Struggle For Power [✓]

Chapter 13

Justin's POV

The way my father was treating Selena was disrespectful.

When she stormed away, I instantly wanted to check on her and apologise, despite my reluctance towards making apologises. Clearly, she was dealing with her own demons without being stuck between everything surrounding her. But my father decided to throw his newspaper and make a complete exit. I knew by the engine roaring outside he had no desire to even check if Selena was okay. The sad thing was he didn't know how to care or at least show it in the correct way.

He probably thought to give her space instantly was going to help her. Presuming shit isn't always the best option either.

I waited for her to leave the bathroom after calling her name several times, which mixed well with a few apologises and hopefully comforting words. She didn't come out. She didn't say anything. Only the sounds of a few sniffles told me her state. But I didn't particularly expect her to come out with welcoming arms. I wasn't the one she wanted to be on the other side of the door, but at least she would've heard the sincerity of my apology. I felt giving her some space was the ideal way, but at least she knew I made an attempt.

But why am I even giving this girl an ounce of kindness? It's not like she deserves it. It's like every time I think about how I want to rid her from our lives, there is something that pulls me towards the light - the reasons why she should stay.

I decide to go for a run since my routine was slowly starting to deteriorate. I needed a physical method to cleanse and a mental one. I find all my sportswear and put on the appropriate clothing for the windy, rainy environment outside today - all black. I grab my phone and zip it up in my jacket, enough so my headphone could peer out. Quickly filling up my bottle, I scurried into the chilly outdoors.

•••

40 minutes was all it took before I was sitting in a cafe with a luscious coffee in my reach.

The weather worsened to the point thunder and lightning appeared out of nowhere. I wanted to exercise until my body was too brittle to even move, but not in these circumstances. I just wanted to wait out the terrible weather before heading back to the chaos at home. I guess a coffee couldn't hurt right now.

I look around, seeing everyone looking so content. The laughter that coated the room was unpleasant to my ear. Each fulfilled smile from a told story or some lame joke became something unavoidable, no matter my detest. I hated the warmness that oozed out of the place purely when my life was everything but goodness.

My darkened thoughts were interrupted by my phone buzzing uncontrollably in my pocket. Once I grab my phone from its tangled state due to my earphones, I felt relief once I saw the caller ID.

"Sup, Fredo." Perhaps smiling was contagious as I glimpsed the first smile on this place. I was thankful he had called at such a personal, glooming time.

"Get in." He speaks in a cold tone. I wouldn't of recognised who the voice belonged to hadn't it been for caller ID. The usual ecstatic sound that would leave was nowhere to be discovered, so I doubt whatever he wanted wasn't anything promising.

"What do you mean?" While I look around outside to see what he meant, I eventually see Alfredo leaning on his fancy car with a black umbrella in his hand to block out the weather. His black suit completed the dark state he was giving me for whatever reason. Definitely a scene from a movie. He was staring at me through the window with an expressionless look, that made me feel wary about.