Chapter 4

Emma blinked and choked on her food. "Aren't you that girl Mr. famous french fries cheated with? Wow, he has such low standards." She commented. Meanwhile, Aelise just stared blankly at the female, not uttering a word at all. She didn't even put the effort into glancing at her ex.

"Oh, that is her. Now, listen here you stinky chewed up llama di-" Emma's words cut off as Aelise kicked her leg making her wince in pain.

This time, she was the one who spoke. "Why ask a stranger to fix your issues with your boyfriend? That's quite stupid." Her lips gradually curved up into an innocent smile. A very innocent smile. "However, I hope you and him will get better. Little bitch." She muttered the last part, quiet enough for people to not to hear it.

She glanced away, and continued to take a sip from her precious daily dose of coffee. Emma huffed at the sight. She honestly hated it whenever Aelise got into a commotion of some sort. It was unusual of her. She usually gets away from dramas and minds her own business instead.

"Are you okay?" Her best friend asked, certainly concerned. Aelise rolled her eyes and waved her hands at her. "It's fine. Just enjoy your food. I really want to go to that coin karaoke that you mentioned earlier. It was absolutely cute!" She commented as if she didn't see the person; the reason why she and her highschool sweetheart broke up. Aelise shook the thoughts off and scrolled through her phone instead.

Zen's heart broke when Aelise didn't even spare him a glance. "I guess I was just that much of a fucking jerk." He whispered to himself as he went to Zara. "I'm sorry for the inconvenience." He said and bowed to Aelise and her best friend as he held Zara's hand and dragged her away and out.

"Why? Huh? Do you want to fucking ruin me?! What the fuck is your problem?" He asked her. "Oh don't worry. I do actually want to ruin you. To think that you'd have a weakness." She scoffed as she looked away.

"People will use her against you." Zara spoke. "Her against me?! We're not together!" He exclaimed. The only reason he hadn't slapped her was because she was older than him. "Who cares? You have a soft spot for her. Tell me that you don't love her still. Go on. And then I'll believe you." She said and he froze as he bit his lip and clenched his fists. "I-I-" He stuttered. "See? You're so fucking pathetic. Just hanging onto her." She sneered.

"Next time I see you around Zen, I will be reporting you to the police for harassment. Luckily, he didn't punch you." Arai spoke as he smiled at Zara and held Natalie. Nate looked at Zen and sighed, taking him away.

"You've got a shoot anyway. Let's get going." Nate spoke as he lead Zen to the car and put his mask back on as Arai and Natalie followed. "Bad." Natalie showed her tongue to Zara who scoffed.

"Such a fucking weakling. He doesn't even deserve a girlfriend. He should be happy I'm even taking a look at him." Zara chuckled. "God. I fucking hate myself so much." Zen sighed as he put his head into his hands. "Hey. It's fine. Calm down, okay?" Nate rubbed the boy's back to calm him down.

"I n-need to get out of this, Nate. This can't be it. She's clearly moved on. She didn't even look at me. I guess that's how disgusting I am." He scoffed at himself. Ever since Aelise left his life, his self esteem plummeted. He lost so much of his self confidence and doubted himself every time. He was a mess.

Aelise rolled her eyes and groaned afterward, she then ran a hand through her hair. She spoke coldly to him, not sparing him a glance still "You're doing great, Zen. Really great." That's what she'd usually say to him back then.

She shook her head and only looked at him when he walked away with the woman. She watched attentively, Although she could not hear them but she could read their lips well. She sighed in frustration but all that seemed to disperse when she saw the small girl stuck her tongue out to the woman. She snorted.

Emma rose an eyebrow at her, curiousity glinting on her eyes, "What's so funny?" She asked, words muffled in her mouth as it was stuffed with doughnut. Aelise waved her hand in dismissal. "Ah. It's nothing. I just wondered why Mr. french fries cheated on me with Ms. female dog." She used the nickname Emma secretly gave to him.

Now, it was Emma's turn to snort. "Jesus Christ. So, what time are we going to that coin karaoke?" Aelise facepalmed and answered. "I thought you said before the party?" She sweatdropped and apologized.

An hour later of talking about various topics, the both of them said their goodbyes to Aelise's aunt for the free food and such. The old lady asked what happened back there a while ago and said she recognized it was Zen. Aelise replied that it was nothing and she shouldn't mind about it much.

Henceforth, the both of them headed to Aelise's house and decided to help her family for the preparations. Her dad and other brother immediately gave her a warm welcome and a tight hug when they saw her which she didn't mind returning.

Zen, on the other hand, was immediately rushed inside and changed. He didn't care as the people threw him around like a rag doll, getting him into different clothes and make up. "Give me some time with him." Nate spoke as he looked at Zen.

He felt like the boy would break down at any moment. He hadn't once let out his feelings. He blocked them all. They were all useless anyway. "Zen." Nate called out but Zen just stood up, taking a breath.

"I'll have calls today. I don't think I can make it back home. Tell your mom, okay?" He smiled. He didn't care if his parents knew. He was sure they didn't care either as long as he got the work done. "How's your leg?" Nate asked.

"I'm able to walk so it's fine." He spoke and was about to go out but Nate held him back. "You think I'm blind like them?" Nate asked as he pulled up the boy's pant sleeve up. "You're fucking bleeding." Nate growled out in anger.

"Zen. Come on." He heard his dad's voice as he saw the man walk into the room. "Sir, he's bleeding." Nate spoke and Zen's father looked down at the wound and the blood. "Clean it up and get out now. You can't stay in here for so long. People have got other work to do too. I need you out soon." His father said and left.

"I will kill that man some day." Nate groaned as he helped the boy clean up. "Life." Zen chuckled as he got it patched up and got out, finishing up the shoot, trying to do his best with the expressions.

After the shoot, he was dragged by his father to the company. "This is my son, Zen. He'll be taking over after me." His father introduced to his clients. Zen smiled and bowed. "Pleasure to meet you gentlemen." He spoke and stood up straight again. "You will have to head to the press conference after your meeting with them." His father whispered before smiling. "Go ahead." He smiled and Zen sighed.

'I guess I deserve this for what I put you through.' He thought to himself as he spoke with the clients with a heavy heart.