The Royal Contract

She felt terrible.

Despite the happiness that filled her heart at the knowledge that her sister was finally awake, she also felt sorry for the circumstance surrounding their situation.

Her heart went to David, who had his heart crashed to pieces after learning that the woman he loved could not even recall her name, much more remember him.

"Where are we going?" She asked her friend as Bernadette dragged her into a party. She should have said no to her friend when she invited her to join her. She should not have allowed her friend to talk her into joining her in this joyous affair.

First, she did not know the celebrant. Next, she was not in the mood. Lastly, she did not want her friend to set her up on a blind date. But she was not thinking straight when she said yes earlier.

Now, she regretted her decision as she gazed at the dark room with loud music blaring in the background. The last thing she wanted was to be surrounded by happy people since it was far from how she felt.

"You need a change of environment. You need to have fun." Her friend said as she pulled her toward the bar to order some drinks. "Your sister lives, but you look like you are mourning her death."

Her friend was right about one thing. Her heart did not feel like celebrating. She felt a terrible loss, but it had nothing to do with her sister but more with her heart.

She loved her sister. She could not be happier to see Rosella well. But seeing David brokenhearted was breaking her heart. She wanted to comfort him. But she knew despite their situation. She still could not have him.

"I am not." She denied her friend's accusation, even if she knew she spoke the truth. "I am just saddened that my sister suffers from amnesia." It was a horrible condition.

To forget everything.

She could not fathom what her sister was also going through. But despite her memory loss, she could not take advantage of that situation. She hoped that Rosella would remember her life and the man she loved.

Still, she wished David and her sister would end up together, happily married with kids someday. It would be hard to watch them together, but it was worth all the pain.

"But you heard the doctor. It might be temporary. But you sulking around will not do you good." Bernadeth said as she pushed two shot glasses of hard liquor before her. "Come on, let us drink to your sister." Her friend raised her glass, waiting for her to do the same.

"Ok. I will have a few drinks. Then I am out of here." Roseann said, gulping the first glass in one go.

She could feel the liquid draw a fire path down her throat, through her esophagus, until it pooled inside her stomach. Suddenly, she regretted not eating much before coming to this party.

"Don't be such a killjoy." Her friend shouted as she started dancing and jumping to the music. "We are here to party." She emphasized each word with excitement. "And nobody is going home early."

She knew she could not make an excuse about work or having an early shift in the morning. Her friend knew her schedule too well. Besides, her friend would not let her off the hook that easily.

"But..." She still attempted to reason with her, but her friend shoved the next drink in her hand and forced her to drink it.

"No more excuses. Drink." Her friend pointed to the glass as she also held the glass to her lips. Once they had emptied their second glass, she ordered another set of drinks.

"Come on. I want you to meet my cousin." Bernadette pulled her away from the bar and into the group of people who seemed to have started without them.

Her cousin was the birthday girl. But that did not mean that her friend had not planned for her to meet someone at the party. Knowing her, she might have asked her cousin to invite someone who would take her mind off her woes.

But she doubted that was that simple. Meeting another man might not do the trick. She almost made a pack with a man to forget another man, but look at what happened. Now, she ended up thinking of two men.

Two men that she could not have for different reasons. She could not go through that again. At that moment, she believed she was better off being single for the rest of her life and devoting herself to humanity.

"Ok. But I will only have a few drinks with them." She insisted, not wanting to add to her already complicated life.

Soon, she was laughing with her cousins and friends. As expected, Bernadeth introduced her to one of her other cousins. He was about their age. But unlike them, he was a contractor. He liked to build things.

Although she found him handsome and fascinating, it did not mean she was attracted to him. Since she met David, her criteria for finding the right man increased exponentially. No one seemed to measure up to him.

The one man that almost caught her attention was Adam. But he was not interested in her. But she was glad it did not work between them because she knew Adam was pining on another woman. She would only end up more brokenhearted than she already was.

"I need to go to the bathroom." She told her friend, excusing herself from the group. She intended to relieve herself from her full bladder. Afterward, she planned to make excuses and leave.

She did not want to stay another minute longer. She would take a cab and crash in her apartment. Then, she would sleep off her hangover until she recovered from this pain.

A few minutes later, she saw that her friend was having the time of her life as she danced on the dance floor. Only three people remained at the table, the couple he met and the man her friend introduced to her.

The last thing she wanted was to end up alone with him. Therefore, she decided to ditch the party. She cautiously walked out of the room, avoiding being seen by her friend or the others with them.

She only breathed when she exited the establishment. But there was a problem. She could not find a taxi as she waited on the pavement. The place was not on the usually crowded street where they hung out.

"Damn!" She mumbled to herself as she felt the frustration. She did not want her friend to realize she was missing and start looking for her.

She had to get out of here soon.

She looked at her watch again, counting the minutes that ticked by. Still, she did not find a taxi in sight. Where was she anyway? She could not help but ask since it was her first time in this part of the city.

"If you are looking for a taxi, I am sorry that it might take you a while before seeing one in this area." A voice suddenly spoke behind her, making her spirit almost jump out of her skin.

All this while, she thought she was alone as her heart sped up at the thought of danger. She did not notice anyone was around when she came outside.

But she was not alone when a man stepped out of the shadow. She could hardly see his face, but she did not doubt that he was a stranger. She did not recognize his voice nor the silhouette of his body.

"How would you know?" She asked, not wanting to believe the unknown man. How could a city lack a public ride? That was not possible.

But thinking about it, she hardly saw any yellow cars around this area when they arrived in her friend's car. Now, she regretted not having a car of her own. Maybe she should call David and ask him to pick her up.

But she did not want to bother him after what he was going through. Besides, she was out here to get away from him and forget him. She should not be contacting him.

"Because I own this place. And a nice-looking girl like you should not be alone in a sketchy place like this." He said as he moved closer, finally showing his handsome face.

Suddenly, a tingling sensation rushed through her body. She debated whether it had something to do with fear as she looked around the dark alleys and almost empty streets.

Or was it the man standing in front of her? He did not seem dangerous, but a handsome face and good physique were not enough reasons for her to trust this man. For all she knew, he was the danger she should avoid in the first place.

"So, what do you suggest I do?" She asked while thinking whether she should go back inside with her friend or risk waiting for a taxi to appear magically in the street.

"You can either go home with me or ask me for a ride to your place." He suggested. But for someone trying to convince her, his stoic facial expression remained as if he did not care if she accepted his offer. Or not.

"But I promise I don't bite." He added as if that was funny, but his face remained indifferent as he walked toward his car and opened it for her.

Then, her phone rang, seeing who it was, she knew that her friend was already looking for her. She had a split second to decide whether to return inside or take a chance with this man.

She had no idea whether it was the drink in her system or something else. Suddenly, she found her feet walking toward the unknown man and taking his offer. She sat inside the car and waited for him to take the other side.

Then, she texted her friend that she had gone home.

"Where to?" The man asked.

"Home?" She answered him with a question. Did she ask the stranger to take her home? But which home?