The Apartment
By Emilie Trig
Editor: midnight rose (AN::I like to give her the credit from up here
so
everyone can see.)
Chapter 4 Part1 "Hello?" I heard someone say at a distant corner of my ear. "Is this Queenie's Hotel?"
Queenie's Hotel? I thought. Who was calling for Queenie's Hotel? There was a pause of silence and then the person started to speak again. "I like to inform you that Serena Tsukino, a worker of yours, will not be coming to work today. She is very ill."
Was I ill, I questioned myself? I partly opened my eyes and stared forlornly at the ceiling. Is broken-hearted considered as an illness? I heard the phone click and then the light thudding of Darien's footstep. I'd recognized that it was him because he was the only other person in my apartment.
So I wasn't going to work today. I gave a sigh of relief. Thank goodness Darien had called Queenie's Hotel because I wasn't at all ready to go back to work. I wasn't ready to go anywhere for a while, not even out of my room.
I heard the tea-kettle whistle and thought Darien was probably thirsting for his morning coffee. I had the duty of making breakfast, but my body was too restless to move. I still hadn't forgotten about the hurt and the sorrow; the betrayal of Ken and Lita. How could I even forget when it had made such a sharp slice over my heart? How could I forget when it had left me an ache so huge?
A tear drop suddenly slipped down my face. Ken, I murmured in a whisper. His name caused me to throb with pain. He didn't love me anymore and that was the most painful part of it all.
Another tear drop followed after the first one and I gave a quick wipe of the hand. I didn't want to start crying again, not after yesterday.
Yesterday was a lousy day, I told myself. After making that hideous call to Ken's hotel room, I had cried for the longest time. I had even pulled Darien into this whole messy business. But it was nice that I had pulled him in. He had comforted me and was so gentle with his words yesterday, even though I didn't tell him a thing. I was glad he was there.
I gave another depressing sigh and decided to get up. It was my duty to make breakfast after all. Personal business had to be thrown to the side line.
Pulling the blankets a side, I sat upward. The phone suddenly rang and I heard Darien's thumping of footsteps again. He said hello and I'd pulled the door open. I stood quietly at the door way staring at Darien's back.
"Amy?" Darien said over the telephone and then shifted the phone to his other ear. "This is Darien, Serena's roommate."
A pause was followed and Darien turned suddenly meet my gaze. He seemed surprise at my presence.
"Serena?" he said over the phone to Amy. He looked over to me to suggest what he should say to her and I mouthed to him a no. I knew Amy was going to call and ask me if I was well. She was a good friend and I knew she was worried about me after yesterday, but I truly needed sometime of my own.
"She's still sleeping." Darien lied to her and for that I was gratefully thankful to him. Who knew Darien could lie so smoothly?
Darien eyed me as he told Amy that he'll tell me call her as soon as I woke up, and then hung up the phone. I looked at him and he looked back at me. I didn't know what to say to him. Explaining what had happen to me and why I'd cried yesterday was the last thing I wanted to tell him.
"Good morning," he greeted me. "I see that you're up already. I hadn't expected you to wake until later." Darien walked over to the kitchen. The light spilled over his beautifully tanned skin. "I've already made breakfast and I've even made a call to Queenie's Hotel. I'd told them you weren't coming to work today."
"I know. I heard you over the telephone." I said as I eased my weight onto the door frame. "Thanks."
I wanted to avoid looking into his eyes so he wouldn't ask me any questions and the only thing I could do was keep my eyes downward. I felt Darien's questioning gaze, but didn't react. He was probably wondering of my change in attitude.
"I'll be going to work today. I'd figure you might want sometime alone." he told me then set up two plates on the kitchen table. "Are you up for breakfast?"
"No. I'm not feeling hungry right now." I told him and gave him a weak smile.
"Okay. It's fine with me as long as you don't starve yourself during the day." He joked lightly. I knew he wanted to cheer me up a little, but it was useless.
I didn't smile or give any response to his light joke. Instead my eyes wandered to the floor and stared forlornly at it.
"I'm going back to my room, now. You have a good day at work, Darien"
I slid back to my room and closed the door behind me. It was probably rude of me to leave Darien by himself, but I needed to be alone. I didn't want to face reality yet.
I needed my own space and he knew it too. Darien had even told me himself that he was going to give me sometime alone. He understood what I needed to do and that was one of the most thoughtful thing he had done so far.
Darien left a moment later and had left me to myself. What was I going to do with myself now? I thought.
During the first half of the day, I did nothing else, but think of Ken. His name echoed in my ears and seems to never go away. It hurt to think of him, but my head wouldn't let me stray on other thoughts. I cried a couple of times and had remembered every painful memory of Ken. I knew I still loved him, but I wished I didn't love him so much that the pain would be so overwhelming.
And during the second half of that day, I'd either laid around the house or did everything else, but coming to the topic of Ken. I wanted to avoid all thoughts of him now. I didn't want to shed anymore tears and because the thought of him made me want to cry all over again, I avoided thinking of him.
Over the span of next week, life went on as it had always been before. Only that I wasn't as happy as I used to be. I went back to work first thing Monday morning and had even received my first loud berating from Pete's wife for the week. Some things just never change do they?
Lita had called several times over the week, leaving apologetic messages every time she called. But I'd never returned any of her phone calls. I never wanted to talk to her again. What was I suppose to say to her even if I did return the calls? Oh, all you did was stole the man I'm in love with, Lita. That's all, no one special. You're forgiven. We're still friends. I guess I'll tell her that? No, that wasn't exactly what anyone would say to their best friend who just cheated on them with their own boyfriend.
Up to this point, I wasn't sure of what to feel about Lita. Maybe I loathed her. I knew I had hated her the second she told me she was cheating with Ken. I think now the hate had become stronger and had formed into loathing. It was probably insensitive of me, but what was I suppose to feel? How was I supposed to react? I wasn't one of those big-hearted girls who forgive and forget all the bad things other people did to her. No, I was definitely not one of those girls in the movie. I was human and that was what a real human would act on a situation like this.
If only Lita had told me sooner about Ken and herself. Maybe we could have savage our long time friendship. Maybe I could forgive and forget. Maybe, I thought, but then thought twice. Maybe not. It was doubtless.
For the full span of that week, Darien had taken over the job of making breakfast and I had the duty of making dinner. I'd never eat breakfast anymore, so Darien was force into making breakfast for himself. He didn't seem to mind and so I let him take over the job.
Saturday had come again, and I found myself sulking in my room. Ken was coming back today. I still hadn't forgotten about that. I had tried to ignore all thoughts of Ken for the past week and now I find myself crying over him again. Crying, I thought, that's what I do best these now a days. And it was true. I had shed so many tears for Ken. And the name Ken was all I could ever think about even if I'd tried to forget about him.
"Serena?" I heard Darien from outside. "I'm having breakfast. Do want some?"
I quickly wiped my tears away. "No" I answered, my voice sounded too shaky.
There was a pause and then. "Can I come in?"
I quickly wiped the remaining trial of tears. I didn't want Darien to see me crying again. I would feel so embarrass.
Darien opened the door. He wore casual clothing today, a khaki pant and a dark blue Tommy Hilfiger T-shirt. Darien didn't put his hair up in a business style today, but left it hanging over his eyes. He looked at me from the door way and his face became gentle. "You've been crying again."
I sniffed my nose and rubbed my wet eyes. "Yeah," I'd told him.
There was no use in lying to him. Even if I did, he wouldn't have believed me. It was too obvious. My eyes were too swollen and red to conceal.
Darien looked down. "I don't know what's troubling you, Serena. But you're spending too many of your time sulking. You never smile anymore and you've grown a bit skinnier over the week. It's bad for your health."
I looked down at my hands. What was I suppose to say? I can't help it if my heart was breaking. I can't help it if I cry. I had no control over this emotion.
"Listen," he said tenderly. "There's a carnival in town. It's one of those carnivals that have clowns and cotton candies. Do you want to come with me?"
"No. I'm not in the mood for a carnival." I quickly declined him.
"When are you going to get in the mood to go anywhere? What happened to the fun, Serena? She'd always thought I was a big boring nerd. Now she's becoming a big boring nerd herself." He grinned. His mouth flashed white teeth.
I smiled a little. Darien was really thoughtful. I knew this invitation to the carnival was just to cheer me up.
"Ask somebody else." I'd told him. "I know you have one or two friends out there. They'll be delighted to go."
"I want to take you, Serena" he said. "It's not a bad idea to go."
Another smile reached my lips. "No." I said again. His offer was tempting, but I didn't want to go anywhere. All I wanted to do was to be left alone.
He gave a desperate sigh. "You're stubborn, but I can be stubborn too." Darien said then looked at his watch. "I'm timing you, Serena. 15 minutes. Get ready."
I gave him a surprising look. I didn't know Darien had this domineering side to him. Who knew Darien Corrigan-my roommate-had this trait in him? It was all good, I suppose.
"I'll be waiting outside." He said and closed the door behind him. His timing was perfect because if he had given me another second I would have refuse him down.
At exactly a quarter minute later, a light knock came on my door. "Serena?"
The guy was so punctual I thought as I slipped on a light sweater on. "I'm coming out." I answered Darien. I guess I was going after all.
Half an hour later, we arrived at the entrance of the carnival. Darien went over to the ticket booth to get the entrance tickets. I stood next to him staring at a colorful clown standing in front of a large red tent. His hand held a handful of flying balloons. A little Asian girl with straight brunette hair came up suddenly to the clown giggling delightfully asking for a balloon. She wore a pretty yellow dress. The little girl walked away from the clown, smiling beautifully at an Asian woman from afar. The woman had the same straight colored hair and I knew it was the little girl's mother. She hugged her little girl happily and I felt envious at the picture.
Where was my own mom? Had she ever hugged me like the way that Asian woman had hugged her daughter? Had my mother ever stared down at me with so much love in her eyes? It made me wonder where my own mother was.
"Hey," Darien greeted me. His voice startled me, but I didn't show any signs.
"Lets go." he said, pointing the way in. His face grinned from ear to ear like a little boy on his first time to the carnival and I smiled at the thought of him.
We walked pasted the clown and past the Asian woman holding her daughter. We pasted the mirror maze and pasted the Ferris wheels.
"How do you want to torture me, now?" I asked when we finally stopped in front of the bumper cars. I heard laughter's and then a few 'aw' after the bumper cars stopped. People giggled wildly as they got up from their car seats and loud talks of you bumped in to me twice were being said a loud.
"Wanna go?" he asked. I knew he meant the bumper cars. "It sounded like those people had fun."
"Are you kidding me?" I asked. I looked at the line and saw a bunch of 10 and 11 years old and a couple of adult taking their little ones in for the ride.
"What are you afraid of, anyway?"
"Embarrassment, maybe?" I said with raised eyebrows. It seemed to me like the ride was a kiddy one. I wasn't about to humiliate myself in front of little kids.
"Who cares?" Darien countered back and went to back of the line of the bumper cars. He waited for me to follow him and when he noticed of my refusal to go, Darien gave me a warning look. I gave a light shrug to myself and decided to go along with it. There wasn't anything better to do. Mortify myself in front of the kiddies seemed like the only choice I had anyways.
To be continued..
AN: Sorry it had to end here. I wanted to get this chapter in time for First Love's Sunday update. I know it's kind of short, but I had a HUGE writers block. I couldn't seem to write any thing for a while. U have no idea how much I'd struggled to write this chapter. So all you readers out there better email me at: roses2small@yahoo.com. Anyways, there's a part 2 to this chapter. So chapter 4 is not exactly done. I wanted to go further on in part 1 of chapter 4, but the writers block had gone to the almost extreme limit so I ended right here. I was going to leave you guys a cliff hanger, but writers block got in the way.Lucky you.
Chapter 4 Part1 "Hello?" I heard someone say at a distant corner of my ear. "Is this Queenie's Hotel?"
Queenie's Hotel? I thought. Who was calling for Queenie's Hotel? There was a pause of silence and then the person started to speak again. "I like to inform you that Serena Tsukino, a worker of yours, will not be coming to work today. She is very ill."
Was I ill, I questioned myself? I partly opened my eyes and stared forlornly at the ceiling. Is broken-hearted considered as an illness? I heard the phone click and then the light thudding of Darien's footstep. I'd recognized that it was him because he was the only other person in my apartment.
So I wasn't going to work today. I gave a sigh of relief. Thank goodness Darien had called Queenie's Hotel because I wasn't at all ready to go back to work. I wasn't ready to go anywhere for a while, not even out of my room.
I heard the tea-kettle whistle and thought Darien was probably thirsting for his morning coffee. I had the duty of making breakfast, but my body was too restless to move. I still hadn't forgotten about the hurt and the sorrow; the betrayal of Ken and Lita. How could I even forget when it had made such a sharp slice over my heart? How could I forget when it had left me an ache so huge?
A tear drop suddenly slipped down my face. Ken, I murmured in a whisper. His name caused me to throb with pain. He didn't love me anymore and that was the most painful part of it all.
Another tear drop followed after the first one and I gave a quick wipe of the hand. I didn't want to start crying again, not after yesterday.
Yesterday was a lousy day, I told myself. After making that hideous call to Ken's hotel room, I had cried for the longest time. I had even pulled Darien into this whole messy business. But it was nice that I had pulled him in. He had comforted me and was so gentle with his words yesterday, even though I didn't tell him a thing. I was glad he was there.
I gave another depressing sigh and decided to get up. It was my duty to make breakfast after all. Personal business had to be thrown to the side line.
Pulling the blankets a side, I sat upward. The phone suddenly rang and I heard Darien's thumping of footsteps again. He said hello and I'd pulled the door open. I stood quietly at the door way staring at Darien's back.
"Amy?" Darien said over the telephone and then shifted the phone to his other ear. "This is Darien, Serena's roommate."
A pause was followed and Darien turned suddenly meet my gaze. He seemed surprise at my presence.
"Serena?" he said over the phone to Amy. He looked over to me to suggest what he should say to her and I mouthed to him a no. I knew Amy was going to call and ask me if I was well. She was a good friend and I knew she was worried about me after yesterday, but I truly needed sometime of my own.
"She's still sleeping." Darien lied to her and for that I was gratefully thankful to him. Who knew Darien could lie so smoothly?
Darien eyed me as he told Amy that he'll tell me call her as soon as I woke up, and then hung up the phone. I looked at him and he looked back at me. I didn't know what to say to him. Explaining what had happen to me and why I'd cried yesterday was the last thing I wanted to tell him.
"Good morning," he greeted me. "I see that you're up already. I hadn't expected you to wake until later." Darien walked over to the kitchen. The light spilled over his beautifully tanned skin. "I've already made breakfast and I've even made a call to Queenie's Hotel. I'd told them you weren't coming to work today."
"I know. I heard you over the telephone." I said as I eased my weight onto the door frame. "Thanks."
I wanted to avoid looking into his eyes so he wouldn't ask me any questions and the only thing I could do was keep my eyes downward. I felt Darien's questioning gaze, but didn't react. He was probably wondering of my change in attitude.
"I'll be going to work today. I'd figure you might want sometime alone." he told me then set up two plates on the kitchen table. "Are you up for breakfast?"
"No. I'm not feeling hungry right now." I told him and gave him a weak smile.
"Okay. It's fine with me as long as you don't starve yourself during the day." He joked lightly. I knew he wanted to cheer me up a little, but it was useless.
I didn't smile or give any response to his light joke. Instead my eyes wandered to the floor and stared forlornly at it.
"I'm going back to my room, now. You have a good day at work, Darien"
I slid back to my room and closed the door behind me. It was probably rude of me to leave Darien by himself, but I needed to be alone. I didn't want to face reality yet.
I needed my own space and he knew it too. Darien had even told me himself that he was going to give me sometime alone. He understood what I needed to do and that was one of the most thoughtful thing he had done so far.
Darien left a moment later and had left me to myself. What was I going to do with myself now? I thought.
During the first half of the day, I did nothing else, but think of Ken. His name echoed in my ears and seems to never go away. It hurt to think of him, but my head wouldn't let me stray on other thoughts. I cried a couple of times and had remembered every painful memory of Ken. I knew I still loved him, but I wished I didn't love him so much that the pain would be so overwhelming.
And during the second half of that day, I'd either laid around the house or did everything else, but coming to the topic of Ken. I wanted to avoid all thoughts of him now. I didn't want to shed anymore tears and because the thought of him made me want to cry all over again, I avoided thinking of him.
Over the span of next week, life went on as it had always been before. Only that I wasn't as happy as I used to be. I went back to work first thing Monday morning and had even received my first loud berating from Pete's wife for the week. Some things just never change do they?
Lita had called several times over the week, leaving apologetic messages every time she called. But I'd never returned any of her phone calls. I never wanted to talk to her again. What was I suppose to say to her even if I did return the calls? Oh, all you did was stole the man I'm in love with, Lita. That's all, no one special. You're forgiven. We're still friends. I guess I'll tell her that? No, that wasn't exactly what anyone would say to their best friend who just cheated on them with their own boyfriend.
Up to this point, I wasn't sure of what to feel about Lita. Maybe I loathed her. I knew I had hated her the second she told me she was cheating with Ken. I think now the hate had become stronger and had formed into loathing. It was probably insensitive of me, but what was I suppose to feel? How was I supposed to react? I wasn't one of those big-hearted girls who forgive and forget all the bad things other people did to her. No, I was definitely not one of those girls in the movie. I was human and that was what a real human would act on a situation like this.
If only Lita had told me sooner about Ken and herself. Maybe we could have savage our long time friendship. Maybe I could forgive and forget. Maybe, I thought, but then thought twice. Maybe not. It was doubtless.
For the full span of that week, Darien had taken over the job of making breakfast and I had the duty of making dinner. I'd never eat breakfast anymore, so Darien was force into making breakfast for himself. He didn't seem to mind and so I let him take over the job.
Saturday had come again, and I found myself sulking in my room. Ken was coming back today. I still hadn't forgotten about that. I had tried to ignore all thoughts of Ken for the past week and now I find myself crying over him again. Crying, I thought, that's what I do best these now a days. And it was true. I had shed so many tears for Ken. And the name Ken was all I could ever think about even if I'd tried to forget about him.
"Serena?" I heard Darien from outside. "I'm having breakfast. Do want some?"
I quickly wiped my tears away. "No" I answered, my voice sounded too shaky.
There was a pause and then. "Can I come in?"
I quickly wiped the remaining trial of tears. I didn't want Darien to see me crying again. I would feel so embarrass.
Darien opened the door. He wore casual clothing today, a khaki pant and a dark blue Tommy Hilfiger T-shirt. Darien didn't put his hair up in a business style today, but left it hanging over his eyes. He looked at me from the door way and his face became gentle. "You've been crying again."
I sniffed my nose and rubbed my wet eyes. "Yeah," I'd told him.
There was no use in lying to him. Even if I did, he wouldn't have believed me. It was too obvious. My eyes were too swollen and red to conceal.
Darien looked down. "I don't know what's troubling you, Serena. But you're spending too many of your time sulking. You never smile anymore and you've grown a bit skinnier over the week. It's bad for your health."
I looked down at my hands. What was I suppose to say? I can't help it if my heart was breaking. I can't help it if I cry. I had no control over this emotion.
"Listen," he said tenderly. "There's a carnival in town. It's one of those carnivals that have clowns and cotton candies. Do you want to come with me?"
"No. I'm not in the mood for a carnival." I quickly declined him.
"When are you going to get in the mood to go anywhere? What happened to the fun, Serena? She'd always thought I was a big boring nerd. Now she's becoming a big boring nerd herself." He grinned. His mouth flashed white teeth.
I smiled a little. Darien was really thoughtful. I knew this invitation to the carnival was just to cheer me up.
"Ask somebody else." I'd told him. "I know you have one or two friends out there. They'll be delighted to go."
"I want to take you, Serena" he said. "It's not a bad idea to go."
Another smile reached my lips. "No." I said again. His offer was tempting, but I didn't want to go anywhere. All I wanted to do was to be left alone.
He gave a desperate sigh. "You're stubborn, but I can be stubborn too." Darien said then looked at his watch. "I'm timing you, Serena. 15 minutes. Get ready."
I gave him a surprising look. I didn't know Darien had this domineering side to him. Who knew Darien Corrigan-my roommate-had this trait in him? It was all good, I suppose.
"I'll be waiting outside." He said and closed the door behind him. His timing was perfect because if he had given me another second I would have refuse him down.
At exactly a quarter minute later, a light knock came on my door. "Serena?"
The guy was so punctual I thought as I slipped on a light sweater on. "I'm coming out." I answered Darien. I guess I was going after all.
Half an hour later, we arrived at the entrance of the carnival. Darien went over to the ticket booth to get the entrance tickets. I stood next to him staring at a colorful clown standing in front of a large red tent. His hand held a handful of flying balloons. A little Asian girl with straight brunette hair came up suddenly to the clown giggling delightfully asking for a balloon. She wore a pretty yellow dress. The little girl walked away from the clown, smiling beautifully at an Asian woman from afar. The woman had the same straight colored hair and I knew it was the little girl's mother. She hugged her little girl happily and I felt envious at the picture.
Where was my own mom? Had she ever hugged me like the way that Asian woman had hugged her daughter? Had my mother ever stared down at me with so much love in her eyes? It made me wonder where my own mother was.
"Hey," Darien greeted me. His voice startled me, but I didn't show any signs.
"Lets go." he said, pointing the way in. His face grinned from ear to ear like a little boy on his first time to the carnival and I smiled at the thought of him.
We walked pasted the clown and past the Asian woman holding her daughter. We pasted the mirror maze and pasted the Ferris wheels.
"How do you want to torture me, now?" I asked when we finally stopped in front of the bumper cars. I heard laughter's and then a few 'aw' after the bumper cars stopped. People giggled wildly as they got up from their car seats and loud talks of you bumped in to me twice were being said a loud.
"Wanna go?" he asked. I knew he meant the bumper cars. "It sounded like those people had fun."
"Are you kidding me?" I asked. I looked at the line and saw a bunch of 10 and 11 years old and a couple of adult taking their little ones in for the ride.
"What are you afraid of, anyway?"
"Embarrassment, maybe?" I said with raised eyebrows. It seemed to me like the ride was a kiddy one. I wasn't about to humiliate myself in front of little kids.
"Who cares?" Darien countered back and went to back of the line of the bumper cars. He waited for me to follow him and when he noticed of my refusal to go, Darien gave me a warning look. I gave a light shrug to myself and decided to go along with it. There wasn't anything better to do. Mortify myself in front of the kiddies seemed like the only choice I had anyways.
To be continued..
AN: Sorry it had to end here. I wanted to get this chapter in time for First Love's Sunday update. I know it's kind of short, but I had a HUGE writers block. I couldn't seem to write any thing for a while. U have no idea how much I'd struggled to write this chapter. So all you readers out there better email me at: roses2small@yahoo.com. Anyways, there's a part 2 to this chapter. So chapter 4 is not exactly done. I wanted to go further on in part 1 of chapter 4, but the writers block had gone to the almost extreme limit so I ended right here. I was going to leave you guys a cliff hanger, but writers block got in the way.Lucky you.