Chapter 15: Late Night Disturbance

It was challenging but I knew that I had to keep in contact with the people in my life so that things could return to normal once I could go back to my usual life. I should probably start replying to my friend’s texts. My friends from university have been messaging in our group chat about meeting up for dinner some time soon. I’ve seen their messages but have yet to reply.

"That’s it for today. Let’s go back," I said as I closed my sketchbook.

I still don’t have a definite idea for my painting, but I wouldn’t call this visit to the park a complete failure. Watching the happy people strolling by gave me a glimpse of hope. Things will get better, I just knew it.

…

When I got back to the penthouse, Hayden wasn’t back yet, to my relief. I didn’t want to run into him. To be honest, I didn’t know how to face him, and I suspected that he would bring me nothing but trouble. Auntie was there with a table full of dinner. There was so much food that I felt guilty for the starving people of the world.

"Hayden isn’t coming back for dinner, is he?" I asked.

"Oh…I’m not sure…but if you call him, I’m sure he would do his best to be back," Auntie replied with a weak smile.

I was certain that she was getting this all wrong. I didn’t ask about Hayden because I wanted to have dinner with him. I asked because I didn’t want to have dinner with him. So, if he was coming back, I would rather skip on dinner and go to my room.

Well, I guess he won’t be back. So, I’ll eat this dinner peacefully and thankfully by myself.

"Call him? I don’t even have his number. Oh, and I don’t want it. It’s a…pleasant thing that he won’t be back for dinner. So please, don’t worry," I replied with a smile of my own.

I began eating the delicious food as Auntie looked on and sighed loudly. I heard her mumble something under her breath that I couldn’t make out before leaving me alone. By the time I had finished eating, Hayden was not yet home. Despite the delicious food, I felt like I didn’t quite have an appetite and didn’t end up eating much of anything.

When I got up from my seat at the dining table, I realized that I had not fulfilled my part of the bargain for today. I haven’t done anything for Hayden and obviously since I haven’t seen or spoken to him, he had not made any requests either. I plucked out my mouth as I thought what I could do or give him.

When my wandering eye settled on the sketch book lying on the dining table, I had an idea. Reaching for the sketchbook, I flipped through the pages until I found the one that I had been looking for. Without hesitation, I slowly tore out the page and placed it on the table. Since, I won’t be needing this for my project anyways…

This is for you…Hayden.

I headed directly for my bedroom and took a shower before I started going through a bunch of chats that I haven’t replied to. My friends were surprised that I had disappeared on them although it hasn’t been that many days at all.

After a short discussion in the chat group, we finally settled on a date for our group dinner. I guess I can make it even if it means that those three men in black would be following me there. I had not received news that I couldn’t go out or meet people so I had assumed that I could. I would be a prisoner if I wasn’t allowed to go out or meet anyone.

After working a little more on my sketchbook, it was getting late in the night and since I didn’t have anything better to do, I decided to go to bed early.

…

It’s so loud outside…

I didn’t know what time it was, but it was definitely very late at night that I woke up to the sound of loud noises. It sounded like a group of people had entered the penthouse and there was a lot of loud screaming and chatting.

I didn’t need to be a genius to figure out that it was Hayden and his friends. Girl friends, judging from the high pitch voices that I could hear outside. Why can’t they keep it down?

I felt sleepy and this turn of events was not improving my already-grumpy mood. I just wanted to go back to sleep for heaven’s sake. Just as I thought things couldn’t get worst, loud music blared through the entire penthouse. Party music boomed everywhere with heavy bass and everything else that came with it.

Suddenly, the quiet penthouse was transformed into a dance floor to my dismay. How am I supposed to go back to sleep like this? I turned to lie face down on my stomach before covering my head with my pillow to keep the sound out. Unfortunately, that didn’t work out so well. The noises from outside were just too loud.

How long will they be at it? Why did he have to bring people here? Why can’t he just party outside or even better yet, sleep somewhere else?

No matter how much I tossed and turned in bed, I couldn’t catch a wink of sleep. I sat up in bed and threw my blanket away. Since I can’t go to sleep anyways, I might as well find something to do. I decided to start reading a book to kill the time until those party people either stopped partying or fell asleep.

After a while, I felt hungry. Now of all times I had to feel hungry. I guess this was the result of not eating enough at dinner. Since I can’t go to sleep anyways, maybe I should just tiptoe to the kitchen to fetch something to eat. I was sure that they were in Hayden’s room so I could avoid them with no problem.

I was right. The party people were in Hayden’s room which meant that I could tiptoe off the kitchen to find some food without a hitch. I opened the fridge and decided some yoghurt with fruit. I was on my way back from the kitchen to my bedroom when the door to Hayden’s room suddenly opened.

Great. Now of all times…

--To be continued…