Confess.
"It could be admitting to someone we have done wrong, a mistake, or a sin. It could also be telling someone how we genuinely feel for them--like a love confession. Or it could just be that we wanted to let out something. A deep feeling that we do not usually show openly. A secret--or just hidden emotions we do not dare others to have a glimpse of, but to only certain people we wish to tell."
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"The number you have dialed is now unattended. Please try again later."
SENTHIE and Cecile had been trying to reach Kassandra about seven times already but she wasn't picking up. They even texted her but no reply either.
"She's not picking up." Cecile sighed. "Is she dodging our calls? But why?"
"Maybe she's just busy?" Senthie trying to make a reason for Kassandra.
Cecile rolled her eyes as she sat on the counter bench. "Let's try to call Kenzo, this time. Kas might have said something to him last night." Suddenly, Cecile's eyes widened. "Don't tell me they're still together and doing something like... Oh my gosh, Sen!"
Senthie shook her head and laughed, her elbow leaning on the countertop. "No way! That can't be! Or maybe? Come on, call Kenzo."
Cecile called Kenzo's number and on the fourth ring he picked up. She put him on a loudspeaker.
"Hello?" His voice was deep and sounded half asleep. Perhaps, he was woken by the call.
"Why do you sound like that? Were you sleeping?" Cecile asked.
"Yeah, sorry. Just have a little bit of a hangover. Everything all right there?" His voice was a little bit normal now as if he had just sat up.
"Just wondering if you have gone back home safely last night."
"Yes, I have, though I don't quite actually remember how I got home," he said as he chuckled.
Senthie and Cecile returned glances at each other, brows furrowed. "Did you black out last night? What about Kas?"
"Right, she was with me last night, but...I don't--"
Cecile cut him off. "You don't have any recollection of last night after you black out? When did you pass out, anyway?"
"I'm sorry. I'll try to recall it, just give me a moment."
Senthie and Cecile waited until he spoke again. "My memories are juggled and seemed unclear, but I do recall now that Sandy drove me home and then left after I got into my condo unit."
"Okay. Ahm, did she tell you something before she left?" Cecile asked.
"Not that I could remember, but...her face last night wasn't happy, I'm sure of it. Maybe she was ashamed of me, I couldn't even hold my liquor." He chuckled and then asked, "why? Did something happen?"
"No, we can't just get a hold of her. She wasn't picking up her phone."
"Really? Then I'll try to call her, too."
"Thanks, Ken." Cecile ended the call and sighed heavily, and so as, Senthie, who had now taken her seat beside Cecile after standing so long.
"So nothing rated 18+ happened to them last night. But I am more intrigued by what Kassandra is up to now," Cecile stated as she put her phone into her jeans pocket.
"I wonder what happened. I'm getting worried." Senthie sighed and then looked at her phone screen. "I'll just text her again."
"Hi, Kas! We've been calling you a couple of times but you weren't answering. Are you okay? Hope you're doing fine. Are you coming here to Fashion Sen's? Anyway, I am hoping we could meet today. I have something to tell you. Please call or text me back when you read this message. Thanks!"
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"Kas!" Cecile shouted as soon as she saw Kassandra at the store's entrance. She stepped out of the counter and scurried towards Kassandra as if she didn't see her in so many years. "I thought you weren't coming. You didn't reply to any of our texts. What happened?"
Kassandra gave her a small smile that didn't reach her eyes. Perhaps, she was just forcing it. "I was busy."
Senthie headed their way. "Are you okay?"
"Can we talk in private?" Kassandra said sternly. Senthie's heartbeat quickened as she nodded and led the way to the VIP room.
Senthie exhaled, lips pursed, as she faced Kassandra. "Thank you, Kas. I really need to talk to you."
Kassandra smirked. "And so do I."
"You can go first," Senthie offered.
Kassandra folded her arms. "No, you go first."
There was something about Kassandra that made Senthie uneasy. The aura that she was giving off was intense and slightly scary as if she was trying to intimidate Senthie.
"Did something happen last night between you and Kenzo?" Senthie asked.
She scoffed. "Why? Are you jealous?"
Senthie creased her forehead. "No. Why would I? I was just worried about you. Kenzo didn't give you a hard time last night, did he? He's a light drinker." She chuckled.
"What is your relationship with Kenzo?" Kassandra asked without sparing a little laugh, her facial expression didn't change. Still intimidating.
Senthie's palms began to sweat as her heart pumped out loud and fast. Kassandra seemed to have an idea, Senthie thought. She let out a nervous sigh and gulped before she confessed, "Kenzo is my ex."
As soon as those words came out, Kassandra slapped Senthie's face real hard. The sound was sharp and crisp and surely had left a mark on her skin. Senthie's hand automatically went to her cheek as her eyes widened at Kassandra. She didn't see that coming. She wanted to ask her why, but she just stayed silent and waited for Kassandra's response, instead.
"So, it's true. You've been fooling me all this time." Kassandra shook her head as she looked at Senthie with hatred. "I thought I was your friend. Well, I guess I was just entertainment."
"No!" Senthie said defiantly as she placed her hands on Kassandra's arms. "Trust me, I intend to tell you. Why would you think of that? I asked to talk to you so that I can tell you. I would never fool you. I'm sorry if you felt that way... I'm really truly sorry, Kas."
"So, you want me to just accept your petty little sorry?" She shoved Senthie's hands away from her arm and brushed off the skin that was touched by her as if Senthie was a disgusting germ. "The damage has been done, Sen. Did you have fun watching me plead to you and entertain you with my unrequited crush on Kenzo? I bet you were laughing at me for being so dense and stupid! How dare you do this to me, Sen? You have all the time of the world to tell me the truth, and yet you chose not to."
"No, please, believe me, I was planning to. But these past few weeks I had a lot on my hands... It slipped out of my mind until today when I realized I've been delaying it too much. The damage has been done, you say. I agree. I'm really sorry. But even if Kenzo is my ex, you don't need to worry. We ended things properly between us, we're over, and now we're back to just being friends."
Kassandra scoffed and then stepped closer to Senthie and looked down at her with narrowed eyes. "Are you sure it is over? Because I cannot see it. He still loves you! He loves you so very much that it also hurts me!" She wiped the tears that fell to her cheeks. She then stepped backward, folded her arms, and looked away as she uttered, "it hurts me seeing him like that."
Senthie didn't say anything as she was so shocked to even respond to her at this moment. Kassandra sniffed and then laughed as she sat on the white single sofa. She then stared at Senthie for a bit before she began, "it was the first time. The first time I've felt like this. At first, I was so angry at you for not telling me, 'coz it made me think that you did it purposely. But the more I think about it, the more I realized that reason was just a part of what I truly feel." She stood up and dashed towards Senthie, her forefinger pointing at her. "I am angry at you for hurting him like that. I am mad at you for making him cry like that. I am furious with you for making him love you like that!"
She paused for a moment, took a sharp inhale, and exhale, then she continued with red teary eyes. "I hate you for making me realize what I truly feel for him. I hate you for making me swallow my pride and accept that what I feel for him is love! I hate you, Sen! I hate you for making me lose this game! I hate that all I have to do is admit that I never even had the chance to win this game in the first place. I hate that I lost in my own game."
Senthie's heart was as if being tortured by what Kassandra had said. She felt guilty about Kenzo and sorry for Kassandra at the same time. In fact, she wasn't really sure what to feel right now. But she was certain that she needed to say something and so she did.
"It's okay even if you lost in your own game. We can't always win all the time. We must admit that not everything will work out the way we had planned. There are things which we cannot control and that is okay." Senthie smiled at her kindly. "Going with the flow can sometimes be the best way to handle it. Not what we think, not what others people say, but when we follow our hearts, that is when we win. But let's make sure not to step on someone along the process."
Kassandra rolled her eyes and blew out some air. "I did not sign for unsolicited advice."
Senthie wanted to take back what she said. 'Who am I to give advice?' she thought. She was embarrassed. She even felt like she was being a hypocrite when she realized she had been hurting the people around her. "I-I'm so sorry, I should've said nothing."
She looked down and forced her eyes to shut, a crease on her forehead. She bit her lower lip, breathing in and out slowly, and then readied herself to hear what Kassandra had to say, but only a laugh filled the air as soon as she returned her gaze to her.
"I was just kidding," Kassandra said as she held Senthie's arms. "I felt comforted."
Senthie sighed in relief when the tension between them was suddenly gone as if it never happened. She smiled at her in gratitude and hugged her tightly. "I'm really sorry, Kas. Please, don't be mad at me anymore." She pulled away from the hug as she wiped away the tears of joy in her eyes. "Do you forgive me?"
Kassandra smirked and then nodded. "I do."
Senthie beamed and hugged her again. But this time, she jump for joy. Kassandra laughed as she bounced with her. She then pulled away from her. "You know what, Sen, you have something about you that can make people trust you so easily. I don't know how you do it but it really amazes me."
Suddenly, Senthie's face became gloomy. She remembered all the men she had broken the trust, and also, how she never gained her mother's trust.
"Are you okay? I'm sure I wasn't trying to offend you," Kassandra said.
Senthie forced a smile. "No, you didn't. I just somehow agree and disagree with what you said about trust."
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Hello, Noomiells!
Thank you for reading this chapter. Hope you liked it. :D
I can't believe Cecile could even think of Kenzo doing something R18! Come on, girl. Baby Ken isn't like that. He's not a beast! He's like somewhat a puppy. XD
And Senthie? She's been slapped two times already! Who will be the next slapper? XD
What do you think of Kassandra's speech? (I think I've written the scene not as dramatic as I imagined it.)
Do you like giving advice?
I would like to know your opinion. Please, let me know! :D