The Experience Buddy [Completed]

Chapter 41

Note: For full reading experience, you could listen to Forever and Always by Parachute. (':

I ran as fast as my short legs could. A familiar scene of Hero's place filled with college kids high on alcohol and deafening music blasting from the stereos from the inside came into view. Nat waved at me when she spotted me.

"You're here!" She cried with relief. "I'm sorry, we're sorry that we didn't tell you about Hero's recent behaviour. Because we thought it would be better if you don't even hear his name at all so that you could move on."

"No worries, I know and I appreciate that." I told her as I gave her a friendly hug.

"We've been keeping a close eye on him ever since you guys broke up. We know that he is on medication but he wouldn't tell us about his condition. But regardless, it is common sense that he shouldn't be consuming alcohol with his medicine, right?" Nat was trembling slightly, I could tell she was super worried and it was rubbing off on me. I was starting to panic, wondering where this conversation was leading to.

"So, what happened?" I asked.

"He's been drinking then he would pass out then when he regains consciousness, he would start drinking again. It's not the first time now. We tried to stop him but he wouldn't listen so we thought he might still listen to you." Nat explained in a hurry.

"What?" I exclaimed. At that moment, I wasn't just filled with worry but also anger as well. Then I took in a deep breath and said, "He hates me to the core now, so I'm not so sure if I should be the right person to persuade him."

"I shouldn't be telling you this, since Hero forbade any of us to but, he said something about him breaking up with you was because you will have no future if you continued to stay with him. Something like that. He wasn't exactly the best communicator when it comes to words but he was totally wearing his feelings on his sleeves." Nat sighed.

"So, it wasn't because of the lie? Or was it still? I'm confused." I thought, with my mouth slightly agape, trying to process the new information.

"Anyway, trust me. Pretty sure you still have some effect over him. Maybe it's time the two of you thrash things out too." Nat said as she ushered me into the house.

When we were in the house, Nat pointed to me where Hero was. Even under the dim lights, I could make out the silhouette of the back of the man I once loved. Actually, I still do. The couch where we used to cuddle on all the time, now he sat there, with people I couldn't recognize, downing bottles of beer.

It pained my heart so much to see that face again after all this time. How did we become like this?

"Hero?" I called out as I approached him. He didn't acknowledge me although I know he heard me because he stopped drinking for a second and I caught those eyes of his widened in that split second.

I went around the couch to stand in front of him. "Can we talk?" I asked. He continued to ignore my existence as he talked to the others as if I wasn't there.

On impulse, I headed for the kitchen and pushed everyone out of my way.

"Ems? What are you doing?" Nat asked as she trailed after me.

I know the house so well that I could make my way around even with my eyes closed. I stomped into the kitchen and pulled out the drawer where the knives were kept. Then I grabbed one and stomped back out into the living room.

"Ems? Ems!" Nat tugged at my arms as her eyes widened in shock.

"Emily?" Cheryl rushed over.

By the time I got back to Hero, Hugh and Toby were there trying to stop him from lighting a cigarette. The both of them looked up at me and then their mouths dropped when they saw the knife in my hand.