Chapter 43~POWER OVER ME

Chapter 43~POWER OVER ME
Cherry

I woke up the next morning with my head pounding and my stomach twisting. Everything hurt. My mom was already beside me, holding a bowl of hangover soup.
“Mom,” I croaked, my voice raspy.
“Cherry!” she said, half worried and half scolding.
“What happened last night?” I asked, rubbing my temples, trying to remember.
“Eat your soup first. You’re not going anywhere today. Look at you,” she said, shaking her head.
“Did Belinda leave?”
“Yes, last night. Now eat, I have to go to work,” she said before leaving the room.
I sat there trying to recall the night before, but the harder I tried, the more my head throbbed. Everything was blurry, until it wasn’t.
The washroom… Jason… and then…
Oh my goodness.
I kissed Nathan.
“Holy crap,” I muttered, hitting my head lightly. “What did I do? I must be insane!”
How was I supposed to face him now? Should I just bury myself alive? My hair was a mess, and so was I, but I still dragged myself to the living room. Of course, I had to meet the devil herself Tasha.
Before I could even say a word, smack! Her hand met my face.
Then another slap followed before I managed to grab her wrist.
“Pretending to be innocent when you’re just a jealous witch!” she yelled, yanking my hair.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it!” I cried out, sitting down to protect myself.
“Huh! You think sorry fixes everything? You kissed my boyfriend in front of me!” she screamed, tugging my hair again until Mr. Hyde walked in.
“I’m not living with this girl anymore, Dad!” she sobbed, running to him.
“It’s okay, sweetie. It’ll be alright,” he said, hugging her.
Good for her. I wished my dad was here too maybe he’d understand the chaos inside me right now.
After that disaster, I called Jason and asked him to meet me. I already knew what I had to do.
We met at a small restaurant. He looked so happy when he saw me.
“I’m kind of nervous,” he said, smiling shyly. “Why did a gorgeous woman want to meet me so early?”
“Let’s stop this, Jason,” I said, avoiding his eyes.
I saw his expression change immediately from warm and bright to cold and hurt.
“Stop what exactly? We were never anything, Cherry,” he said quietly.
“This game we’ve been playing,” I said softly.
He chuckled, but it was painful. “So I can’t even be your fake boyfriend anymore, huh? What was I expecting?” He let out a broken laugh. “God, I actually enjoyed it. Such a fool.”
“Jason…” I reached for his hand, but he didn’t move.
“It’s because of Nathan, isn’t it? Because of that kiss?”
“You saw us?” I whispered, shocked.
“Yes. And it hurt like hell. But I would’ve let it go if you hadn’t said this.”
“Jason, I’m sorry,” I said, my voice cracking.
He looked straight into my eyes. “Do you even know what I’m thinking right now? Please, Cherry… just leave me alone for now.”
He stood up and walked away. I watched him go, tears blurring my vision.
“Goodbye, Jason. Goodbye, my best friend,” I muttered to myself.
It broke me, but at the same time… I felt relieved. Maybe letting him go was the kindest thing I could do.
Later, I decided to go to work. I needed to see Belinda at least.
As soon as she saw me, she grabbed my arm.
“What’s going on?” I asked, startled.
“Nathan is here, dummy!” she hissed.
“Where? Why?”
“Right in front of you,” she said, pointing.
And there he was, hat, sunglasses, that same aura that made my heart forget how to beat.
“I’m leaving,” Belinda whispered. “But I’ll need an explanation later.”
Nathan lifted his glasses and looked at me.
“What did you do to me yesterday?” he asked, stepping closer.
The closer he came, the harder my heart pounded.
“I—I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I stammered.
“Come with me,” he said, grabbing my hand.
“Nathan, what are you—”
“People are staring,” he interrupted. “Just come.”
Before I knew it, we were outside.
“Get in,” he said, gesturing to his car.
“I’d rather not—”
“I said get in,” he repeated firmly. When I hesitated, he sighed, picked me up, and gently set me inside.
“People might see us!” I protested, red-faced.
“I don’t care,” he said calmly as he started the engine.
He was insane with or without his memory.
“Where are we going?”
“My house,” he said with a smirk.
I froze. Déjà vu. We’d done this before… before everything went wrong.
“I’m not going,” I said firmly.
“You are,” he said, that mischievous smile still on his lips.
When we arrived, nothing had changed. Every corner of that house carried our memories.
“Why did you bring me here?” I asked.
He just chuckled and handed me a glass of my favorite juice.
I froze. “How do you know I like this?”
He shrugged. “It’s just juice, Cherry.”
My heart skipped. Was it just coincidence… or did some memories remain?
Then his tone shifted. “Why did you kiss me yesterday?”
“Why didn’t you stop me?” I shot back, smirking.
“You’re reckless,” he said, his eyes burning into mine. “Do you have any idea what that kiss did to me? I didn’t sleep, you dummy.”
My breath hitched. “What…”
“Are you going to take responsibility for what you did?” he asked, leaning closer.
“What are you even talking about? I was drunk!”
“I don’t care. What about me, then? You think I wanted to spend the whole night thinking about you? Waiting for you outside your office?”
I froze. My face burned. I didn’t know what to say.
“What are you doing to me, Cherry?” he continued. “Why do I feel like this around you? Why can’t I take my eyes off you? Why can’t I get you out of my head? Why did I enjoy that kiss so damn much?” His voice broke, raw and confused.
“It doesn’t matter,” I whispered, my voice trembling. “Maybe you’re mistaken. I’m leaving.”
“Look me in the eyes,” he said, grabbing my hands, “and say you don’t feel anything.”
I couldn’t. My hands shook, my lips parted but no words came out.
He finally let go. I turned to leave.
But before I could reach the door, his voice stopped me.
“Cherry,” he said quietly.
I turned.
“You have power over me,” he confessed. “I don’t know what this is, but when I see you with Jason… I just don’t like it.”
And just like that, my heart shattered all over again.