Try Me (Drunk In Love #1)

Chapter Twenty Eight

"Acquaintance huh?" His question breaks our awkward silence. It leaves me unable to answer, how should I explain to him why I said what I did.

"You were the one who didn't want to take things public. So I just said what you wanted to hear." My reply changes his expression from confused to annoyed.

"Well, it definitely wasn't something I needed to hear." Hs gets up and leave, not before throwing money on the counter. "Thanks for your services." He further adds then walk away.

His comment sting me. I know he meant for serving him but I imagine him saying it for sex, for our relationship.

Tears brim my eyes and I quickly turn to walk towards the bathroom. I am angry at myself for feeling so hurt. He is like this, I knew from the beginning. Then why does he saying me mean things break my heart.

I pull out tissue from nearby holder and dab it under my eyes, careful not to smudge my liner. But no matter what, I can't stop crying. Frustratingly, I throw the tissue on floor and slump on the chair near me.

After few minutes, when I feel I have composed myself I fix my makeup and clothes, ready to serve again. But as soon as I step out of restroom everything is disaster.

First I see smoke, everywhere. Second, I hear screams of the party goers and my staff. I run through the passage towards the bar and see chaos.

On my left, there is fire. The decoration has caught on fire and the whole area is burning up. I franctically search for fellow workers and find Jackie guiding public towards the fire exit.

She sees me and motions for me to help her. I do that, asking everyone to stay calm and proceed towards the exit. When the last group of people come, we join them and get out of the burning building.

The air has carried smoke outside aswell but it's not as dense. I find Tabitha, Jackie and others huddled in a corner and join them. The firefighters are already on their way and so is the ambulance for God forbid any casualties.

I look around me, everyone is hugging each other. Saying prayer and thanking god that they are safe. I see Sal and company with their heads together talking seriously. The thought of Abel comes into my mind and my eyes search for that familiar black hair. I don't see it anywhere.

I stand on my tiptoe, squinting my eyes to see if I missed him but he isn't here. My heart drops. He should be here. I walk over to Sal and ask him if he have seen Abel. He thought Abel was with me. I tell him no and then look around again. We both and two more search the whole area but he is nowhere to be found.

Only one place, my mind suggests and I flick my eyes towards Lush, now burning like log wood. He can't be in there.. My body and mind has gone numb, I hear voices around me but I can't concentrate on them.

If he is in there, there's only one way to find out. And I can't stick around until help comes. Without second thought, I walk forward. I hear my name being called behind, but the only thing on my mind is finding Abel.

Somebody screams for me but I don't turn. I feel hands on me, restraining me. I push with whatever strength I have and run into the building. The fire lick at my leg, making me scream our loud. I ignore it and move further inside.

The scene looks straight out of Pompeii, everything has been burned or burning. First I go towards the restroom area, he might be stuck in there. The fire haven't reached here yet. I open the door and look inside each stall. Empty.

I come out to the main area again, there is only two place he can be now, either in the storage room or our changing room. But that whole side is on heavy fire. I will need fireproof clothes to even get through there still it won't be enough.

But I have too. With this thought in mind, I walk there, avoiding burning decorations falling down. As I thought the fire is too bad but I see an opening. It would mean I have to be quick, before I get toasted. Never been the one to pray, but this time I make a small prayer to God asking him to keep Abel safe and to get me through.

Without any second thoughts, I walk through the fire. It engulfs me as I approach it, burning my hand. But there isn't time to feel pain. The way to those room is clear, only for the paintings on wall burning. I run towards the changing room first, pushing it open only to find it empty.

Opposite is the storage room. I open it with great difficulty, putting all my strength. It gives away, waft of smoke hitting me. I cough and swat the smoke by my hand. It's very hard to see in here, the light has gone out and smoke fills the small area. I almost give up when I see a dark figure on the floor.

I walk inside and hit something with my leg. Bending down, I put my hand on it and feel fabric. Oh god.

"Abel?" I manage to flip him on his back only to find him unconscious.

"Abel! Wake up, Abel." I shake him, taking his hand in mine and rubbing it. "Abel please." I hear my voice breaking and the tears streaming down my face. I don't care, I just want him to wake up.

After some shaking and trying, his eye lid flutter and he regains consciousness. He rubs at his eyes then sit up to take it the scene around him. I throw myself at him, glad that he is okay and cry in his shoulder.

He wraps his arms around me, pulling me into a protective hug. Soon I compose myself and in short explain the situation to him.

"You walked through fire for me? You crazy girl!" Not the reply I expected.

"You could have been burned, fuck died! Are you out of your damn mind ma?" He pulls me up with him and we walk out of the room. The fire have spreaded out, but that small place where I came in from is still safe. I point it out to Abel who says I am officially crazy. I tell him this the only way and after much contemplating, agree.

We, hand in hand, pass through fire like I did before. Quick on our feet, we stumble out to open space then run towards the exit. The congratulations banner is on fire right in front of the exit.

Behind the glass door, I see firefighters trying to get in. They push through the doors and extinguish the burning banner. They then come towards us to escort us out. At the exit, I take a look back.

My eyes flicker to bar and to my horror, I see the bottles falling down because the shelves are on fire. Alcohol is flammable. A lot of alcohol is, a fucking explosion.

I scream at Abel and the firefighters to run out. As soon as we hit the ground outside I hear it. The bottles exploding one by one. And then a big bang. I fly through air and hit the ground face first. I slowly turn my head to side and see Abel getting up from the ground. Him crawling toward me is the only thing I see before I black out.