear me ." Her voice cracked as she continued . "Then, someone came... I couldn't see his face clearly, but he helped me. After that, everything's a blur . I don't remember much ."
Lia listened intently, her heart sinking with guilt . "Flora, I'm so sorry . It's all my fault," she whispered, her voice breaking . "I shouldn't have left you alone. I should have been more careful. If that guy hadn't come to save you... who knows what would've happened . I'm really sorry, Flora. I can't believe I was so careless ."
Flora shook her head, trying to comfort her friend despite her own fear. "It's not your fault, Lia . I'm the one who trusted a stranger . I should've been more careful ."
Lia sighed, "Yeah, but I should have stayed with you the whole time ."
As they sat in silence, a sudden realization hit Flora . "Oh no! I didn't go home last night . My mom... she's going to be so worried . She's going to yell at me when I get home ."
Lia smiled reassuringly . "Relax, I already spoke to her . I told her you were here with me, and that it got late, so you fell asleep . She's not worried at all ."
Flora let out a sigh of relief . "You saved me, Lia . If you hadn't told her, she would have been freaking out ."
Lia smiled softly . "Come on, why don't you freshen up ? You'll feel better ."
Flora nodded and stood up . "Yeah, I think I'll do that ."
Lia added, "I'll ask the maid to bring us some breakfast ."
"Okay," Flora replied before heading to the bathroom .
In the washroom, Flora splashed water on her face, hoping it would help clear her mind . She stared at her reflection in the mirror, the events of last night replaying in her head. As she thought about the guy who saved her, she touched her throat, wincing at the sharp pain there . She noticed a small bruise on her neck . Gently, she dabbed it with water, but it stung, reminding her of how rough things had been. Trying not to dwell on it, she finished freshening up and went back to the room .
When she returned, the maid had already set out breakfast for both of them . Lia was sitting at the small table, waiting for Flora . As they sat down to eat, Lia's gaze fell on the bruise on Flora's neck .
"Flora, what happened to your neck ?" Lia asked, leaning closer . "Let me see ."
Flora touched her neck again . "I don't know. . . I think I got hurt last night ."
Lia jumped up and fetched the medicine box . She cleaned the bruise carefully, applying ointment to ease the pain .
Flora winced . "Ow, that stings, Lia !"
Lia gave a small laugh . "Just sit still . You're lucky I'm not charging you for this medical service !"
Flora grinned weakly . "Yes, madam . Whatever you say ."
Lia chuckled, and the two shared a brief moment of lightheartedness, the tension from earlier lifting slightly . But just as they began to eat, Flora's phone rang . She glanced at it and immediately went silent .
"Who is it ?" Lia asked .
Flora hesitated, then answered quietly, "It's Alex ."
Lia's face darkened, and she remained silent, sensing the tension in the air . The phone rang again, and this time Flora answered .
"Hello ?"
"Flora, it's Alex . Why didn't you tell me you were going to a party last night ?" Alex's tone was sharp, almost accusatory . "You didn't even bother to let me know. What's going on with you?"
Flora's voice was cold . "You never tell me where you go, Alex . And even if I told you, what difference would it make ? You're always busy with Lyla anyway, so why do you care now ?"
Alex sounded frustrated . "Lyla is just a friend, Flora . Don't start with this again ."
Flora's temper flared. "I've seen how you act around her. You don't have time for me, but you're always with her. Do you think I don't notice?"
"Flora, she's just a friend ! Why are you making this into something bigger than it is ?"
"I'm not making it bigger, Alex . I'm just saying that if you can go out with your friends, so can I . So why are you asking me where I went ?"
Alex's tone grew angrier . "You're being unreasonable, Flora . This isn't right ."
"I know exactly what I'm doing, Alex . You didn't bother checking on me for days, so don't act like you care now . Goodbye ."
With that, Flora hung up the phone, her hands trembling .
Lia watched her carefully . "Flora, are you okay ?"
Flora forced a smile . "Yeah, I'm fine . I'm just... I need some air ."
Lia could tell something was wrong, but she didn't press further . Flora excused herself to the washroom again, where she broke down in tears . She had been holding onto her feelings for Alex for so long, hoping things would get better . But now, she realized she had been wrong about him .
After a few minutes, Flora composed herself and returned to the room . "Lia, I think I'll go home now," she said quietly .
Lia looked surprised . "You're leaving already? Stay a bit longer . It'll be fun, and it'll help take your mind off things ."
Flora shook her head . "No, I think I need to go . My mom will be expecting me ."
Lia sighed, but she understood . "Alright, if you really want to go . But if you need anything, just call me , okay ?"
Flora nodded and gathered her things . As she left, her mind was still heavy with everything that had happened .
Flora and Lia were lounging in their room when Flora, glued to her phone, sensed the familiar boredom creeping in . Lara, restless from the monotony, looked over at Flora and voiced her complaint, "Lia , I'm getting bored . Let's do something fun ."
Flora, slightly distracted, asked , "What do you want to do ?"
Lia thought for a moment before replying, "Let's go outside ."
"Outside ? Where exactly are you thinking ?" Flora asked, raising an eyebrow .
Lia admitted, "That's the problem . I don't know where . Hmm . . . maybe the park ?"
Flora shrugged . "Which park ? We didn't plan anything ."
Lia sighed, "True . I have no idea . Give me a second to think ."
Flora took a few moments before suggesting, "Let's go somewhere far, somewhere quiet, where there aren't a lot of people around ."
Lia looked intrigued . "And where exactly would we find such a place ?"
Flora smirked . "We'll just drive and stop wherever it feels right ."
Lia liked the spontaneity of the idea . "Okay, that sounds fun ! I'll go get the car . You get ready ."
Flora groaned, "But I didn't bring anything to wear . What should I put on ?"