“Sometimes we want the reality to be a dream and sometimes the dream a reality!”

~~~

With a tiny bit of sanity left inside my head, I felt being lifted by powerful arms and carried out of the pub. As we exited the pub I was hearing the muffled music and the more we got further it was gradually fading away.

Slowly blinking my eyes, gazing up at the person's face, I was trying to capture the face of the man whose arms I was in, but his face was concealed behind those masks. So, I got only the view of his pink lips. If he had let me get the view of his face then I would have probably unmasked myself but when he didn’t bother to show his face I thought I too had no need of doing it.

While sometimes some things are better kept masked I guess. Because I knew the other day when I woke up with no effect of ten tequila shots, I xertzed I would unquestionably regret it. I would not want to face the person who escorted me out of the pub. And wearing the mask before entering the pub I think was the best thing about that pub.

The next thing I remember was being mildly tucked on the soft bed. When the person was about to leave, I remember grasping his wrist and pleading, “Please don’t go! I need you.”

“Take some rest!” His melodious voice drifted around the air and hit my eardrum making me smile.

Getting up, I pulled him in my embrace and hugged him tight, quivering, “please, please I need you. I need to teach him a lesson. Please don’t go.”

“You will regret this tomorrow,” I was hearing his whisper near my ear, and gripping my arms he was trying to part away.

But I had no intention of letting him go, so I gripped him more tightly. “No, I won’t. I won’t regret anything. Please…”

Nonchalantly, he pulled away and looked deep into my eyes. I got lost in his blue eyes and the second his lips were pressed against mine I shut my eyes tight.

I wanted to flow with the rhythm and let the things happen on their own and as expected it did happen. I remember being struck by him between my legs getting the blur vision of his face buried behind that mask.

~~~~~

“Ah! Who the hell did dare to pull the curtains away? Put it back, right now,” when my good sleep was abruptly disturbed by the beam of sunlight falling on my eyes, I retorted in annoyance.

With no idea of where I was and with whom I was, I was yelling. Speaking candidly, I didn’t even care about any of it. I just wanted a good morning's sleep. That's it, nothing more than that.

‘I was at least obliged to expect that much, right?’

But this expectation didn’t last long, the moment reality smacked my head and made me realize the thing that I had done the other night after getting wasted with ten tequila shots. Opening my eyes at once, I blinked twice before getting up and glancing around. All I could see was the back of a person exiting the room shutting the door behind him.

“No… no… no this is not happening,” muttering in panic, I glanced down simply to discover my nude body.

The feeling of a thunderbolt striking me stimulated seeing my condition. As I rubbed my forehead in nervousness, I found out that I was still wearing the mask.

My virginity taker seemed like he was just interested only in my body, not in my face. That must be the reason for me to be wearing a mask on my face rather than my clothes.

Hastily yanking the duvet and pressing it against my chest, I rushed out of the room to find the person with whom I had my one-night stand, but all I got to heed was the vacant corridor. With a heavy heart, I paced back to the room and plunged my butt on the soft bed.

'What did you do, Quynh? What did you do? You were not supposed to do that. You spent a night with a stranger, lost your long-saved virginity. Now you are no less than Joe. Aren't you?' the voice inside me commenced screeching.

Hot tears surged below my eyelids as a regret of getting drunk and losing sentience. The feeling of losing my virginity with a stranger and not remembering his face was making me feel ashamed of myself. The hangover in my head was making me feel like I was in a dream and I wanted it to be a dream so badly.

With difficulty, I stood on my feet and staggered to the washroom. Turning on the shower, I stood under it for a long period of time. After crying my heart out, I stepped out of the washroom with a little bit of a light heart.

Standing in front of the mirror, I was towel drying my hair lost peering at the hickeys on my collar bone. The more I was trying to recall what exactly happened, the more my head was hurting, getting the blurred vision of the person who picked me up and walked me out of the pub.

I just was able to remember the ten tequila shots xerting one after another and blur vision of getting struck by a stranger. There was not even the slightest hint of the person which could make me recognize him.

Suddenly my eyes fell on the mask tossed on the bed that I was wearing the other night. I grabbed the mask and caressed it.

The blue feather on its left side was soft and smooth. Suddenly I noticed out of three feathers one was missing. Just the way I had lost my other half it too had lost its other half.

The sudden ring of my cell phone winced me and pulled me out of my reveries. Keeping the mask aside, I searched around for my cell phone. Grabbing it from beneath the bed, I took a glance at the caller ID.

But soon after I got the view of it my heart leaped along with disgust arising. Even though I didn’t want to answer it, I had no other option. So clearing my throat and adjusting my mood, I pressed the answer key.

“Hey! Babe, where are you?” came Joe’s voice soon after I pressed the cell phone against my ear.

“Hey! Babe, where are you?” came Joe’s voice soon after I pressed the cell phone against my ear.

Rubbing my forehead, I stayed silent.

"Hello! Quynh, are you there?"

“I am at my apartment, why?” I replied shortly.

“Don’t lie."

Rolling my eyes, I replied, “Why would I lie?”

“I am at your apartment and I know that you are not here. Now don’t waste my time and tell me where you are,” he retorted.

“Why are you there? You should have informed me before coming.”

“Don’t change the topic, Quynh. Tell me where the hell are you?” The pitch of anger in his voice was increasing which I was able to find out in no second.

“I have come out jogging, no need to be mad.”

“What? Look at your watch, don’t you think you are getting late for the office?”

Glancing at my wristwatch, I questioned, “What time is it? I didn’t wear my watch.”

“What? Why are you not wearing that expensive watch which I brought for you?” he grumbled, making me feel irritated.

“I lost it, okay? Just don’t keep on irritating me,” I said breathing heavily.

“What? You lose that watch? How can you be this careless? Do you even know how much it cost?”

“Yeah, probably the cost of your brain,” I muttered and disconnected the call.

I took off the watch and dropped it in the trash bin. As I was getting dressed, I heard my cell phone ringing repeatedly, but I turned deaf to it. As I was ready to get out of the room, I turned on the screen to glance at the time but my eyes fell on the message notification that was shown on the home screen.

Taking a closer look at it, my heart thumped out loud. I was not able to believe it, so I pinched myself to find if I was not dreaming. Just a while ago I wanted everything to be a dream but now I wanted it to be a reality.

Maybe this was the phenomenon of life… sometimes we want reality to be a dream and sometimes want the dream to be reality…

~~~~~

"Love, when are you going to throw Quynh out of this company? I am nauseous and weary of having this secret romance hiding with you. Bickering with her every single day makes it even worse."

Hearing my boyfriend, Joe said this to my boss, Emma, I was no longer able to hold back my tears. It gushed down my eyelids just the way the volcano erupts. I started to feel pain in my throat and spin going numb.

My heart was pounding out loud and the chills were running through my veins. For the last fifteen minutes, I was struggling to make a knock on the door, walk in and place my resignation letter on the desk.

But things didn’t seem as simple as that. It was getting tough to make the move. This was my final tolerance to tolerate their betrayal. Once placing the letter it would probably come to an end and my fresh life would commence in a new company.

But hearing them chuckling, kissing, and back-biting about me was making it hard for me to walk in. Though they were the ones who were supposed to be ashamed, I was feeling ashamed of them.

It had just been two weeks since the day I found Joe cheating on me with my boss. I was breaking down since that day when I came to know that they were having a secret romance on their business trip. So, the previous night I went to the pub to ease my heart but had no idea I would end up having my one-night stand with a stranger.

Since the day I got to know about them I was struggling hard to place my resignation letter on her desk, but I was in a great dilemma. I desperately needed a job and was not ready to take any risk at the moment. But things took their perfect turn when I got the text of being selected by a reputable company the morning of having a one-night-stand.

It was finally the day to get rid of them. I was seeing the ray of hope far from them. I wiped my tears and took a deep breath, when I was finally ready to go in, I heard Emma speaking.

"No, darling, we cannot throw her out at this moment. We have a contract with a reputable company in town, you know that, right? The payment is huge and they want everything to be perfect.”

“But…”

She interrupted him, “at this moment we cannot afford to lose her. You clearly know how hard-working she is and right now she is the backbone of this company. We need her until the event ends. Let's say she is that Alladhin’s magic lamp for our company until we are done with our wishes.”

Hearing her I clenched my fist tight with anger simmering inside. The nervousness of walking in had now converted into a rage. Also the fact of knowing that they needed me made me feel happy.

'Okay, take a deep breath, step into the office, place the letter on her desk and bid final goodbye to her. Pick up your belongings and walk out of the company. Make it simple like that, Quynh. Show them you are the Quynh, who don't need them,' was what I had said to myself a while ago to cheer myself up.

But I literally had no idea my plan would backfire this badly hearing their talk outside the door and imagining their romance in my head. I wanted to cry so loud but I was compelled not to show my tears for betrayal love.

Two years we dated and I had never thought that he would stab my back in this long relationship. I trusted him blindly and loved him so heartily but he paid me back with his betrayal love.

Eventually, after a while, I turned around thinking to walk to the washroom and prepare myself again but suddenly I heard Emma saying, “don’t worry after we are done with our wishes you can propose to me to marry you in front of her. In that way, we don’t need to kick her out or have to explain to her about our relationship. One move and she will be gone and… I will also be marrying you.”

“Really? Then I better start looking for a ring,” Joe said and I heard him chuckling.

Silence hovered around. I had a deep feeling that they were kissing and I was having their image on my head. Freaking out in disgust I leaned closer to the door but unfortunately, the door opened wide and I fell hard on the floor.

Freaking out in disgust I leaned closer to the door but unfortunately, the door opened wide and I fell hard on the floor.

In embarrassment, I raised my head before seeing Emma sitting on Joe’s lap. Both their eyes were fixed on me. After staring for a second, suddenly she jumped away from his lap.

Both their faces flushed in panic and Joe hastily got up from her chair. Luckily they seemed more embarrassed than me.

I got on my feet, stammering, "Um... I... I am sorry.”

Suddenly a voice inside started to curse me, 'what the hell, Quynh? Why are you being sorry? It is them who are cheating on you and taking advantage of you. They are the one who needs to be sorry, so why are you saying sorry?'

"Um yes...uh..." I cleared my throat.

"Quynh..." Joe marched towards me shamelessly as if nothing had happened. Standing beside me, he said, "Emma and I were just discussing the upcoming event with..."

I glanced at him with my wide eyes. "Emma?"

"Oh! I mean ma'am..." He looked away ignoring my gaze.

"Yeah, and I was about to call you. You know the details more than us," Emma added.

I was so fed up with their lies. One thing I was amazed about was they were never getting worn even after chanting numerous lies.

"Event? But Joe was the one to take all the details from my desk before I even got a chance to glance at the company's name so that I could do my research and prepare."

'What are you talking about? Just throw the letter on her face and walk away, Quynh,' voice inside me was not willing to stay quiet until I actually placed the letter in front of her.

"Oh! yeah, how could I forget that..." Joe marched back to the desk and started to check the file.

I found it was a perfect time but as I checked my hands it was empty.

'Where is the letter?' I panicked, looking around.

"Are you alright?" Emma inquired.

I didn't give any response and kept on looking around the floor.

'Ahh! there it is!' My heart was at ease as I saw the letter lying near the door.

I picked it up and blew the dust from it. Unfolding it, I took a glance. Luckily, it was still in good condition.

I then paced towards her desk.

Joe was still checking the files, mumbling, "where did I keep that file?"

I placed the letter carefully above the file that he was checking and averted my gaze towards Emma. "Ma'am, it's for you..."

"What is it?" she asked in astonishment, picking up the letter.

As she was going to read it, I replied, "it's my resignation letter, ma'am..."

"What?" they both resounded in unison, glancing at me.

Both their faces covered with a blanket of shock were something enjoyable to see. I was totally loving it.

"I am taking my leave from this company.”

"But why?" asked Emma and hurriedly looked away as if she knew the answer but still wanted to hear it from me.

"You are asking me why? You should ask yourself," voice inside wanted to scream out loud.

I cleared my throat and as I was about to reply, Joe intervened, "how can you abandon our company like this, Quynh. Why are you being irresponsible?"

I folded my arms. “First thing, this is not my company, Joe. Second, I probably know how responsible and irresponsible I am. I don’t have to learn it from you. Third, I have the full right to leave whenever I want.”

Shaking her head right to left, Emma affirmed, "No... I am not approving it. You are not leaving until we are done with the upcoming event. It is very near, Quynh, you cannot do that.”

"Ptf!” I snickered covering my mouth and said, “you mean I need to wait until you kick me out of this company. No thanks."

The color of their faces which had turned to normal for a while again began to switch red. They glanced at each other.

"You... heard..." Emma stammered.

"Yeah, every bit of it. And not only today for many days I know what you are doing behind my back, Joe," I said, shifting my gaze from Emma to him.

He promptly strolled towards me and gripping my arms tried to persuade me, "it is nothing like that, Quynh. You are just thinking too much. It is just a misunderstanding.”

Shoving his hand away, I said, "Stop it, Joe. I had enough. I am no longer going to buy it.”

"Stop being unreasonable, let's go out and talk." He grabbed my wrist and tried to drag me out.

I pulled back my hand vigorously. "Why out? Why can't we talk here? Oh! you are scared she might feel bad hearing your surgery words for me, is it? Ahhh! Joe baby, I cannot believe you are this obsessed with her. Come on, you are so madly in love with her then why can't you admit it in front of me?"

"Quynh, stop talking nonsense," he said, looking at me with his wide eyes.

He probably wanted to scare me with his glare but it was definitely not going to happen. He no longer scared me.

"Ptf! I am talking nonsense?” I took a step closer to him and looking deep into his eyes said, “Come on, you are kissing your boss behind the back of your girlfriend and still promising your girlfriend to stay by her side. Tell me what I should say that wouldn’t be counted as nonsense.”

"I..." He gulped hard looking away.

"Tell me, Joe, what did I lack? Is it because she is rich and has more experience with men than me?"

Suddenly a loud slap landed on my cheek.

"Stop it... you have no right to talk such things about her," he yelled.

Holding my cheek, I roared back, "why not? Aren't you able to hear anything about her? Aren't you aware she had three boyfriends in her past that is also at the same time? Doesn't it make you wonder if she is dating some other man along with you? Do you really think betraying your girlfriend would really have true love in your life? Don't forget Joe, what goes around comes around..."

"Stop it!" He again raised his hand to slap me but this time I grasped his wrist before it could land on my cheek.

Throwing his hand away, I gave him a slap. "I am not your slave to restrain all of your violence..."

Then shoving him away, I was about to leave but he furiously came towards me. I prepared myself to fight with him, even though he was way stronger than me.