RUNNING AWAY

Luna hastily packed all her belongings and important documents. This was her only option to make the wedding impossible. Once she had everything she needed, she quietly made her way downstairs to the garage and fled in her car. Emotions ran high as she drove away, unsure of where to go or stay since all her friends had moved abroad, leaving her with nowhere to turn. Desperate for a safe haven, running away seemed like her best choice.

After a long drive, Luna found herself outside a bar, seeking solace after escaping her parents' decisions. She decided to drown her sorrows in drinks all night long. Ordering drink after drink, she aimed to numb the pain of unwanted circumstances. Feeling trapped by her parents' choices, she cried silently, unnoticed amidst the loud music, except by the bartender. When the bartender inquired about her well-being, she simply asked for another drink.

The bartender eventually stopped paying attention to her when she refused to answer his questions about her distress. The music failed to soothe her pain, but her inner turmoil persisted. As she cried more, the bartender continued serving her drinks as requested. Lost in her emotions, she failed to notice her phone ringing inside her handbag, with her parents unable to track her due to the GPS being turned off.

When she tried to order more drinks, the bartender hesitated due to the number of bottles on her table, doubting her ability to pay. After Luna displayed the amount on her debit card, the bartender apologized and provided her with more drinks. The pain she felt kept her sober as she ordered drink after drink. By now, it was past 10 a.m., and the effects of the alcoholic beverages started to affect her vision, making it difficult to see clearly.

Unbeknownst to her, a group of men had been watching her from a nearby table since she entered the bar. There were four of them, and Luna remained oblivious to their gaze as she was consumed by her own turmoil. They couldn't take their eyes off her, with intentions that were not pure. Luna, overwhelmed, rested her head on the table, feeling dizzy. The bartender gestured to a colleague to watch her.

Shortly after, David DvHulle, the CEO of DvH Modeling Brand, entered the bar alone. His attention was drawn to Luna, who was visibly upset at a table. The bartender, pleased to see his friend, engaged in conversation with David, who discreetly observed Luna. She seemed familiar to him. The bartender jokingly teased David for not having a girlfriend in his forties, while Luna struggled to stand and retrieve her handbag, feeling nauseous. Despite her blurry vision, she made her way to the bathroom. Unbeknownst to her, the group of men followed her, with David noticing their actions.

As Luna remained inside the women's restroom, feeling weakened from nausea, the group of men waited outside. When she regained some strength, she decided to leave the restroom. Despite her phone ringing in her bag, she had no time to answer it. Holding her head and the wall for support, she struggled to exit. As she stepped outside, the group of men abruptly grabbed her, causing her to panic.

"What are you doing? Let me go," she pleaded.

Her words fell on deaf ears as the men forcibly tried to take her with them. Feeling endangered, Luna summoned all her strength to break free, kicking two of them and making a run for it. However, one of the men quickly caught her by the hair and pulled her back, prompting her to scream for help.

Meanwhile, David and his friend continued their conversation, with David becoming increasingly distracted. Sensing something amiss, the bartender, noticing David's unease, inquired about it. Despite David's reassurance, the bartender grew concerned upon realizing Luna was no longer at her table.

"Did you see the girl who was sitting here earlier?" he asked David. David nodded, explaining, "Yes, I noticed her when I came in for a drink. I saw her head to the bathroom. Do you know her? Is she a friend of yours?"

"No, she's not. I don't know her name or profession, but she seems professional. I'm worried because she was crying uncontrollably earlier, and when I tried to ask her, she just requested another drink."

"Then why are you so concerned about her?"

"She mentioned that I should watch her. Can you please check on her in the bathroom? I feel sorry for her. She appears to be in a difficult situation."

"Why are you asking me to watch her for you? You don't even know her, George. Maybe she's alone and needs everyone's comfort, but it seems like no one wants to help her. Maybe that's why she asked you to watch her."

"I don't know what's wrong with that lady, but she seems to need help. Please, bro. Can you please watch her? Just for the sake of it. You can come back if she's fine there."

"Oh, come on. Why are you pushing me to do that? She's fine. Just trust me, okay? She can handle herself."

George took a deep breath but still urged her to follow Luna. The way he pushed David was similar to how David drowned himself in drinking.

"One whiskey sour, please?"

Seeing that David was unable to do what he wanted, he grabbed his friends and pointed towards the restroom, pleading with him. The two were having a hard time dealing with each other.

"Just watch her and come back. I'll treat you to drinks."

David took a breath and wanted to go back, but before he could, George blocked his way and directed him towards the restroom.

"Okay. Fine. I'll watch her for you."

David couldn't refuse and headed to the bathroom, filled with confusion. The girl seemed familiar, but he couldn't recall her face as she had kept her head down when she left.

The path to the restroom was quiet, and he didn't see anyone. But as he walked, he heard something. He entered the bathroom, hoping to identify the distressed girl.