HEAR ME TOO!

PART THIRTY-EIGHT

For the third time that week, Isabel woke up with a throbbing headache, the result of yet another nasty hangover. She didn't know why she even bothered to drink at all. It wasn't like the pain she felt she felt could be erased with a few shots of vodka. She had asked for two weeks leave from work and had been obliged due to her excellent track record. The time off was supposed to help her find clarity but here she was instead, drowning her sorrows in alcohol. She was a doctor, so one would think she knew better. But alas, the saying "doctors are human too" applied in this situation.

She put her hand to her head and blindly felt around her bedside table for the aspirin she always kept on top of it. In situations like this, it sure came in handy. She quickly took the pills and was just about to put her blanket over her head when Winnie opened the door, rather loudly. Isabel felt as if her head was going to split any second and couldn't wait for the pills to kick in.

"Until when are you going to keep drinking Isa?" Winnie asked when she got to the foot of the bed. She didn't wait for a reply before sitting and launching into what seemed like a long overdue speech.

"I understand that you're upset about Ben but drinking isn't going to solve anything. If you knew you liked him that much, why did you agree to go into a relationship with Ken for the second time? You made a decision and you need to stick by it. To be honest, I don't see how drinking almost every night can help you get out of the mess you put yourself in."

"Winnie... I'm not drinking because I want to. It's just that my heart feels so heavy and I just want to dull the pain."

"When you wake up, the pain is always a hundred times worse. I'm your friend and I have your best interests at heart. I asked you not to go back because I felt you deserved more than that lying asshole but you eventually made your decision. You made your choice and Ben made his. So the best option is to stop drinking and pull yourself together while thinking of how best to handle the situation."

Before Isabel could say anything in reply, her phone trilled and she quickly reached for it. The look on her face changed from anticipation to disappointment in a second and she threw the device on the bedside table.

"So now you're not even going to pick your boyfriend's call?" Winnie asked, giving her friend a stern look.

"I'm just not in the mood to talk to him. He's been really annoying me for the past few days."

"He didn't force you into this relationship girl. You went into it with your eyes wide open. So pick his call and talk to him. You can also decide to end it if you're no longer interested."

"It's not that simple, Winnie."

"It might not be simple but you need to fix this. You need to know what you want going forward. And avoiding Ken isn't helping and neither is alcohol."

"Alright. I'll talk to him. Just not now, maybe later in the day."

Sighing, Winnie stood up and made her way to the door. After she left the room, Isabel fell back on her bed with a frustrated sigh. She had never been so confused in her life. Worst part was, she had brought all of this on herself and now, there seemed to be no way out.
*****

Ken tried his girlfriend's line one more time and got no reply. He then sent a text message and flung his phone on the sofa in frustration.

Why was she ignoring him? Did she see or hear something? Was she planning to break up with him?

These questions only seemed to make matters worse. He didn't like what was happening one bit. He already talked about the money with her and she said she'd talk to her parents. He was so close to finally paying off his debt and could not afford any mistakes.

One might wonder what exactly he told Isabel for her to agree to discuss his situation with her parents. Truth was, it was easier than he had actually hoped. She might seem tough but deep down, Isabel was a big softie and couldn't bear to see anyone suffering or crying. All he had to do was cook up a good story about how he lost his businesses and all the money he had, shed a few tears for effect and she had bought it hook, line and sinker.

Who would have thought?!

Restless and wondering what exactly could be stopping her from texting or calling him, he picked up his phone and sent another text.

"Babe, please call me when you get this. I'm really worried about you and I need to see you."

After typing, he hit send and waited for a reply. He was certain he'd get one before the day ran out. Standing up, he picked up his car keys and headed outside. Now that the money was almost in his hands, It was time to go see his creditor.

A/N
While I've become less frequent on updating chapters, I have been working on other projects and I'm currently trying to balance everything. I hope you all understand and bear with me.

Please don't forget to vote for the chapter if you liked it!❤️