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• PYKE   35

  CamilaPanic streaks through me when I open my eyes to a pitch black. I sit up abruptly, blinking many times and let my eyes adjust to the dark room.A soft humming of the air condition makes me hug my knees tighter to my body as the goosebumps crawl on my skin. It smells old and dusty. The tiled-floor is cold underneath my bare feet, making my toes curl.This is not my room.Where am I?A clicking of bolt indicates someone is unlocking the door from the outside. My body stiffens. The door creaks open, a yellow light slowly illuminates inside. My heart pounds in my chest when a woman’s silhouette reveals.“You’re finally awake, sweetheart. You must be hungry,” says the petite woman. She has the softest voice I’ve ever heard, but there is something in her voice that makes me shiver.“Where am I? Who are you?” I ask in a wary tone.“

• PYKE   34

  PYKE“Thanks for coming back, man.” I look at Kyland after serving me a drink. It’s been a week since we talked and that was on New Year’s Eve.“I’m not doing this for you, asshole. This is for Mom and your parents.” He shoots me a glare and goes to the next customer two stools away from me and serves her a drink.“Boss, good to see you again,” says Forrest.“Happy New Year, dude. Tell Wright to see me in my office.” I drain the smooth as silk bourbon into my mouth and get on my feet.“Okay,” Forrest says tentatively, eyeing me in a more confused look.I leave the bar, walking directly to the hallway that leads to my office. The music is still blaring, but enough for me to sullen again.My mind goes back to Camila. I stayed drunk before getting home so that I won’t remember how I hurt her in front of my door. I missed her—everything about her, how she rode me on my couch, how I ate her on that wall, and

• PYKE   33

  CamilaMy eyes widen in amazement to see Hughes' residence for the first time. An Italian-inspired mansion stands tall in front of us. Even at night, I can see the neatly manicured huge lawns, and in between the U-shaped driveway is the beautiful Trevi-inspired fountain.A woman wearing a white blouse and black pants welcome us inside the house. Her dark hair tuck in a neat bun with light makeup on her face, and she introduces herself as Mrs. Boyes, Mrs. Hughes’ PA.The whole house of Auntie Carissa can fit into their living room alone. My eyes instantly find the man that haunted my mind every second of my day. I know for the fact that I am going to meet him here, so I brace myself as I enter the house.“Hi, Pyke,” I find myself greeting him. After my encounter with that woman in the restaurant, I asked the driver to send me to Auntie’s home. I was glad when I found Kyland there. He did a great job of diverting my mind f

• PYKE   32

  PYKEI stare blankly at the glass wall where I made love to Camila. My apartment is dead silent, and the only thing I can hear is my own constant sighing. It’s even difficult to breathe when my only companion is my guilt over her. One night, I sleep at the hotel since this place reminds me of her. I admit I got it fucking bad.Camila wasn’t supposed to find it out that way, but it’s too late to blame myself for that. That bitch screwed up everything—from my life to my future with Camila.What am I gonna do now?You’re not good at following rules, Pyke, now what stopping you?My brain still functions I guess.My holiday didn’t go as I planned—I fucked up. Even my family seemed to notice me zoning out a lot. I found them exchanging glances, but they didn’t pry me though. I guess, they got the answers on their own.I sent her messages and my Christmas gifts, but not a single reply from her

• PYKE   31

  CamilaPyke’s body goes rigid. His eyes suddenly widen and his handsome face turns white. His hand was squeezing my waist stronger that his fingers might leave a mark on my skin.“Well, look at you now, Pykie.” A voluptuous brunette of around mid-thirties walks closer to us. She’s a few inches taller than me, has a sun-kissed skin or she’s probably from southern California. She’s wearing a white dress that hugs her curves perfectly. Her hair is curled in large waves, but what catches my attention is her icy sapphire blue eyes staring at me with an angry glare that could slice me in two.“Who’s this girl?” she asks, emphasizing the word girl with disdain, but Pyke is still shocked to respond.I grab his sweaty hand, squeezing it, then I take a deep breath and smile sweetly at whoever is this bitch in front of us, perhaps, she’s Pyke’s ex-fuck buddy.“Oh, hi, I’m Camila King.” I offer my hand for a handshake. I silen

• PYKE   30

  PYKECamila sobs even in her sleep as I cuddle her all night. I wish I can take those pains away, especially that I’m one of the reasons why she’s in pain right now. Guilt is consuming me slowly and painfully.I always see her as a happy woman who doesn’t care about the world’s problem, but since that incident, she’s been silent and tried to mask her emotions most of the time and pretended to be fine. I missed her irritating banter and her infuriating mouth. My heart aches every time I see her so sad, and I can’t do anything.We drive back to the city early in the morning after our breakfast to meet my dad and her father’s lawyer.Atty. Timothy Sanders Jr. reads the last will and testament of late Cameron King II. The lawyer is in his early forties, medium build, wearing a fancy black tailored suit. He took over his father’s legacy who happened to be the former lawyer of Camila’s father, and my dad trusts him to take car