I push myself up, battling my shaky legs and cry out his name as I stalk after him. “Jason, wait!”
Fuck. I’m really an idiot.
The elevator doors close in front of me, leaving me with no other choice than to take the stairs. I jump down two stairs at once, bolting as fast as I can to catch up to him before it’s too late.
My eyes scan the vicinity as I get to the lobby, muscles straining to rush my tired body outside of the hotel.
I search for him, but he’s nowhere to be found.
Gone.
He’s gone.
Why am I surprised that evenheabandoned me? That’s what people always do. They claim to love you, to want you. They promise to stay forever, but then they disappear the moment they have their way with you.
The thought makes me recoil and slap my palm over my mouth, holding back from throwing up all over the concrete floor.
A cold breeze washes over me, making my open blouse drift in the evening gust. I clutch my shirt and feel shame rise to my cheeks, coating them with a string of heat that I want to claw off my flesh.
Jason is nowhere to be seen, and I’m embarrassing myself by the second, waiting for someone who doesn’t want me anymore.
My lungs wage war against the oxygen forcing its way in. I can’t breathe and my heart is in shambles.
He doesn’t want me anymore. No one wantsme.
A dark voice speaks behind me, calling my name with softness and surprise. I spin around in hopes to beg for forgiveness and fix my mistake, but a new face greets me instead. Disappointment must be fragrant on my face, but I don’t have the strength to pretend.
“What happened? You don’t look too good,” Andrew tells me with that worried expression of his.
Disgusting. Liar. How can someone who doesn’t evenknowmebe worried about me?
I’m still standing in the spring evening breeze, chest exposed and the urge to scream and break something. His hand reaches for my shirt, and almost out of reflex, I smack it away before it touches me.
I’m dirty. Touching me would only stain his hands. This is exactly what led me to this ruinous state.
I corrupt what I touch.
“What’s wrong?” he presses, his eyes darting over my disgraceful state. “Aoi…”
I cover my face with both hands and hold back a sob as I reply, “Everything. Everything’s wrong.”
I’m pathetic.
Revolting.
Fucking disgusting.
What kind of person bursts into tears, without shame, in front of a stranger? I need to get my shit together, but all I want right now is to jump into my car and drive off somewhere no one can find me.
A heavy coat falls over my shoulders, enveloping me in a familiar warmth and a soft fragrance that makes my head spin.
I know that scent.
Such an unfamiliar yet soothing perfume. I would not be able to tell whom it belongs to until I raise my head to absorb the gentle honey eyes scanning my face.
“I don’t know what exactly happened, and I won’t ask you to tell me, but please let me take you somewhere quiet. It’s chilly out here. Can you let me help you? Please.”
His hands gently rub my arms to keep me warm as I shiver from the cold in my bones.
