Yufa

The thundering beat of my heart against my chest  was too loud. Too loud that my ears seemed to only hear them. My labored breaths were short and painful. This can't be happening.

I run back towards the event, unsure of what to do. Someone pushed the door for me and I hurried inside. The room was still packed with guest and the music was still playing the soft melody it had earlier.

My mind is in chaos. I can't think straight. Out of all the unpleasant memories I had with Nathan, the images of him kissing that woman is the worst of all. Never had dreamed in my life as his wife to see him cheat right in front of my eyes. We are on an event hosted by my family, and yet he dared to do his underground business on this very day. Sweet grasses! Can't he hold his horses for just one night? Both of our families are in this room, thinking we are doing great. Yes! He is doing great! They are doing great exchanging breaths and saliva. Who knows? Maybe they're already making out on that damned balcony, eager to feel both skins on fire. That thought alone made me cringe inwardly.

I'm not even sure what to feel right now. I'm pissed, angry and ashamed. I don't even know what I'm ashamed of. Perhaps because I saw them? Or because I have a husband whose been cheating right under my nose? I really don't know.

I thought back to those days I was still dreaming of having my own family. I imagined my husband to be loving man, caring and faithful, the typical good boy. Thats what an ideal man is all about when I was sixteen. That when we got married, he will only have his eyes trained on me. That I'll be the most beautiful woman in his eyes even if Im just on my pajamas. That I'll have all his love. That he'll treat me like a queen, and I'll treat him like a king in our kingdom called our home. But fate is cruel to me. I served a king, yes. I was his servant and thus, treated like one.

I need a drink.

There is no better than a taste of alcohol right now. I looked around looking for the waiters that delivers the drinks to the guests. Luckily, I spotted one coming this way. I grabbed the lone drink and gulped it down until theres nothing left.

Because I was not a heavy drinker, I felt a light buzz in my head immediately. Somehow, it soothes my distressed mind. It offered me a brief pause of thinking undesirable things, of which I'm glad. I need to find my mama. Her presence will surely provide comfort, but when I look around it's impossible find her easily. There were too many heads that towered my eyesight. Aside from that, she is a petite woman, like me. Thee dim light didn't do me a favor either, so I had to dive into this darkness to find her.

Too busy scanning the crowd for any signs of my mama, I failed noticed a man on my way. I bumped into his back and I heard something broke on the floor. That's when I realized I was still holding the empty glass of champagne I had earlier. The poor glass laid lonely and shattered on the cold floor.

"Oh, I'm sorry!" I cried. The impact had caught the attention of the guests around. They started to stare at me and the broken glass. Right. Just when did a broken glass became a big deal with this filthy rich people. Their stares made me feel uneasy.

The man turned to me and examines the mess and the people staring at us.

"It's okay. We're fine." His velvety voice broke the tension. As if receiving a royal command, the crowd resumed doing their previous agenda and no one dared to look back.

I blinked twice. He despersed the crowd so easily with just two sentences. Just who on earth is this man anyway?

"Are you okay? Are you hurt?" He asked me, offering his hand.

I took his hand and I let him guide me away from the mess, letting the waiters take care of it. Now that I can see him clearly, I noticed his chiseled features. He had a pointed chin and his hair was black or so I thought.

"I'm fine." I murmured. We exchanged pleasantries for the next 5minutes and I grew anxious for Nathan is taking forever and I cannot find my mama.

"What's your name?" Je asked.

"Yufa." I answered, not caring if I answered informally. He murmured something someting about pleasure that I failed to hear clearly.

He was trying to engage me into a more interesting conversation but I wasn't interested. My mind is still occupied with hundreds of  dreadful thoughts about my cheating husband and how am I not enough for him.

"Are you okay?" He must have noticed my noticed my distress.

"I-I'm fine don't worry." I lied. His brows creased but nodded nonetheless.

"These collection is rare." He said.

"Yes. They are. Alexandrite." I told him.

His eyes went saucers. Of course, anyone with passion in jewels would surely react the same way as he did. Alexandrite is very difficult to mine. It picked up his interest and well, mine too. Finally, I was able to enjoy his company. Our common interests made us engage into a very interesting topic about jewels. He also mentioned that he knew my family's business and he prefers my mama's pieces when it comes to jewelries, but I was careful not to reveal my true identity as this event is supposed to be our family's breakthrough in European market. He is also a random stranger I just met on this event. I don't trust people with a great interest on shiny things. They tend to take advantage.

"It's my pleasure spending a short timewm wirh a gorgeous woman such as yourself, my lady." He said after our small, yet informative chat. He tipped his head ever so lightly.

"The pleasure is mine." Bowing low enough to pay my respects, a common gesture among Chinese people.

Another waiter came and brought us drinks. The man smiled at the waiter and get us the glasses. He handed me my drink and he tipped his glass towards my direction.

"Cheers." We both said in chorus. I took a sip from mine before I realized one thing. I have been talking to this stranger for the past 15 minutes and I haven't got his name.

"E-Excuse me? I didn't get your name..."

"Rucio. The name's Rucio." He answered.

"Oh. That was so rude of me."

"No. No. It's fine."

We continued to chat a little more before I felt so hot. Is something wrong with the ventilation or is ti this because of the drink I had earlier? I felt my sweat beading on my forehead so I polity  excused myself from Rucio.

I felt dizzy. I felt hot. What's happening to me? Am I drunk? My vision is swimming. I had to blink several times to adjust my sight that's starting to blur.

I need air. I keep chanting that in my mind to keep ahold of my fleeting consciousness. I felt sleepy.

I need air. I need air.

When I reached the door, somebody opened it again for me. I inhaled deeply, desperately needing for the air to fill my lungs and shun away this awful feeling. But instead of feeling the relief for air, my vision started to fade. Tiny dots started to fill my vision.

What's happening?

I walked several steps before I fall hard on the floor. My blurred and dotted vision soon fade into nothing but infinite darkness leaving me at the mercy of the gods.

Help.

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A/n
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----Maiah