New Course 14

RED'S POV

Shirley dropped her knees on the floor beside my seat. Her face flushed right away as she called me, and tears started to run down her cheeks.

"I'm so sorry, Red. I never meant to cheat on you, but I was drunk."

I got shocked to see her kneeling. Though it hurts, I knew I should not put all the blame on her. Eric had already explained that Calla was the root cause of all these. However, if she didn't show Eric any motive, he would not have taken advantage of her weakness.

"No, Shirl. Stand up. I won't say I can forgive you, but the wound is still fresh," I mumbled while pulling her up and helped her stand up.

"I know!" She was already sobbing, and to spare us both from making a scene, she ran away and went to the bathroom.

Scenes of our friendship flashed in my mind again until it wandered to that moment where I saw them covered with a thin sheet--both naked. Nothing hurt me more than seeing them like that, so having it on my mind again, made me sob as well.

An arm wrapping around my shoulders made me look up, and I met Sean's worried look.

"Why?" he asked, and I turned my head towards the bathroom.

He nodded and pulled me closer to him. "She must be that crying lady rushing to the bathroom."

"Shirley," I mumbled between my stifled sobs.

"I see."

The waiter came with our food, but Sean told her to pack it, instead. Glancing at me, whose eyes were already puffing out, the waiter agreed right away. Sean then stood up and walked me to where he parked the car and ushered me inside. He just returned after a few minutes to pay our bill and take our food out.

As soon as Sean stepped out, I cried out loud. Until I could release my welling emotion that way, would my feelings lighten up. When Sean came back, I was already sniffling with my tears. Sean did not say a word and gave me my privacy. I closed my eyes on the way, and little did I realize that I fell asleep. When I woke up for about an hour later, I was already lying on Sean's lap.

"You didn't wake me up," I complained while I got up from his thighs.

"You were tired," Sean replied, but his eyes were not on me but on the screen in front of him.

I brushed my hair with my fingers as I also fixed my eyes on the screen. Sean was watching the early evening news program, and the headline was still about the president's scandal.

"Information about the president's other woman has leaked again to social media. Rumor has it that the lady had herself admitted to one of the most famous hospitals in the city due to complaints of abdominal pain. However, when the group of reporters went to the said hospital, another source told them that the lady had escaped."

My eyes widened at the news. "The lady has escaped?"

Sean turned his head and looked at me, but he did not respond. He stared back at the screen without blinking.

"There must be an inside source. I'm sure it's political. Once again, to bring him down from his presidency. It's always like that. People vote for them, find fault in them later, then cry for their ouster. No firm stand at all; so confusing." I grumbled, and in my mind were scenes of protest rallies, endless issues about faulty government, and campaigns against anything that contradicts some people's preferences.

"As to how I see it, it's not political, but revenge," Sean finally replied as he turned the car TV off. He then got out of the car ahead and opened the door on my side.

I pulled up my brows when I realized we were not on the premises of Laminae, Inc. I had scheduled interviews in the early evening, and what would be their impression on the company if I wouldn't appear? When I did not move, Sean raised a brow on me.

"The interview?"

"I sent someone to do a basic interview and have it recorded so that you can sort it out. You are not emotionally well today."

I sighed in relief. After everything that happened today, I wanted a long and deep sleep. I even brought with me an antihistamine.

"Thank you, Sean." And for the first time, I wrapped my arms around his neck and initiated a light smack on the lips, but Sean hooked his fingers on my hair as he tilted my face for a deeper and probing kiss.

"Let's get inside now," he said, stopping reluctantly. I saw the glow of desire in his eyes, and somehow, the act also awakened something in me that I also wanted more.

Sean was unusually silent when we entered the gate. Perhaps, the momentary bliss blew my mind away from the present because I did not notice right then that we were coming into someone else's place. The design of the house was similar, as well as the outer structure, but the location of the lawn garden had shifted to the right.

"Where are we? Whose house is this?" I stopped and faced Sean, giving him a puzzled look.

"Come." He held my hand, and we got into the cemented and pebbled path at the side of the house. Beautiful, flowering plants lined both sides. The lovely flowers caught my attention that I no longer minded where we were.

"Babe, we're here."

I looked around and gaped at what I saw and realized. We were already in front of my house!

"This is a duplex-style house, each unit facing a different road."

"Whose unit is it on the front?" I asked, but then I realized that I am living in a subdivision and that Sean owned this estate. So, probably, it was still an unoccupied unit.

"Mine."

My mouth hung open as I realized that this--and many things else--was no longer a coincidence. The more I got determined to know why everything about my life lately would always link to Sean.

Sean held the door open for me as I got lost in my thoughts. I was about to step into the stairs, but Sean caught my arm and pulled me instead to the kitchen. He led me to the door, which I misconstrued as an exit. To my surprise, it opened to another kitchen.

I felt so silly to realize that our house was interconnected. I was too busy and tired that I had not familiarized every corner of the house yet. This house was already fully-furnished when I moved here, according to the agreement I signed. I am someone who does not care so much about brands, that when the agent asked me about my preferred types of furniture and appliance, I entrusted everything to him.

I was still on my spell when Sean held my hand and gently led me upstairs. I wanted to know if our bedrooms were also connected. Before I got the answers, Sean pinned me on the door of his bedroom and began kissing me.