Jackson- Jackson had been hit. She chanted in her head, it replayed over and over. The image of him struggling with Andrew, that was the last thing she remembered before the world fell into a threatening silence. Her eyes slowly opened to a blinding glow of light. She shut them back because they hurt. Maria tried again and opened her eyes slowly this time. It took a while to overpower the headache and realize that she was in a hospital, and next to her was Jackson, fast asleep with half his body on the bed and the lower half on the chair that was next to the bed.She would have shouted if her throat didn't feel clogged. Jackson was next to her. What had happened? It felt as though it's been months till she last saw him. Maria squirmed lightly, shaking the bed a little to wake him up. She needed to know what had happened. Everything felt like a threat."Jackson, Jackson," she called out slowly and when he didn't answer, she could feel her eyes begin to water, "Jackson, please wake up.
*FINAL CHAPTER*"I found the pills, and- and I don't know what to say," she broke down and started to cry. "After all these while, you still take them? I thought you were done! I thought you were clean! God... it's been six months and you kept lying to me! You lied to me!"She watched him wince and he sought the right words to say. He crumbled before her. He looked like the ghost of his former self."Why do you keep going back? After rehab! After the therapy sessions, why do you keep going back!?" She yelled, frantic. Her terror was built up by the moment."Because no one understands!" He yelled back. "No matter how hard I try to be me, no matter how hard I try to stop, I keep finding my way back to it! I was clean! Till I wasn't. I tried! I tried and tried but there was nothing to help me get through it""But I am here-""No, not like that. I know but not that like that, okay?" He threw the cup on the table across the wall and grabbed his head, pulling and thugging at his hair, "Wha
"Don't fucking yell at me! It's the USA! I have to go, you know that I have to go! This is that change I've been waiting for my whole life!" She cried out frustratedly, throwing her hands in the air. He slammed his fist on the table and ran his hands through his blonde hair. Eyes full of rage—she could feel the undiluted anger that coursed his body as his breath itched. His lips twitched and she hoped he wouldn't say something to break her even more, she was already disoriented and confused and hurt—hurt that she was leaving him and everything else behind. "Andrew, say something! Please, say something without yelling or throwing things. You were aware of it, you knew I wanted this and you helped me work towards achieving this big dream—even when I had nothing! It's finally happening, if this works out, it could be our big break!" She persuaded, wanting him to see that this was not a random discomfort or an unnecessary departure. "You fucking slut." He muttered before a fier
Not even one, not even one trip could be taken without disruption of any form, how much harder could life become for him? All these he thought as he ran through the crowd. He was being followed, by a bunch of stampeding fans, if he slowed down a second, the situation wouldn't be pretty. His cover was blown and now he felt like a mouse in a box; trapped and restricted. Adding to that, he was alone—he had earlier rejected his manager's offer to go with him on his quick vacation.His social anxiety was killing him and the crowd soon multiplied or maybe he thought they did. His mind played tricks sometimes.What a mess, he thought, still running through the crowd amidst overly energetic fans and earsplitting screams of his name that exited their mouth. Of course, he had been careful—with the perfect disguise of a black face cap and a mask to match; he had hoped no one would recognize him till his encounter with a flight attendant who wouldn't stop staring, then caught a g
"Maria Gracia?" He called out from his desk compartment demarcated by a see-through glass to the opposite room where a few candidates sat. Maria rose upon hearing her name, responding to the middle-aged man who had glasses that rested on his nose bridge."Please take your seat," he offered, motioning to the swivel chair in his front. She took her seat and hoped for the best. She arrived in New York yesterday, today was the day she has been told she'd resume her work position. "Thank you," Maria said as she sat while he adjusted his collar, then his cuffs."I am Mr Sean Powell, a senior executive of A.C.E and I overtook the job of getting to know the rookies we recruited this year," he adjusted his glasses and took a glimpse at the screen of his computer. "It says here that you majored in HRM and graduated with a CGPA of 3.65," looking at her now. Maria repositioned herself before giving a response. "Yes, that's right, sir." "And it also says here that you passed the three
She moved to the other end of the elevator as the unfathomably good-looking man entered, Their eyes met for a brief second as he intently gazed hers then he courtesied briefly—with a slight bow and she nodded in response, mouthing a good day ever so lightly. Her voice was nowhere to be found. Still shocked from meeting someone who looked as perfect as he did, Maria stole glances from time to time as the elevator moved downwards. He was the most perfect person she had ever seen. He sighed repeatedly with his balled fists, like he was tired or frustrated—well he looked it. Maria had never seen a person who looked good even when he was unkempt.His tie hung loosely around his crooked collar, they dangled with unequal tips at every slight movement. He heaved another sigh and Maria's knees felt weak. His sighs made her wonder what sounds he'd make if she laid clothless in between his legs and he pressed her against the bed, or a sofa, whatever he wanted, their hot bodies merging under a di
"Not this one, I don't want her."Maria thought she heard wrong but apparently, she didn't. He had rejected her. "Why don't you want her?" Harry asked the same question that was on her mind. This was preposterous, how could he immediately reject her without knowing how much help she could be to him? She maintained her cool, disregarding the burning sensation she felt in her stomach and her throat, her anger wasn't something she controlled well everytime, but now had to be one of the good times she stayed in control. "Just because," Jackson bit his nails and spat out, making Maria's soon established detest for him grow even more. "Just because? I need a reasonable explanation," Harry demanded, with a hint of tiredness in his voice but Jackson didn't bulge till his phone beeped and he looked at it, his expression changing into something even more displeasing. "Oh god, this woman!" He yelled, bringing his voice lower like he had just realized where he was. "you kno
He chuckled before dropping his phone on the table after he sent the text, his pride was still hurt and now was the time he could show her who was boss—he obvious was. His phone vibrated again and he rushed to it only to find a text from his mum, informing him of the arrival of another gift.He groaned before dialing her number but his numerous calls were ignored, she probably already knew the reason he was calling. Jackson took off his shirt and flung it on the sofa, glancing at his wrist watch and mentally calculating the time of her arrival. "She should be able to navigate, find her way to cafe dium by 9:10 and get here by 9:15," he said to himself then remembered her conversation with Harry earlier about her not knowing her way around. He estimated her time of arrival to be 9:30 pm, after that he had other frustrating plans in mind—not for himself, for her.How the hell did she deem fit to equal him to a criminal? That was absurd.Another text came in. Your gift should ar