The Liaison
Prologue
The harsh winds whirled the rain chaotically, forcing the drops to hit abrasively against the windshield of the car. It blurred her vision more than it already was. Her eyes were filled with unshed tears, the many that had yet to fallen, that had yet added to the redness of her hazel eyes. She was in a panic, angry as she drove hastily through the streets of Metropolis, passing every car that dared to get in the way. She had no patience for the cautious driver, not when she needed to reach her destination immediately.
Hitting the breaks abruptly, the unrelenting madwoman ran up to the well-known skyscraper of the city. Though she had finally reached her destination, there was no relief to set in, rather anxiety and rage surged. Opening the door rudely, she rushed inside the elaborate, sophisticated office. She didn't have to look for him, she knew exactly where he would be standing… it was same place he always stood every since she had grown familiar with the room, learning its every crook, angle, and haven.
He turned around suddenly, slightly surprised to see her drenched and expressively apprehensive. He could sense her anger, realized that she knew. And, although he saw the frustration and maddening tension exuding from her, he couldn't help but admire the way her hair clung around her face, the stare of her brazen eyes… he wanted to hold her, touch her, erase this moment and start again.
"Lex! Why… I just can't believe you'd have the audacity," she released the mounting aggravation. "You promised… you looked in me in the eye and promised!"
"Lana…"
"No, no… you have no right to say anything," she interrupted, unable to control the tone and volume of her voice. Walking briskly up to him, she directed her livid gaze at his face. There were so many words, so many things to say but her irate state of mind couldn't construct the sentences. Lana remained silent for seconds, trying to put the words together but to no avail. So, she flung herself across his chest, attempting to push him, hit him… anything that could relieve her pain and hurt him simultaneously. "I hate you… God, I hate you!" She kept repeating against his body.
Her physical reactions were painless compared to the agonizing depth of her words. "Lana, Lana… please," he attempted to calm her. Lex brought his arms around her, hugging her as he tried to yield her blows. Using his tamed strength, he urged her to rest her head against his chest, gently demanding she cease from fighting him. "Lana," he whispered, his lips rubbing against her soaked hair. "I'm sorry… I'm sorry…" The words were repeated, almost soothing her, urging her sanity to return.
The tears flooded onto her skin, wetting the dryness of Lex's ridiculously expensive buttoned-shirt. Of course, that wasn't even a factor in his or her mind. She simply cried, rapid breathing filling the silence of the room, while Lex whispered words of comfort.
"Why, Lex? Why did you have to do it," she asked.
Her voice was small, defeated, melancholic. It tore him up inside. He sighed, gaining the courage gradually, "I had to… I can give you no other excuse, Lana. I had to… I don't like obstacles in my way."
It was cut and dry… it was the typical Lex attitude and reply. She hated it, but really needed no other explanation.
Gently, he made her face him. He wiped some of tears off, cupping her face with both of his hands, he stared into her eyes. There wasn't anything else to be said, but to allow their impulses to lead the way. They kissed, softly, slowly with untainted and pure affection and the desire to be at peace.
Their own small world, however, collapsed the instance they entered it. Flustered and soaked by the daunting rain, stood a furious and distressed Clark. "I had hoped I was wrong," his calm, yet cryptic voice interrupted the scene before him.
They stopped. Lana still had her eyes closed, though she urged them to open, to look at the man and face the truth. Lex turned to Clark without any sign of mere remorse. He was poised, stoically un-phased, "Clearly, you weren't… what other observation would you like to vocalize?"
"Lex," Lana reprimanded as she turned to the uninvited guest. "Clark, I'm sorry you had to see that… I'm sorry about everything."
Clark merely exhaled some of his frustrations, nodding to the sides as he gazed at the floor and then met her eyes. "I trusted you…" His words trailed in disappointment, having difficulty grasping everything that had transpired. "I'd expect this from him, but not you… never you."
"Clark, please… just let me explain-" She cut herself off as she saw him approaching them.
The angered young man grabbed his former friend by the collar, "There's nothing to explain, Lana. Actually, I don't even blame you. He's the liar, my so-called best friend who doesn't hesitate in back stabbing me if he can make a profit. And, now he's managed to seduce my fiancé."
Lex struggled to escape his grip, but found it strangely difficult to do so. "Clark… let go," he uttered barely.
"Let him go, Clark," Lana cried out. "It's not his fault. I was the one who betrayed you. I did it all! He had nothing to do with it."
He looked at her, finding her claim hard to believe. "What are you saying, Lana? Are you telling me that everything that happened was intentional, purposely done by you?"
She remained motionless, contemplating his questions. She gazed at Lex for an instant before she met eyes with Clark. "Yes."
Clark's mouth was slightly ajar, not able to fully grasp the truth. He slowly let go of Lex's collar, allowing him to fall to the floor and catch his breath. "Lana, you don't have to lie to protect him," Clark softly insisted as he walked towards her.
As he gently clutched her hands, she felt tears brimming from the side of her eyes. Staring at him, having him look at her with such a pleading gaze killed her inside.
He felt as if he was losing her, and even if she was telling the truth, it hurt more to let her go. It was easy, really… he wouldn't lose her. "Come back to me, Lana," he whispered. "I don't care anymore. I just want you."
Lex's eyes widened, surprised to hear that Clark still wanted her. His jealousy pounced, urging him to do something about the current situation. But, he knew that he couldn't. He had done enough… and decision now lay in Lana's hand. As much he wanted to tell Clark off, tell Lana that he loved her, he needed her, that they deserved to be together… he had to let her decide finally.
Lex stood up, watching the exchange of stares, expecting to remain unnoticed. Yet, suddenly there it was. Lana slowly turned her face to Lex, tears staining her face. "I'm sorry, Lex."
Her words were like a fatal blow to his heart. Lex found it hard to breathe as he tried to remain composed. His world fell once those mere words were uttered.
Clark tightened his grip on her hands, feeling relieved and pleased. Lana then turned to him, the guilt quickly constricting her heart. "No, Clark," she announced softly. "I wasn't lying. It was all my fault, and it was all my doing for a reason… because I don't love you."
He swallowed nervously, slightly shocked as he let her hands go. It was over.
Lex furrowed his eyebrows, not understanding her decision. "Lana…"
"I'm not going to choose," she began stepping back. "Everything I've done has gone wrong… and I can only blame myself. I can't live that way, I can't keep blaming myself. I'm tired of being driven by guilt, not being able to live outside of it. I need my freedom back. I need to feel like myself again."
Lana turned around, opening the door and rushing outside of the office. The rain was still falling violently as she ran through it, having no destination in mind. She just needed to get away, to release all the tension and frustrations from within. Running across the sidewalks and streets of Metropolis, she stumbled upon scattered rocks. Lana fell to the ground, finally becoming aware that she had arrived at one of the city's parks. Lifting herself up, she sat on a bench overlooking the playground.
She continued to cry, breathing rapidly as she tried to calm herself down. Inside, she was hurting so much, more than her pounding ankle that she had obviously injured just now. She knew why, too. It wasn't only because of her past actions, but because she had still ran away from her freedom. She had left behind the one person who made her feel like herself. But, the truth was she had to. It was the only way that all their friendship could perhaps outlive the mistakes.
Now, as the coldness of the night-rain seeped throughout her body, she could only think back to the past. Indulge in the tender memories, and regret over the unfortunate moments… those instances in time that plagued her, that made her wonder again and again how she could've let them happen. How could they get past her? Why hadn't she acted differently?
"Lana…"
She heard him. She didn't have to turn around to learn who it was. She knew… and now, knew exactly why the past happened like it did.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Feedback is always welcomed;)
Prologue
The harsh winds whirled the rain chaotically, forcing the drops to hit abrasively against the windshield of the car. It blurred her vision more than it already was. Her eyes were filled with unshed tears, the many that had yet to fallen, that had yet added to the redness of her hazel eyes. She was in a panic, angry as she drove hastily through the streets of Metropolis, passing every car that dared to get in the way. She had no patience for the cautious driver, not when she needed to reach her destination immediately.
Hitting the breaks abruptly, the unrelenting madwoman ran up to the well-known skyscraper of the city. Though she had finally reached her destination, there was no relief to set in, rather anxiety and rage surged. Opening the door rudely, she rushed inside the elaborate, sophisticated office. She didn't have to look for him, she knew exactly where he would be standing… it was same place he always stood every since she had grown familiar with the room, learning its every crook, angle, and haven.
He turned around suddenly, slightly surprised to see her drenched and expressively apprehensive. He could sense her anger, realized that she knew. And, although he saw the frustration and maddening tension exuding from her, he couldn't help but admire the way her hair clung around her face, the stare of her brazen eyes… he wanted to hold her, touch her, erase this moment and start again.
"Lex! Why… I just can't believe you'd have the audacity," she released the mounting aggravation. "You promised… you looked in me in the eye and promised!"
"Lana…"
"No, no… you have no right to say anything," she interrupted, unable to control the tone and volume of her voice. Walking briskly up to him, she directed her livid gaze at his face. There were so many words, so many things to say but her irate state of mind couldn't construct the sentences. Lana remained silent for seconds, trying to put the words together but to no avail. So, she flung herself across his chest, attempting to push him, hit him… anything that could relieve her pain and hurt him simultaneously. "I hate you… God, I hate you!" She kept repeating against his body.
Her physical reactions were painless compared to the agonizing depth of her words. "Lana, Lana… please," he attempted to calm her. Lex brought his arms around her, hugging her as he tried to yield her blows. Using his tamed strength, he urged her to rest her head against his chest, gently demanding she cease from fighting him. "Lana," he whispered, his lips rubbing against her soaked hair. "I'm sorry… I'm sorry…" The words were repeated, almost soothing her, urging her sanity to return.
The tears flooded onto her skin, wetting the dryness of Lex's ridiculously expensive buttoned-shirt. Of course, that wasn't even a factor in his or her mind. She simply cried, rapid breathing filling the silence of the room, while Lex whispered words of comfort.
"Why, Lex? Why did you have to do it," she asked.
Her voice was small, defeated, melancholic. It tore him up inside. He sighed, gaining the courage gradually, "I had to… I can give you no other excuse, Lana. I had to… I don't like obstacles in my way."
It was cut and dry… it was the typical Lex attitude and reply. She hated it, but really needed no other explanation.
Gently, he made her face him. He wiped some of tears off, cupping her face with both of his hands, he stared into her eyes. There wasn't anything else to be said, but to allow their impulses to lead the way. They kissed, softly, slowly with untainted and pure affection and the desire to be at peace.
Their own small world, however, collapsed the instance they entered it. Flustered and soaked by the daunting rain, stood a furious and distressed Clark. "I had hoped I was wrong," his calm, yet cryptic voice interrupted the scene before him.
They stopped. Lana still had her eyes closed, though she urged them to open, to look at the man and face the truth. Lex turned to Clark without any sign of mere remorse. He was poised, stoically un-phased, "Clearly, you weren't… what other observation would you like to vocalize?"
"Lex," Lana reprimanded as she turned to the uninvited guest. "Clark, I'm sorry you had to see that… I'm sorry about everything."
Clark merely exhaled some of his frustrations, nodding to the sides as he gazed at the floor and then met her eyes. "I trusted you…" His words trailed in disappointment, having difficulty grasping everything that had transpired. "I'd expect this from him, but not you… never you."
"Clark, please… just let me explain-" She cut herself off as she saw him approaching them.
The angered young man grabbed his former friend by the collar, "There's nothing to explain, Lana. Actually, I don't even blame you. He's the liar, my so-called best friend who doesn't hesitate in back stabbing me if he can make a profit. And, now he's managed to seduce my fiancé."
Lex struggled to escape his grip, but found it strangely difficult to do so. "Clark… let go," he uttered barely.
"Let him go, Clark," Lana cried out. "It's not his fault. I was the one who betrayed you. I did it all! He had nothing to do with it."
He looked at her, finding her claim hard to believe. "What are you saying, Lana? Are you telling me that everything that happened was intentional, purposely done by you?"
She remained motionless, contemplating his questions. She gazed at Lex for an instant before she met eyes with Clark. "Yes."
Clark's mouth was slightly ajar, not able to fully grasp the truth. He slowly let go of Lex's collar, allowing him to fall to the floor and catch his breath. "Lana, you don't have to lie to protect him," Clark softly insisted as he walked towards her.
As he gently clutched her hands, she felt tears brimming from the side of her eyes. Staring at him, having him look at her with such a pleading gaze killed her inside.
He felt as if he was losing her, and even if she was telling the truth, it hurt more to let her go. It was easy, really… he wouldn't lose her. "Come back to me, Lana," he whispered. "I don't care anymore. I just want you."
Lex's eyes widened, surprised to hear that Clark still wanted her. His jealousy pounced, urging him to do something about the current situation. But, he knew that he couldn't. He had done enough… and decision now lay in Lana's hand. As much he wanted to tell Clark off, tell Lana that he loved her, he needed her, that they deserved to be together… he had to let her decide finally.
Lex stood up, watching the exchange of stares, expecting to remain unnoticed. Yet, suddenly there it was. Lana slowly turned her face to Lex, tears staining her face. "I'm sorry, Lex."
Her words were like a fatal blow to his heart. Lex found it hard to breathe as he tried to remain composed. His world fell once those mere words were uttered.
Clark tightened his grip on her hands, feeling relieved and pleased. Lana then turned to him, the guilt quickly constricting her heart. "No, Clark," she announced softly. "I wasn't lying. It was all my fault, and it was all my doing for a reason… because I don't love you."
He swallowed nervously, slightly shocked as he let her hands go. It was over.
Lex furrowed his eyebrows, not understanding her decision. "Lana…"
"I'm not going to choose," she began stepping back. "Everything I've done has gone wrong… and I can only blame myself. I can't live that way, I can't keep blaming myself. I'm tired of being driven by guilt, not being able to live outside of it. I need my freedom back. I need to feel like myself again."
Lana turned around, opening the door and rushing outside of the office. The rain was still falling violently as she ran through it, having no destination in mind. She just needed to get away, to release all the tension and frustrations from within. Running across the sidewalks and streets of Metropolis, she stumbled upon scattered rocks. Lana fell to the ground, finally becoming aware that she had arrived at one of the city's parks. Lifting herself up, she sat on a bench overlooking the playground.
She continued to cry, breathing rapidly as she tried to calm herself down. Inside, she was hurting so much, more than her pounding ankle that she had obviously injured just now. She knew why, too. It wasn't only because of her past actions, but because she had still ran away from her freedom. She had left behind the one person who made her feel like herself. But, the truth was she had to. It was the only way that all their friendship could perhaps outlive the mistakes.
Now, as the coldness of the night-rain seeped throughout her body, she could only think back to the past. Indulge in the tender memories, and regret over the unfortunate moments… those instances in time that plagued her, that made her wonder again and again how she could've let them happen. How could they get past her? Why hadn't she acted differently?
"Lana…"
She heard him. She didn't have to turn around to learn who it was. She knew… and now, knew exactly why the past happened like it did.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Feedback is always welcomed;)