What was I? Stupid?
Why were my lips blabbering about divorce? We weren't even married!
I shook my head, feeling my limbs go weaker than ever. Everywhere seemed too quiet. Did the music stop?
"My heart belongs only to me now. D-Do you understand?" I found myself saying, my lips loose. Very loose.
Damian...looked weird. His usual composed face didn't hold a scowl like it usually did at the sight of me. He was gazing at me seriously, speechless.
Impressed at my own bravado, I swerved my feet backwards, determined to make a victory exit. I could hear several voices. Someone was yelling. Helen?
Crash. Despite the alcohol and my mind going blurry, I felt the pain when I crashed to the cold ground.
***
I woke up with a banging headache. Several groans of discomfort escaped my lips as I stirred on the bed, my eyes adjusting to the sunlight that intruded my room.
Wait. My room?
I blinked twice, staring at the high ceilings intricately designed with accents of gold.
High ceilings! Since when did my humble studio apartment have high ceilings?!
Jumping out of the bed with a sudden burst of adrenaline, my hangover momentarily forgotten, I dashed out of the room.
Unfamiliar. Unfamiliar. Where the hell am I?
What happened last night?
My feet led me into a spacious hallway and my mouth fell open, entranced at the decor.
A few steps ahead of me was a wide, U-shaped staircase and I tiptoed, getting closer. "What a beautiful home." I blinked again, barely believing my eyes.
The decor was simple yet gorgeous with walls bathed in white and gold and expensive antique furniture.
I let out a cough, remembering my situation. For the life of me, I couldn't recall a single thing that happened last night. What happened after I took those drinks?
My mind raced to Helen and my eyes boggled. Where was Helen?
Taking the stairs, I dashed downstairs quickly, my bare feet kissing the marble floor.
"Helen?" I called out, knowing no one else to relate yesterday's event back to the present.
No answer.
I sighed, looking around the place as I proceeded to God knows where. Where was I exactly? I had no idea.
I took more steps forward, appreciating the beautiful expanse that was the living room until I smelled something good. My stomach growled and I sighed, the feeling of hunger enveloping me.
I was suddenly reminded that I didn't let a morsel of food touch my lips yesterday with all the sadness I was feeling.
"Someone's cooking," I mumbled to myself, taking deliberate steps ahead, my senses following the smell.
I got to the kitchen soon enough and I could barely believe my eyes. It was someone I knew all too well. Damian!
I immediately backed away, my actions purely instinctive. What was he doing here?
Or rather, how did I end up here? This was Damian's house?
I examined my surroundings once again, this time with new eyes. So this was Damian's house. And I had no idea.
A dark chuckle bubbled up my throat and I suppressed it by pursuing my lips while shaking my head.
Suddenly, the memories of the previous night washed over me, resolution travelling straight up my spine.
I see now. I had fainted and somehow, he generously brought me here.
Engrossed with my thoughts, it didn't occur to me when a looming figure was suddenly beside me. "Why are you hiding here?"
His voice, like cool water from a spring, reached my ears causing my heart to jump and I jerked in surprise, backing away from him.
There wasn't an inch of emotion in his face, his gaze as cryptic as ever as he locked eyes with me, his beautiful brows arched in question.
My chest heaved up and down and I breathed to calm myself, frowning. "Don't scare me like that." I admonished, looking at him.
"In that case, don't hide in my house like a thief," he coldly answered, his words burning into me like hot coal. Ignoring me, he turned to head back into the kitchen.
I scoffed, folding my arms. "That's right, why did you bring me here in the first place?"
He paused, turning to face me. I saw it right then in his eyes. The surprise that he tried to hide. The old me would never speak back to him in that manner.
I was changing and I knew it.
"Sorry, what?" He turned to face me fully, his brows wrinkled like he couldn't understand my question.
"I said, why bring me here? It's been four years and you never let me know even the location of where you lived. Suddenly, it's okay for me to spend the night?"
My brows were furrowed. I was angry.
I could sense the irritation clawing up his arms as he looked away from me, that scowl that used to send me shivers, returning.
"Should I have let you sleep there in the floor of the bar? After your bold proclamations?"
My cheeks reddened at 'bold proclamations'. I had declared a divorce on us when we weren't even wed.
Regaining my self, I clicked my tongue, openly glaring at him. "Sleeping on the bare floor is so much better than being next to you, Mr. Wester."
I couldn't believe my own mouth. Where was this courage coming from?
He looked at me, every emotion in his face dying to the usual cryptic mask I've always detested. My words should have cut deep...if I meant anything to him.
But he just stared at me silently like it was some game where the first to break eye contact loses.
I meant nothing to him. The cold realization sent shockwaves of pain radiating deep into my soul. It hurt so much.
I smiled, looking away. "I know I've bugged you for the longest time," I finally admitted.
I should have quit it from the very beginning. It was our parents decision to engage us even before we were born. I had loved him all of my youth but the feelings were never reciprocated.
I should have let him go. Better late than never.
"I free you from this thing we have, Mr Wester." I looked up to find him looking back at me. How ironic. I was the one in bondage.
"From today, you're free to do whatever you want," Hell, he's been doing whatever he wanted regardless. "You don't have to answer to me or anybody else anymore"
When had he ever answered to me before?
Silence reigned between us as if afraid to speak. "From today I am..." I paused for a minute, the thought in my mind making me chuckle.
"From today, I am, proudly, no longer yours"