Chapter 23: Chapter 23

Richard woke to a terrible hangover, he lingered in bed, ignoring his phone as he kept ringing. His eyes were tightly closed, roaming his right hand on the bed he rolled over to the edge.

“Holy shit! My head,” He put a hand on his and groaned silently. Slowly he opened his eyes, almost all the lights in the room were off except the spotlight above the bed, he scanned the room without sitting up. “My head hurts.” He groaned. He extended his hand on the bed and took his phone, he gasped surprisingly when he saw it was five o'clock AM. He sat up abruptly and held his head. He ruffled his hair and glanced around the room. He furrowed his brows puzzlingly when he noticed she wasn't in bed with him.

“Where is she?” He asked himself, wondering where Charlene could be. Suddenly he felt the urge of vomiting, he climbed down the bed and went to the bathroom.

He vomited, rinsed his mouth and stared at his reflection in the mirror. Obviously he looked a mess, he held his head, trying to recall last night's event, everything flashed in his head instantly. “Damn it!” He hit his fist on the wall ruefully.

A thought flashed in his head and he gasped. He wondered if she was still in the mansion or he left because of what happened. “Oh. My god. Charlene!” He strode out of the bathroom and headed out of the room. On his way toward the door, he noticed someone laying down on the couch. He turned around and walked over.

She was sleeping with a towel wrapped around her body which stopped at her mid thighs. Her skin was smooth and flawless, Richard stood watching her as he didn't know what to do at the moment. He Couldn't pull himself together and wake her.

Charlene curled her body in the couch and her towel loosened, before it could reveal her bare breasts Richard quickly crouched and held it, he covered her chest well with the towel, as he did that Charlene slowly opened her eyes but she couldn't see him, Richard already held back his hand and stood behind as he pretended like nothing ever happened.

Her eyes widened when she saw him, she quickly held her towel and dragged it down a bit and sat up on the couch. “Richard?” She called his name anxiously while staring into his eyes.

Richard was nearly speechless, he felt guilty about everything, for what he did and for making her sleep on the couch, he saw how uncomfortable she was. “I woke up to see you're not in bed. Why are you sleeping on the couch?” He asked, pretending as if he remembered nothing.

Merely looking at his expression Charlene believed he didn't remember anything so she decided not to bring it up. She would pretend as if nothing ever happened, nevertheless she couldn't tell him without feeling embarrassed. “I didn't know when I slept off.” She replied, putting her feet on the floor she held her towel tightly.

“Okay.” He said.

Charlene was expecting him to walk away but Richard surprised her by standing as if he was waiting for her so both of them could go to bed. “Uhm. Do you need something?” She asked nervously while holding her breath.

The putative reason for his silence was he expected her to tell instead of him apologizing without hearing from her. He sighed. “No, I don't need anything.”

Charlene didn't budge, she hadn't gotten over what happened, she was already thinking that he might do something crazy again as she couldn't conclude he wasn't under alcohol influence again. “Okay.” He murmured without moving.

Both of them stood, watching each other like a movie. She was perplexed but he wasn't, he was getting her nervous and he knew. “Are you okay with the towel?” He suddenly asked.

Her eyes popped open. “Huh?” She shook her head negatively.

“Get a nightdress in the closet.” He said expressionlessly, he turned around and headed toward the bed.

“Hey, Richard. You didn't remember anything, right?” She asked, hoping he didn't because if he didn't she couldn't assure herself she would be able to handle the embarrassment.

He stopped on the track, without turning back he shook his head. “Will you mind telling me what happened last night?” He knew she wouldn't tell him.

She moistened her lips and released a sigh of relief. “You were drunk but nothing happened.” She said demurely.

“Did I do something crazy?” He turned at her.

“Not really, maybe little. It's nothing.”

Richard shrugged his shoulders, his ego wouldn't make him apologize for what happened. She walked past him to the closet, as she entered she covered her mouth and took a deep breath. She walked toward her dresses, she grabbed a nightgown, underwear and quickly wore them. She shambled out of the closet, she could see him laying down while looking at her direction. Charlene had a second contemplation; perhaps he remembered everything.

She sluggishly walked up to bed, she slid off her scuffs and climbed up the bed. She laid down facing the ceilings and drew the blanket closed to her chest. His eyes never swung, he focused on her with different thoughts running in his mind.

She also couldn't sleep, it was an awkward moment for her as she kept remembering everything. She inhaled and exhaled deeply before closing her eyes.

SHE EXITED THE elevator, she brought out her phone from her handbag and headed for the door. Richard saw her heading out as he was going to the dining room. “Charlene,” He called calmly.

“Yes?” She halted and pivoted to look at him.

“Wait, I'm going to drop you off at school.” He said apathetically and walked to the dining room.

She looked vaguely around as if lost, she couldn't believe what she heard. She snapped fingers and her face in order to jolt herself out of her wonderful land but it was a reality. “Was he talking to me?” She asked no one. Soliloquizing, she headed to the dining room.

Richard was eating sluggishly, he took his time to chew the food in his mouth. He fixed his gaze on his food without looking at her. “Aren't you hungry?” He asked in a toneless voice.

What he said made her realize she had been standing on the same spot looking at him as he ate. “Okay.” She drew a chair for herself and sat down carefully. She grabbed a cup of coffee and gulped half, she didn't bother to touch the food on the table. By the time Richard was done eating, Charlene checked her watch only to find out he spent almost an hour on his food.

“Let's go.” He announced and pushed the chair back a little. She also did the same and both of them went out. When his driver sighted them, he rushed over but Richard dismissed him with hand's gesture as they hopped in his Bugatti La Voiture Noire. Charlene couldn't help but admire it. “The seatbelt.” He reminded her after he had fastened her then he drove out of the mansion.

“You're in your final year right?” He enquired with his gaze fixed on the road.

“Yes.” She murmured.

After that none of them ever spoke to each other until Richard parked his car at the parking lot. Charlene was about to alight but he grabbed her hand, preventing her from alighting. “What?” She lifted a brow, puzzlingly.

He couldn't let go of the guilt, he knew if he didn't do what he had to do there was no way he would have a smooth day. “I'm sorry for what happened last night.” He apologized sincerely. Charlene's eyes blinked rapidly, she parted her lips to say something but words refused to escape her mouth. “Did I hurt you in any way? I'm sorry.”

“My exam is in ten minutes. I have to go now.” She extended her hand to his and removed his grip on her wrist. The door opened automatically and she alighted without sparing him a glance.

At that moment she alighted, Javier also got down from his car. She beamed when she saw him, she strode over and stood in front of him. Richard saw everything.

“Hi, Javier.”

“Hey.” He responded demurely as he kept a straight face. Charlene took a pace close to him and blinked her eyes pitifully.

“Are you still mad at me?” She asked.

“Of course not. I'm not mad at you. I even want to apologize for what I said the other day, maybe it's because of the stress. We're good right?” Javier smiled at her brightly.

“Sure.” Charlene answered cheerfully. Javier extended his hand to her head and ruffled her hair playfully while smiling, Charlene turned her head in the direction Richard was parking.

Javier followed the direction with his eyes and cleared his throat as he took his hand back. “Sorry. Literally forgot you're a married lady—best friend.” He chuckled and took his lips in his mouth.

She stood watching his car as he drove away after a while. “Let's go.” Both of them walked alongside.

“Uhm.” They headed to the lecture hall.

***

Charlene excused herself after their exam. She went to check Charles and luckily she caught him in the hallway. “Tinkerbell,” Charles waved at her. His two friends were beside him whispering to Charles as they grinned.

Charlene stopped walking. “What's up?”

“Sweetheart, I saw he was the one that drove you here. What happened to your car?”

“God! His car rocks. Charles, your sister is really a celebrity.” One of his friends exclaimed.

Charlene ignored him as she focused only on Charles. “I want to talk to you, alone.”

Charles gulped down hardly, he glanced at his friends and spared them an apologetic countenance. “It's fine bruh.” The other friends said.

“We're going to catch up later. Charlene, you look really hot today.”

“Thanks.” She replied apathetically. His friends walked away.

“So what now?”

“Let's find somewhere quiet.” She led the way to a bench near a big shade. They sat down beside each other and she put down her handbag beside her.

“What's the matter?”

“Last night...” She paused.

He looked at her eagerly. “What happened last night? Wait, don't tell me it happened. Tell me everything.” Charles chuckled mockingly.

Charlene rolled her eyes and scoffed softly. “Nothing happened.”

“No secret, remember?”

“You don't expect me to tell you about my marriage.”

“So why are you here?” He pouted his lips. “I know you don't share your secrets with strangers so tell me what it is.”

“Last night, Richard returned home drunk and this morning he's being nice to me. I can't just figure it out by myself, I'm confused.”

“Did anything happen?”

She nodded and shook her head at the same time. “He lost his mind and almost touched me. I know he wouldn't do that if he's in his right mind.”

“Did he say anything to you?”

She nodded. “Yes. He wanted me.” She murmured.

Charles beamed. “That's it. He has always wanted you. You know what? When someone is drunk, whatever they say half of it is true if not all.”

“But Richard doesn't like me.”

“What if he's pretending? He drove you to school today? I'm pretty sure he remembered what he did.” He said knowingly.

“He once said he didn't but later he apologized without clarifying the reason for his unexpected apology. Was it for trying to rape me?.” Charlene said ridiculously..

“I bet he remembered something, I can't assure you he remembered all, but maybe little. Even if anything happens between you two, he can't blame you. Moreover both of you are a couple so when something like that happens it's normal, even if both of you ain't in love. And rape? That's really ludicrous. Why would your husband rape you?”

“But he seduced me.” She snapped.

“What do you expect from him? You're not in the mood so it's his right to get you aroused until you also want him as he does. Stop thinking crazy. Wait, is it your first time?” Charlene frowned. She scoffed and looked away. “Charlene? Huh?”

“Don't even think about it. It's not my first time.”

“I know when you're lying. You know what? My instinct is telling me something. Richard might be faking his feelings so keep your eyes on him.” He poked his fingers at her eyes.

“Whatever.” She rolled her eyes.