They say human nature is peculiar, totally unique. We don't instantly trust people, not atleast at the first glance but when we do, we put everything in the path of that trust. Deteriorate every inhibition dragging us from building the faith, struggling to put all logics at bay for the sake of just a word, trust. A word so precise but weighing oceans of meaning, bulk of sacrifices and restraint. Yet, stays being the most overlooked and played term.

They say it takes years for one to build trust, for a few, days maybe. But it takes time, it always does and always would. Trusting someone is letting down your protective shield, one that knowingly and unknowingly everyone has set, sometimes high sometimes moderate, just enough to make space for anyone else and adjusting it for them to fit in.

It's more like heaping stones and arranging them into a tower, placing all asymmetrical chunks of rocks over each other relying on the mercy of surrounding to keep the tower intact, to prevent it from falling. If lucky it does stand, keeps standing unless moved, shaken or attacked. It attempts to restrain the mild mishaps and even stands a few jerks but ultimately tumbles at a sharp wave.

Trust functions along the same lines, standing crooked yet firm. Struggling to maintain its being even when people try to coax it into falling, this is how profound the impact of trust brings along. But they say there's always enough blows a thing can take before collapsing, shattering into splinters; scattering widespread as they please. The broken pieces go so far that even if you search for them, they remain lost, owing to never return.

Another round of applause knocks me out of the shock I was in. In my mind at the moment only two words resonated back and forth.

Trust. Betrayal.

I felt ditched, played even. In my heart I was wishing for all the situation to have an explanation, one that wouldn't hurt me but the rational conscience of mine knew better. It mocked me inquisitively that was I so desperate in not wanting to lose friends that I was praying for them to have any proper reason for ditching me. Hade I been so needy to have people to be with that I don't anymore care even if they openly fool with me.

 My eyes darted over to look at Ken so he could tell me that it was all a joke and he has only reacted that way to see for my reaction. I was wishing for him to yell that I'd fallen for one of his antic but in return just lowered his head, making me inhale sharply. His face was masked in shame and apology. Tears welled in my eyes, I shook my head and gulped the emotions restricting them from falling. My gaze then drifted over to Cassie, my obstinate self still adamant in believing it all to be some comedic approach other than reality but she had a forlorn look at her face and was glaring daggers at Ken, allowing my heart to sink.

AB on the other hand had turned stoic; rigid. The mellowed softness from a few minutes ago now steeled, drawn into huge blocks of barrier from his heart. His demeanor stoned and stiff. Physically proving his infamous personality, being a live model to all the characteristics he was told to possess. Ofcourse he was a devil according to the people.

Mr. White. Gabriel White. He's the one. My mind kept chanting the name yet refused to associate it with the person himself.

He was Mr. White. The Mr. White. The one I'd so many times mentioned and conspired theories about. The Mr. White, who'd been holding me captive no more than couple weeks ago. The very man from whom I'd wanted to stay hidden from and had once ran away from. The one who owned the company I work in. Also, the only one who had made me feel a shifted position of my heart, who has invoked something in me, some strange feelings. Something which I don't know might either represent like or distaste but there is something very powerful. What? I have no clue.

I couldn't hate my luck anymore. Are all dramatic situations meant to happen with me? My eyes roamed around the hall and studied the eyes of others to see them blended with the surroundings, being the usual. No one was surprised, noone was shocked. Everybody knew, everybody had known all along. I don't blame them, how can I? They weren't the ones at fault, heck, had I not had this stupid wish to not see who Mr. White was online, I might've actually known the truth and might as well have saved myself from a deceiving situation. But no! From the entire crowd of people it was me, just me who stood here paralyzed taking in information.

Done with staring at me for any sort of reaction, AB went for the stage, the applause resonated and he started to talk. What expressions of mine was he waiting for? I was too confused to properly morph my face into something. My mind was a mesh work of thoughts, too many to sort yet none dominant enough to take over my facial features.

His smooth, deep voice flowed in the arena but I couldn't focus. I automatically blocked everything out, all the sounds turned to a hum of nothing. Only the previous ones had the privilege to reverberate, bursting as a tornado, vowing to wipe all sanity away. I strained myself to listen, to know what more is to be said, to know what else could be heard but I couldn't, my body and brain had other plans. My mind drifted off to somewhere else. I no more knew what I was thinking about. Nothing in particular, just everything to none.

I felt my head starting to spin with the truckload of knowledge, struggling to find the origin or clog but nothing decided to make sense. My fingers lifted to massage my temples, swirling in soft circles to ease the mild headache that had started to form. Grabbing a glass of water from a nearby table, I chugged it down in a go, in attempts of awakening my being, to see what my mind is proceeded off to do. I cringed at the weird taste of it and gently placed the glass back.

Cassie stepped close to me and I suddenly had this urge to escape to run and disappear, to analyze the newly taken environment, to go away from these people, the only people I'd considered my own in this new alien city. I followed my instincts and my feet led me towards the backside exit, the same place I'd come from. I gently excused people out of my way and fled to leave, wanting to hide from the swarming crowd and their mocking beings.

Ken saw me leaving halfway and attempted to stop me from leaving but I couldn't take anymore. His hand reached forward to grab my arm and I automatically recoiled, pulling it away far from his touch. A flash of hurt pass his face and his frown deepened.

"Smurf I-" he begins,

"Just. Just let me be" my voice uttered hoarsely. The emotions showed right through it. I cleared my throat to swallow my vulnerability in. There's nothing really left for me to show to anyone anymore. This probably would be a lesson to stop making friends with people close eyed.

"No, Smurf plea-" he pleaded. He reached his hand to his mouth biting his nails, something I know he does only when he feels nervous and helpless. I had always stopped him from doing so, but today I don't see any right of mine to do that.

"Don't. I said just let me be" I whispered, my form just seconds from breaking down and bawling hopelessly. The words that left from my mouth almost inaudibly, getting suppressed against the sound of the speakers through which Mr. White spoke his speech. The more I stared and talked to Ken, the sadder my heart felt from inside. He was my best friend, even better than Cassie though I told none but it was a known. There was just a bonding with Ken, a person who I could look my pal in, probably because he was the first one I'd met but mostly because he'd been with me all along, helped me all the time. Now, he stood here in front of me and all I could feel was overwhelming sadness.

My throat got constricted and I desperately looked for air and selftime to keep myself from being a live monument of devastated. Bursting through the double French doors, the cold winter air hit my face with a force, I made my way further outside breathing in and gulping huge chunks of air. I gasped and tightly shut my eyes all the while walking away from the venue, descending from the stairs to the direction of road. My head felt dizzy all of a sudden, I looked around and back to myself before taking account of my feelings and emotions. I didn't know what I felt, how I felt.

I didn't know where I was heading off to, didn't know which direction my house was but I kept walking, it definitely was far from this place. It ought to be, there's always a difference between posh people and middle class, like me. No matter how hard we try and suppress it, it shows. They make it show, just as it did today. My house would be far away from this high elite neighborhood that much I knew and I know how long it took for Ken to drive up all the way here. I somewhat knew that the way I walked was the way I came from. I had no transport, I didn't even have time to bother about it, I had so much in my mind that I kept walking, just attempting to sort my thoughts out before thinking of anything otherwise.

I was disappointed, deeply so. With Ken, Cassie, AB and mostly myself. Why was I so blind, how long had I been so unobservant that I didn't know something as huge yet common as this fact that had been in front of my eyes. Why had no one told me? Why had I stayed so oblivious?

When people said gullibility is a fail and that it leaves you of nowhere, we mock them, question their judgemental habits but it's not they who are wrong. It's us!

We trust people easily and lose everything in the process. I trusted Ken and Cassie with all my being, went as far as telling Ken about my escape and stay at Mr. White's house yet he said nothing. He'd been totally calm about the situation, had dodged the topic of Mr. White so many times that if my empty mind had been capable, I might've actually joined the dots. But no, I had to stay trusting and broken.

Now, at this moment I feel regret at spewing words out in front of AB too, showing him my vulnerable self. I'd always been a person to keep my emotions in, not spilling them in front of anyone but myself. I don't know why there was a persuasion from inside yelling things out to him. As though they'd been contained only for him to hear, for him to know.

I also feel confused. A sudden rush of feelings assosiated with AB now clawing my insides. Coming to think about it, confusion and sadness overwhelms and takes over all the other emotions I feel. There's an empty feeling in my heart, scolding me that he'd made me feel different tingling sensations, different connectivity and would it all go and end after this name chaos being undone. Would everything just go back to being awkward? Not even a slight bit normal as we had struggled for it to be. The prospect of the otherwise situation had my stomach churning. I don't know why but I couldn't let go of the familiar emotions he brought along his presence to clench on the anger or anything remotely close.

My heels clicked against the pavement which was moist with the dew. My vision blurred and I saw double images for which I had to stop to clear it out. Now what's wrong with my head besides the punch of non physical betrayal?

A slap of cold air whipped past me, causing me to shiver. My dress wasn't fit to provide me any barrier from the cold night air and the slit at the leg didn't help the situation either. My teeth started to rattle, chattering against each other. I firmly wrapped my arms to provide warmth to myself but it didn't assist much. My legs started to wobble, unable to stand the cold. I needed to sit, at least for a while. Deciding to go home, I looked through the clutch looking for cash that would be sufficient to get a cab back but it stayed empty on that account. Wow. Another amazing day. Sarcasm.

Dragging myself to a nearby bench, I got seated and rubbed harshly against my bare shoulders down to the length of my arms to create friction as a perseverance to the little heat my body had. Another round of headache encircled, making me groan.

My feet started to feel all hurt and red, seemed like a foot bite was also included in the list of the things meant to be done on me because the day was yet to be over. My shaky form couldn't bring it in myself to bend down even to tug at the strap to unleash my feet. I gave up on the attempts and just sank in the bench. The cold freezing wood made contact with my slightly bare back, causing a hiss to escape. I couldn't raise my arms to massage my head because  the cold had called it mandatory for me to cover my exposed skin. Well, after a few seconds I'd get used to it. This is why I don't wear dresses.

I clenched my hands to fists completely numb to the cold whiffs sniffing around my form, threatening to dust me into their liking, being harmful and merciless.

My thoughts wandered to the days when I first met Ken, Cassie, people at the office, AB. The friendship we possessed, the compatibility we had. Not definitely with AB but with the former two. The last few weeks of my sickness dived into my mind, the way all of them had been supportive, willing to provide me anything I'd wanted or somewhat wanted assistance with. They were the people who I thought I could count on after my friends back home, but they hid a secret from me.

What could've possibly gone wrong had they told me that Mr. White infact was none other than the person whom I call Angry bird, our code word AB. Why couldn't they say anything at the time where I gave my hypothetically assumed character of Mr. White, they just laughed it off like it was nothing.

Coming to think of all these things, everything now made sense, the terror on Cassie's face whenever AB (or should I say) Gabriel White was in the same vicinity as her. She kept her quiet even though she knew that I was constantly instigating him pulling different kinds of stunts. She could've stopped me. Did she not like me enough that she was ready to see me killed? because as far as I remember she'd been the one who stopped me from being close to Mr. White. The face she first made at AB's sight when we were at Ken's house during the 'Crime scene' prank darted in my mind. Her face was always terrorized when he was near, I never knew why at that time, but now I know. Very clearly.

My slow mind now understood why the hallways quietened down whenever he stepped on the floor or people treaded on thin grounds while talking to him or why they preferred not speaking to him in open or in general. The reason why they never used the same elevators as him. The reason they were horrified at the prospect of their phone ringing the other day during the execution of my first plan was none other than Mr. White.

People were terrified of him; terribly. If I were them, I'd be too. But unfortunately, my situation is totally different, I'd sassed him more times than I can count. Others can't stand close to him; I had cuddled him. Other's don't want to be at the same floor as him; I'd been in the same house, the one he stayed in. Others attempt to not ruin anything to make him angry, I very willingly pulled pranks on him.

Jeez my life is really a mess.

Ken's expressions from earlier today crossed my mind and suddenly all his expressions and behavior made sense. He was nervous, scared that his truth would be out in open. That I would know all that he'd been keeping from me about our CEO who supposedly is the person I'd misbehaved the most with.

It's surprising to know that Ken had been close friends with the proclaimed devil. But then Ken's been fooling me all along. So, I don't know what classifications to put him into. There I thought I'd made good loyal friends. Who knew what plan must be brewing inside their minds. Ken could probably be his trusted in all the crimes he was supposedly known for.

Nope Jen, don't be that judgemental. He's been nice to you besides this hiding of the fact. Jerdy wouldn't like me if I do that and start speculating things about others like those.

I suddenly felt homesick at the thought of Jerdy that I wanted to run, to go away from here. To my home, to Jerdy. I didn't belong here, these people are not for me. They are elite, different and so unlike me. Why didn't I realize I don't fit here, never have. I don't think I ever would. My heart sank at the thought of home, my room that has been my sanctuary, that has been my solace, known and seen all kind of my emotions. Uplifted or crashed down. The thought of home brought along emotions, I so badly wanted to cry but that would hurt Jerdy even more. I wanted to sit at the cafe, to be with Claire and listen to her rants and secret coffee recipes. I wanted to sit on the footsteps of my house just taking in the familiar air and breathing all the pain away. To be in the serenity of that environment because this place was choking me.

Another wave of icy air hit across my being but before I could move or do anything about it a sudden warmth was crashed over my shoulders. My head whipped towards the direction that had been a source to the warmth to see that a grey blazer had been placed over me. From moving so abruptly I felt woozy adding to the dizziness I was already feeling. The blazer was huge and engulfing, It belonged to none other than AB. He looked down at me, his expressions indecipherable not giving away anything. Like they ever had before shown anything? Ha Jen. Have they ever?

What was he doing here, did he not have a party to be at? His party to be more precise. this could probably be a time for him to grasp more deals, more collaborations. Then, why was he here? To woo me into falling in his trap, to imprison me as his new goal for the things he does. The thought left me shuddering. If he believes I'd fall in what he has to throw bait for, he has something else coming. I don't care what his reputation must be, what kind of a person he is like, what I know is, is I won't let him have his way.

Anger suddenly took over me and I jerked out to get rid of the jacket but he held it in place, most likely expecting my reflex, not getting even a least bit affected to what I attempted for was a harsh glare. He came around to face my front and buttoned the coat up, not reacting to my attempts at swatting his hand away. His jaw now set in a firm line. Oh that jawline though. ANYWAY Jenna just snap out of it.

Who does he think he is? Some nerve he has to be with me when I am so angry, he doesn't know what I would do. Yeah, what would you do? You are as dangerous as a venom less snake. But still, it would still be regarded as dangerous wouldn't it? It's snake after all for Pete's sake.

He kneeled in front of me, my gaze widening, raking through the possibilities of what he could be doing with me, he could be attacking me through my limbs for all I know. Dramatic much, Jen? But he just bent his head down. His warm hands reached to unclasp the straps of my heels and undid those. I questioned and protested but he responded to none. How does he know that my shoes were hurting. How long was he here, how long did I stay in alternate universe thoughts? Why am I feeling so funny all of a sudden, what did I drink to make me feel this way?

If I thought I would be scared of him after knowing who he was, I wasn't. Not even close to being even a pinch terrified. And that scared me, that I wasn't scared of him. I was anything but scared at his reputation. I was upset, deeply. I wanted answers to my questions but I also didn't want to talk to him.

He slid the stilettos off my feet and replaced mine with huge dress shoes. His shoes. Is he fackuting serious? Wait what, did I just say fackuting? Freaking idiot Ken rubbing his phrases on me. I inaudibly groaned.

I abruptly stood up confused at what was happening and my eyes danced with haziness. My eyes darted to my feet which were now hidden in big black shoes. He though, just stood in his socks with my heels in his hands.

"What do you think you're doing?" I seethed at him but it came off in a slurry voice. He didn't respond. Wait, slurry? Am I drunk? I don't remember drinking. My hands on their won reach to tap at my chin thinking if I've had something, an action kids do. Why am I doing that? because everything is starting to look funny that's why.

"Do you- listen, I- I... what are you... answer me. What are you doing and why are you doing what you're doing?" I babble out and grunted in annoyance when it came out as a tongue twister rather than a mean comment.

"I'll take you home." he said more as a statement, not anyway in form of a question, like there's no place for argument. My blurry eyes took sight off him and anger cracked through my resolve.

"No freaking way! who do you think you are? I am not gonna go with you. Nope, nope never. Never, never nope nope!" I said sitting back down on the bench.

"House is that way. If you wanna stand here and freeze yourself, it's your choice." he plainly said, looking exhausted not physically but somewhere from inside. His voice gave it away, not completely but slightly.

"Go away!" I said from between my hammering teeth and slippery words. He did not move and stood emotionless. Why did I not get myself a jacket? Cold seasons bring along the rule of carrying jackets and other necessities with us wherever we go. Freaking my life.

"Did you drink?" he asked, concerned.

"Nopesie, I did not but I don't owe you any explanation. Do I? No go back to your party of those mean people." I said shooing him away, also gesturing through my hands, signaling him to return to where he came from. He stood still, surprised at my state.

"I didn't know you drink" he said, I stomped harshly and stood up angry.

"I only drank water I don't drink, you doofus. You big big big angry bird" I said in an angry tone but my words were slurry.

I huffed and glared at him. He still stayed unaffected, further aggravating my anger.

When another wave of breeze weaved along with me and I decided to let go of my stubbornness because I was actually freezing my butt off and my head was pounding. I stomped and marched towards the direction of my apartment. His shoes being more comfortable than my irritating heels and his blazer being warmer than anything. Most importantly his heavy cologne was drifting off to my nose, swaying me in a daze. Freaking rich people and their freaking rich perfumes.

"Don't follow me." I yelled when I saw him walking behind me. But has he ever listened to me? "Would you stop?" I continued. "This is not the way to your home! This is the way to my apartment not your house. Okay? Are you even listening to me?"

"Run before I hit you" I yelled at him, when people stared at me, I glared at them. "Would you at least say something. Or you'll stay quiet. I'm very barbaric if you want me to remind you"my anger grew tenfold at his reactions or lack thereof partially because of the craziness of my mind.

He ignored me and called to who I think was his driver to be at where we were. His attitude caused blood to boil in my veins and I yelled "I will throw a rat at you. Then I will wait to see you run. When you'll run I'll open the door to a place with insects and you'll end up being with cockroaches, ants and bugs, you'll stay with them. Also I'll bring you eagles they'll keep you happy. You ask why? Because they are angry birds and you are angry bird and you'll both stay happy with each other. But then the whole point is not to keep you entertained. Oh! So I'll set you up with grasshoppers. You and a grasshopper on a date. Then I-" I planned scenarios in my head for him and somewhat felt very contented until I turned around to face him only to be cut midsentence. His lips were twitching at the corners in an almost smile. His eyes were amused. My own smile dropped replaced with fury. This wasn't a funny situation, I was pissed. He needs to understand that. My droopy eyelids blinked at him, looking to see if he got scared of me. 

"I. Am. Serious. Angry. Scary. Bird" I seethed, my words weren't even full and proper, they were slipped and uneven. But I was angry, I really was but people took my anger lightly. A few not even bothering to aknowledge it. AB's face sobered up, but his eyes stayed lit with amusement. We walked a few blocks home when I realized what I looked like, drowned in his oversized blazer and huge shoes. I looked like a circus beauty. Whereas he looked ethereal even if there were no shoes on his feet and my heels were in his hands. I abruptly stopped to look at him and a chuckle escaped my lips at his no show feet.

His white dress shirt hugged his muscles and his grey slacks were stitched fit for his frame. His gelled hair now slightly disheveled by the strong breeze. He looked like a beautiful hurricane. I don't know where the feelings came from but I wanted to run my hand in his hair but I was really angry at him so my face turned from smile to fury and I growled at him.

In all my anger I didn't notice that he'd been purposely walking one step behind me and always stepped ahead in my guard whenever someone weird passed by. As though I was his to protect even though I kept blabbing threats to him. He remained unharmed. A young couple passed by us, awwing at our state, the girl went as far as scolding her boyfriend to be with her the way AB was with me. I wanted to go ahead and say that there wasn't anything like that, but before I could they'd left. I was wobbly and dealing with pushing my sleep aside to deal with anything else. But heat flushed through my body at the thought when I heard her say that even in my dizzy state. He never wanted me to be alone, never wanted me to go home alone. My cheeks reddened and I jerked out of my daze when he snapped his fingers in front of my face, being further amused seeing the blush on my cheeks. I blushed harder knowing that I'd been gawking at him all the while I was in my daze. I did not mean to blush, I'm angry for God's sake! My sleepy eyes fought ton remain open when I saw a car constantly moving alongside us. AB told me it was his driver without even me questioning.

A girl at the side walk pulled the phone out to click our picture when I wobbles again and AB stabled my steps but one glare from AB and she dropped the idea.

A drunk teenage boy stumbled close to me but before he could do or say anything AB stood right in front of me, blocking his view. His back faced me, at that very particular moment a wave of protection drowned me in. As though he was my rock, there to keep me protected. I slacked against his back not being able to stand straight any longer and closed my eye, resting my cheek on his back. He kept still until the boy walked away, then gently moved and gestured for me to continue walking. He'd begged me multiple times to let his driver take me home but I's always yelled at him and glared right into his eyes. Therefore now he just asked me to continued walking, I complied, I was stranded in tangles of emotions to be thinking of anything else and my mind was high on some drug I never took. The feeling is amazing though, let me tell you.

I stumbled on my feet and AB caught me making me glare at him. "Stay away angry bird!" I said. He tried once more into asking me to let his driver take us home and this time I agreed. We sat in the backseat of his car. I sagged against his shoulder, I was angry, yes. But I had no power to sit still, I wanted to sleep and AB's shoulder looked like a cuddle spot even though it's rock like.

The long journey to my place transformed my anger into something totally different making me lose the thought of being angry with him. I was stuck I some other emotions, other feelings. I was furious, I am always but I felt safe. My high state is probably responsible for these silly feelings.

A few blocks from home, I felt colder, the heaters in car not helping in keeping me warm, the blazer not being sufficient to block the cold. He realized and observed it too. He wrapped his arm around my waist and looked down at me expecting me to lash and run from his held. I, on the other hand was really sleepy so I didn't bother to even raise my eyes up to his. Partly because I was scared that I'd be mesmerized in those and partly because I was lazy, dizzy and had a massive headache. So I just sunk in his body and took in his warmth. His body instantly relaxed and my droopy eyes struggled to keep open till I reach home.

My weight was all over him, because I was exhausted and not even wanted to walk, so I laid all over him, sometime that I wouldn't have done if I was normal. He held my shoulder, which he very delicately did. Like I was a porcelain doll and would get hurt at even a slight jerk. I couldn't sleep though I so badly wanted to but the rational sensible part of my mind still knew that I'd been drugged and anything could happen, therefore I struggled to stay awake.

Reaching to my apartment, we exited the car, I first and he followed. I turned around and my slightly melted heart turned to goo when I saw his expressions down. Not like they were visible. They never were. But his eyes had transformed to a slightly sadder colour. As though he never wanted the road to end, for he was wanting it to stretch far, like he never wanted to go, not just yet. This is not the truth, I really am high on something powerful now, aren't I?

But I'm the queen of procrastinating, I see things which never exist. This probably is nothing, he's just tired and wants to return back home. Even in my anger and my dizziness I didn't let my manners slip away and asked him if he wanted to stay for a while, to which he just shook his head and said it was late and he wanted to go home.

I took my shoes from his hands and returned him his. My head being more heavy due to bending. I shrugged the jacket off to return it to him even though he said he was okay. I'd already made him walk jacketless in severely cold air. I couldn't afford to be meaner. He reluctantly took it back when I told him that I could just go inside and wear something. I clutched at the door, not wanting to fall asleep standing.

He stood there awkwardly not knowing what to do, making me feel weird. I looked up at him. "Good night!" I said, his gaze met mine and he nodded and turned around.

I closed the door, suppressing my hyped emotions which were happiness and anger; my staggering breaths and accelerated heartbeat had me worried. What was he doing to me? I thought, not realizing that the greetings had been returned in a whisper from the other side of the door.

***
A/N: thanks for reading!
Big hug to each one you, especially to people who vote.
*Unedited. I rewrote it. Last update was shit. Reread and you'd know the difference.
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