Chapter 5

It didn't take long for Mila to find the bus that stops at the Montclair Club. She had asked the ice cream man right in front of her apartment, and when she was told, she hopped on the available bus that drove her to the location.

Just when Mila arrived that she noticed the road looked a little familiar because just another ride would lead her to Ken's apartment. Mila had the thought of going to see him; they needed to talk. She still couldn't believe what happened earlier at their workplace. It was still hard for her to process.

Firstly, she couldn't just break up with Ken like that. They weren't some strangers that just met. She literally grew up with Ken; he knew so much about her more than anyone in the world. He's her safe space. Maybe Ken needed a little space to think things through. They've been dating for a long time, and it must have stressed him.

These thoughts kept Mila busy as she walked aimlessly toward the place her sister's friend was supposed to pick her up from. Mila's mind was so frazzled that she didn't look at herself properly before leaving the house, and now she was a standout in the crowd.

Her hair looked disheveled, with the cut marks on her face and neck. Two buttons were missing from her shirt, and her skirt was covered in dust, yet the girl dragged her box noisily along the pedestrian road.

Mila had almost gotten to the club road when she saw someone familiar stepping out from a mall.

"Stephanie?" Mila blinked. Without thinking, she quickly crossed the road and ran after Stephanie. She needed to talk to the girl, a heart-to-heart conversation. Girl to girl.

No girl would destroy something she had built for years. Women were supposed to uplift others, right?

On getting to the place she assumed to be a mall due to its lighting and very tall building, Mila stopped by the side and waited for an opportunity to approach Stephanie. She learned her lesson earlier; she didn't want to cause a scene.

The opportunity came when Stephanie waved at a man wearing a white coat. Her coquettish smile was still there.

"Another prey?" Mila couldn't care much. If the girl could leave Ken, then she would gladly help her find a new prey. Seeing the girl wave a cab, Mila ran after her, blocking her path.

"What the hell!" Stephanie gasped, taking a cautious step back when someone suddenly jumped in front of her. "You! Have you lost your mind?"

Mila got down on her knees, ignoring the insults thrown at her. "Please, Stephanie, don't take Ken away from me." She rubbed her palms together. "I- I'm sorry I shouted at you earlier...I was wrong and acted out... but Ken is all I have right now. Please."

"Oh lord," Stephanie exhaled. "This is not the place or the time ugh!. Look, just get out of my face."

Mila stood up and tried to touch the girl, but Stephanie backed away. It didn't faze Mila, she continued. "Ken and I....We've been together since I can remember. I can't do anything without Ken. I don't know anyone in this big city. Please don't come between us. You're a girl too. I'm begging you."

Stephanie looked around, then settled her eyes on Mila. "You-" she hesitated. "Maybe instead of worrying over a man, you should work on yourself. Ken was going to leave either way. I'm not the problem; you are," she said condescendingly, staring at Mila from head to toe.

"Stephanie," a man's voice rang out from behind.

The smile that had faltered returned to Stephanie's lips when she heard the voice, and she flipped her hair, almost getting a piece of it into Mila's eyes. She turned to look at the man who had called her.

"That's me," Stephanie raised her hand. Her blush deepened while staring at the man in front of her. "I can't believe you finally agreed to meet me, Dr. Beckfrist. I mean, I had to stay in line to meet you."

The young man flashed her a charming smile. "I picked interest in your condition," he replied, raising a medical file. The man's eyes slowly shifted from Stephanie and settled on the girl behind her, who looked lost and confused.

Stephanie stepped forward, blocking Mila. "So, when should I come for a session?"

Roman hummed, "Well, since you did a pregnancy test, we'll wait for the result first and then—"

Mila started crying when she heard about the pregnancy. She couldn't believe Stephanie was actually pregnant for Ken. And she just realized the place she mistook for a mall was actually a hospital.

"Who is she?" Roman asked, sizing up the girl who was barely five feet with his eyes.

Stephanie turned, eyeing Mila. "Oh, she? She's my housekeeper's daughter. Maybe you can have her get the result to me."

Mila's sobs grew louder. Every time she heard the word result, she felt stabbed over and over again. Her boyfriend was having a child with another woman that wasn't her!

To avoid the embarrassing situation, Stephanie quickly flagged a cab and left, leaving Mila alone.

Roman Beckfrist stared at the girl for a long moment. He could tell just from her face that something was seriously wrong with her.

"Eeeee," Mila sobbed. It was an ugly cry with her mouth left open. Looks was the least on her mind at the moment.

Roman tapped on the medical file. He stared at the girl with deep interest, then smiled. He was about to say something, but the girl turned and left at the same time it started drizzling. Roman ran back into the hospital, watching the girl walk across the road aimlessly.

Mila could feel the rain touch her face and mix with her tears, but she didn't care. She even enjoyed it more because she cried loudly when the rain became heavier. As she passed the next road leading to the Montclair Club, a silver car passed her with speed and splashed water all over her.

If it was in the past, Mila would have cursed the person and gotten angry, but she still continued dragging her box and crying loudly.

The person in the silver car stopped, ready to apologize to who he'd just splashed water on, but the girl didn't stop.

"Strange girl," Zyran muttered. He made the next turn and entered the hospital. Taking the elevator, he stopped at the last floor, which led him to Roman's office.

Roman was behind his computer when his friend arrived. "If it isn't the old man's favorite."

Zyran ignored the comment. He walked over to a chair and sat down, tracing his finger on the glass snowball aesthetic on the table.

Roman smiled. He pulled out a medical file and scanned through it. "How's tonight going to be? The host is in a hospital."

Zyran pushed the snowball to the side, flicking his fingers. "You're coming tonight, right?"

Roman smiled, fumbling with the papers. "Does it still hurt when it rains? I don't think you need these pain relievers. I've asked you to see a therapist."

"Just shut up and do your job," Zyran replied, rolling his sleeves up with his back relaxed on the chair.

Roman stood up from his chair. Walking over to the counter beside his table, he reached for a syringe and a liquid in a vial.

"I've missed our old times together. If you didn't decide to go against the old man, we would all be partying in any country of our choice. But your decision to leave made our families push us to the board of directors." Roman took out a glove. "You know Rosy and Lucas hate you for that."

Zyran closed his eyes, his expression now looking calm and withdrawn.

"I see you're not in the mood to chat," Roman nodded and walked back to his table with a syringe. He raised it up and checked it. "I met a strange girl today... strange like Cher when her heart got broken...and also that girl."

Zyran finally opened his piercing blue eyes. He stared directly at the light on the ceiling. He remembered the strange girl he met just before arriving at the hospital. And before the syringe touched his skin, he said, "Likewise."