IT WAS already midnight, but still I couldn't get myself to sleep. Maybe because of what Jasper told me earlier. I kept on thinking about it and it's so frustrating. I decided to go out of the room, but I was startled when I heard someone playing the piano downstairs. I wasn't scared of ghosts or anything, so I descended the stairs quietly to peek at whoever was playing the piano.

The music being played was soft and quiet and soothing to the ears that it was luring me to come closer. I wasn't an expert when it comes to music, but the melody was definitely something to die for. I was already nearing the lounge room and I could see the silhouette of the person sitting infront of the piano. The lights were turned off, so only the lights coming from outside the villa served as my guide.

Slowly, I took careful steps forward while listening to a soft voice singing. Soon after, I realized that it was a guy's voice singing. The lyrics were meaningful and obviously directed towards a girl. I got even more curious because of it.

My heart is struggling, the night is torture,
I miss you so much, do you even remember?
I can't fall asleep, I want to believe just for a second,
don't forget me yet.

Right now, I remember
even our boring conversations
I want to see you right now, I miss you

The night spent with you
remains deep in my heart
I still long for you as I sing this song.

A sad night after letting you go
A night without you
I've gotten used to you
But you won't ever come back on this sad night
Tonight.

I ended up listening to the whole song, even though I already knew who was singing it. It's just so funny why I was suddenly affected by it. The song wasn't meant for me. I knew it was for her girlfriend - Ahra. But, every word struck my heart like daggers. I didn't even know why I still stayed there and listened to his song.

I was about to go up the stairs, when suddenly, he stood up and looked at me. He wasn't surprised to see me. It was as if he knew I was there all along listening to him. I trembled at the way his eyes bore into mine. I took a breath. "I...i'm going upstairs," I muttered, as I hastily turned my back at him.

"Chastity, wait!" He suddenly mumbled, stopping me.

"What?" I asked, turning back at him again.

"I know you're still mad at me." He said, as he made his way towards me.

"Don't come near me!" I warned him, but he didn't stop, until he was only a foot away from me. "I said don't, Tristan!"

"Chastity... I want you to know that everything I said and done was all from here." He pointed at the upper left part of his chest. "I admit that I initially wanted to use you. But everything changed after I knew you. I want you to believe that."

I shook my head, stifling a sarcastic laugh. "Are you done now?"

"Damn it, Chastity! I am jealous of Jasper. It hurts me seeing you with him, especially the past few days. And it hurts me even more because you're avoiding me." He caught my arm, tightening it, as if letting me know how intense he was feeling inside.

He didn't know that I was also tensed up, but I tried to compose myself. I shouldn't be affected to anything that he's saying. He's a lying douchebag! I reminded myself. "That's nice. I don't even get why you're wasting your time playing with me when you have Ahra, whom you obviously love so much."

"Chastity, what we had back then were good memories and she will always be a part of me. And now that I've found you, I want you to fill up everything that's been left."

"What? That is bullcrap, Tristan!" I shouted at him. "Are you hearing yourself? You want me to fill that gap which she left? What am I to you then?" I wasn't able to control myself anymore. I wasn't even sure why I asked him that.

"You're..." He paused, his eyes not leaving mine. "...the best thing that has ever happened yet in my life."

I was dumbfounded, yet the tears I was trying to control earlier started falling already. "You expect me to believe that, Tristan? After everything you did?" I shook my head. "You can't fool me anymore. I won't let you."

****

IT has been days since then. If only I could just avoid him inside the villa. But the practice for the Grand Ball Showcase was hindering me from doing that. Every afternoon, we're gathered infront of the villa, on the stage they'd put up for the show. The director would brief us about the details of the show, the line-up and everything.

I tried to focus on the dance routine which Jasper and I would be doing, even though I didn't really want to do it. Jasper would notice my absent-mindedness and I'd shrug it off. I knew he knew what I was thinking. He was my bestfriend after all. Sometimes, I'd like to think of the possibility of us being a couple. He'd brought it up a few times already, but I guess I was just really scared of losing him. It was better for us to just stay like this.

"Hey, Chas!" A voice called out my name, interrupting my thoughts. I turned to my side and saw Jasper already sitting down next to me on the couch. "What's up? Spacing out again?"

"Yeah. Just thinking of a way for me to commit suicide here. Maybe I'd just drown myself in the pool. What do you think?" Of course, I was kidding.

He laughed, pinching my nose. "Have you gone nuts already? If you'd do that, I'd follow you."

I punched him on the shoulder. "Retard! Why would you do that? Your life's precious."

"And yours is not?"

I stopped at his question. Sometimes, he just really liked to blurt things out like that, making me realize some things. "No. Not as precious as yours."

"Aye. Why are you like that? You have your mom, Sab... me." He said, placing an arm on my shoulder, partly hugging me.

"Right." I smiled at him.

"Hey, lovebirds! Time for make-up!" Sab suddenly appeared infront of us. She was already done with her hair and make-up.

"Gee, thanks Sab!" I said in sarcasm, standing up.

Jasper and I proceeded to the fourth room after that. Skye was there being styled up when I entered the girl's room. She just arched a brow at me. I knew she was mad at me, but I couldn't see the logic of it. I mean, Tristan was obviously still in love with her sister, no matter what he said to me. He already said it himself that Ahra would always be a part of him. And just thinking about it now made my heart tremble.

I heaved a sigh, sitting on the chair, as I let Mira style my hair up again. Just then, Skye took a seat next to me. "Hey!" She greeted, startling me.

"Hi!" I answered back, unsure of what she wanted to say.

"I know that I told you to stay away from Tristan before." She started to speak. I really didn't know where this conversation was headed to.

"Why are we talking about him, Skye?"

"Because I know he really likes you a lot." She suddenly said, causing me to freeze on my spot. "I know this because... the way he looks at you and speaks of you... was the same when he was still with my sister. I promised her that I'd make Tristan smile again, but I never succeeded... not until you came along."

"Skye, you don't have to say those things right now." I said, looking at her.

She shook her head. "No, you have to listen to me first, Chastity."

"Uh, I'll leave you two here first to talk." Mira suddenly said, excusing herself from us. We were both alone now inside the room after that.

Then, Skye continued to speak, "Tristan met my sister when he came in the city. They were schoolmates. My sister used to talk about him, how he was so determined to find his dad, even leaving her mom, brother and grandma in the province."

I creased a brow. I could tell that she knew so much about him. Of course, what did I expect? I knew little of him. I didn't think his dad would be the reason why he left his home.

"And when he already found his dad, he thought it'd be easy for him to bring him back to his mom. But he has already another family. Tristan was so frustrated and mad at his dad. And the worst happened..." Skye paused and when I turned to look at her, she was already in tears.

"Skye... w-what happened?" I asked hesitantly.

"My sister went up to his dad's house, probably to tell how upset Tristan was... all we know after that was..." She paused, sobbing. "...my sister was already found dead in that neighbourhood. They said she got hit by a truck while running, but there was no definite cause yet until now. No one wanted to speak, because Tristan's dad was powerful."

I gasped. Did I just hear it right? "Y-your s-sister... Ahra... she's dead?" This time, I was the one who broke down in tears. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. So Tristan said those things to me... because he knew Ahra would never come back. Ahra is already dead.

****