Chapter 2 Nightmares are Coming Back

My knees when weak and sat on the ground, the familiar fear that felt before-it's coming back again, my body is shaking and feeling numb and feel my throat went dry the suffocating feeling, the anxiety relives my body again! Please, make it stop! Make it stop! I'm begging! I feel like shouting but I can't utter some words, I want to escape this situation, with the blurry vision of my tears streaming off my face I dialed Harvey's number, it was ringing. Please, pick up... Pick up... I said in silence but cannot be reached, I need help. Someone? Help me!

"Alisa!" I heard Kyla's voice and wipes my tears away and looked at her

"Kyla..." I said in my weakest voice, she looks so worried

"Hey, did something happen? Did someone touch you?" she asked repeatedly. I shook my head, and wiping away my tears and smiled at her. And slowly standing up, and she holds my wrist and tries to smile at her.

"Are you okay? Do you wanna get back in the condo?" she asked. I tapped her shoulder.

"No need, Kyla. I'm-I'm completely fine," I said, assuring her. I don't wanna the night for her, this the night we will have fun, and I will not let that man suckup my excitement tonight!

"Let's go inside?" I said, and Kyla agrees, and we both walked into the bar. The smell of cigarettes and alcohol is all over in the air, and some are making out, getting too drunk and needy. We found our table, it was small round table fits perfectly for 2 or 3 persons we sit on the stool, as the music goes loud and the lights go wild we heard a lot of screaming and... moaning.

"Uhm, one bottle of Tequila, please!" Kyla ordered, I widen my eyes, gently slapping her hands for ordering that.

"What?" She looks at me, "Alisa! We are not teenagers anymore, we don't our parents' to drink this kind of drink, don't think too much." She assured me and after a while, our bottle of Tequila came to our table, she opened it and she fills her cups, and does the same for me as the 'spirit' of the first drink came down to my throat.

I wasn't a stranger to drinking, I do start drinking alcohol when I was 16 my close friends bring a beer using his tumbler and we started to share that drink passing out in our circle, until one of our 'good' classmate, tattle tale to our teacher and we got a 3 weeks suspension after that, good ol' days.

"Hey!" Kyla calling out my attention, quickly divert my attention to hers.

"What do you think, that guy is hot, right?" he secretly points to the man he was talking about: a perfect built for the model, tall must be 6-foot inches, his hair is long, so he did a 'man' bun, I can't deny, he's oozing with sex appeal, I can see why girls are attracted to him - but not to me!

"He is okay," I said bluntly, "I've seen better," I added, and fill up my glasses with a tequila again. Then another guy winked at us, Kyla squeals like a teenager which irritates at one point.

"Girl, chill!" I whispered and I looked at her, I am right, she's not listening to me, one of the guys gestured that Kyla goes to their table, I tried to stop her, but I didn't win. I rolled my eyes and checking Kyla at the other table, laughing, squealing, and drink my glass full of tequila. But, just one gesture of that guy she stormed off to their table and leaving me alone, I tried to stop her in the end - she won. I shook my head, drinking alone at our table and checking Kyla, and drinking few shots. I don't wanna be so drunk, I still have work tomorrow.

Work. I smiled at that thought. For the first time, I feel so productive and feel like an adult. Still, I'm struggling for my everyday life, but this time, I'm stronger... and have more money. I checked my phone, my fingers clicked on the call history, and seeing his number making me so nervous and anxious I sighed heavily

Starting tomorrow, I will relive myself, I will live my life happier with contentment. A waiter stopped at my table and put down a Bloody Mary.

"Uhm, Sir. I haven't ordered anything!" I protested. Who ordered this? Kyla? Bloody mary kinda hefty-

"Somebody gave it to you, Ma'am! Have fun!" the waiter said, nods to me before he exit. It is a red drink but I can smell the alcohol and a note.

I like your smiles.

I get that a lot, nothing new. People I encounter always said to me: "you have nice teeth" or "you have beautiful lips" not to be boastful or what, I'm just stating a fact, and according to them or mine. I started to taste the drink. Woah! This is strong for me! As I said, I'm not a heavy drinker, occasionally or when I am super stressed-I'm drinking. But this is too much for me but isn't it rude to throw away might as well take a sip again, and Kyla came to our table again, pulling the guy and man bun guy.

"Alisa! This is Keith and this is Travis. Boys, my most beautiful friend and roommate, Alisa!" Kyla said, and Keith is Kyla's man for tonight and Travis is the man bun guy. Keith waved at me, and Travis gave a silent treatment, he nods. I smile small, and we began drinking again while Kyla and Keith are lowkey flirting, I just shook my head and silently drinking, and my eyes went stare secretly at Travis, he is more handsome! What a pointed nose! And his lips are red and might I want a kiss that-Wait, what? I wanna slap myself for thinking that thought Are you fangirling to this guy? Really? At your age? Geez!

"What is that?" Is that Travis? And I looked at him, staring at me

"Huh? What?" We both answered our questions with question

"What you saying earlier?" He asked, he sounded so curious.

"Nothing, I'm talking to myself," I answered and looks away. Dumb answer! Dumb answer! You are talking to yourself, he thinks now that you're weird and that!

"Oh, I see, you're an intrapersonal person," he replied, then smiled at me.

I smiled awkwardly. "Y-Yeah..." And take a sip again.

This is gonna one awkward night! And gonna be fun, too!

---

A loud alarm wake me up I set a five-alarm to make sure, I'm not late for my first day of work, the HR texted me again to go to their office to get my ID. I washed my face, and when down to the kitchen to find some breakfast and I forgot bread and mayonnaise and start to eat that and after that, I do a quick shower and goes to my room, put on some light makeup, and do my hair, I ironed my hair on my first day to look my self presentable first impressions lasts I always believe that and went down to the kitchen to make some soup for Kyla, cause she is drunk he had 25 shots of Tequila, 10 shots of beer, and 4 shots of Margarita after that I went to my room and packed my bags, I saw my older designer bags like 2015 collection of D&G. I don't want to flaunt my 'riches' way back, I'm done grooming myself and went out and hails a cab, and on my way to my work.

---

I went to the HR office first and take a picture for my I.D and give some quick learning about the company and its old owners and CEO after two minutes of learning we went to the 24th floor and open the door for me.

"Mil! New trainee, Alisa!" One of the HR said Mil is wearing powder blue long office shirt pair with a black long formal pencil cut skirt, looking her more superior than us.

"Good morning, Ma'am!" I greeted. I hear the door shut and Miss Mil checking me out from head to toe, what is her problem?

"Follow me," she said with an authority, she walked first and I followed her, there's a lot of computers in here. I'm excited kind of job that I'm taking in.

"Here's your work area," she said, she gives a bit dusty work area, the computer looks outdated and broken chair.

"You can clean things up before you start, and welcome here." She said, grinning I smiled but in my mind, I want to strangle her neck! What a bitchy manager! I said in my mind, sighing, gonna find some cleaning materials.

"Hello there!" I turned on my back, she smiling at me sweetly, she's wearing a beautiful light pink dress that complements her short blonde hair and with stilettos.

"Hey!" I greeted them back and I hope she can help me!

"Need any help?" An angel. Yes! She asked and she gave her mini cleaning materials

"Thank you for this!" I wanna hug her, she's so sweet!

"Welcome!" She replied before she exited, and I do some cleaning to my area, after 5 minutes I finished my work, I found a new chair! And opened my computer and starts to work.

---

It is 8 pm, it's too dark outside, I am waiting for a ride home, my phone beeped, and fished out my phone, and smile when I saw the message.

'Sis, where are you? I miss you'

'I got a new work! Just waiting for a ride home, why?'

'Let's meet, please! Pretty sis!'

I smile. How can I say no to this?

'Text me where you at'

Did I mention? I ran away from my family. I came from a wealthy family but things when downhill and some decisions are made, I fed up, I choose to run away for my sake my sanity. But I didn't abandon my little brother! I just can't! My phone beeped again and he texted me the address and hail a cab and tell I am going.

---

The location came to a fancy restaurant my dress code didn't fit the ambiance, I just look a waiter more like a guest than go the front desk.

"Hello, a reservation for Grey's family?" I asked.

"Ma'am. Follow me," the girl at the front desk said and I did follow her, and we went to a room. She opened the door for me, and my body started to numb, I feel I am gonna cry anytime.

"Miss me?"

A shiver went down my spine.

No... This can't happen.

"... Wife,"