No Strings Attached

Chapter 10

"And this."

There's more? He felt like laughing hard.
It was Zee and Ara again. The lady holding Zee's arms while standing near a man and woman holding a baby.

"It's Ara's bestfriend's child's birthday. It was taken just this morning." He almost drop the glass he was holding.

"Oh, Nhu. I'm sorry."

He felt that James stood up and sat beside him. His friend hold his hand and squeezed it. He squeezed his friend's hand back to let him know he's okay.

He smiled at his friend. It was a force one but that's all he can give at that time. "It's okay. I know what I'm getting myself into. Don't worry about me, Jamiee."

James sadly nods in response. "Whatever happens, we got you back, Princess NhuNu. We can't bring down Zee Pruk but we can use withcraft on him. My Grandma knows this really, really old and powerful witch in Ayutthaya. Kidding aside, you have me and Nat to share your pain with."

He can't help but laugh. James laugh with him too.

"Thanks, Queen. I'll keep that in mind, but I don't think I'll need it. Zee can't hurt me. I won't let him.

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Nunew have no idea how he was able to get through the remaining hours of his work. He was like a robot who automatically moves in the office. He was there but his thought wasn't. He hated it.

He decided to go home early. He clock out at four thirty in the afternoon. He went straight to the restroom and called Zee.

"Nunew."

He close his eyes when he heard his voice. "I'm sorry for calling you out of the blue."

"It's okay. My meeting finished early. I'm just putting my things away. What is it, Nunew?" Zee's tone was low and indulgent as if he had all the time in the world to listen to him.

He heard the sound of keyboard clicking on the other line. He sigh before he continues. "You said you don't have a girlfriend."

He heard the noise from the other line disapper. "I know we shouldn't ask any personal question about each other and I know you told me that you are not in a relationship right now but I want this clear, Zee. Do you have a girlfriend or a fiancee?" He felt butterflies on his stomach.

"Why are you asking me this again, Nunew?"

He felt more flying butterflies on his stomach. Zee's voice is so cold and so hard. "Just answer my question!"

"I already gave you an answer. Why are you asking me this again." "What about Ara?"
Zee didn't answer. It's like a punch on his face.

"Ara and I are nothing but close friends."

Close friends. He mock those words.

"And what about the rumors that the two of you are engaged?"

"They're just rumors."

"Yet you're with her the whole Sunday last week, and the following Monday, too. In a private island. Are those just rumors too?"

"What the fuck are you talking about? Is this~~~"

Zee sigh. "Are you talking about Uncle Wang Taeyon's birthday? Yes, I spent the whole Sunday on a private island for his birthday with around fifty other guests. And yes, I was there until Monday with the other guests. What the hell is this about, Nunew?"

"What about Kimmy Walt?"

The pregnant silence is deafening. Now, He had a clear idea on what it feels for a child to suffer from hemmorrhagic fever. He felt that something inside of him is bleeding.

"I'm not discussing Kim with you."

That was all Nunew needed.

He laugh at himself. "Of course. The same way you won't discuss why you're so attached to Ara, right? Just like how you deny that it was her who called you the other night, right? Like the first night, we've seen each other in the club, she called you in the fucking middle of the night, Zee. Are you saying you've been friends with Ara for almost half of your life and you've never developed any romantic relationship with her? Are you saying, you go as her date on important personal occassions and yet there's nothing going on between you two? Are you saying you didn't sleep with Ara or with any other women on the island? You want me to believe that?" He didn't even realized he was already shouting.

Zee's voice was controlled when he speak up again. "I'll pick you up in twenty minutes. Let's talk when I get there."

Zee ended the call and Nunew felt that it's not only the telephone call that ended between them.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

He didn't bring his Lamborghini to work because Zee brought him to his office. He hailed a taxi and ask to be brought to the nearest MRT station.

He lean his back on his seat. He felt like being splashed by a cold water. He was chilling.
He look for his cellphone on his bag and send text messages to James, Nat and Sarawat. He said that he needs a quiet time on weekdays and won't be able to receive any messages or call from any of them. He told James not to worry because he was okay. He also send a message to his parents, even on the back of his mind, they wouldn't even notice that he was gone even if he disappear for years.

And lastly, he sent a message to Zee.

He sigh and was trembling as he type the message.

'I'm sorry about the way I acted. It was so out of it. I couldn't believe it myself. I'm not like this and I don't like it. I need time to think right now, Zee. I need to clear my head to straighten myself again. I'm sorry for ruining our plan. But I think this is for the best. When I get back on Monday, do you think you can spare an hour for me? We need to talk.'

He turn off his phone. Bringing the bag that he was suppose to use on his planned trip with Zee. He went straight to MRT terminal to airport. He look at the flight's schedule and choose Hua Hin as his weekend destination.