Chapter 8 Getting Laid Tonight

• RALI
• I exited the cab and walked toward the house, my heart swelling with a mix of rage, curiosity and anxiety.
• I half-pounded on the door, twirling my necklace in my fingers as I waited. The door swung open and I inhaled, bracing myself for what was about to happen.
• He stood there at the doorway, wearing a faded gray hoodie and frayed jeans, his disheveled hair sticking out at odd angles. Shock flickered in his eyes the moment they fell on me, and I watched right there as that shock morphed into something darker. Fear.
• "What're you doing here?" His voice quivered, barely masking the panic as his gaze darted past me, scanning the street.
• Trevor was one of the many men that had shown and suddenly lost interest in me. We'd met a year ago at a fashion school, keeping in touch long enough to plan a date he never showed up for. When I ran into him afterward, he hadn't bothered to apologize. Instead, he grew distant, dropped out of school prematurely and vanished like a shadow.
• Back then, I never bothered to know why he suddenly became a jerk, but now, I was curious.
• "I need to talk to you," I answered, releasing my necklace and forcing my hands to stay by my side.
• He hesitated, his gaze sweeping over me. "W...Well, I'm sorry, I don't wanna talk to you."
• He tried to shut the door in my face, but I pushed against it. "Please! It won't take long. You don't even have to let me in. Just... don't walk away."
• Besides, I didn't have the habit of going into men's apartments alone.
• Trevor looked around again, like he was scared someone might be watching us.
• "Fine. What do you want?" His tone hardened.
• "I just need answers. You never showed up to our date a year ago. What happened?"
• My heart raced in anticipation of what he might say. His response could ruin me.
• "What?" He chuckled. "You not familiar with the concept of rejection or what?"
• "Can you just be honest with me?" My frustration mounted, his words stinging like icy needles. "Please, Trevor, there's a reason I'm asking."
• "And what could that be? Why are you suddenly concerned after a year?"
• "Could you give me an answer, please? Did something prevent you from showing up?"
• One year ago, Trevor had been really sweet to me. But now, he spoke as if he held a grudge against me.
• His grip on the door tightened. "Well, your crazy boyfriend or whoever the hell he is made sure I didn't make it."
• That was it.
• The ground beneath me seemed to sway, and my breath hitched.
• His anger boiled over as he bent down, pulling up the hem of his jeans. It was then I noticed the compression stocking on his leg. My stomach twisted into a knot, and before I could comprehend what was happening, he peeled it off, revealing his foot.
• A gasp escaped me, my hands flying to my mouth. One of his toes were missing!
• "That psycho did this to me!" His voice rose to a near-shout. "I was about to leave the house to meet you when he showed up and tortured me for even looking at you. Like that wasn't enough, he took my toe! My freaking toe! Then, he left me in my bedroom to bleed! And the asshole had the guts to tell me he'd do worse if I ever talked to you again"
• I shook my head, my legs wobbling like leaves.
• God, no. It can't be.
• "So, there! Satisfied?" Trevor's eyes glowered. "Now, get the hell off my property cause I don't want to have anything to do with you."
• He slammed the door in my face, and this time, I couldn't even stop him.
• For several minutes, I stood there, the weight of the revelation making it impossible for me to move.
• Tears streamed down my cheeks as reality sank in.
• It was true. I had a mad man on my tail. And something deep in my guts told me it was the monster that was my brother. The one I wished I never met.
• ****†****†
• "Never have I ever been punched in the face!" Misa said with delight, and five out of the eight of us at the table clinked our glasses, laughter bubbling up as we drank.
• "What the hell, Misa? You've been punched in the face? Who dares punch a woman?" Bryan asked with a twisted expression.
• Misa threw her head back, her brown curls bouncing. "Who else? My ex boyfriend!" She laughed, as if it were an anecdote worth celebrating.
• "Seriously? Who's the douchebag? Let me know so I can hit him in the groin!"
• "Ah, I doubt you'd manage that, Bryan. Asshole is built like a brick wall. I doubt you'd be able to stand near him."
• "Well, then, I guess you must have had some bed compensation, considering how 'well built' he was."
• I watched as my colleagues joked and had fun at the table and wished I could partake in it. But how could I when I was being so miserable?
• It was Misa's birthday today, and when we finished from the office, she had insisted on celebrating her birthday with dinner, treating our little group of office friends to a night out. The eight of us sat tucked into a corner booth, cozy but slightly cramped, like a family reunion where some bonds were tighter than others.
• I sat with my arms crossed over my lap, forcing smiles and drinking when I had to, according to the rules of the game.
• I fingered the rim of my wine glass absentmindedly, my thoughts wandering back to the revelation from two days ago—the discovery that had unsettled every fiber of my being.
• Fortunately, Jasper was better and had been discharged from the hospital, and unlike when we were kids, he wasn't mad when I visited to check up on him. Though, I doubted he suspected I was indirectly involved in what happened to him.
• The police report I'd filed had felt like tossing a pebble into a vast, dark ocean. They didn't have enough evidence, no solid leads, not even a sketch of the psycho who seemed to be haunting me. The number he'd used to text me? Untraceable. The system's promise to "do everything in their power" felt more like a hollow reassurance.
• Unfortunately, Jasper didn't see who the asshole was as it had been an attack from behind.
• The stalker had been silent for the past two days, and it unnerved me. There hadn't been a single text, no taunting reply to the message I'd sent asking who he was. Yet, I knew he was watching me like a hawk.
• "Never have I ever had sex in a car!" Benita announced, raising her glass in the air.
• All seven of them raised their glasses and drank.
• "Holy shit! Y'all are so corrupt! I need to leave this den of sin immediately!" One of the boys said, clutching his chest as if mortally offended.
• The table erupted into laughter.
• My stomach churned. Then, as if on cue, they all turned toward me.
• "Hold on, Rali didn't drink!" Misa pointed out.
• Yep. Out of every one at the table, I was the only one who hadn't raised my glass. How could I have had sex in a car when I'd never even been kissed by a man?
• "Oh, thank goodness! I knew you were a decent lady, Rali. Which is why you're meant for me." One of the boys teased, extending his hand toward me in a mock proposal.
• They laughed while I managed a smile.
• "Okay, let's continue." Bryan cleared his throat. "Never have I ever been caught making out?"
• Four of them drank from their glasses. At least, this time, it wasn't just me.
• My fingers curled on my thighs, a bitter taste sticking to my tongue.
• I haven't had any sexual experience in life. While everyone at the table already did, I didn't know what it felt like to be fucked, to be touched. Kissed.
• I had only experienced an orgasm—thanks to the vibrating toy Veronica had gifted me—and it was all because of him. The asshole.
• I didn't even know him, yet he's ruined my life and made me lonely.
• I grabbed my bag and stood up. The chatter at the table stilled as all eyes turned on me.
• "Hey, Rali. Are you—"
• "I'm sorry, I have to go now," I cut Bryan off, trying to keep my tone light.
• "Why? I thought we all agreed to leave together?" Someone else chimed in.
• "Yeah. I just... I just remembered I had plans with my sister. I'm so sorry." I softened my gaze as I turned to Misa. "Happy birthday, love. Do enjoy the rest of the evening, and don't worry, I still owe you a present."
• As soon as I was away from them, I pulled out my phone and called Veronica.
• "Hey, babe. How is it—"
• "Call Ruby and get ready. We're going clubbing tonight," I interrupted her, my steps fueled by rage as I made my way to the road ahead.
• "Woah! Okay, what's going on?" Veronica was of course, surprised.
• I hated clubbing because, well, it was filled with too many sexual activities, and virgins like me were usually tempted.
• But not anymore.
• "Nothing much," I uttered, my tone biting. "Just that tonight, I'm getting laid."