Ivan opened his eyes groggily and grunted, feeling disoriented and weak. He squinted his eyes when he was greeted with sudden brightness, unable to adjust to it. Squinting made him realize how heavy his eyelids were.The initial whirlwind of confusion subsided quite quickly, but the grogginess remained for some time. His senses were messed up, and his perception, balance, and reaction were extremely sluggish. He felt extremely befuddled and couldn't recuperate quickly.He could see the to and fro movement of some people, but he couldn't make out their faces.Then his senses started coming back to him one at a time, as if his brain was going through some kind of reset. First, his hearing came back "online," and the buzz of the group started to register in his brain.After that, his mindfulness started to kick in as he began to piece together what happened. Then a numbing sensation surged, and he heard a slight ringing in his ears. He looked beside him and saw the blurry silhouette of a
"Are you also invited?" Lucy asked skeptically, giving Ivan a strange look as she stretched out her neck to peek at his phone.Ivan nodded and replied simply, "Yes."Ivan stared blankly at his phone once again.It turned out that both of them had been invited to a class gathering at the newly built five-star Ashluxe Hotel, which had been trending on the internet recently. The hotel was known for its luxury.Ivan hesitated and contemplated for a while. He didn't want to go because he didn't want his former classmates to know about his situation. He was reluctant for numerous reasons, mainly because he couldn't afford to help with the bills if he attended.Feeling ashamed and embarrassed, Ivan thought about the class monitor who had helped him in the past. His gratitude towards that person made him smile helplessly, and he couldn't forget the support he had received.After hesitating for a while, Ivan finally decided to go, making sure to avoid sensitive topics."Are you going?" Lucy as
After trying to open the door and finding it wouldn't budge, Ivan started knocking. Suddenly, the door was opened."What are you doing here?" Ivan asked furiously.To his surprise, it was Jasmine who opened the door.Ivan was bewildered, and when he remembered what Jasmine had done the other day, he scowled in fury. He had tried to explain that day, but nobody believed him.He knew that Lucy, at least, knew he would never do something like that. But because she was looking for ways to humiliate him, she didn't allow him to explain.He felt indignant, but he didn't plan to explain himself anymore. When he saw Jasmine again, his anger was justified and understandable.Jasmine was unbothered by his anger and stood still with her arms folded. She saw Ivan as nothing more than a pawn and a stepping stone. If she could continue to use him, she believed her time as a maid would soon be over.She also knew that Ivan wouldn't be able to do anything to her, so she was unbothered by his threats
Ivan was unsure about what to do in that moment. It was a class gathering, and he wanted to appear presentable. However, the only available room was already occupied. As he turned back towards the guest room, Jasmine unexpectedly opened the door. She seemed surprised to see Ivan standing awkwardly with his hands raised, but quickly frowned."Why are you here again? I already explained the situation to you. What else do you want, apart from that? This room is currently mine, and who knows, it might become mine permanently," Jasmine said, pursing her lips as she stood firmly in the doorway.Jasmine's intention was to continue staying in the house, as she did not want to return to her unpleasant rented apartment where she lived with her grandparents."I'm not here to argue with you. I just came to retrieve one of my outfits," Ivan replied, pushing past her and entering the room."Hey!!!" Jasmine yelled, but Ivan ignored her and proceeded inside.He quickly made his way to the wardrobe an
"Ivan, it's me. Long time no see."The voice at the other end was sing-song-like, caressing the earlobes like a rose petal, soothing and gentle like a breeze. The voice had a magnetic quality that drew people in, carrying warmth and positivity. Smooth and rich like a symphony, it was as hypnotic as velvet.Just by listening to the voice, one could imagine how beautiful its owner must be. Any other man would have had a nosebleed just from hearing it, but Ivan? Let's not go there.Ivan smiled when he heard the voice; he already knew who the woman was. She was his only female friend with such a lovely voice, capable of leaving a lasting impression on anyone.Their class monitor, Evelyn."Eve? How are you doing?""Don't fucking ask me how I'm doing. You didn't even ask about me, and you call yourself my friend? Who does that? You never cared about me, and you still have the audacity to ask how I'm doing?" She yelled, and Ivan had to hold the phone away from his ear with a helpless smile.
Ivan sighed helplessly and sat still for a while, staring at the outfit he was holding. After a minute of contemplation, he stood up, deciding to wash his face and get dressed.He had promised Evelyn he would come, and he couldn't go back on his word. No matter the situation, he was a man of principle.As he was about to head to the kitchen to wash his face, he noticed Lucy coming downstairs. This time, she wore a short strapless black dress that accentuated her curves. Her posture exuded confidence, and the dress added a touch of style to her appearance.The plunging neckline revealed a hint of her cleavage, and she paired the dress with strappy heels that elongated her legs, showcasing their beauty. Her black hair flowed down her shoulders in free waves, and her makeup accentuated her natural beauty.Lucy caught Ivan's gaze and gave him a captivating smile, pretending not to notice his attention.However, Ivan wasn't as captivated as she believed. Despite his disdain for Lucy, he co
"Will you let me talk?" Ivan asked angrily, and Lucy remained silent, realizing that she seemed to have misunderstood him. However, she was not remorseful; she simply wanted to hear what Ivan had to say.Ivan clenched his teeth to control his anger. He couldn't lose his temper because he needed Lucy to agree with his request first."Just so you know, you're wrong. I didn't stop you to ask for a ride at all, so don't be delusional. Since we'll be attending the class gathering together, I just want to tell you to behave yourself. Let's pretend we don't know each other, as if it's been so long since we've seen each other, as if we're not leaving together in the first place.""Just ignore me and do your own thing. I'll do the same. Unless you have to talk to me because you're told to, don't talk to me at all. We'll go there separately, so no one will find anything suspicious or know that we're related or were once in a relationship or anything like that.""So, let's maintain that. Don't t
Ivan was mesmerized by the dazzling display of cars in front of the hotel. He stood rooted in the same spot for a while, unsure if he should walk forward or not.He hesitated and decided to call Evelyn when he heard someone call his name."Ivan!"He looked around to search for the person who called his name. Not long after, he spotted a white figure standing in front of the hotel, waving her hands enthusiastically towards him with an enchanting smile on her face.Ivan couldn't help but marvel at her beauty. She was beautiful inside and out, and even Ivan couldn't deny it. Her beauty was different from Lucy's. It was unknown if the two women had talked because they were both wearing opposing colors of gowns.She had a slender figure, with a willow-like waist shaped like a decanter. Her burnished skin glowed under the street lights.A pair of curved eyebrows peered down on long eyelashes. Her delicate ears framed a button nose, and a set of stunning, angel-like white teeth gleamed as sh