15. LONELINESS & COMPANY

ACT THREE SCENE TWO

LONELINESS & COMPANY

third person

PERSPECTIVE

LONELINESS. THE MORE YOU think about it, the more you delve into a world filled with emptiness. Asher Devon is lonely, so lonely that he had to ask someone to be his companion to get rid of the agonising idea of having no one by his side.

He takes a sip of his Luwak coffee, the bitter taste resonating with his bitter mood. Today was the death anniversary of his sister, and to this day, he still blames himself for her death. His loneliness seemed to hit differently today, this time he had nobody by his side to mourn with.

His father is busy with managing Devon Academy.

It's amusing. His blood just vanished into thin air just like that. Perhaps it was Asher's turn now, there was no reason for him to be here when his sister doesn't exist in the same dimension and same time. The worst part of it all was that he had nobody to speak to, nobody can understand his devastating emotions - nobody can relate.

In the eyes of others he would be deemed as pathetic.

So he keeps this fake arrogant act. He belittles others so he could feel superior, he wants everything in the world so that he could fill in the empty place in his heart, so he could get rid of the loneliness that remains deep in his soul.

And that's why he needs to play a game.

A game to achieve the highest status.

A game to take Luca's place as the billionaire bad boys club leader.

That's why he needs Sahar.

She's the only person that makes Luca insecure.

He needs Sahar because she's the only person that makes Asher feel less lonely. She's the only person fit for his game, his game to reach the top of the social hierarchy. Although it sounds terrible, Asher just yearns to be less lonely.

Suddenly the door to the café opens, the bell chimes, attracting Asher's undivided attention. A small smile appears on his face as he notices the pretty brunette scanning the café for him. Asher knew she'd look for him, after all, she's the only person that comes close to being his friend.

That's why she made him feel less lonely. She cared enough to search for him, the other billionaire bad boys club members could care less - they're just people who knew his deepest and darkest secrets in exchange for his safety in this harsh society.

"Asher!" Sahar says, practically running over to the platinum blonde with a look filled with immense concern. She cared too much, she had too much guilt swarming inside of her to allow him to sit alone in this lonely night.

"Sahar."

"I'm sorry, I'm really sorry." she whispers, her head looking down at the ground in shame. Asher chuckles, pushing her forehead up so that they could both look each other in the eyes. His touch lingers, causing Sahar to nervously stare back at him.

"As long as you're here sincerely, I can easily forget the past for you." Asher murmurs, his eyes melting at Sahar's innocence. She seemed too good for this world in his eyes, so good that he wanted to become a good person just for her. But he couldn't.

If he became a good person... he'd feel even more lonely.

Sahar glances at Asher, her heart burning at his soft gesture, she felt on top of the world, as if a thousand storms ended at once, blessing her dark soul. It felt ethereal, the burning desire she felt for him, it was so ethereal that she felt sick.

Sahar clears her throat.

"Luwak coffee." she murmurs, glancing at the familiar coffee; it was the same coffee Asher bought for Sahar when they first met. Asher unknowingly smiles as he looks down at the coffee, he had purposely bought it because it reminded him of Sahar, for him it was another method to get rid of his loneliness.

"Would you like some?"

Sahar shakes her head to say no, Asher simply gazes at her flawless face, wondering how someone could exceed his level of beauty. He used to be self absorbed, so self absorbed he'd place any narcissist to shame; but when it came to Sahar he felt different.

"I guess I'll enjoy it myself." Asher murmurs, taking a sip of the rich coffee: Sahar watches as he drinks. She hated it, the idea of her heart burning with desire, the same desire she had before when her and Asher— its not like it matters now anyways, Asher clearly has no memory of it but Sahar does and she really wishes to drown her memories.

Sahar shivers, rubbing her arms to generate warmth. Asher notices her abrupt actions, he simply watches with a blank expression: he wasn't sure what to do when a girl felt like that. Was he meant to hand her his coat? But if he handed over his coat then he'll be the one shivering.

Asher shakes his head, he tugs on his own coat. Should I?

As if on cue, Zeph the barista walks over to the table, his eyes fall on Sahar. "Is there anything you'd like to order?" he questions, smiling sweetly at the brunette haired girl. Sahar scans the menu, she spots a warm drink and smiles immediately. But her smile falls as soon as she realises that she left the house with nothing, no money and not even a coat.

"I'm not ordering anything." she shivers, Asher once again, notices this. He scans her, finally noticing that she has no bag and no coat, he simply scoffs. How careless, he thought to himself as he pulled off his coat.

"Get her hot chocolate and place it on my tab." Asher states, Zeph the barista nods his head immediately before running off to start the order. Presumably everyone is afraid of Asher due to his charismatic yet aloof ways.

"Take it."

Sahar looks at Asher with wide eyes, he was handing her his expensive coat. Asher looks at her tiredly. "Take it, my arm is getting tired." he mutters, but really and truly he wasn't sure if he was doing the right thing.

"Thank you." Sahar says gratefully, wearing the coat. Asher scans her blankly, his mind was filled with many thoughts and one of them being how cute Sahar looked in his large coat. Asher shakes his head, he wasn't supposed to think of his companion like that.

"You shouldn't have come today," Asher lies, he wanted her to come badly. "You seem tired, you even forgot your coat and purse." he says, holding on to his cup of Luwak coffee tightly.

"I shouldn't have but I wanted to," her words cause Asher's heart to burn, this feeling felt euphoric: so ethereal he felt like his heart was internally burning from the flames of her daring words. "What good of a companion would I be if I didn't come today to apologise?"

Companion. Asher clenches on to his Luwak coffee tightly, right, they're just companions. They never will never exceed that point, Asher needs to move on with his life. He'll remain lonely if he continues this game of desire.

"I appreciate you being there for me." Asher says, truly grateful for her company, the loneliness subsided with Sahar's ephemeral presence. "I'll bring back your friend Normani, if that's what makes you continue to be my companion, I'll do it." he finishes, his words warming up Sahar's heart.

"I-" Sahar pauses, she wasn't sure if she wanted Normani back in Devon Academy anymore. After all, Normani portrayed each billionaire bad boys club member as a monster, missing out exact details, painting smaller pictures of rather large situations. She wasn't even sure if the billionaire bad boys club members were the enemy or her own friend Normani.

"Did I say something wrong?"

"No, when will you bring her back?" Sahar questions, swallowing her thoughts. Normani is her best friend, just because of her doubts she shouldn't treat a friend like that without hearing their side first. There's a slight chance there's a reason why Normani portrayed the billionaire bad boys club members like that.

"Next week, paper work takes time but she'll finally be an enrolled student of Devon Academy."

"I still don't know why you're so nice to me." Sahar says, just as she says so, Zeph the barista places her hot chocolate on the table. Asher felt her words repeat in his head mindlessly, he wasn't sure either, he wasn't sure why he's not giving up his act. He wasn't sure whether or not he was acting anymore, it's as if he underwent conformity.

"I don't know either." Asher's response was real, so real he felt himself wondering why he couldn't bring himself to be cold to Sahar like he is with everyone else in Devon Academy.

"I guess this is our thing." Sahar chuckles.

"What do you mean?"

"Not wanting to believe the reasons for our actions." she whispers, so quietly that it's as if she didn't want Asher to hear her.

"And I like it like that." she finishes.

"I guess I like it too." Asher responds, his eyes melting into Sahar's. The both of them simply drink their beverages silently, enjoying each other's company. It's as if their minds were connected and souls were entertained like a beautiful tragedy. And in tragedies, souls are meant to be devoured and minds are meant to be consumed with nightmares.

i am so so sorry with the late update! i hope to make it up to you all. as you can tell, each act is focused on a billionaire bad boys club member. and act three is based on asher, perhaps him and sahar may realise how similar they are. what are your thoughts on the book so far? is it bad? is it too slow? also do you have any ships?

thank you for 48,000 reads, i'm glad you all enjoy it! i hope one day this book could do as well as the kings. personally i believe this book is better than the kings because there's more to it and the main lead is a personal favourite of mine. i guess i'll see you all in the next update :)