Love and Hate I

♡ Nia's POV ♡

We entered the nightclub, enveloped by pulsating beats and swirling lights. But I was anything but in the mood for a night of revelry.

"Hey, babe, come dance with me," Juan called out, his hand outstretched, a hopeful look in his eyes.

I sighed, hesitating before admitting, "I'm not really in the mood."

Juan approached me, concern etched on his face. "Are you okay?" he asked, his voice filled with genuine worry.

"I don't know," I began to respond when a chilling sight shattered my moment of uncertainty. My nightmare, Mencia, waltzed into the club.

With her flawless hair and a dress that screamed glamour, I couldn't help but wonder what she wanted this time.

"Hey, Juan," she purred as she strolled over to us at the table, her smile radiant and her presence irksome. In no time, they were immersed in conversation, laughing and moving towards the dance floor.

As I stood there watching her inappropriate familiarity with Juan, anger surged within me. It was gnawing at me like a beast I couldn't control.

I walked away, needing a moment to clear my head. Finding my way to the bar, I leaned in and muttered to the bartender, "I need a drink."

"What type of drink are you in the mood for?" he inquired.

I hesitated, my mind awash with confusion. Then, out of the blue, a stranger approached, saying, "How about a..."

I paused for a moment, considering the stranger's suggestion. "Get her a classy tropical cocktail?" he proposed from behind his face mask and cap.

Grateful for the distraction, I replied, "Sure, why not? Surprise me." Anything to divert my attention from the discomforting scene unfolding on the dance floor.

The bartender swiftly mixed the cocktail, and within minutes, he placed the colorful drink in front of me. The first sip was a revelation, and the flavor instantly transported me to a different world.

"Oh my," I gasped, savoring the delightful concoction. "This tastes so good."

I found myself ordering more, the fruity blend of flavors acting as a temporary escape from the drama unfolding around me.

The mysterious stranger flashed a smirk in my direction. "Yeah, Nia, it does."

Surprised, I furrowed my brows. "Excuse me?" I inquired, feeling a tad uneasy about his familiarity.

"How do you know my name?" I asked, narrowing my eyes as curiosity piqued.

He offered a warm smile and a chuckle. "I've only been gone for ten years, and you've already forgotten me?"

Recognition slowly dawned upon me. "Carlos?" I asked hesitantly, my heart pounding.

He nodded in confirmation, his eyes crinkling with amusement. "I can't believe it," I breathed, still processing the sudden reunion.

"You left San Casas even before I did.How do you know I'm here?" I probed, still processing the surprise.

Carlos chuckled. "I've got my ways."

The flood of memories came rushing back. Carlos had been my neighbor when I lived in San Casas. His family, including his incredibly attractive older brother Seb, had moved away when I was twelve. Despite our separation, Carlos and I had kept in touch over the landline. But after I left San Casas, we lost contact, and I hadn't heard from him since.

Seeing him now flooded me with nostalgia, a rush of memories from our childhood. I was grateful to have encountered someone familiar in San Casas, where everything else felt so foreign.

"Carmen, Carmen," he called out, and suddenly I was transported back to the past. "How's Sofia?" he inquired, echoing the question.

However, my response was drowned out by the loud music, making it nearly impossible to hear each other. I assumed he was asking about, Sofia, but I couldn't be sure. I hadn't realized how much I had missed him.

As we spoke, I noticed Juan approaching, reaching out to grab my arm. "Let's go now," he insisted.

I pulled my arm away from him, my patience with him wearing thin. "Don't touch me," I snapped at him. My voice rang out louder than I'd intended, and the music abruptly halted. Everyone in the club turned to look at me.

In that moment, I couldn't stand the idea of Juan touching me, not after what I'd just witnessed on the dance floor. Filled with embarrassment, I stormed out of the club, my pulse quickening.

Carlos, who had been chatting with me, quickly followed me outside, while behind him, I saw Juan standing with his men, a stern expression on his face. Mencia, too, was lurking in the background, watching the chaos unfold.

"Is that your boyfriend?" Carlos asked, glancing in the direction of the club where Juan still stood.

I couldn't help but roll my eyes at the mere suggestion. "He's not," I replied with a dismissive tone, a hint of frustration in my voice.

Suggesting we go somewhere quiet with fresh air, Carlos took my hand and led me to his car. The allure of an escape from the chaos inside was too tempting to resist, so I followed.

The car ride began pleasantly, and I felt a sense of liberation. It was a much-needed break from Juan's drama. Carlos and I chatted and laughed, and for a moment, it felt as though the weight of the world had lifted from my shoulders.

However, my brief respite was interrupted when I noticed Carlos's hand slowly inching up my leg while he continued talking. Uncomfortable with the unwelcome advances, I subtly moved my legs away from his touch, hoping he'd get the message.

Instead, he smirked at me and chose to ignore my subtle rebuff. "Carmen, dear," he said in a low, suggestive voice, "it seems like you've had a bit to drink. How about I take you to my place so we can spend the night together?"

Annoyed, I tried to maintain my composure. "I'm not that drunk," I protested, "please, can you just drop me off at my place?"

Carlos appeared persistent, insisting that it was too risky for a pretty girl like me to be alone at night. As he attempted to move his hands under my dress, I finally spoke up, feeling the line being crossed. "Carlos, stop. I'm not doing this," I asserted, my voice firm.

Suddenly, he slammed the brakes hard, causing the car to swerve and crash into a tree. The impact sent us lurching forward, and the world around me spun as I braced for the collision.

Exiting the car, I realized that the accident hadn't caused any serious harm, thanks to the functioning airbags and my seatbelt. My initial instinct was to escape, to run from the chaos unfolding around me, but Carlos, desperate and confused, pursued me. He grabbed a fistful of my hair and attempted to reassure me.

"Carmen, I promise you're safe with me," he said, his voice trembling. "I'll protect you. Let me take you home."

My heart raced, torn between fear and regret. I was beginning to doubt my hasty decision to leave the party in anger. Even though Juan had his faults, at least he never tried to hurt me.

Carlos continued tugging at my hair, and I begged him to stop, the panic taking over. Just when I thought things couldn't get any worse, the roar of a powerbike echoed through the night, and I saw Juan rushing toward us.

Instinctively, I bolted off their sight, my heart pounding, and a chilling shiver racing down my spine. Both Juan and Carlos pursued me relentlessly. I halted momentarily to catch my breath, and Juan seized my hand.

"Leave her alone," Carlos yelled at Juan, his voice desperate, and Juan responded by pulling out a gun, his face contorted with anger.

"I'm so sorry. Please don't hurt me," Carlos cried out in desperation, tears in his eyes. "I didn't mean to hurt Carmen. Carmen, please help me beg him not to kill me."

My pleas fell like shattered dreams upon Juan's hardened heart. With a deafening gunshot, Carlos's pleas were silenced forever as the bullet pierced through his head, and his lifeless body crumpled to the ground.

***********************************************

We arrived back at Juan's home, and he forcefully escorted me to my room. My mind was still reeling from the shock of the recent events. He pushed me inside, and his voice exploded in anger.

"I've been here for you, provided for you, protected you, and you were planning to run off with some stranger?" he raged, his eyes blazing with intensity.

"You're the stranger here," I retorted, my voice trembling with a mix of fear and indignation. He stared at me, confusion etching his features.

I continued, my words a torrent of accusations, "You're a killer, Juan. You killed Carlos, Malik, those men in the warehouse..."

His response came in a fervent outburst, "I killed them for you! I would never hurt you, Nia. Can't you see I love you?" His voice was loud and desperate, causing me to push him away from me.

My anger boiled over, and I confronted him, "You call this love? This toxic mess?"

"Why did you think I never told you I loved you? ," I spat out, bitterness and frustration tainting my words. "You wonder why I never said it? It's because I hate you."

His reaction was unlike anything I expected. Instead of anger or sadness, he laughed maniacally. "Hate? You hate me? And you let me hit ? You let me have sex with you in just one week. I guess that's why you planned to run off with that guy, to have sex with him. You're just a slut."

The slap that followed was swift and fierce, my hand connecting with his face as he flinched, his laughter fading away.