Chapter 6: Misery

"Shall we go out now from hiding?" Alyssa asked in a very small voice after a few moments of being silent.

Still being held by Zack. "I'm sorry for causing you trouble.”

"No you didn't!" Zack started to let go of her gently and look at her face. "Are you okay now? Are you still scared?" he asked.

"I'm sorry, I must have held you for a long time that it made you feel uncomfortable".

Aly bow down her head, feeling shy and apologetic.

Zack doesn't want Aly to misinterpret his actions towards her, though he was very happy for being so close to Aly, he denied the feeling of happiness he felt.

He cleared his throat and said. "You held me to hard. My back will probably ache later." Then he smiled playfully.

Alyssa knew that Zack was trying to tease her, so she smirked.

"I'll take you home Aly, my car was parked 2 blocks away from here." he started to move and searched his keys in his pants when she placed her hand over his chest and stopped him.

"No you can't!" Aly suddenly exclaimed.

She remembered Marcus. She knew that Marcus will be waiting for her in her doorstep.

He must not see Zack, She can't take any chances. She doesn't want Zack to get involve in their problem.

"This is not a good idea" Aly thought so.

She carelessly grabbed his hand and held it for a few minutes, before she explained herself to him.

"You have done so much for me Zack, I don't want to put you in trouble" she plastered the warmest smile he have ever seen, and her angelic face touched his heart completely.

Alyssa gazed in his eyes and found worries deep within, she caress his face and assured him that nothing's going to happen if she will go alone, and he believed her.

"I'll take the cab Zack. Please don't insist. I can't tell you my reason." She begged and her voice sounded apologetic, yet still showed concern. "You take care, drive safely."

Zack didn't put pressure on her. He probably knew what her reason was.

"If you'll tell me that you'll be fine, I'm good!" he cupped her face and that made her blushed.

"I just want to make sure that you will get home safe, and no danger will be waiting for you." Zack tucked her hair behind her ears as he showed compassion.

She can't deny the sudden change of her heartbeat as he came closer to her, and cuddle her face sweetly with his smooth fingers.

And telling her to take good care of herself was something great to hear from a new found friend.

"I will...and I'll be okay Zack.” And she held the hand that touched her. "Thank you for being so nice to Me." a thin smile was plastered on her lips.

After she said goodbye to him and took the cab to her house, her mind was having random thoughts over their encounter.

He seemed to be a nice and cool guy for Aly, his irresistible smile and his gentle personality really attracts her, and she couldn't help the admiration to rise as her mind brought back the moment he held her in his arms.

The scent of his perfume lingered in her soul. It calms her tensed body.

A mischievous smile created a good vibes on her face, the moment she remembered their times together. But something came across her mind suddenly, that made her flinched and covered her mouth. Then she hissed of out disappointment.

She remembered that she was already engaged, and that thought pierced right through her heart.

She recalled having a boyfriend and they were about to get married...whether she likes it or not, it doesn't matter.

Because nothing in this world can stop the wedding, and no one can ever save her from her own darkness.

"That winter when everything was white to be seen. Her heart feels so dark within."

***

-Zack- (POV)

In the middle of the night where snow falls hard, Zack has been driving in rage since Aly and he parted ways.

He was in distress after hearing from Aly that they shouldn't see each other anymore.

Before Aly took the cab taxi, Zack asked for her phone number where he can contact her.

He even ask for her home or office address, but Aly refused to provide her personal information.

No matter how Zack insisted to get the details, He can't persuade Alyssa.

He left her with his calling card just in case Aly needs to contact her, she knows where to reach him.

But despite of giving her a way to get a hold of him, Zack can't rely on that. What if Aly will not contact him for some reason?

He will never get to see Aly again.

Someone came to his mind suddenly. He dialed a number and placed the call on speaker mode.

"Ciara!" Zack exclaimed

The call has been dropped Uhg! "You spoiled brat!" he dialed once again.

The call has been received, yet has been dropped quickly before he could even say a word.

He dialed Ciara's number again.

"Please, listen to me!" he uttered when Ciara answered the call.

"Okay fine! What do you want? You jerk! "

"Hey, what's the fuss Miss?" Zack teased her childhood friend with a sexy voice.

"You really don't know why, Zack?" Her voice raised up.

“You didn't show up on our date!" she yelled so hard on him that her voice bang on his head roughly.

"I texted you. I told you that I had to leave right away because something came up. I was already at the bar when I needed to go somewhere, it was urgent so I had to leave."

He was trying to convince Ciara that it was not his intention to keep her waiting. and for not showing up, but Ciara was not in the mood to listen to his alibis.

She was so upset since she was already at the bar when she received his message.

Ciara did not say a word. Zack initiated to talk once again. "Alright! I'm sorry!"

"What do you need? I know you are up to something that's why you called me."

"Meet me at Roque's bar tomorrow at 7pm." His voice was pleasing.

"I need a friend." Then Zack stepped on the gas to accelerate.

Ciara gave him another chance but before she hung up, she warned him not to make her wait.

"Darn! Why can't I get you out of my head?" he was ridiculously tapping his head to get the answer to his question, while his other hand were on the steering wheel.

"Will I ever have the chance to see you again? He sighed under his breath and before he knew it, he was home.

His thought of Aly was swamped all over his head, and he didn't realize that he drove his self to his mansion less than 30 minutes when he usually make it in 45 minutes without traffic.

As he got off his fancy car, he stood in front of the house and took a deep breath before he stepped on the marble tiles to reach for the door.

His face became gloomy and you can sense emptiness on his face, as he turned the knob.

The house was in deep silence, and darkness surrounded the mansion the moment he entered.

Just like before, no one was around. Tears started to pool in his eyes as he reminded his self that -it's okay to be alone.

He reached for the light switch on the wall near the front door, and as the light opened- reality beats him up.

"It is not okay!" He can't stand living alone in a big house without no one.

He stepped back, slowly he carried his self out of the mansion and abruptly ran back to his car, where he buried his head on the steering wheel and burst out crying.

He thought about his mom, Abigail. He misses her so much and he wanted to see her.

And his mind yearned for Aly.

Without her permission, he hugged her in his mind and kept her under his wings for a very long time.

It felt great and it even felt so right, when he pampered his self over the warmth of her body in his sub-consciousness.

He felt, he was not alone anymore.

But his warm tears fell on his face and made him came back to his senses.

He just realized that he has fallen asleep and it was just all a dream.

Pathetic! He felt so pathetic to be rich but alone. To be successful but unhappy.

From the beginning, he knew exactly what he wanted.

He wanted to have a big family. And 3 kids and a wife, plus his mom - is what all it takes to be a happy man. He already got everything he needs, and there was nothing more he can ever ask for.

But unlike other normal people, where they could easily find their other half to build a family...It was not easy as it is for Zack, because of his standards.

And no one has ever met that standards before...Only Alyssa.

His body jolted from being steady when his phone rang. It was Darren.

"Hey punk! Where you at? “He heard him say.

"At my house, but I'm about to leave. Why?"

"Care for a bottle of beer? Come on! Let's meet." Darren invited him and he didn't think twice. That was his idea before his cousin lured him.

"Alright! I'll see you in my hotel room" and Zack started the engine, but before we he run away from his sadness. A promise to his self was made.

"I'll only live in this house, when I am no longer alone." and he quickly left, before his tears even fall.