I suggest you play the audio when you reach the second part of this chapter. Anyway, enjoy :)

***

I keep looking at the gun, worried that he might pull the trigger and I have to dodge it. I was terrified, but the girl beside me was more frightened. I noticed her trembling, and I could only hold her hand for comfort. Why is he here? How did he get out? Did his parents bail him out? There's no way. I heard his business went bankrupt after the Wright Enterprise left them.

"Suprised to see me here? Well, you fucking should be!" he screamed, but no one could hear it because of how loud the music was. He knew it would be a great idea to be held captive inside a club.

"Martin, you don't need to use a gun. Let's talk like a normal person," I said calmly.

"I did with Wayne, and you know what happened after that," he scoffed, "you'll be dead with or without a gun."

"Okay, what do you want?" I asked.

"Do you need money? Fame?" Joy asked, "me?"

"For fuck sake," I curse under my breath.

"I'll give you anything, but please, let her go," she continued.

Are you fucking kidding me? Is she trying to save me without thinking of herself? Hell no. In any situation, I should be the one who's protecting her. I promised Wayne.

"I don't need your ass anymore, Jocelyn," Martin played with his gun.

"How did you get out?" I asked.

"Well, I might have a backup to help me escape," Martin crawled on the table as he leaned towards Joy, "I told you I'd find you and kill you."

I wouldn't expect him to show up with a fucking gun. I mean, he also escapes from prison. What should I do? If I reached my pocket and called for help, I'd be dead first. If I screamed at the bodyguard, he would shoot me. If I jumped or even moved a single muscle, he would shoot me- at this point, any scenario I think of would be me ending up dead first.

"What do you want?!" Joy was getting desperate.

"Revenge," Martin said while pointing his gun at me, "before I kill her, I want to explain how a low life ruined my life."

"Me? A fucking low-life-" I clenched my fists, but Joy held me back.

He gritted his teeth at me, "I had my life planned out when I heard I would marry the daughter of the wealthiest man in the world. I had Hannah back then. I promised her after I married her, I would give her the most luxurious life anyone would ask for. A mansion, a yacht, and a private jet," Martin said, imagining his dream in his head, "but then, you showed up. I was confused, 'who is this bitch?'. How did her classmate stole Jocelyn from me?"

Martin puts his feet on the table, "My plan was ruined when Jocelyn started to be a brat. She wouldn't even listen to her father," I feel the guilt inside of Joy. She must regret her nasty behavior towards her father, "Wayne was my only last hope because he always backs me up, then everything went south. I got my girlfriend pregnant, Claude was there, and you had to tell your father about it. At first, he was on my side, but then he rethought the engagement."

He hit the table, which made us startled "what happened after that? I went crazy. All I could think of was killing you. You were the problem from the start. I should have to gotten rid of you when you interrupted us back at homecoming after the party. Do you know how I feel? I feel like my dignity was tarnished."

I feel a light tug at my sleeve, "Claude, can you hear me? Tap my palm twice if you can."

Is she trying to communicate with me? I had nothing to do but listen to Martin's rant, so I tapped her palm twice.

"Good. I thought of a plan to save the both of us or you."

A plan?

"I need Martin to point his gun at your head- I know it sounds crazy, but we should try it," Joy continues to speak inside her head, "when he does that, I want you to take his gun or make him point his gun up the ceiling, and I will tackle him. We needed to pin him on the ground and call for help. Gordon is right there."

I peek slowly out of my eye and see Gordon guarding the VIP section.

"If you agree, tap my palm three times," I did as she told me. I agree- this is the only plan I have; I couldn't think of something because of how scared I am, "good, now provoke him."

"What?!" I accidentally said that out loud.

"Do you have something to say, Claude?"

I was shocked to hear that I needed to provoke him. Is she crazy? Look at him, he has a gun, and I have my life on the line here. No way in hell I'm provoking him. But I might plan to make him point his gun at me.

"Sorry, I was just shocked that I was the problem," I tried to look intimidating, but I was scared for my life, "this isn't how you fix a problem, Martin. You don't need to kill me."

"Excuse me?" he tilts his head in confusion, "this is the only way, Claude."

"Please, don't do this," Joy raises her hands in surrender, "I'll give you money for your company. I'll help your parents from bankruptcy-"

"That's not the problem!" Martin shouted at us, but the bodyguard still didn't hear him. How can we scream for help if everybody can't listen to us?

"What's done is done. I don't care anymore. All I care about is seeking revenge," Martin stood up and pointed his gun at me, "maybe you'll know what it feels like to lose everything."

"You have done that before, Martin!" Joy shouted as she pushed Martin, but he didn't budge. She pulled Martin by the collar, "did you forget that you killed my father?! Not to mention my mother died because of cancer! I'm a fucking orphan!" The bodyguard heard the scream and noticed a gun in my head. They were about to approach us with their weapon, but Martin threatened to pull the trigger, and they stopped.

"You have ruined my fucking life since I was sixteen. Having you in my life was excruciating," Joy hits his chest, "my father trusted you, but you had to fucking kill him. My fucking father! You killed him."

Although it was dark, I could see the sadness in her eyes. The tears falling down her cheeks made my heart ache, "This isn't Claude's fault, dammit! Do you want revenge? Just fucking kill me already!" Joy slapped his face, but he was only staring at her in irritation, "killing anyone wouldn't do any shit, Martin. You are the bane of my existence."

He cocked his gun and pointed his gun back at my head. Closer to my temple.

"Now."

That's the cue.

I grabbed his hand as Joy tackled him on the ground. Joy was busy pinning him as I tried to steal his gun, but he was too powerful.

Everything feels slowed down. The bodyguard was slowly running towards us. The song was still loud, but it was slowed. Everyone who was dancing below was also slowed down. The bullet was also slowed down as it pierced into my stomach. Then, everything went back to normal. Gordon knocked Martin out cold, and I heard people from downstairs screaming. Joy looked at me with horror and called my name, "Claude!"

I looked down, and my neat suit was ruined because of the red mist. I put my hand on the spot and saw my hand-painted with red liquid. I looked back at the scared girl while my body fell into her chest. I heard her heart pounding fast, and her embrace was warm like I remembered, "Claude?! Stay with me, please," she held my head, which made me look at her. The sadness was still there. God, I wish I could make her happy again before I die.

Slowly, everything was fading until it turned black.

~~~

I opened my eyes, and I was in a colored white and blue room. It was cold, and the room was filled with the beeping sound of the heart monitor. On the bed, a familiar person was looking at the visitor who was sitting beside the bed. Am I dead? I swear I remember I was at the club. I was with Joy, and Martin showed up. Then he shot me- shit, he shot me. 

"You're almost dead, Claude," said the person behind me. I turned around and saw Kinsley crossing her arm with a grin. Her appearance calms me down.

"I'm not dead?" I asked.

"I hope not," Kinsley shrugged.

I saw my outfit, and it was the same clothes I had worn for a prom, but there was a pool of blood on my stomach. Although, I didn't feel anything.

"Why are we here? Aren't we supposed to be in the mind palace?" I looked around the room, and I noticed the person on the bed. It was Wayne. It was when he was finally conscious after a heart attack, and it was when he finally trusted me with Joy. We walked around the room as we listened to the conversation. None of us dare to say anything.

"I- I doubted you," Wayne's tone was softened, even his gaze. The emotion that no one would think Wayne has is, "I'm sorry."

"No, Mr. Wayne. You have the right to be. You were looking out for your daughter," I said.

"No, I didn't realize the threat in front of my eyes. I should have..." Wayne sighed, and I sat there. No words came out of my mouth, "scold me all you want. I deserve it."

"Your daughter should do that," I said as I fixed my posture, "I'm not going to say this isn't your fault because it was. You should have realized it when Joy revealed that Martin had made someone pregnant. Instead of siding with the assailant, you should have prioritized your daughter."

I continue, "however, it's never too late to make up for it."

"What should I do?"

"Cancel the engagement," I suggested.

His eyes wandered to the window, "is that the answer?"

"Of course not," my eyes followed where he was looking, "trust your children more, acknowledge her more, support her more, and more importantly, be her father."

Wayne chuckled and pinched the bridge of his nose, "she doesn't need me. I'm just a burden in her life."

"No, you're not. All girls need their fathers."

Wayne turned his attention to me, "your appearance matter to Jocelyn's life. I wouldn't trust anyone other than you," he shook his head, "don't you think this is similar to her play? Where the king trusts the gardener with his daughter."

"I'm a gardener now?" I joked, and he laughed a little, nodding his head.

He asked me, "Tell me, do you love my daughter-"

"Yes, I do. I love her to death."

He smiled, "you didn't let me finish," Wayne leaned closer and put his hand on my shoulder, "promise me to keep her safe, keep her happy all the time, no matter what happened."

I nodded, "I promise."

Wayne's relief to hear it, "when I'm out from this hospital. You will address me as your father."

"A-are you sure?" I was shocked to hear it from Wayne. A smile was forming on my face.

"Yes."

Then the room froze. Letting us talk to one another. I approached myself. Putting my hand on the shoulder as it went through the body. It feels hollow; it feels empty; it feels... Alone. I wonder if that's how Joy feels. When her father died at her fiance's hand, I can't imagine the anger within her. Now, I feel the same way after I realize Wayne is gone for real. He might not be a good father, but he tried in the end.

Wayne left his daughter and his son on good terms.

"What's the point of this memory?" I asked Kinsley as tears fell.

"Maybe this is a reminder from Wayne," Kinsley said, rubbing her chin, "even after his death, he would remind you of the promise you made with him."

"I'd never forget the promise I made," I said.

~~~

I opened my eyes. The coldness that I felt inside my dream was similar. The beeping sound of the heart monitor echoes around the room. I felt a tube going through my nose, and it feels weird. I tried to get up, but something stings my stomach. Then, I saw the beautiful girl sleeping calmly while holding my right hand. I can see her feature after I brush away her hair to the side. I stroked her blond hair. It was soft. Joy has the most delicate hair, and even if I tried to ruin it, it would not be tangled.

I noticed something, and I felt so relieved.

She doesn't wear the engagement ring anymore.

Suddenly, I heard a gasp. I followed the source of the sound, and I saw Jessie in shock while looking at me. Before she says anything, I put my index finger to my lips to shut her up. Then I motioned her to come closer. As her ears were in front of me, I whispered something to her that was enough for Jessie and me to hear. She was hesitant at first, but then she complied. She walks away to the door and leaves Joy and me alone.

This is the time when I make things right.

Joy heard the sound of the door closing as she opened her eyes. The first thing she saw was me smiling down at her. Her eyes beamed, and she quickly went for a hug. I heard a small sniff coming from Joy. I pushed her, and I saw her red nose and eye bags were visible. She must have been crying for a long time while I was asleep.

"Do you know how good it is to see you?" I said in a raspy voice.

"I thought I lost you," Joy said. She pulled away and stood up, "I- I should call Emilia."

Before she could leave, I grabbed her hand, "please, stay. I need you."

"Okay," Joy complied and sat down, "how are you?" she said softly.

"My stomach feels like on fire, but other than that, I'm alright," I answered. We smiled at each other, and no one opened their mouth to say anything. The silence was comfortable and not awkward in any way. This is why I love her. We could stare at each other and say nothing. I sighed and spoke, "I'm sorry."

"For what?"

"For everything. For how I hurt you and all. I didn't mean to."

Joy raised her hand, "please, I don't want to talk about it."

"No, we need to," I took both of her hands, "I was confused about how the cheerleader captain was my soulmate. I was so focused on the tasks that were given to me. That's why I was trying to get closer to you. I only know you as the most private person. No one knows about you until now."

I continued, "You were there after Lydia broke up with me. You made me realize how precious my life is and not just a dog who follows its owner. I learn that you're better than anyone thinks you are. You're nice, beautiful, and fragile," I point at her chest, "Inside that locked heart, there's a small you were waiting to be freed. I helped you and successfully made you mine. But then, I was told I don't need to fall in love with you to finish the tasks. I asked myself, 'what am I doing?' I noticed that when you were with me, your mental health was... Worsen. Even after your father's death. That's why I tried to push you away and told you the truth."

Tears fell from my eyes as I looked at her in the eyes "do you want to know another truth?" I asked, and she nodded, "I can't live without you. When you said, 'there was no us from the start.' There was us. God made you my soulmate for a reason. That's because we are meant for each other. You're the love of my life, and no one makes me feel the way you make me feel."

Joy wiped my tears as it keeps falling, "what's meant for you, will always find its way," Joy gave me a rare smile you don't get every day.

"No matter how far you pushed me, I always come back to you," My hand went to her cheeks and caressed them, "I want to kiss you so bad, but I can't move."

Joy chuckled softly, "that wouldn't be a problem," she moved forward and captured my lips. It feels good to kiss her again. The kiss was the sweetness of passion, a million loving thoughts condensed into a moment. There were not enough words to describe the kiss; I was short of words. Even after all that happened to us, she still makes me speechless.

I pulled away the kiss and patted the bed next to me. She understood and lay down next to me. She carefully puts her hand on my chest as her face hides inside the crook of my neck. Her breathing gave me goosebumps, and the flame inside me was ignited. I watch the moon from the window as it illuminates the room.

"Joy-" I was going to say something, but she stopped me.

"Hush. I don't need to hear it anymore. I understand completely," Joy said, and I laughed. I pecked her lips once and moved to her forehead.

"I love you," I said.

"I love you too," Joy replied as she looked up at me.

"I'm not going anywhere. Don't worry. I'm right here," I spoke to her before we closed our eyes.

***

Close to the end 😭
-chicken