"Lau-Lauren..stop." Camila whimpered as she was trying to push Lauren's face from sucking her neck. But the latter acted like she didn't hear a thing and moved her lips lower and resided at Camila's collarbone.
Camila let out a loud sigh, even though it feels good, Lauren must be stopped. The reason is that, they're in an elevator, not a room. Suddenly the elevator stopped at the 3rd floor and Camila has to do something drastic to stop her horny fiancé.
To Lauren's surprise, she felt a painful pang on her left cheek and the force caused her to be thrown a few steps backwards. After a few seconds she looked at Camila, shocked by her action. She just slapped her face.
Camila gulped, "There are people coming.."
The elevator door opened, and they were later joined by a decent looking family of four. Their youngest daughter turned around and being the cute child she is, she flashes Lauren a friendly smile and tugged her dress. Lauren however, who wasn't in the mood for kids, scowled at the poor child with her scary gaze. The girl's lips begin to curl downwards and her eyes were sparkling with tears.
Lauren sighed and looked away, avoiding eye contact in hope to undo her action but it was too late. The girl let out an annoying sharp sound, followed by tears that fell down like a waterfall. Her mother panicked and kneeled down at her.
"Hey, what's wrong dear?" Her mother asked the four year old. She didn't say anything but held tight to her mother's leg and sobs.
Camila stared at her fiancé the whole time with a disappointed look on her face but Lauren ignored her and focused her eyes to the stain on the elevator's wall.
The elevator stopped at the 5th floor where the family made their exit. Silence filled the atmosphere after they left. Lauren and Camila were standing at opposite corners of the elevator with no words being spoken.
"You slapped my face." Lauren suddenly said.
Camila sighed, "I had to stop you."
"You can just tell me to."
"I tried but it didn't work."
Lauren glared at Camila before turning her back to her.
"That's so mature of you Lauren Jauregui." Camila said, rolling her eyes.
Lauren scoffed but still refused to turn around.
"You even made the little girl cry." Camila added.
"It was her own fault." Lauren mumbled.
"Was it so hard to smile at her?"
Lauren shook her head and turned around, "Gee, I'm sorry I'm not in the mood to act all friendly to strangers because my fiancé just slapped me in the face."
They looked at each other.
Camila sighed and walked to her before wrapping her arms around her waist. Lauren was still acting defensive and stood still like a cold statue. But Camila's soft kiss on her left cheek made her give in.
"I'm sorry." Camila whispered.
"Not your fault." Lauren said before circling her hands around her fiancé's neck.
Sensing that everything is okay between them, Camila broke the hug and look at her Lauren closely.
"So which floor?" She asked.
"It's on the 9th. Room number...92."
Camila nodded, "We should do this quick though, or else your family will be wondering where we are." She said.
"It's okay, we'll try to finish it in...20 minutes?" Lauren asked.
Camila nodded and looked down, embarrassed. "Okay."
Lauren smiled, "Stop blushing, you're turning me on."
Camila chuckled, "Then stop being turned on at the random things I do!"
Lauren shrugged, "It's you. You look sexy in my eyes even when you snore in your sleep with drool all over the pillow."
"Aww...was that supposed to be sweet?"
The elevator door opens again when it finally reached the 9th floor. Lauren quickly grabs Camila's hand and intertwined their fingers together before walking out of the elevator in perfect sync. There was a sense of urgency in their steps, as they walked towards room number 92.
Camila slid her free hand around Lauren's waist, causing the other girl to let out a soft moan. She quickly turned the door knob before realizing that it's locked.
"Damn it! Where is the card key?" Lauren grunted. She looked at Camila and gave her an awkward smile before beginning to look into her purse.
Camila chuckled; seeing Lauren in need never failed to entertain her. She leaned closer to the impatient girl, teasing her with a kiss on her left ear before sensually running her hand on Lauren's arms, rubbing gently on her smooth skin. Lauren whimpers as she tries to ignore her and focus on finding the card key. She must find the goddamn key and teach Camila a lesson once they get inside.
Where is the damn key?
Camila giggled as she enjoys the view of Lauren rummaging through her purse like a maniac. She glanced to her side to check if there was anyone else in the hallway.
She saw a familiar face.
Ariana was exiting a room, maybe two doors away from her. She closed the door shut, turned around, and noticed that Camila was looking at her. She cleared her throat and walked towards the elevator, trying to act normal.
Camila wasn't quite sure how to react at the moment, but in the end she gave her a friendly smile. Ariana gave her a small nod and smiled back at her before mouthing 'what's wrong?' as she pointed at the oblivious Lauren. Camila grinned and showed her the card key that she's been keeping from Lauren in her right hand. Ariana made a shocked face and shook her head. The elevator arrived and she quickly enters it before going down.
"Where is the f***ing key?!" Lauren said, almost shouting.
"Are you sure you put it in the purse, Blankie?" Camila asked sweetly.
Lauren grunts again, "Yeah! Where else could it be?!" She said before checking her purse again.
Camila grinned and turned around to check the hallway again. This time she saw a glimpse of someone she didn't expect to be there.
A young woman with perfect long hair closed the door shut behind her, the same door that Ariana just emerged from. She hurriedly walked towards the elevator with a hand covering her face. Along with her big glasses, it was hard to see her face clearly. Camila stares at her, as she looked eerily familiar. She has a suspicious thought in her head of who the person could be but she hoped she was wrong. Suddenly the woman turned her face to Camila and their eyes met.
Camila froze.
I know her.
The young woman quickly entered the elevator after their brief eye contact, like she was avoiding her. But Camila saw the ring on her finger. She recognizes the ring very well, since she and Dinah went to the jewelry store together to order the specially made couple rings.
The ring that Dinah bought for...
..Jade.
"I'VE OPENED THE DOOR!" Lauren shouted in victory.
Camila turned to her and realized that the door was flung open and the key was no longer in her hand.
"Laur? When did you..?"
Lauren ignores her and wrapped one hand around her fiancé's waist.
"Wait Blankie, I think I just saw..."
She didn't manage to finish her sentence when Lauren put a finger on her mouth to silence her.
"You're naughty. Now get ready to be punished." She said before pushing Camila into the room and locking the door.
They were in there for more than 20 minutes.
**
"I wonder if there's someone inside. It's been locked for a while." A woman asks her friend. She was talking about a toilet in the woman's bathroom.
"I don't know, maybe it's out of order. Let's get back to the party." Her friend replied.
In the toilet, a young woman was sitting on the toilet seat, burying her face in her palms. Her hands were wet with tears that were continuously dropping from her eyes. It's her birthday and she should be celebrating; but ironically the day had been nothing but a disaster for her. Knowing the truth from someone from the past really drained her emotion. All the things she thought were true turned out to be lies.
It's all lies.
Her conversation with Jhene a while ago replays in her head.
--
"DAMN IT KEHLANI! YOUR MOTHER PAID BEA TO LEAVE YOU!" Jhene shouted loud and clear.
Kehlani froze.
"My mother...did what?" She asked, stuttering.
"Your mother...offered Bea an amount of money that she couldn't refuse, just to leave you." Jhene said.
"Wh-what are you talking about?" Kehlani asked as her grip on the woman's collar tightens.
"Bea was in need of money at the time so she took the offer and...left you." Jhene continued, gulping.
"No, you're lying." Kehlani said firmly.
Jhene sighed, "You can ask her yourself or...yeah that scary secretary. She was threatening me too, telling me to keep it as a secret or...They'll do something to expel me from the university."
Kehlani shook her head, "You-You're telling me that my mother paid Bea to leave me and she...accept it?! She would never leave me for money! And my mother would never do that to me! This is bullshit!"
Jhene cleared her throat, "No."
"This is the truth." She said.
She took a step forward, "The truth is your mother had always watched your every move and made decisions for you and..
..the truth is..Bea never really loved you. She only stayed with you for..your money."
--
Kehlani continued to cry, until there were no more tears that came out of her eyes. She had never felt so cheated before. It hurts even more when she was cheated by the people she loved.
She thought Bea loved her.
She was wrong.
She thought her mother was doing what's best for her.
She was wrong.
Their lies had almost caused her to give up her life.
If it wasn't for her brother, she'd already be history by now, her brother who will always be there for her and fight for her.
The person she trusts the most.
Harry...I need you right now.
**
"Mani, there's something I want to talk to you about." Harry said gently.
Normani looked at the man before her and moved closer. They stood there in silence, guessing each other thoughts.
"You know, I've never met anyone like you before." He said, starting the conversation.
Normani raised an eyebrow, "Is that a good or a bad thing?"
Harry lets out a small chuckle and it made Normani feel relieved. At least he's smiling.
But his smile eventually faded as he replied, "It's...both."
"How so? That's confusing." She said, puzzled. She looked at his serious facial expression and her worries returned.
He lifted one hand and gently fixes her hair. He smiled, "It's a good thing because...you make me smile every time I see your face."
Normani could feel her cheeks heat up. She's sure her face had turned pink, how she wished she can control her blush.
"It's a good thing because...I can always be myself when I'm with you." He added as he put both her hands into his palm. They gazed into each other's eyes and smiled. He lifts her hand slowly before gently planting a soft kiss on the back of her right hand.
Normani's heart was beating uncontrollably; she was worried he could hear her heartbeat. That would be embarrassing, if not creepy.
He let out a heavy sigh and looked into her eyes, "And it's also a good thing because...
...you let me discover what love feels like."
"I've never felt like this before. Not with anyone before you." He added, indicating his previous girlfriend.
Normani cleared her throat and gulped for air.
"So...what's the bad thing about meeting someone like me?" She asked, acting cool.
He smiled, "It's a bad thing because...you eat like a pig."
Normani scoffed, "Hey! That's not a nice thing to say to a girl!" She said before hitting his arm.
He rubbed his arm, "It's also a bad thing because sometimes you act like a boy, and your punch really hurts."
"It's not my fault that you're a girl." Normani said, letting go of his hand.
Harry chuckled and looked at the beautiful young woman before him. He stood there as the silence filled the atmosphere. His thoughts were rearranging the lines that he's been meaning to say since yesterday but his heart always stops him from doing so.
He took a deep breath, "It's a bad thing because...
"What now?" Normani asked, annoyed.
What he's about to say will hurt them both, but it has to be done.
...because meeting you turned me against my family."
Normani was expecting another witty comeback from him, but he really surprised her. She looked at him and he was being totally serious.
"Meeting you has turned me into a bad brother." He added.
Normani was speechless, she wonders if he was joking.
"We just can't do this anymore." Harry said firmly.
Normani swallowed hard, "What is...going on here?"
"Mani, can you forgive me?" He replied with a question.
"Forgive you? What are you talking about?" Normani asked.
He took a step forward and took her hand in his, "Mani, I can't take you away from Kehlani. I thought I had the strength to do so but...I don't."
Normani was too shocked, she felt like her world has stopped turning. Somewhere in the back of her mind, she has expected this to happen. But still, she hoped she heard him wrong.
Is he...breaking up with me?
Emotional awkward silences fill the atmosphere between the two people. They continue to look at each other without any words spoken.
Normani is neither deaf nor stupid; she understood what he meant clearly.
She gathers the strength to open her mouth, "But...
...you said you love me."
Harry let out a loud sigh and Normani could see the sparkle reflected from his sad eyes. After a few moments, he smiled.
Ironically it's the saddest smile she has ever seen.
"I do love you." He said slowly.
"Then why are you letting me go?" Normani asked, on the verge of tears.
"Because I can't bring myself to...break her heart." He replied, looking away.
Normani scoffed, "What the..."
"Because I've made a promise to her,
...a promise to protect her." He continued.
Normani bit her lip as she looked at the man before her. He is sacrificing his own happiness for his sister. She could tell that it wasn't easy for him. He was on the verge of tears but he tried to be strong, as a man, he would not cry.
"Please forgive me." Harry said and a tear escaped the corner of his right eye.
Normani moved closer and lifts her hand to cup his face. As soon as they touched, tears fell down from her eyes.
"There's nothing to be forgiven." Normani said, gently wiping his tears with her fingers. He looked down, trying to hide his teary eyes but she held his face.
"But I can't promise to be with Kehlani anymore." She added.
He looked surprised, "Why?"
She forced herself to smile before replying, "Because I fell in love with a man. A great man."
Harry froze.
"He said that I made him feel something he never felt before. I just want to let him know that he made me feel the same way too." She said, looking away.
"Mani...
She looked up and met his eyes,
"But now, I will let him go."
**
Taylor rolled her eyes for the nth time. She was so annoyed, but she can't stop glancing at the next table, the table where Hailey and Jaden are. She had dragged Madison with her, with the initial plan to bother them again. But when she got there, she can't take another step closer and ends up sitting at the table beside them. That's the closest she can get. It's too painful up close.
The youngest Jauregui let out an irritated scoff when she saw Jaden feed Hailey the dessert. Thinking that was totally unnecessary, what's the purpose of having hands and spoon for?
Her paid girlfriend stares at her, observing her every gesture, every frown and every frustrated grunt she makes. It was obvious.
"You like Hailey." Madison said out of nowhere.
Her sudden statement made Taylor stop glancing at the neighbouring table for once and stared at the girl before her. Madison looked away, beginning to regret her impulsive mouth. Cold sweats formed on her forehead as she feels Taylor's eyes on her. She was ready to take any consequences and already thinking of the worst.
Taylor sighed causing Madison to gulp,
"But she doesn't like me..." She said.
Madison was shocked; she was expecting some harsh curses and brutal name calling from her, not a confession. Taylor stares blankly into the air and bit her lip, probably regretting the last sentence that she blurted out.
She quickly clears her throat, "Well, what I meant was..."
"It's okay to like her." Jiyoung said.
"Didn't you hear me the first time? I said that she doesn't like me. Well, not 'that' way." Taylor replied.
Madison took a deep breath, "Is it wrong to like someone who doesn't like you back?" She asked.
Taylor scoffed, "It's not wrong, it's just pathetic and I don't want to be a pathetic loser. So I'm going to stop liking her. You hear me?"
Madison looked down and stared at her melting strawberry ice cream.
"Then I'm pathetic." She mumbled.
"What did you say?" Taylor asked.
Madison shook her head, "Nothing."
Taylor shrugged and leaned her back against her seat, "I'm completely over her and I don't care about it anymore."
She glanced at the young couple again, "Look, they're holding hands and I'm okay with it." She said, smiling.
Madison stares at Taylor, puzzled, unsure of her intention of saying so.
"And now he is wiping her mouth with a napkin, and...I...am...okay with it.." Taylor said as her smile slowly faded. She grits her teeth and looked down; truth is she's not okay with it. She was boiling with jealousy inside, so much that she could cry. But she was acting tough in front of Madison.
After a few seconds she turned her gaze from the balled fist on her lap to the girl before her. Madison was staring at her, with a worried look on her face. Like she was able to read Taylor's mind and see through her cover. Taylor glared at her and glances at the couple again.
And she saw it clearly.
Their lips were touching.
...Her eyes are closed...
She quickly turned around and bit her lip, trying hard to control her emotions.
"They are kissing..."
She looks at Madison and tries hard to smile,
"...and I am...okay with it."
As soon as she finishes her sentence, she closed her eyes and tears rolled down her cheeks.
**
Kehlani was pacing fast through the hallway. Her eyes were red, the result from crying in the toilet earlier. She was heading towards the party to find her brother and tell him all about their mother's lies. She knows he will understand and stand by her side like he always does.
As she walked past the corridor, she saw a familiar figure standing by the large window across the ballroom. It was her brother, Harry. It looks like he was talking with someone but Kehlani couldn't tell with whom since the person was standing behind the big pillar. Kehlani don't care anymore, she wants to go to him and hug him, cry on his shoulders and listen to his comforting words. She marched there, with rapid steps, trying to get there as soon as possible.
"But I will always love you." Harry suddenly said to the other person.
Kehlani was only a few steps away from him and she heard him clearly. She slowed her steps, puzzled, wondering who the person could be.
"Harry..." A voice said.
A very familiar voice.
Then Kehlani witnessed it with her own eyes.
A young woman reaches her hands forward and embraces her brother in an intimate hug. They wrapped their arms around each other with their eyes closed.
Kehlani was trembling with anger. She grits her teeth as the tears begin to fall from her eyes.
"NORMANI YOU BITCH!" She shouted.