Gangster's Paradise // Rio (Good Girls)

14. Maybe

Isla stood, her face still damp from drying it with the towel, as she gazed at her reflection in the mirror. She let out a sigh and tossed the towel over the hanger to dry before walking back into her room. Just then, her phone began to ring. She picked it up from the nightstand and glanced at the caller ID. It was Mason, Isla furrowed her eyebrows, noticing the time on the clock—10:30. She wondered why he was calling her so late, but reluctantly answered the phone.

"Mason," she said, her voice filled with a mix of curiosity and concern.

"Isla," he replied, his voice raspy, as if he had been crying.

"Mason, are you alright?" Isla asked, noticing the hint of drunkenness in his voice and the traces of tears.

"I need to know," he said. Isla's eyebrows furrowed with confusion, but it soon dawned on her what he was referring to.

"I don't know," she said, her voice hesitant. She didn't know she could take him back after that what he did to her

"I made a mistake, Isla," he continued. She was about to respond when he cut her off. ". Leaving you was a mistake. Not trying hard enough to get us back together is a mistake"

"Stop, Mason. You're drunk. Just go to sleep," Isla pleaded, concerned for his well-being.

"No! You have to listen to me. I made a mistake. I want you back. Please, I love you," he pleaded desperately.

"Stop, Mason. Please, just stop," Isla's voice cracked. While she still had love for Mason, she wasn't in love with him anymore.

"Isla, please," he begged. Isla shook her head, tears welling up in her eyes. She couldn't do it. She simply hung up the phone and sat down on her bed. In reality, she had never fully processed the situation she was in with Mason. She had never let her emotions out: she didn't cry throughout him moving out nor when she caught them together.

Now, the tears flowed uncontrollably. She sobbed, her hands covering her face, trying to contain her overwhelming emotions.

Perhaps if Isla took back Mason, she hoped Rio would leave her alone. However, deep down, she knew that Rio's charm and smooth talking were only a facade. As the leader of a violent gang, it was clear that he possessed a dangerous and unpredictable nature.

As Isla pondered the situation, she couldn't help but feel a strange desire to reconcile with Mason. However, she knew that doing so for the sole purpose of protection would be a terrible reason. Despite still caring for Mason, she questioned whether she was truly still in love with him.

Complicating matters was the undeniable attraction she felt towards Rio. Despite her better judgment, thoughts of him occupied her mind. Frustrated, Isla let out a sigh and ran her hands over her face. Should she consider hearing Mason out? Could they possibly rekindle their love? Deep down, Isla knew that was unlikely. The trust between them had been shattered, and no matter how hard Mason claimed to have changed, she could never fully trust him again.

"Maybe I should take self-defense classes," she whispered to herself as she lay in bed, gazing up at the ceiling. "Yeah, I'm definitely going to take self-defense classes," she affirmed, determined to prioritize her personal safety. With a sense of purpose, she settled into bed, allowing sleep to gradually consume her.

( very short chapter here sorry had a little writer's block)