DAISY

Dead in my track, I accepted every worst feeling and let tears stream down my face, soaking into my shirt.

It's all over. Everything I wanted to conserve is now scattered.

My father hates me even before I get to have a reasonable conversation with him. Riley suspects me ultimately, which she had every right to. I am a snitch anyway. And the last place I have left me with no choice, the chances to see my mom weren't anymore slim; they're faded.

I wouldn't get to hug and hold her hand. I wouldn't be there to assure her I would be okay no matter what happened.

All that I had left of her will soon be the kiss she planted on my head before I left Hong Kong.

If only I didn't take the scholarship, my life could've been so much better.

Indeed, right now, everything is over.

But what brought the final blow was the failed muffled moans and panting from the room down the hall, meant for Kaiser and Riley.

It was my personal apocalypse, staring at the corner they both disappeared through earlier.

My head is spinning. I numbly listen to my world falling apart.

Did he leave me for her? Knowing I was standing here listening to everything?

I don't understand. Is this some payback of something we haven't worked out?

Was it worth pulling the knife from my heart and letting me bleed?

I feel faint. I just want the pain to stop.

I should block my hearing and pinch myself to escape this nightmare and have mercy for my torn heart, but I made no effort, given every organ in my body had become useless.

Dispaired, I back up instead of taking a forward step as I intended. Maybe my legs couldn't carry me anymore.

What has my life become? What have I done wrong?

He promised he loved me. Where is that now? I know I have no right to blame him because I certainly pushed him away and led him to Riley.
But at least not this night! When my world is about to obliterate.

It was sickness. It was a slap in the face.

The ding from the elevator roused a part of me, and I tilted my head to find Andre, walking in with my handbag.

He quietly dropped it on the sofa and asked if I needed anything.
I don't know if I answered, but I watch him turn and exit the penthouse.

Lifeless, I drag myself to the sofa, pull up the handbag that felt heavy in my inactive hand.

Think...

It was hard, but I had to.

My trembling fingers dig into that bag for my phone.

Even though quiet had resurfaced within the penthouse, already those delightful cries had gotten to me more than the sharpness of an ax splitting a wood.

My inside was torn, bleeding poorly while I tried to find Kate's digits through blurred vision.

Gladly, she picked on the first ring.

"Daisy?" Her voice was cheerful at first.

"Hey!" I croaked, trying to suppress my agony. I shouldn't ruin whatever fun she's having.

However, she noticed.
"Are you okay?"

"Can I... Can I..." Not having anywhere to go, she is the only option I have around here.

There's a pause.

"Babe, I will text you my addressed." She directly said, her voice sounded worried.

"Okay." I squeak nervously before I hang up the call and find the tiniest strength to take myself through the staircase.

In the room that I deceived myself was mine. I pulled out my box and began packing my belongings.

I didn't organize them accordingly, even though I mentally wished I had the time for delay.

Everything fitted perfectly in two boxes, since I now have an insufficient wardrobe, on account to back when Kay decided to add paint in my laundry.

I was packing my books, toothbrush, and my piggy box, shoving them into my backpack when Kay appeared from the door.

I peek at him briefly then proceed to my business.

He was leaning against the door frame, dressed in a fresh new outfit.

Of course, he fulfilled himself and her, then showered and dared walk in here, shamelessly.

It stung badly in the chest. I felt my stomach twisting like I was about to be sick.

"Hey... What are you doing." He softly asked behind me. When some seconds passed away, and he realized I was ignoring him, he pulled off against the door frame and began approaching me. I sensed it.

I bit down the tears, even though I was practically shuddering.

"Daisy?" This time he sounded terrified. His arm came around my waist, pulling me up, he spun me, and our eyes briefly locked.

Instantly, as I wasn't thinking clearly, I shoved him from me.

He blinked, then his eyes thinned with confusion.

"Don't leave." He whispered, reaching for my arm when I turned away from him. "Please."

I shrug him off, then hastily throw everything in the backpack.

"Just stop it. Look around you. Everything is complicated." I choked as I spat out, trying to avoid the hurt in his eyes.

"No! No!" He held me again, turning me around to look over to him. "I am not losing you again." He pleadingly opposed, shaking his head.

"You have her... You love her. You can't have us both, Kay." My voice broke at the end, a tear slipping down my eyes.

There's a sudden crease on his forehead as he processes my statement.

"You heard..." He cracked.

I looked away over his shoulder and swallowed, although not helpful because the bitterness in my throat was only getting intense.

"This is not the first time, Kaiser," I murmured.

"But this is the first time I never wanted it." He shook his head, bringing his palms to cup my cheeks, his thumb wiping the drops of tears escaping my eyes.

"But you had her anyway."

"No! I didn't do anything with her." he leans in, breathing through the mouth.

I angrily pushed his hands from my face. He really is going to lie in my front blatantly?

"So now we deny the obvious?" I scoffed, frustratedly running my fingers through my hair.

He took a left step and faced me again, his desperate gaze lowered to me.

"What you heard sounded like what you're imagining, but when I wouldn't touch her, she... She grinds herself against my thigh. I didn't touch her." He rushes, his voice breaking every often while he speaks.

I don't believe him.

"Bullshit!" I shove his chest, finally bursting into sobs.

"You don't believe me?"

"I am not a child. I heard everything. That's not some innocent business." I sniffed, then scoffed at him painfully.

His face fell, he lowered his head.

"I never said it was innocent. I only said I didn't touch her."

That confirms my terror. They were involved in a sexual act.

"You are unbelievable." I zipped up my backpack and hung it over my shoulders, then crossed the room for my boxes.

"What do you want me to do then?" He followed.

I just needed space, can't he understand?

I exasperatedly throw my hands around, I shake my head at him.

"You don't know how it feels like having everything falling apart. And it is in that moment you choose to add weight to my suffering."

I know I asked him for time, but if he is passing the time this way, then he should know he is killing us quickly.

"Daisy..." He began, but I cut him off. "I need to leave. Riley wouldn't want me here by now." I pull my boxes and push past him.

"We lost eight years... And now you are doing it again."

Is he really accusing me on this one?

I halt and turn around angrily.
"I am not the one screwing someone else." I paused and wiped my tears with the back of my hand. "I can not handle all of this. I can't. It is killing me. It had been."

I had listened to him and her for too long, and it was destroying me.

A frown etched into his face, somewhat regret, guilt or anger.
"Then I will tell her. She should know."

WHAT?

"KAISER." I panicked, dropping my bags as he advanced for the door.

I scramble, grabbing his arm.

He wouldn't do that, would he?

With pleading and panicked eyes, I held his irritated gaze.

"I've always wanted to come clean, but you said no! You asked for time. And now is my fault?" He sniffed. He was flushed, his severe gaze glistening with tears.

No way!

"Let's get this over with." He shrugged me off and headed for the hall.

Without thinking, I grabbed his hand again, this time crying.

"You know, for the record, she also said the same. She accused me of cheating." He swallowed hard and breathed. "And in all honesty? I am the one screwing two people. It shouldn't be this way." He shook his head and pulled out of my fragile hold.

This can't be happening.

I was just leaving. She can have him. He can be happy all over again.

"Please don't!" I flee and takeover his way, blocking his exit. My hands instinctively move to his chest. "Please, kaiser!" I begged desperately. "She loves you! Okay!" I rush my words. I was going crazy. I was scared. "She has no one. I can't... We can't hurt her."

His face heated at what I was asking for.

"This is insane, it should be simple, but you're making it hard. I don't understand why can't I have what I want." He frustratedly stressed the last words, partially shouting.

"Please, Kaiser." I cried, holding him as firm as I could.

"I love you, Daisy. Why can't you understand?" A tear slide from his eyes, down his cheeks, and I instantly couldn't resist the urge to wipe it off with my hands.

"She had you first. I only came through, and look how I messed everything up." My lip folded between my teeth, I bit hard to lessen the emotional pain, but it wouldn't work. His words, his face, everything about right now isn't right. I shouldn't leave him, I shouldn't give up on us but: "I have to go."

"No!" He sternly said, grabbing both my hands from his face and enveloped them in his warm ones. "I will not watch you leave me again. I swore the moment I saw you in the kitchen the first time. I'm not letting you leave me again."

"Kaiser is complicated..."

"I am complicated without you." He interrupted me. "I don't understand myself anymore. I've been tormented because of you. You haunted me from far away. I lost my mind." Another tear left his eyes. "Haven't you seen enough? I wasted eight years dwelling on what we had. You should be the only constant in my life, we promised." He pleaded. He was emotionally pained as tears began streaming from his eyes. "If you want me to forget that we missed eight years, I will. But do not take any more moment after the eternity we had apart. Everything had been confusing, you're the only person that makes meaning, and now that I have you, you are telling me to let go? Is not fair, Daisy."

Frozen, I mumble: "Kaiser... I-I am sorry."

"Sorry is not enough!" He looked away with a prominent heartbreaking expression on his face. "I had to go to school on my own, sit among the classmates that were strangers because it was only you I got to know. I had to skip the cafeteria because that one person who understood me decided to leave. Not to mention growing up on my own. Sorry but your sorry is not enough." His eyes came back to me, pleading for what I also want.

"Kaiser, you think if I have the chance to change things, I wouldn't?" I pull out my hands from his. "I never saw you with anyone that's not me." I sadly shrugged at my own confession and wet my lip with my tongue. "I've always been patience with time, hopeful when we grow up. We would be together. I used to have these beautiful pictures of us with Cuppy and our parents." I choke on my breathing, tears falling down my face. "I never stop desiring those thoughts. I couldn't get them out of my head. But even if I kept it, what's the use? My best friend is hurting because of me. I am hurting because my best friend is in love with you. Can't you see?"

"No!" He stubbornly refused.

Why does he have to make this hard?

I should just walk away and let them be happy like they had been before I came here.

"She already is suspicious of all of this." I wave between us. "We need to end it." I frustratedly demand. "She saved me. She saved you! We'd be greedy to take away her happiness."

"I am not happy," Kay whispered.

His face falls, sadly. His bottom lip trembled, he looked away from me.

It hurt seeing him like this. Knowing I am the reason why he's holding the pain.

I stepped closed and traveled my hands to his chin, making him look at me.

In his eyes, I saw fear, loneliness, and pain that he expected me to heal.

"I am not either," I whispered.

I am not happy.

"That's because you love me too. You shouldn't deny us the truth. You shouldn't take away what we have." His breathing was hard and loud.

"Kaiser, please..." I stepped back, but he was quick to grab me, sandwiching me between his body and the wall.

He leans over, his heated breath blowing against my skin, his eyes penetrating through mine.

My breathing stopped.

Please no!

We can't be this close. I am trying to let go of us. This isn't fair.

His scent. His warmth. The need to hold him tight. He just incited everything back.

"Tell me not to kiss you. Tell me!" He whispered, his finger softly tracing my lips. It brought back my breathing. Only it came out hitched.

I couldn't help staring at his distractively parted perfect lips.

"Tell me not to touch you. Tell me!" He urged, trailing his other hand from my neck, down to my arm, my hips, and stopped by my thigh, causing goosebumps to break over my skin, my breathing irregular. Knowing my complexion had long answered his questions.

He drew in a deep breath, leaned in further until his lips were against my jaw, then he nibbled my neck and whispered: "Tell me you don't want this. And I will let you go."

He knows I do, and that's the truth.

"I am sorry, Kaiser."

He pulls back and looks into my eyes. This time he seems despaired.

"Where will you go?"

Silent.

"Let me take you somewhere safe." I watch him swallowed before he continues. "My parents... They will be so happy to see you."

Having no words to describe how sorry I am, I grab his nape and pull him to me, mending our lips to a deep kiss that almost felt comforting.

When I pulled away, his eyes were still closed. Maybe we both needed it this way, so I took it as a chance to grab my belongings and whispered to Kay a painful 'Goodbye.' before exiting the penthouse, Center Yorker building.

I was dragging my heavy boxes when Vance came up to me and said: "Mr. Chandler says to drive you."

He isn't quitting, is he?