𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘵 || 𝘫𝘫 𝘮𝘢𝘺𝘣𝘢𝘯𝘬

𝐄 𝐈 𝐆 𝐇 𝐓 𝐄 𝐄 𝐍

Aleena's POV:

My head is spinning from the emotions as I've been sitting in this weather for what feels like an eternity. Almost an hour. When Sarah left, it felt like my whole world crumbled. The mere thought of her and John B being happy together makes me incredibly jealous. It's like they have this chance at happiness, while I'm left to deal with all the pain and frustration.

Only if I could explain everything...

I wipe the tears from my face, feeling the dampness on my cheeks. My body feels heavy, like it's weighed down by all the emotions swirling inside me. It's almost morning, around 5 am, but the sun is still nowhere in sight. The darkness mirrors the state of my mind - groggy from the alcohol and the endless crying.

I decide to take a walk near the beach, hoping the sound of the waves crashing against the shore will help me find some calm. The rhythmic sound soothes me a little, and I try to collect my thoughts.

I realize that I need to talk to John B. I have to tell him everything that has been bothering me. Only then can I move forward with my life and find my own happiness amidst the chaos.

In my long red dress, I make my way to the Chateau. I know he may never forgive me, but he deserves to know the truth. Even if it means that everything will change between us.

I knock on the door, my heart pounding loudly in my chest as I wait for John B to answer. But to my surprise, it's not my brother who opens the door; it's the blonde guy who saw my true self during our confrontation.

"What are you doing here?" he snaps, his irritation evident.

I peer into the Chateau, searching for John B's familiar face. "Is my brother here?"

"No," he responds curtly.

"Can I come inside?" I ask, trying to keep my voice steady.

He hesitates for a moment before stepping aside and gesturing for me to enter. I can tell he's too exhausted to argue with me anymore, probably thinking it's easier to let me in than to deal with my persistence.

Inside, JJ is collapsed with a loud sigh on the couch and puts his hands on his face, looking like he's been through a storm of his own. Memories of the events from last night flash through my mind, and I feel a pang of guilt inside my body.

"Where- where is he? Is he still with Sarah or..." I can't help but ask.

JJ pulls himself up, placing a pillow between his legs and stomach as if seeking comfort. "Yeah," he laughs bitterly, "yeah, Sarah is still with him."

"They probably have a lot to talk about," I say, trying to inject some humor into the conversation, even though it feels forced.

His laugh is anything but genuine. It's filled with misery, and I can't help but feel the weight of the situation settling on my shoulders once again. This won't be an easy conversation with John B, and the truth I'm about to reveal might change everything between us. But it's a risk I have to take if I want to move on.

He looks up and swallows hard, his expression deathly serious. "Why, Aleena?" His voice is stern, a far cry from the playful JJ I'm used to.

I stutter, my heart pounding in fear of his intensity. "Wha- what... why?" I can't meet his gaze, feeling the weight of his scrutiny.

He stands up, taking a step closer until he's nearly hovering over me, his lips almost touching mine. "He was your brother, your best friend. You said you never wanted to see him again. Now, I can ask you the same question you asked this night. Why, Aleena?"

I run my fingers through my hair, trying to collect my thoughts. My eyes start to water, and I struggle to find the right words. "You don't understand shit, JJ."