Chapter 13: It breaks!

Run! Run! Kick! Two boys are chasing a girl. They are not more than ten years. Their faces are not visible. They are running toward Janice and get past her. She happily turns around, and no one is there. Their cheerful voices die. She is standing all alone in a dark room.

"Hello?" Her voice echoes. "Is there…?" Her voice remains in her throat. She feels paranoid. A man and woman tie with a rope on a chair, and a man stand in front of them. He holds a dagger high and passes it through the man's abdomen.

No!

Janice opens her eyes. Scared. Her heart is uncontrollably beating fast. She desperately wants to help the man in her dream. Ever since childhood, she always has had the same nightmare. Don't know whether it is giving her a sign or something bad happened to someone before. Something that connects her.

She hears a grunt and turns her head in the direction from where the voice comes. She crawls towards the right side of the bed and hangs her head.

Dylan is lying on the floor, rolled in a quilt. "Is there anything left?" he asks in annoyance. "Since the day you came into my life, you've been punching and kicking. Is it some kind of your birth default?"

"Oh! So sorry." Janice clasps her hand at her mouth. She has again brought trouble. "I… I didn't mean to… Its… its just I was having a nightmare, and I kicked you." She looks at the floor.

She honestly didn't mean to. But Dylan is right. She really is troublesome. Wherever she goes, either she brings trouble to herself or to others.

Janice rubs her head, "By the way, what were you doing in the bed?"

"Probably sleeping peacefully until your kick throw me out… what else can I do?" replies Dylan. "You slipped in the bathroom, and I carried you in my arms and look what you get for me in return." He holds his wrist in front of her, showing her the bruise. "You bit me!"

"It might be because of you! You probably climbed into bed and tried to take advantage of me!" says Janice. "I won't sleep with you again!"

Dylan scoffs. "Neither, I'm dying to! I'll design billboards for you that state: Free sleep bruise from a little goose." Janice rolls her eyes, cursing him. He takes off the quilt revealing his muscular body.

"Hey!" Janice places her hand on her eyes. "Why are you naked?"

He grabs her both hands and pins her against the bed. Her heart starts to beat fast, and so does his. She struggles at first and then freezes when he slides his fingers all along her legs until they are between her thighs. Janice shivers. "Please stop!"

"You were good last night." He pokes her nose and withdraws, takes a towel and closes the bathroom door.

"Jerk!" she shouts behind him. He probably hasn't listened to her; still, she feels good.

"WHAT DOES IT MEAN THAT IT GOT BROKE! HOW CAN IT BREAK ON ITS OWN?"

Janice hears the shouting and makes her way downstairs. A woman stands in the dining room. She is a tall, skinny arrogant girl. She is wearing a black top and a white skirt. She has grey eyes and short blonde hair. Her skin is white and tattooed.

She is as mad as a hornet. The floor is messy. She has almost crushed everything she could lay her hands on. Kingsley and Christian are there too. Kingsley tries to convince her; meanwhile, Christian is gravely looking at the floor. He is clenching his fist, dare not to break her nose. Janice can't figure out why he resists so much.

"Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! Easy lady," says Janice coming into view. Her entrance distracts everyone's attention, and all eyes fall on her. Kingsley looks at her and places his index finger on his lips, giving her a sign to keep quiet.

The women look at her from head to toe and then burst out, "Who the hell gives you that shirt?" She looks at her with hatred and disgust. Janice examines her.

Janice clears her throat. "Well, we spent the night together… Dylan and I… on one bed." She only wants to tease the woman and the looks on her face. Oh! Damn, she can laugh at her face. Instead, Janice bites her lip.

"When did you come?" asks Dylan rolling his sleeves. His expressions are serious. He neither looks happy nor sad. Janice doesn't like her idea of teasing. She doesn't know whether he hears her or not. "Don't hang around like that," he whispers in her ear and nods. Christian drags her away.

"What were you doing?" he whispers.

"I was just trying to act cool!" says Janice.

"You were just messing! Dylan heard the lovey-dovey stuff of yours. He was standing behind you," says Christian. Janice seems not to care. He goes on, "Don't you know who she is? Her name is Fang Bai…."

Janice shakes her head, "Neither I wanna do. Let me enjoy!" She looks at them. They are still bickering. Fang Bai is still mad. The fish bowl in place of the vase is driving her crazy. Now she understands Dylan's top fan and why Kingsley was teasing him.

Fang places her hand around Dylan's arm and tries to act seductive. She even pouts to gain Dylan's attention. Janice wrinkles her nose. "Too gross," she murmurs. "I called Kingsley before landing," says Fang softly. She acts cool though Janice can feel she is burning inside.

Dylan looks at Kingsley. "Well, I called you almost thousands of times, but I guess you were having a wonderful night and morning too that you don't even bother to check your phone." Kingsley shrugs.

Fang grits her teeth, "Oh! Forget about the call. Now I'm here. Are you free? Let's have…."

"We've got an interview. Remember?" he asks Christian and Kingsley ignoring her invite for lunch. They both eye each other and nod.

"What about dinner then?" she asks, and at the same time, Dylan's phone rings. He doesn't answer her and picks up the call.

"Hey, Dad, what's up?" Fang sees a bruise on Dylan's hand and clenches her wrist. Dylan places a hand on his phone. "Get ready! we are going to have the interview in an hour." He puts the phone back on his ear and walks towards the door. "Yeah! She is here. Totally safe. Yeah! Yeah!" he chuckles.

Janice is standing in front of the fish bowl. Fang spots her and then looks around for Kingsley and Christian. They are deeply engrossed in their argument. She takes the chance and walks toward her.

"Such a lousy stray cat," she says softly.

"Well… we all know who is lousy here," Janice shoots back. "You look much like an angry horse with an itchy nose!"

Fang smiles bitterly, "Stay away from Dylan; otherwise, I'll sue you!" She turns around. Before that, she does something which neither Janice nor anyone could expect.

"My bowl!" Janice exclaims. She tries to catch it but too late… the bowl falls to the floor and shatters.

The betta fish torments on the ground. Kingsley grabs it and places it in the glass jar. Kingsley and Christian don't say a word.

"Whoops! Sorry. You bring it on yourself," she hides her smile and walks to the exit.

"We're leaving," says Christian. "And you will stay at home. Don't wander around. And also, your room is cleaned." She looks absent minded. "Did I make myself clear?" She nods. They also leave Janice. Now she is all alone.

"She is a real bitch! It was really hard for me to arrange the money. Don't worry, I will get you a new home," says Janice, wryly tapping the glass, and betta rotates in a circle. The fish don't like the jar.