Chapter 8: New Found Friend

“Ah! Shit.” I ran my finger through my hair and disheveled it out of annoyance.

“I so f*cking hate you Marcus” and I screamed at the top of my lungs after I hang up and threw my phone on the bed.

I was walking back and forth with hands on my waist, while I was trying to breathe slowly. And while my eyes were closed, I clenched my jaw to control my anger over the thought of being insulted by my ex-lover.

I lifted my chin and grasped for some air over those random thoughts in my head, then released all the tension inside of me as I exhaled.

And when I finally calmed down, I dried my tears with the palm of my hand and sat on the cold floor as I braced myself and felt pathetic for my miserable life.

I looked around me and realized how my life had turned out in just one snap, and while my orbs were moving around the dark, small space that I called shelter, tears started to well up in my eyes once again.

“How dare you insult me like that Marcus?” I mumbled with hatred and pain at the same time, and those rebelling tears escaped my orbs in an instant when I looked back on the days that we were together and how much my best friend have loved me.

Regrets.

And there were so many things I shouldn’t have done in the past, and no matter how I regret those moments. I could never take it back.

I closed my eyes and grieved from the button of my heart, and when I opened my eyes…I got anxious to see the Sun was up. It’s already 6:25 in the morning and I overslept on the floor while hugging my legs.

So I jumped to my feet and ran to the bathroom to take a quick shower when I realized that Pablo will definitely hate me if I come in late, and when I was finally ready…I took the bus ride and went to my morning job.

Time passed by quickly inside the diners since it was weekend, and I was so busy doing my task in the kitchen when Pablo called my attention.

“Hey Alicia! Are you going to take an extra hour after your shift?”

“Huh?” I was surprised.

“Its 30 minutes passed your shift, didn’t you know that?” and honestly speaking, I didn’t notice the time was moving fast since I was so busy punishing myself. I made sure that my mind won’t have a minute to think of Marcus, and that I won’t have a moment to shed a single tear for him.

So I worked very hard and kept myself so busy, and before I know it…I was on my way to the Casino to hand over my resignation letter.

“Are you crazy? Why are you resigning suddenly Alicia?”

I was in front of the mirror, putting some makeups when she came to me with a loud voice. It was my last day working at the VIP lounge as an escort lady and as a casino dealer, and Dara was so upset with my immediate resignation since everything was just fine the day before I submitted my notice letter to the HR.

And even my manger was shocked with the short notice I gave her, she had no idea why I wanted to quit my job and even my close friend Dara, she never had the chance to know my reason.

I just gave her a warm smile and apologized to her.

“Thanks for helping me out Dara, you are a very nice person. Thanks for being there for me when I needed you.” And a breath of sigh slipped my mouth.

She walked up to me and asked me a question with her serious face.

“Are you going anywhere? Tell me!” she bent over and stared into my eyes, so I giggled that very moment while looking at her façade.

“What’s with that demeanor babe?” I tucked her hair behind her ears before assuring her that I am not going to leave Bangkok anytime soon.

“I’m not going anywhere, you know I don’t have other place to go. I just don’t want to work here anymore Dara, I don’t fit here”

I narrowed down my gaze and kept my silence for a moment while trying to ignore the pain in my heart.

“Alright, I won’t stop you if that will make you feel better. But promise me on thing” and she held my hands and swung them gently. “Always get in touch with me okay?”

I felt touched.

I quickly nodded my head and plastered a warm smile on my face before I stood up from being seated and hugged her tightly in my arms.

“Thank you” I whispered

And that was my last day working with my friend in the Casino, and before we parted ways we had a blast the whole evening with our guests and we drowned ourselves in alcohol as if there was no tomorrow.

“Taxi!” Dara yelled while waving her hand in the air to call a cab for me.

“Hey! I’m going to walk to the bus stop and wait for a ride, I am not riding a taxi and spend my money for that” I explained as I grabbed her arm and put it down.

“Go ahead, go home” I told her yelling “Your boyfriend is waiting for your” and I glanced at Paul’s direction who was just watching us while sitting on his big bike, waiting for us to separate.

“Take your woman Paul and leave” I ordered him and Dara who could hardly stand straight in front of me grabbed my both shoulder and asked

“Are you sure you will be okay?

“Surely I will, so don’t bother yourself too much”

And I pushed her to ride on the motorcycle, and after a few minutes of saying farewell…They left and I was alone standing in front of the huge casino and hotel, and under my breath I mumbled the reason why I had to leave the place where I was working and earning big money.

“I don’t want to remember this place where I slept with you Marcus. I want to forget about you so I hope our path will not cross again liked what you have said.

My tears were starting to pool my eyes when I realized that, and I don’t want to look pathetic so I quickly controlled my emotions and got a hold of myself as I walked straight to the bus stop where I found it empty at 1 am.

I was the only person who was sitting there and waiting for the bus to arrive, but luck wasn’t for me I guess, since I missed the last trip so I ended up riding on a tuk tuk.

And I felt somehow dizzy as soon as I plastered my back on the seat behind the driver’s place, and before I finally close my eyes, I asked the driver to take me to the Khao road where I lived along the street.

I must have been really tired that I quickly drifted into darkness, and before I know it…I felt a gentle tap on my arm and I slowly opened my eyes and heard the driver speaking to me in Thai. Telling me that we were already on Khao road.

“Oh, I’m sorry!” I said as I leaned forward and arched my back a bit to stretch.

“Where should I drop you off?” he asked in English and I quickly replied to him.

“You can leave me from here Mister, here is my fare and you can keep the change.” And I got off the tuk tuk with my head a little heavy and spinning.

“Shit! My head hurts” I mumbled as I walked towards the location of my apartment that was just a few kilometers away from where I was dropped off.

There was no way for the tuk tuk to enter the narrow street so I just had to take a walk to get there, and while I was on my way to the alley, I heard someone coughing and throwing up in the dark.

My curiosity halted me and made me took steps forward to where I could hear the sound. And to my surprised, it was a drunk woman that I found who was leaning against the wall with a sweat and pale face.

“Miss? Are you okay?”

And she again threw up on the ground and I was like disgusted with the smell. The reek of alcohol in her body was much stronger than mine, so if I will make a guess…I would say that she was more miserable than me.

“Hey Miss, are you still alive?” I was just kidding aside when I asked her that, but I was shocked when she talked back.

“I wish I was dead.” And she wiped those sweat beads on her white face before trying hard to stand straight in front of me, but she lost her balance and quickly I was able to grabbed her arm and helped her.

“You may be miserable right now, but I don’t think it’s right for you to wish for your death. We all have our problems you know, and things will get better eventually”

Just trying to make her feel better by saying that, but to be honest…I couldn’t even convince myself that what I’ve said were true.

I, myself was hoping too that somehow things will get better for me, but after meeting Marcus once again after a long time…My life became worst. And I had no idea when my life will ever be back to normal.

“Why does it sounds untrue?”

“Huh?” I was startled by her reaction to my statement. “Can you stand alone?” I asked and she nodded her head so I let her go.

“Do you honestly believe what you’ve said? That things will get better soon?” and that was a slapped on my face. I was stunned for a moment.

And she chuckled under her breath before exclaiming “Welcome to the miserable club sweetie”.

And she started taking steps away from me, though she was walking crookedly…she still tried to go on with her pace.

I pity her so I ran to her and grabbed her arm and place it around my shoulder, and my one hand on her waist. Then she looked at me with dismay.

“Where do you live? I’ll help you till you get a cab” I said and continued to carry her, and I was moved when she said…

“I’ll sleep in the street” she said bluntly and I stopped from walking, and so she did.

“Are you f*cking serious about that?”

“Uhm…yes my dear. I am fu*king serious about sleeping in the street” and she continued walking and left me with my parted lips, out of disbelief.

“Hey!” I yelled and she halted but didn’t turn her back to face me.

“I live nearby, would you like to stay for a night?”