JESS
Denise is not answering my texts. She didn’t even wake me up before she left. Gosh, I was so drunk yesterday.
“Jax?” Is he still here?
There he is, sleeping on the couch. “Hey, handsome. Wakey, wakey.” I kiss him on his cheeks. He’s snoring loud means that he’s tired. I don’t want to wake him up, but he needs to go to work.
“Hmm?” only sound he made before falling asleep again. Fine, I’ll wake him up after I shower.
The storm’s still here, less aggressive, but still aggressive. I need to get to the office in 30 minutes, Alex needs me for his article.
Speaking of article, why isn’t Denise returning my texts and calls? There’s a sudden rush of panic run to my veins.
“F*ck.” Is it already published? Maybe they didn’t bother to tell me about it because of my personal relation with Denise.
The sick feeling brought by the thought of the Article published vanished when Alex texted me asking where I am, means that he’s just about to publish it. Thank God, for giving me friends who thinks about my feelings. I know that they’re not going to do anything damaging to me without my knowledge.
I texted him back: I’m on my way. Hang on champ.
I finished showering and opened my medicine cabinet to get some meds for my headache. Another relief when I saw that the phone is still there, hanging on. I was so drunk to even care about the secrets she might find out while I’m passed out.
Jax is already up and is in his work outfit.
“Good morning. I’m so sorry but I really need to go to work. We have briefing
today.” He’s in rush and he’s panicking. Gosh, I should’ve woken him up.
“Okay, okay. Go on. Buy your lunch at Trio?” I didn’t have the time to cook him lunch. I was drunk, he’s tired.
“Of course.” He gave me a kiss. “Bye, beautiful. Take care!”
Five minutes after he left, I left.
“Good morning, Jess.” Secretary greeted me.
“Did you just got here?”
“Oh no. Boss asked me to buy foods from Trio for us. He said that this is a Big Day for Alex and he wants to celebrate in your office the moment the Article’s published.”
“Oh…” I can see a lot of foods inside her car and she’s holding only four plastic bags. “You want me to help you?” She nods.
On the elevator ride up, she told me stories about her son. He’s better than before and she also said that she’s just happy to see him smile knowing that he’s in pain.
When I got inside my office, the panic in his eyes lessen.
“Oh, thank you!” he sits down.
“Thank God, you’re here. He’s panicking like a baby.” Perry commented.
“Are you done with your part?” I ask Perry, he’s sitting comfortably with coffee on his hands.
He nods. “Uh-huh. Yesterday.”
Alex zooms his screen for me to only see the title. “Mira decided about the title so…”
‘The Dark side of the City’s most powerful couple’ an exclusive interview with Mira Chavez.
Before I comment, boss enters the room.
“It’s time, you guys!” he giggles. He knows that the company’s name is about to blow up again. Secretary follows him with the snacks.
“Come on, lighten up, Alex! This is the first highlight of your career so smile.” Alex tried his best to smile. “Ask Jess, huh? This is good for your career.”
Alex and Perry looked at me with concern. I mouthed them that it’s okay and that to enjoy the moment. I don’t want them to worry about me and I don’t want to make this about me. I’m really happy for Alex.
Maybe Denise deserves this.
We had our time together and I get to say goodbye to her, and that is enough. It’s time for me to start cleaning my mind and this is the first step. Maybe after this, Jax and I will move to the Village and will open a business so I can stop writing.
Alex clicks the submit button.
“Your article’s now posted!” Boss celebrates. He’s smiling so much, as well as Secretary. When I look at Alex, he’s waiting for me.
I smiled genuinely and gave him a sweet, tight hug. “Aw. Congrats, Alex! This is your first and expect that there will be more for you.”
“Are you okay?” he ask.
I look at him. “Why wouldn’t I? This is the right thing, yeah? I already said my goodbye to her yesterday, so this is all totally okay with me.” I lied to him. This is not yet okay with me, this is difficult.
“So, please, smile.” I gave him a kiss on his forehead. He smiles. That’s what I’m waiting for, that’s all I wanted to see.
“Look her, guys! 1, 2, 3, smile!” Secretary captured Alex’ moment, the first highlight of his career. Perry and Alex hugged each other then pulled me for a group hug.
After only 5 minutes, the Article’s blowing up. The look of success in Alex’ eyes made my situation less difficult. Many of our co-workers came by to congratulate Alex. I’m surprised to see Relm happy for Alex’ success, but with me, she’s jealous?
“She likes, Alex. Boo.” Perry’s beside me.
I know he knows that I’m not okay, he’s a radar.
“Yeah, she’s happy for Alex but with me?” I scoff.
“That’s not girl power at all. I’m very disappointed.”
He’s not talking about the situation at all, he’s telling me jokes. Mostly about our snake and jealous co-workers. Thank God for Perry, and for Alex success.
“You’re good, Jess. Just go on with cleaning your plate.” The voice in my head says. I agree with you, voice, only few more steps and we’ll be good. Maybe after that, you’ll go away, and I can move on to a better life inside the Village with Jax.
DENISE
Even drunk, there’s no way for me to forget what happened yesterday. The storm, blackout, candles, classic teen slasher movie that ended very fast, my phone, and her laptop.
I’m on my way home now. Jax went home at 1 am in the morning, I was going home but then he asked me to just sleep beside Jess and that he’s fine sleeping on the couch. My head hurts so I accepted. I was careful not to wake them up when I was leaving.
I need to go faraway from here. My house on the East is the better spot for me to think and plan my next move about Jess.
My mistake with Ocean is when I called Tale guy to kill Ocean, I was out of my mind. I don’t want to think the same mistake again. I need to think this thoroughly, what we have feels so good and real, and I don’t want all of this to go away.
Ocean deserves to die, he beats me up just because I love him and I wanted to protect him. What’s so wrong with that?
I told my driver to go home for the day. I need to be alone.
My phone’s buzzing from calls and texts from many people. “Leave me alone!” I shouted at it. Gosh, will I ever be alone? People thinks that they own my privacy.
“F*ck everyone.” I sighed before answering a phone call from my manager. “Not now. Give me some time—”
“What the hell, Denise? Why didn’t you tell us about all this before?” He sounds so upset.
“About what?” I asked him. What’s happening?
“Open your goddamn messages and you’ll find out. After you do that, call me.” He hangs up. Panicking, I scrolled through our conversation.
‘The Dark side of the City’s most powerful couple’ an exclusive interview with Mira Chavez.
“What is this?” I scrolled through the bottom, there is a recording. I heard Ocean’s voice and… Mira.
“I hit Denise!”
“Why on Earth would you do that to the woman you replaced me with, huh? Are you that stupid?”
“I don’t know, okay? She’s really annoying. She’s obsessed with me, Mira. She’s scaring me.”
“What do you mean obsessed?”
“I don’t know. I can’t tell you everything right now. My head is——- you know it is…. I don’t know, Mira! She’s… she’s different.”
I stopped right there and quickly called my manager.
“Pack your things up before the Police gets to you, Denise. We need to plan your statement about this. I’m sending your driver back—”
“Wait.” I stopped him. “I will go to the office myself.”
“What? Are you insane? Don’t make this more complicated than it is, Denise. I’m sending you driver back, now.”
“Trust me, okay? Give me a day or two and I will be back. Trust me, please?” I repeated. “I just need to do something.” Then I hang up.