Strings Attached (On-going)

19. GOOD

Around me, all I could see was disappointment and frustration. Smile had fled from my lips as suddenly as it had come through. Now I could see the silhouette of pain lurking in the corners, finding a perfect time to spring up on me while I'm still hopeful and unsuspecting, finding the perfect hour to shatter me just like a wine glass fallen from between wobbling fingers under the pressure of good music.

I felt awful, angry and lost. I felt lost because I thought Dave was perfect, on point, that nothing could ever go wrong with him. I thought I had found myself in a flawless territory, his territory. Now I realized I was being delusional.

Anytime we talked, he sounded so genuine and honest, about everything. Apparently, I wasn't the only one being dishonest.

It is true, we all have secrets, things nobody can know. Of course, that's why they're secrets. But we were in a relationship for heaven's sake, that was the first thing I should have known about him.

*****

"Mr. Finer came here a while after you left, he's still waiting for --", Franka shifted her gaze from the laptop screen to me and widened her eyes at me. "Are you okay? You don't look--", I just nodded and walked past her desk and entered my office.

Oscar had his hands in his side pockets facing the glass wall at the tall trees and buildings outside. My footsteps made him turn, abruptly. He squinted his eyes to take a better look at me and as if noticing something, he rushed to my side, freeing his hand from their hiding places.

"Hey, are you okay?" He inquired

"Can I just take the rest of the day off...I can really use a rest" my voice shook. I hated looking vulnerable in front of people and yet here I was, unable to stop a freaking load of tears.

He offered to take me home after unsuccessful attempts to know what happened, but I declined politely and grabbed my bag. I left without telling him why I was miserable.

I walked straight into my bedroom and sprawled myself on the bed while still fully dressed from top to bottom. I hid my face in my pillow and let out the tears I had been holding in for a long time. I sobbed loudly into my pillow and took comfort in its wetness. My head pounded painfully and so did my heart. It throbbed in excruciation and I felt it would just burst out of my chest if I didn't hold it.

I stole a sliver of darkness from the day and gave myself up to sleep.

******

From the pounding of my head, I knew I had slept for a short while. I woke up to an unfamiliar body but a familiar cologne. I blocked my face from the sudden exposure of the light, which had apparently been turned on by this familiar stranger. Casting a shadow upon my face, I blinked several times to clear my sight. "Shit" I muttered and touched my head, seeing it was Oscar, sitting on my bed, his back to me. He turned immediately as I stirred and made to sit up. "What are you doing here?-- wait, how did you get here?"

"I came to check up on you plus, your door was unlocked...so--" he pointed out plainly as though answering a dumb question.

"Check up on me?" I chuckled and sat up straight.

"You've got to be thanking me for getting here before a robber did.... I was worried Lisa, I just...I had to come see you"

"Of course, here we go with the pity" I muttered to myself.

"And oh, come on, I made you some noodles" he grinned from ear to ear and I couldn't help but smile. I was grateful for his ever smart and fast brain, he knew I would be hungry when I wake up, which I definitely was. He got up from the bed and stretched out his hand to me. Hesitating a while, I took it and he pulled me up. I strode closely as he pulled me behind him to the kitchen.