Chapter 20

y/n

"Another one!" I said to the bartender. I look at my phone and Kazu's not answering my messages. He must be stuck on his family shits. "Oh well, it's you're loss... I'm treating." I said and put my phone down.

I drove around to find a small, non-crowded bar to drink and think and breathe. I can't go back to Mikey's bar because I might see Takashi there and my heart is not prepared.

I can't go to the bars I frequently go to because I feel eyes on me every time I'm there, I know that it's my father's evil eyes. They'll report it if they spotted me like this and it's suffocating me, being looked at by so many eyes.

"Be careful what you wish for." I scoff. I wished for it for seventeen years, to become a Haitani. They gave me what I want but it caused me the one I love the most.

I sigh as I rest my head on my arm at the bar counter, I am looking at the glass with clear liquor inside. I turn it from left to right, watching the liquid wave inside of the glass. His eyes are still etched on my mind. It's not the same as before and I feel responsible for that.

Adding salt to the wound, My stupid brothers contacted and hired him as my wedding gown designer. they really want my life to be much harder than already is. then, tomorrow we'll be going to meet again for the gowns that I will wear at my engagement session.

again, I sigh, hoping that these feelings will magically evaporate.

"What if I undergo plastic surgery and change my name to Shalala?" I chuckled at my own stupidity.

I stand straight and drink the liquor straight and order for another one. After ten to fifteen shots, I decided to go home. I can't let myself get wasted this time because I'm driving.

I thought that I was good enough to drive but when I started to walk. everything began to spin. "Shit! I can't drive like this." I took my phone from my bag to look for an uber.

"Hey, are you alone?"

I sigh, this... again? I'm not in the mood for talking nice. I continue to tap my phone so I can book one as soon as possible.

"Hey... Are you deaf?" the guy said and held my shoulders. I stop from tapping and look at his filthy hand and then look up at him to glare.

"Oh! feisty one." He said and laughed, the two guys behind him laughed too.

"Remove your filthy hands off me. I'm not in a mood. You might get hurt."

"You?" He looks at me from head to toe. "Going to hurt us?" their laughter became louder, gaining attention to other people who's entering the bar, but no one bothers to help. He cupped my face and squished them tight.

"See, so fragile." He said.

I sighed and grabbed his wrist so tight that my nails were digging in his skin, I pulled them away from my face and twisted them so hard that I heard his bone crack.

He screams from pain. The two guys behind me started to run towards me. Thank god I didn't wear a dress today. I kick my feet so the heels I'm wearing fly to his face. I let go of the wrist of the first guy. I see him crouch down from the pain. I then focus on the two guys in front of me.

I punch the other guy in the face so hard that he kneel. I then kick his face using my knees, making his nose bleed. He lay on the floor so, I focused on the last guy charging at me with a pocket knife.

I dodged them but my surroundings are now spinning a lot faster than before, maybe because I moved too much. I stop for a while because I feel like I'm about to pass out. The last guy smirks and charges at me again. "You're dead." He said. I closed my eyes because, why not?

I then felt someone wrap its hands around me, pulling me closer to its side. My eyes are now blurry, All I can see... the last guy is now on the floor.

"Kazu, you came." I let out a faint chuckle before everything went blank.

I woke up with a throbbing headache. "Fuck, tequila!" I whispered then slowly opened my eyes. I look around. I am in a place that I don't recognize.

I sit on the couch and look at myself, I am fully clothed with a blanket on. I felt relieved. I look around and saw the place. It looks so neat and clean, it's minimalist but elegant. I paused for a while to recall what happened last night.

"Right, I got into a fight again after a long time." I hold my head because it freaking hurts. My eyes widened when I recalled that I was about to get stabbed but someone helped me.

My deep thinking got interrupted when I saw a girl step out from a room. She's wearing a tight dress with a bag on her shoulder. She looks like a model. She halts and stares at me for a while and I stare back at her too, confused.

"Babe, your friend is awake." She said and she continued to put her heels on that were lying on the floor.

"Let her be." I heard a familiar voice. My heart instantly pounds. What? Wait? Kazu is not the one who saved me? Where am I? I want to ask questions but I can't get my words out.

Moments later, someone stepped out from the same room the girl suddenly appeared. It's him. He's topless and drying his hair with a towel.

"I'll get going Takashi, Last night was incredible. Call me." She said and walked towards him. She gave him a peck on the lips but Takashi pulled her closer, kissing her deeply. It got awkward that I looked away.

Don't cry, don't cry don't cry. I mentally told myself. It's embarrassing if he sees me cry! I don't have the right to get hurt. I let go first.

After a good one minute, I think? The girl walks past me and exits his place.

"I- I should go too. Thank you for helping me last night. It's you, right? the one who stops the stabbing?" I want to ask him why I ended up here but my voice is starting to crack and I'm really trying my best not to fucking cry.

"I was just happened to be there."

"Oh, Again, Thank you." I slightly bow at him and look for my bag. It was placed on the coffee table near the couch. I immediately grabbed it and stormed out of his place.

I walk as fast as I could until I saw a small coffee shop.

Kazutora

"y/n! Where have you been?! I can't contact your phone! I went to the bar you texted me but you're not there!"

"Can you pick me up?" She paused. her breathing is heavy like she's trying so hard not to cry, "Please? I'll text you the location."

"Wait for me." I ended the call and got my keys, then I ran as fast as I could.

I parked the car outside the small coffee shop. I looked at the window and there, I saw y/n looking down. Her hands were supporting her forehead. I hastily go inside.

"Hey," I gently said as I held her shoulder. She looks at me with tears in her eyes.

"What happened? Are you hurt? Did someone do something bad to you? Are you harassed, assaulted?"

She aggressively shakes her head. "It stings here." She mumbled and pointed at her chest. "I saw him kissing another woman, and it's not a peck kind of kiss, it's more... passionate. I thought that I would not get affected but, it stings Kazu."

I grab her close and hug her tight. I feel like my chest is getting pierced seeing her like that. This was the second time I saw her cry and this is the same feeling I felt when I saw her five years ago.

I let her sob on me while I stroked her hair. I didn't ask any more questions I just patiently waited for her to calm down. She needs this, She's been bottling up all the pain because she's the type of person who rarely shows any weakness.

After a while of crying, she let go of the hug and wiped her tears. "I look like shit, don't look at me." She said and let out a fake chuckle.

"You can look like shit in front of me. I don't mind." I smiled. "I'm sorry, I'm late... Mom.."

"It's fine. we came from a crazy family so, I understand." She said. "I need to get rid of this puffiness in my eyes. I'll be meeting the organizer and Takashi later."

"Wanna ditch? I'll call for rescheduling."

"No, it's fine. I don't want to look weak."

"You need a break, y/n." She didn't reply and went silent for a while.

"Wanna fake our death?" She said out of the blue.

"What?"

"Let's fake our death and live in a faraway land with no drama." She said and I nervously chuckled.

"Kidding!" She said when she saw me with a worried expression. "...or not!" She added before she paused. "Gosh, I'm going crazy." She laughed while tears continued to fall. I clenched my fist so hard. She doesn't deserve this! That motherfucker didn't know how much she sacrificed for him! I'm done watching her like this. This time I won't let him hurt her again.

"That's enough! I'll reschedule the meeting for tomorrow. Let's get out of here." I said and pulled her out of the cafe.