Chapter 15 I lost you again
“I’ll explain when you get home. Just get some rest, okay? You’re safe now,” Emily said firmly.
But Lucas could feel the pressure building in his chest. Not again. Why won't he let me be. The betrayal stung deeper each time.
“I'm safe now, you think. Safe? Really,” he repeated under his breath. But what he could think of more was the stranger’s arms catching him from tripping over. His faint scent… his calm voice… Who was that man?
But Emily’s voice came sharp again on his head with concern. “Big bro, what really makes you think it was Diana?”
“But why are you doubting?” Lucas groaned softly, rubbing his temples. “It was Diana because she handed me the cocktail. That was the last thing I remember before everything spiraled.”
Emily went quiet for a beat, then her tone shifted—calm, but firm. “I get it now. But Lucas… it wasn’t Diana. It was Dad because when I got home without you, he was celebrating”
Lucas froze. “What?”
“When I got home last night, he was dancing around the living room, celebrating,” she said bitterly. “I confronted him, and he proudly confessed. He said his plan finally worked and that now you’ll ‘become a man.’”
Lucas’s jaw tightened, rage and disbelief rushing in. “That’s ridiculous. Has Dad even gone insane?”
Emily sighed. “That’s how he reasons. He thinks this is some noble mission and he needs to fix you. Like you're broken or something. Honestly, Lucas, it’s sick.”
Lucas rubbed the back of his neck, his voice low. “That man called my father is in the dark. He just doesn’t get it and he never will.”
“But thank God for the guy who helped you,” Emily added quickly. “He picked up when I called your phone and asked me to come get you. Honestly, if it weren’t for him, I don’t know what might’ve happened.”
Lucas’s brow furrowed. “Yes… there was someone. I vaguely remember a guy helping me. But everything’s so blurry. I can’t recall his face. Who was he?”
Emily’s answer was quiet but clear. “We never saw him. He disappeared before we arrived. He only spoke to me once, on your phone. No name, no face.”
Lucas leaned against the wall, the pieces refusing to fit. “So you're saying he’s just… gone?”
“Yeah,” Emily said. “But whoever he was, he cared enough to help and that means something.”
Lucas stared at the floor, heart thumping. Who are you, mystery guy… and why does a part of me want to see you again?
Emily’s voice came through the line, rushed but still gentle. “I’m about to head out to work. So sorry again about everything. I honestly don’t know why Dad’s behaving this way. But… I believe he’ll stop now, especially since he thinks his messed-up plan actually worked.”
Lucas scoffed, clearly unconvinced. “Succeeded? What makes him think that?”
Emily lowered her voice, glancing around as if her walls had ears. “When I got to the club, I wanted to bring you home, but Diana suggested otherwise. She said we should let Dad think you spent the night with someone. We figured it might calm him down, so… we moved you to another lodge room.”
Lucas blinked in surprise. “Wait—what? You did what?”
“For safety too,” Emily added quickly. “We didn’t want him tracing you to the wrong situation. You were in no state to explain anything.”
Lucas frowned. “How did you two even manage to move me in that condition?”
Emily chuckled lightly. “We had help. The porter who brought the room key assisted us.”
Lucas rubbed his forehead, still processing everything. “This is insane and frustrating especially as I couldn't recall anything. Did Dad really think drugging me would change me?”
“Don’t stress over him,” Emily said. “Focus on getting through the day. Are you good though?”
“I'm okay Em. Thanks a lot for everything. You're the best sis ever.” Lucas responded.
I guess you'll head to culinary school or don't you have papers?”
Then he grabbed his keys and wallet. “Yeah. I’ve got my last practicals today, so I have to head out there quickly.”
“Alright,” Emily replied. “Call me if anything comes up. And Lucas… don’t let Dad’s madness shake you, okay? You’re perfect the way you are.”
Lucas’s heart softened. “Thanks, sis. You always know what to say.”
With that, they ended the call, both heading out into the day. Lucas, still reeling from a blurry night, Emily, praying it would be the last of such chaos.
Instead of heading home, Lucas veered toward his office. Once inside, he showered in his private restroom. It wasn’t unusual anymore. He often freshened up there, especially since he kept spare clothes on hand for days like this, thanks to his part-time culinary classes.
After a quick, refreshing shower, he dressed up neatly and reached for his car keys. But a glance at his watch made him frown.
“If traffic’s bad, I’ll be late,” he muttered.
Without hesitation, he swapped the car keys for his bike keys.
In the parking lot, he approached his sleek black motorcycle with a grin. “Hey babe, it’s just you and me today,” he said, patting the seat. As he checked the fuel gauge, he chuckled, “Running low, huh? Don’t worry, I’ll juice you up at the next fuel station.”
Starting the engine, he zipped out of the lot, heading straight for the fuel station on his route to culinary school.
At gas station
Once he got to the station, he took off his helmet to give himself a scratch since he needed to while the attendant filled up his tank.
Meanwhile, Alex was at the same gas station, leaning against his car as the fuel pumped. He was absently scanning through his surroundings until a beautiful bike caught his eyes as he admired it, someone beside it caught his eye at a distant pump.
The biker who backed him was talking to the attendant and was about slipping on his helmet. Alex’s curiosity piqued as his hair color and curls bore exact resemblance with the guy from last night. He started walking towards him waving at people to stop him. But there was little confusion since no one understood.
But then in a split second, he turned around and he saw him.
Alex’s heart stopped. No way. That’s him… the guy from last night.
He straightened immediately, eyes locked on him. His pulse surged as adrenaline kicked in. Without thinking, he started walking toward the booth he was walking away from, waving at the nearest attendant. “Hey! Wait! That guy on the bike—”
But it was too late.
Lucas had already straddled the motorbike, strapped on his helmet, revved the engine, and before Alex could get another word out, he zoomed off, vanishing into traffic like smoke in the wind.
“No, no, no—damn it!” Alex gritted, eyes darting after the disappearing blur. He turned to the attendant, “Why didn’t you stop him?!”
The poor guy blinked in confusion, only now catching on to what his colleague had been trying to signal. But the damage was done.
Alex yanked out his notepad from the car, hastily scribbling down the first three digits of the plate number he barely caught. “R29…” he muttered, then slammed his pen down. “Shit! Beautiful one, I lost you again?”
Without wasting another second, he slid into his car, engine roaring to life.
“Not this time,” he whispered, gripping the wheel tight. “I’m not letting you slip away again.”
With tires screeching, Alex tore out of the gas station, merging into the street, eyes scanning every turn for that familiar black helmet and sleek bike weaving through traffic. Then he saw him ahead and smiled, “Gatch you my sweet one”