Choices

Chapter 1 - The Weird Happening

“TO THE ONE who’s always here with me even though I am a bad b.itch, happy birthday! Let’s go party!” I happily shouted as I raised the wine glass that I was holding and gave Annika, my best friend, a shot from afar. "Drink like it's your last one, b.itch! Drink!"

It looks like I toasted my glass with her, but not necessarily since I am here on the stage while she is sitting below it. She’s just a few meters away from me, so I can see her amused expression while watching me.

She gladly drank the shot that she was holding. Annika, this b.itch, even raised her eyebrows at me because she knew that I was already drunk. Well, it’s partly her fault. She made me drink different kinds of wine, vodka, and beer because she loves it when I get drunk.

I frowned at her because now, she’s looking at me like I’m a clown who’s entertaining her boring and colorless life. Well, I’m too gorgeous to be a clown!

I was so close to hitting her but I suddenly f.ucking remembered that it was her birthday. I need to be kind, even just for this day to this girl who is now twenty-five years old but still hasn’t matured even for a single bit.

She still has her sneaky links!

“Ah,” I hissed. It feels like I’m going to vomit my intestines anytime. My head is also spinning and I just wanted to lie down right here, right now, and sleep.

F.uck alcohol. Just f.uck. It drains the s.hit out of me.

And, why am I standing here in front of the crowd, anyway? And I am even holding a mic, giving my shitty speech to Annika? How sh.itty my life can be just because I am wasted, huh?

And this b.itch has this facial expression like she’s really entertained because of me. She looks so happy while looking at me. That annoying smile didn’t leave her lips until now. Maybe she thinks that I’m crazy? I raised my eyebrows at that thought. I know that I'm not. Again, I am gorgeous.

We are celebrating Annika’s 25th birthday at her bar named Kiss The Cheek. This bar is large and it can handle a huge capacity of people. Aside from that, it looks expensive because of the black and white interior.

I am the one who chose that color because I am her best friend, and also, a major shareholder of her bar. I have the right!

Anyway, she did her best to maintain and expand this business. I was the witness to how she balanced her studies and her business before, on how she promoted her business even if her family said that her passion, which is drinking alcohol and being a partygoer, cannot make money. She proved something to them by not giving up on her business.

You can earn money by doing your passion.

That is exactly what Anika said before in her interview in a magazine.

And now, here we are! She’s one of the most successful businesswomen in town! I should be envious of her, but I can’t. First of all, I am filthy rich. I even have more money than she does. I am a f.ucking heiress but I just chose not to brag about it, because why would I? It’s all about work and I don’t like it.

Second, it’s because she doesn’t have a boyfriend, and I have.

I have the most lovable and caring boyfriend and soon to be my husband, who is now climbing up onto the stage, probably to carry me into my room that Annika reserved for the both of us, since I am really, really drunk.

There is no sense that I will deny that I’m drunk because I really am. It even feels like the world is spinning right now, just how my life turned upside down when I met Drake.

I laughed at that thought, and I saw in my peripheral vision that Drake chuckled because of that.

“You’re drunk, baby,” Drake said, smirking, as he tried to grab the mic that I am holding here on stage. “Let me hold that for you.”

“Okay,” I said as I gave him the mic, being sleepy now.

After placing the mic on the table, Drake carried me in a bridal-style position before he walked down the stairs. He probably knew that I couldn’t walk anymore, or even if I could, I knew that I could bring this party into a major disaster.

I was just glad that he carried me. Annika laughed at the sight that she was seeing.

“You’re weak, girl,” she started to tease me, laughing a bit. “Only twelve bottles and now you’re drunk? Grow up, b.itch! Come on, it’s 2025 now and you’re still weak.”

“Oh, come on, f.uck you and stop babbling,” I shot back as I gave her a dirty finger and a finger heart afterward. I don’t even know why I did that. I just felt the need to do it.

Again, she laughed. Now she really thinks that I’m a clown, huh?

“Happy birthday, b.itch—“

I didn’t even know what happened, but I wasn't able to finish my greeting because I fell on the floor.

Suddenly, I wasn't able to feel Drake’s grip on me anymore.

“Now, what the f.uck was that," I complained as I tried to stand up and get rid of the dirt on my red braless top.

My back and butt hurt! I suddenly became sober because of that. F.uck alcohol but also, f.uck Drake for letting me fall.

“Drake, can you please carry me properly—"

I wasn't able to finish my sentence when I noticed that there was something wrong going on here. When I looked around, that’s the time I realized that I was not in the bar anymore.

"What the hell?" I scoffed.

But, where am I? Why am I here in a… children’s park? I assume that this is a children’s park because there are so many kids playing with their parents.

Am I dreaming?

I wish I were, but I am not.

"NO, YOU CAN DO THIS, DRIA. Don't lose hope, okay? Don't lose your f.ucking hope and just keep on walking," I hysterically tell myself that phrase while walking.

I am getting tired now, but I am still walking aimlessly. I don't even know where I'm going because I don't even know where I am. It feels like I am walking on an endless road full of trees with blue leaves. It makes me frustrated and nervous at the same time, but I am Dria. I know that I can do something about this.

There are people playing around and minding their own business but it feels like they can't see me, or are they busy communicating with other people? Didn't they find me weird because I am wearing a red braless top, a black leather mini-skirt, and high-heeled boots in a children's park right now?

Not to mention that I am also wearing black lipstick because, as far as I remember, I have been getting wasted since I drank too much at Annika’s birthday party, but where the heck am I? Did someone kidnap me while I was sleeping in our room or what? But if anyone did, why did they leave me in a children's park? Seriously?

But, I clearly remembered that Drake was carrying me before I got here. Did I pass out after that?

“Why can’t I remember anything?” I hissed as I kicked the small stones while walking. I envy those small stones because they’re not lost, and I am!

Aside from that, I don't even have money as of now. I am broke because I don’t have my wallet with me. Maybe that kidnapper was regretting it because he kidnapped me. Maybe that’s also the reason why he left me here. Hah! Serves him right!

"Karma is a b.itch. My foot is already hurting," I murmured as I stopped walking to massage my left foot. “F.uck this life.”

I am walking for I can't remember how long already, but it feels like I can't find a taxi for me to go back to the club. Is there even a taxi here? Or is this park really large? Do I need to have my own car to get out of this area?

Seriously, where am I? This is the first time that I have been here. I have no idea about this place, or about the blue leaves.

I wish that I could call Annika or even Drake, but like my wallet, I don’t have my phone right now. The only thing that I have right now is... milk tea?

Now, what? I can't believe that something weird is happening to me. Not to mention that it made me sober right after I came here! What a way to reduce my hangover in just a snap!

What do I do next?