Bound By A Promise

I opened my eyes slowly, a strong headache hit me and I closed my eyes back. I groaned and opened my eyes again, after looking around the room, I realised I wasn't in my room, I was in my new home.

I gasped.

I tried standing up but I couldn't, then everything that happened last night flashed back into my head.

The betrayal I wasn't meant for. It wasn't supposed to be Beauty, my best friend.

FLASHBACK - LAST NIGHT

Yes. Alex had told me he wanted to step outside to have fun with his friends. It was taking long, and I was feeling bored so I had no choice but to also feel the place, then my mind went straight to Beauty, the one who held my veil hours ago.

I took slow steps to her suite, but before I could even get to the door, I started hearing strange voices. Wait! What's going on in Beauty's room? I can't be Sam, can he? No... Beauty and Sam had broken up long time ago, or was I hearing double?

Oh, Alexia!

I ignored the noises and stepped forward. I smiled, then my eyes landed on the door, it was slightly ajar. Why's Beauty acting this way? Is something wrong with her. Oh she told me she had cramps; but it's unusual of her to open the door this way.

I hesitated. My heart was slamming hard against my chest. What's wrong with me? I was having a bad feeling about this...yet this noise escaping from the room wouldn't just stop. I was curious. I was always curious, but not to this point.

Should I say curiosity made me see what I wasn't supposed to see. I pushed the door open, the smile on my face fell first, then I staggered back, my back hit the door which made the two familiar people standing in front of me...look at me. I frowned.

"Alex?" I called to confirm if he was the one. He faced me. I didn't know when tears rushed out of my eyes while my palm flew to my mouth. I was shocked!!! Shocked to the bone! What expression can I use to explain myself? Beauty with Alex, my man?

"No... this isn't real, right?" I laughed nervously. I was waiting for their reply. Beauty made a first move.

" Do you like what you saw? Honeydrop, please let's continue."

Alex didn't spare me a glance, he was ignoring me and I knew it.

"Stop it!" I yelled insanely, my hair slapped my face. I don't care if I looked like a mad woman right now. I don't.

The two didn't stop. Instead, their madness grew wild. Beauty and Alex kissing?

I sniffled. It's alright, this is not the end of the world. I knew I was hurt even though I said that word to just calm myself.

I ran to anywhere that can help me feel less pain. I didn't know where I was heading to. Could it be happening elsewhere? A newly wedded wife got betrayed on her wedding night? Before I knew it, I entered into a bar. A bar where I met strangers.

I let out a small broken laugh as I stared at the glass in my hand.

"  My life is so pathetic," I whispered. "Absolutely pathetic."

" You're not pathetic."

I looked up.

END OF FLASHBACK

My stomach grumbled. I managed to get out of the bed before I could throw up. It wasn't necessary anyways because I threw up right there. On him.

Who?

My eyes almost fell out of their socket. I raised my head gradually, my heart already doing the introduction.

I saw him. The young man that I met at the bar yesterday. The one I told to help me.

I fell to the floor dramatically, my eyes closed immediately, obeying the energy.

I heard him scoff.

---

CARLOS

Does she think I'm a fool? Of course not. I knew she was pretending. What a dramatic fellow! Was this the same lady I helped yesterday?

I just wanted to clear my head, and nothing else. Immediately I entered the bar, I looked around for where to stay. It would be so useless to drink alone, right? I nodded slowly, exhaling, then I sighted her. She was alone and looked broken. I walked to her table and I heard her mutter some words.

"...Absolutely pathetic."

I knew such sentence wouldn't come this way with some bad drama behind. I couldn't control my mind.

" You're not pathetic."

My voice was deep and calm, too composed for a place like this.

She looked up.  I saw the expression on her face.

"Do I look like a joke?" she asked, her voice barely steady.

My eyes studied her, not with pity, but something sharper. Something that saw too much.

I saw her swallow, she suddenly became aware of how she looked. A bride who looked ruined. She let out a shaky breath, her fingers tightening around the glass.

I smiled slightly before taking a seat beside her. Seems this boring boredom is gonna leave me soon, I thought.

"Tell me what happened," I said.

I saw her hesitance. She didn't want to but I didn't know what happened. Her lips parted and she spilled everything.

"My husband," she said, her voice cracking, " cheated on me with my best friend."

Silence stretched between us.

I blinked. I wasn't expecting that.

She laughed again, pain in her voice. "Funny right?" she murmured. "I lost everything on my wedding night."

I watched her carefully, then my gaze softened,  just slightly. Though, it wasn't enough to be called kindness, but enough to be noticed.

She leaned forward, the alcohol loosening her thoughts, her pride already long gone.

"I need help," she whispered.

I felt bitterness in the air. The way it tasted in her mouth. The way she said those words felt like she hadn't asked for a help since when she was born.

Our gazes met.

" Please help me," she repeated. Her voice dropped even lower, meaning everything. "I'll repay you with anything."

The air shifted, and something changed in my expression.

I was a little bit shocked. But I didn't let her notice it. I leaned back slightly, studying her like a decision had already been made.

"Be careful," I said quietly. " because promises like that tend to change lives."

She shivered.

But I didn't take it back.

I knew where I was heading to but I didn't know where everything is going to get started.

---

"Get up, we need to talk."

I heard him say. He knew I was pretending.

I opened my eyes immediately and got up. My gaze landing on his spoilt suit. I scratched the back of my head, not knowing what to say.

" Good morning, sir." I managed to mutter, my ears longing to hear his reply.

He smirked. "Sir?"

I nodded, pressing some strands of hair behind my ear.

"You didn't call me that last night." He said between his teeth. I smiled secretly.

"Sit."

He commanded.

I rolled my eyes before sitting on the bed. I was still staring at his spoilt suit.

My lips parted...

"No worries. A maid is here already." He sighed.

A second passed and a knock landed on the door. I stood, my gaze meeting his again.

His eyes roamed around her body, maybe searching for a lost item or was he staring? I thought, rolling my eyes again.

"Come in."

The door creaked open, and a young lady stepped in. "Good morning, Mr Carlos." she bowed slightly, a small smile tugged at the corner of his lips.

He only nodded.

I scoffed. Rich people and their pride.

Nonsense.

The maid dropped to her knees, scrubbing at the floor without a single glance in my direction. Like I wasn't even there, like I was just another mess Carlos had to deal with this morning.

I was still glaring at his spoilt suit when the door suddenly burst open.

"Sir!"

The voice was sharp, rushed, female. A nanny, maybe? She was holding the hand of a small boy, barely four, with black hair that fell messily over his forehead. He had the same sharp, observing eyes as Carlos.

"Sir, I told him not to come in here, that you were busy with someone," the nanny said, bowing low, voice shaking. "But he didn't listen."

Carlos exhaled through his nose, like he was used to this. "That's okay."

Before I could process it, the boy yanked his hand free and climbed onto the bed with zero fear. He didn't look at the maid nor the nanny. Instead, he looked straight at Carlos and wrinkled his nose.

" Daddy, you smell weird," the boy said, blunt and honest. " Did you drink again?"

The word hit me like a slap.

Daddy?

My stomach twisted. The room went quiet, and the maid stopped moving.