Chapter 9: Chapter Eight
Boarding a bus to the city, I spent the entire day lost in contemplation, grappling with the consequences of my actions. It is challenging to convince myself that this experience is something to be content with or a dream come true. After all, engaging in a one-night stand with the man I have admired for so long, ever since I arrived at this country and took on this job, has left me feeling completely disoriented. I need to tell Don and Vanessa about what truly happened, despite it being an incredibly perplexing ordeal for me.
I dialed Vanessa's number, hoping to speak with her directly. Unfortunately, all I got was her voicemail. "Hi, this is Vanessa Reagan. If I can't answer your call, you can leave me a message after the beep." Her voicemail continued to ring, forcing me to articulate the truth about what had occurred.
"Hi, um, I apologize for not saying goodbye earlier. I had to leave unexpectedly, there is something at work that I have to go back to. There was something urgent that needed my engagement. I have a small request, though. If anyone asks about my whereabouts, please don't tell anyone until we can talk about it when you both return to California. Goodbye," I stuttered, still feeling worried.
Afterward, I sent a text message to the couple, hoping to convey my desire for them not to dwell on the events that I wanted to avoid discussing the next time we met. Upon reaching home, instead of feeling elated about the week of my supposed vacation leave, I found myself drowning in complaints. I couldn't help but feel paranoid, constantly waiting for my phone to ring or for someone to knock on my door.
A week later, as I returned to work, I had no positive news to share, not even with my boss. I noticed everyone's eyes fixed upon me, and despite being in the middle of work, my best friend approached me.
"Hey, bud? I noticed you seemed clumsy today. Are you okay?" David asked, gently stroking my shoulder.
"I'm fine, really," I assured him with a slight smile. "Are you sure? You look like you didn't get any rest during your vacation," David persisted.
"Ugh! Stop teasing me, David. I'm just deep in thought," I replied, my eyes focused on the laptop in front of me as I tried to construct a coherent story.
"Maybe we should grab some coffee together? My treat," he offered.
"I thought you'd never ask. Thanks a lot, David. You always know how to make me feel exceptional," I joked, fixing my hair.
"I have some money to spare, Danni. What do you take me for?" David said with a hint of playfulness in his voice. I agreed to have coffee with him because, I knew I needed someone to confide in. It's exhausting to keep everything bottled up inside, especially since that fateful night. It's not like me to obsess over every little detail, but my anxiety and straightforward nature have always made it difficult for me to hide my emotions.
David's words struck a chord within me, and I couldn't help but feel a sense of embarrassment for my actions. Realizing the validity of his point, I quickly explained, "That's exactly why I'm here, David. I'm committed to revising it, to take back control. You won't understand because your way of thinking is opinionated." Unyielding, David retorted, "So, I'm the narrow-minded one now? Maybe you should take a good look at yourself first." His remarks hung in the air, encouraging me to reflect and reevaluate the choices I had been making.
"I can't help but feel guilty about what I did to Scott," I confessed, my voice filled with regret. "No matter what I do, I can't take back my mistake. I know I should tell him the truth before things escalate and everyone finds out, but... We're having so much fun together. I don't want him to leave me."
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