( Beverly Hills, California. )
“It’s official. I’ve reached my limit!” Ricky groaned and fell on his back. Arian fell on his side after placing his empty beer can on the pyramid they were building with empty cans.
“Gosh! Who’s gonna get us home?? I can’t drive with blurry sights.” He squinted painfully, going through his phone. Ricky couldn’t see clearly so he let it slip off his fingers and slide away.
“I guess we’ld have to wait for someone to call.” He stretched himself like a butterfly and closed his eyes. The light from above the ceiling was becoming too sharp for them.
“I remember the last time I got this drunk.” He continued and chuckled at the memory.
“I woke up in a dumpster the next morning! It was the time I stupidly broke up with the perfect girl for me. It was my fault, you know. If I hadn’t been that naive weakling, I’ld have damned the entire world and stuck to her even if she cheated!
” Yet… I said the most degrading things right to her face and left without giving her a chance to explain.” He paused.
“When I found out the truth, do you know why I almost committed suicide?…” Ricky spared Arian a side glance who was completely focused, gazing at him from where he laid.
The pyramid cutely separated the both of them, like a silly looking trophy. Ricky gave a sad smile and pictured himself three years ago.
“It wasn’t because the bad guys were her best friends or the fact that I didn’t think twice before believing the entire shit. I almost killed myself because of the look on her face when I lashed out at her.
“Heck, the memory tortures me day and night that I don’t think it’ll ever go away. I turned into a cry box till I couldn’t cry anymore… That must’ve really been the last time I cried though.” He laughed at himself and faced back up.
“Aish! I know what you wanna ask.” He snorted like he could read the hot French’s mind.
“I still miss her. I miss her a lot like crazy!… But it’s better now. I don’t feel the guilt and hurt this time. I’ll be here for her if she ever call, text…. or even decide to come back. But if she doesn’t?…” He shut his eyes and smiled at the crystal lightbulb.
“Time will never change the way I feel about her.” He vowed.
As a thought passed through his mind, Ricky hastily jerked up next minute.
“Don’t you EVER tell anyone I said this! Being emotional sucks.” He scowled threateningly.
Arian rolled his eyes and laid on his back and Ricky did the same too. Five minutes later, his phone started ringing.
Ricky reached for it with his eyes closed and used the last of his consciousness to pick the call.
“JEFFREY! You don’t know how happy I am to hear your ugly voice. Help us!!…”
***
”I found it very suspicious. The first time Arian disappeared without aunt’s consent, Ricky had no idea until much later. But this time, he covered it up saying they were together.
“I think Arian’s hiding something and Ricky’s covering for him! And something tells me that, that bitch is involved!” Selena voiced and zipped open the next travel bag.
But the only response she got was the loud punching of letters by well polished fingers on a flashy phone.
Selena was stunned!
She flipped around to see her concerned audience lazily stretched out on a couch, dressed in her usual crazy style as she professionally dealt with the banana flavored bubble gum in her mouth.
Her entire strength was focused on making sure her millions of followers knew what she was currently doing, where she currently was and how she’s currently feeling.
“Lee Minji!” Selena screamed frustratedly from across the room.
“Bitch, chill. And the short form’s Jenny.” She muttered distractedly. Selena gasped.
“Jenny my ass! When I rant, I need attention!”
“Hey, i’ve got jet lag. My flight landed barely two hours ago and I need rest… Not rants about your cold husband.” She popped a bubble.
Selena stormed over and snatched her phone away. “Fine. Since you’re so tired, GO TO BED!”
“Are you kidding? I haven’t yet googled the fun clubs here in LA. Give it back!” She demanded.
“Not tonight.” Selena declared and she pouted aggrievedly.
“But who’s gonna cuddle me when it gets cold?”
“There are tons of duvet on the bed.” Selena stated as a matter of fact.
“Is Damon gonna be my babysitter? I don’t want a mean nanny like you!”
“Not on my watch!” She shrieked disgustingly.
“Then why did you book me the room next to his?!” The pretty Asian was battle ready.
Selena returned her phone and walked back to unpacking her bags.
“Only because Arian needs a quiet place to recover. And ‘you and quiet’ don’t get along! Besides, if I catch you acting funny with my brother, I’m gonna break your hopping legs! Yuck!”
“Stop acting like a saint! It doesn’t suit you, bitch.” Minji grunted making Selena smirk. She stuck her tongue out then returned to her phone.
“But hey, your rival is gone. So stop fussing about the past and start making babies already! I wanna be a godmother soon.”
Selena smiled at the thought. “Which one? A girl or a boy?”
Minji scoffed loudly. “Obviously a boy! I don’t want a girl who’ld turn into a lame ass like Jieun. Swears… I can murder that bitch!”
“But you always say a girl when you want to rant about boys.” Selena rolled her eyes and her best friend threw her a flying finger.
“But before you do…” Minji squeaked and flew to her side seductively.
“… let’s go check on your sexy brother. He’s home right?” She said and pulled Selena outside, disregarding how hard she fought and repeatedly poked Damon’s doorbell herself!
“Selena?” Damon was stunned seeing her outside the Argent’s mansion so late. It was past midnight already.
“What are you…”
“It’s nothing! Some bitch… Ouch!” Selena started but Minji elbowed her so hard that she temporarily stopped breathing.
“We just came to check up on you.” She smiled dryly. But Minji’s grin was way wider. Damon switched his gaze and focused on the other person for the first time.
“Jenny!” She offered and stretched out her hand. He slowly took it with a raised brow.
“It’s actually Lee Minji but I prefer Jenny.” She grinned. Anyone could relate with Damon.
She had the Asian looks but a total English name? Not a common scene.
“Damon.” He returned her smile. Selena’s eyes suspiciously zeroed in on their lingering handshake.
“You jerks!” She screamed and wrenched their hands away.
“We’re leaving now!” She declared and pushed her proudly perverted friend away.
“Cali ain’t gonna be so bad after all!” Minji screamed excitedly and jumped on the clustered bed. Selena scoffed before lying beside her.
“As long as my brother is involved, I’ll make it a living nightmare!” She threatened. Minji slapped her with a pillow before gingerly bringing out her phone.
“I’m sooo hungry! What should we…. Omo! Lena, come see!!” She gasped and shoved her phone in Selena’s face.
Selena lazily raised herself to see.
”Everyone’s talking about the La Croft’s ball! Even the prince is back!” She squealed.
“A few minutes ago, even Alexis, the mystery princess arrived at the airport! I heard she’s now an Empress. You won’t believe the amount of people dying to catch a glimpse of her face! I’m one of her top fans! The party’s gonna be a blast! Wait… You’re going to the ball, right?” Selena looked uninterested.
“Yeah, I guess. Dad and Uncle Richard got invited since they’re like influential. I’ll go only if Arian is.”
Minji gawked at her.
“Are you crazy?! A lot of celebrities from all over the world are gonna be present! Plus, you’re my ticket into that party!” She scowled.
Selena shrugged nonchalantly. “Whatever. I’m hungry.”
“Yeah, me too. I’m craving bimpap rice with all the juicy side dishes and a looot of meat!” Minji drooled at the thought.
“Me too. I miss the roasted meat on skewers we usually have. Why didn’t you bring me some?!” She accused.
“Even if it was possible to sneak in some at the airport, it wouldn’t have last three minutes on air!” She said and rubbed her belly.
“So sushi?”
“Kk.”
Selena paged the hotel kitchen. Despite it being after midnight, they delivered the food within minutes since it was a five star hotel.
“Omo! Omo!” (Oh my!) Minji gasped wide eyed at her phone.
“Lena come quick! Even though Alexis arrived at midnight, the paparazzi still caught her alighting her private jet on camera and it’s gone insane viral! Even the media’s crazy about it. Look!” She gushed.
Selena scrambled over in a heartbeat, knocking over her drink in the process but she didn’t care.
Together, they poked their heads in Minji’s tablet and her eyes bulged open the next minute…