Guilt

DAY 16 CONTINUES

Phina sat and observed Patrick driving. While in the club, the driver had left, and someone had brought Patrick's car key. His girlfriend and friend are seated in the back seat. There was something off about his behavior.

Nearly three hours had passed when Patrick forced her to watch people make out on a balcony. Patrick appeared unaffected. Henry insisted she was too cool, and he was already getting tipsy. It's possible that she was too shy to show affection for her lover in public. Charles concurred as well. They also won't quit making fun of her for it.

Patrick remained silent the entire time. She had been saved from the men by Alan and Phil.

Since returning to the club, she felt something wasn't right with Patrick. However, she was unable to reach for it. He had returned to his solemn, scowling self. She ignored the thought, though. Her first impulse was to sleep on the shockingly humorous, enormous, plush bed in Patrick Mansion. She had already grown weary of the crowd. She overindulged to the point where she was worried for her stomach and could not eat anymore. She sampled food she had never eaten or seen before.

She discovered that Patrick's friends are wealthy and indulge in extravagant spending. How much they spend on food and drink alone is nothing to them.

She headed toward the lobby before the others did, wanting to get out of the place where she felt so close to suffocating. Patrick only glanced at her before getting back to talking to his friend. Henry couldn't drive home because he was already drunk. Additionally, his girlfriend is not a driver.

While they were still conversing, she left.

Two guys also descended from the elevator to sit beside her while she waited for them in the foyer. Despite the late hour, they appeared to be in a group and likely willing to wait for someone.

She got up and walked away from Patrick and his friends, who had come down with their women. Except for Henry, who had to drive with them, everyone left. Because he was intoxicated and since Patrick's home is located on the same route.

However, she observed his peculiar quietness and tenseness. He continued to curse while silently clamping his fist over the steering wheel.

She was already sleepy and anticipated falling asleep when she got in the car. However, she was unable to.

They go home after Henry and his girlfriend are dropped off at his place. Now that they are alone, she asks him what went wrong.

"Is something wrong, Patrick?" Quietly, she posed the question.

He pretended not to hear her and offered no response. She stopped asking after that.

He is impolite! In her mind, she concluded.

Before Phina can stop him, Patrick exits the car and charges into the house. His car key falls to the table. He bides his time until Phina enters the home, which she eventually does.

Phina enters the house ponderously. What went wrong with Patrick, she wonders. He can be hilarious and unpredictable, so she hoped he didn't let his wrath get the better of her. She needs to gain the strength to speak. All she wants to do is go lay down and rest.

"Are you that cheap?" She was struck by his inquiry as soon as she entered.

She gives him a raised gaze. Her prayer appears to have yet to be answered. However, why in the world would he pose such a question?

"What?" Calmly, she inquired.

She isn't interested in arguing with Patrick. Something they had become accustomed to.

"It's evident that you heard me. How on earth did you spend time with those men? Initially, on the balcony. Next, in the foyer..."

She interrupted him abruptly. "What does that mean, Patrick? Why are you acting so furious with me? I felt ignored when I asked what was wrong. What's up with the guys, too? What do you mean?

Patrick laughs. Really? You are very cheap. It wasn't even offensive to you. How do you think my friends perceive me? That my girlfriend is cheap? A person who wanders from man to man, mining for gold? I had no idea you were so young. Perhaps it is the reason you initially accepted the bargain. Since you were cheap."

Then he felt a hand on the left side of his face, cutting him short. He then turns to face Phina.

Phina gave him a hard slap across his face with all her strength. She's hitting a guy in the face for the first time. Although she didn't plan to act that way, she cannot contain the rage that has grown within her. How dare he make such accusations! That was too much. And it was making her angry as hell.

"Are you crazy? How dare you address me in that manner? I'll tell you why I took this foolish bargain more than anything else. Furthermore, it doesn't give you the right to call me names. I am not cheap, nor am I a slut. Please don't take it the other way around; I may be too amiable. Thus, conversing with other guys is forbidden. I know I'm not your true girlfriend. While your friends were busy making out in public, people were kissing and getting busy around them. It is nothing to me if it is nothing to you. You're not expecting me to settle in there like a dumbass. That's not how I was trained. Therefore, please stop talking to me in such a manner. I'm a person with dignity. I only ever asked for your respect, nothing more. Perhaps it explains why you have never been with a woman, due to your awful and foolish attitude. If you feel so good about yourself, I believe it's time to end this conversation. Tomorrow, I'm going to blow off your damn house." She spoke fiercely, tears streaming from her eyes.

She detests crying since it renders her appear frail. However, she was hurt by Patrick's offensive remarks.

She returns to her room, shuts the door, and turns around. She collapsed in front of the door and started crying.

She was hearing him say that about her hurt so much. He insults her by taking advantage of her need for money. He even considers her to be a slut.

That was the thing he had been resisting. That's why, she realized, he'd become quiet after they'd left the balcony. And the way he looked at her when he saw her in the foyer chatting with the two males.

All they had done was ask her a question, to which she replied courteously. While they waited for Patrick and his friends, they discussed the photo they had shown her.

However, he had to accept it in reverse. She was a prostitute in his eyes. It's that simple.

Her pride and sentiments were wounded. The most painful thing was that he thought she was cheap and would do anything to get money.

********

Patrick fell back against the chair. He then touched his head with his hand. For the first time in a long time, he suddenly hates himself. He's trying to understand why he told Phina those things.

It wasn't supposed to be that bad. He acknowledged that they were terrible. Saying it to her was a bad idea.

He'd been suppressing his wrath since seeing Phina with the man on the hotel balcony. Although he wasn't meant to care, he would be lying to claim he was unaffected. When he saw them, something inside of him changed. Furthermore, he was powerless over his consuming jealousy.

Worst of all, he had to confront her while she was chatting with men in the hotel lobby. His friends didn't need to witness that.

It damaged his sense of manhood. He was envious as well.

There's no need for him to be envious. As she mentioned, he doesn't have to either, but he can't stop the rising sensation within him.

He felt unworthy and worthless.

The identical emotion he had at Raya's departure.

However, he didn't have to give in to his rage. He is aware that he owes Phina an apology. He still needed to give her an apology, even if she persisted in wanting to leave and break the agreement. He owes her that.

Later, he ascended to his room. Even though it was late at night, he could not fall asleep. He could not get rid of the guilt.