Beautiful Ruins

XXXII》Rooftop Rendezvous.

"Bandages don’t fix bullet holes."
__— Taylor Swift__

"Show me the places where the others gave you scars."
__— Taylor Swift__

"Everyone said that she was so strong. What they didn’t know is that she could barely carry on."
__— Shawn Mendes__

"Sometimes it all gets a little too much."
__— Shawn Mendes__

"You see me standing while I’m dying on the floor."
__— Demi Lovato__

"You’re not alone, we share a story."
__— Alan Walker__

==TOvIElLA==

“Uhm…” I trailed, gazing at the rooftop deck I had been brought to. Plush, modern recliners were lined along the glass railing, angled to face the skyline. Beside each were small marble-topped tables and farther off to the left was a miniature tennis court stretched across the tiled floor, the white lines crisp and net taut, like it had been placed there just to show off.

“This is not the restroom you were told to take me to.”

Monique gave a mere shrug, walking to one recliner a few feet ahead and plopping down on it. “Depends on your definition of restroom. You can just go to the edge over there, and pee down the railing or whatever.”

Ignoring her sarcasm-coated statement, I remained still at the threshold, considering my options. Since I didn't feel pressed anymore for some reason, I could either retrace my steps back to that seemingly boring party or remain here with this infamous classmate of mine who had somewhat sparked my curiosity.

Like my legs had a mind of it's own, I found myself settling on the recliner next to hers. It had gotten significantly darker from when we arrived. From this high up, I could see a thousand city lights of different colours, twinkling like little stars, making me realize just how beautiful the world was at night-time.

The breeze whistled a soothing, pleasing rhythm in my ears, occasionally punctuated with the clatter of the party downstairs and the swish of the liquor Monique had so stealthily stolen from the party, whenever she rose it to her lips.

“Want some?”

My gaze shifted from the view ahead of me to the light-skinned girl. I was just noticing her attire for the first time that night—a pale-blue, off-shoulder fitting dress, embellished with silver stones which she paired with silver jewelries. Even with minimal make-up on, she looked like an ethereal being, like what I imagined an actual goddess would look like. Only that she was a sad-eyed one.

With me being not just a friend but the best friend of her enemy, I expected some sort of animosity between us but here she was, holding up a bottle to me and asking if I wanted to drink from it. At that moment, I wished desperately within myself that she was lashing out or treating me with contempt because that would be a lot less heartbreaking than having to witness this…shattered, watered-down version of herself.

“No, thanks.” I replied.

Even when she had looked away from me, my eyes were unwilling to leave her. After a brief beat of silence and a gulp from her drink, she spoke up again, without staring at me this time. “Do you like Soma?”