The Switch

"What?" Itzel exuded over the phone. Her gaze traveled to her mother from where she sat. Emelia's brows crease on seeing the look on her daughter's face. "She what?"

"What happened ?" Emelia asked the moment Itzel's hand reflexed to her side with her phone clenched in her grip.

"Paige broke up with Nolan," she informed, quite puzzled.

At that moment, Paige stuttered in. Their eyes deftly went to her. She could tell what was going on just by the look on their faces. "Guess he told you," she voiced, approaching her mother and sister.

Nearing them, she tossed her bag on the couch. Before she takes any further action, her mother's hand graces her right cheek, jerking her head aside as it sends a burning sensation across her face.

Holding her cheek, she turned to face her mother with tears shimmering in her eyes while she held back the urge not to cry.

"This was the least you could do for the family, and you did what? Did you call off your engagement? After all that the family had gone through just because of you?" Emelia snapped.

Though Paige knew exactly what to expect from her mother, hearing it directly from her hurt like crazy. It felt like a knife to her heart. Instead of crumbling, flames of anger shot through her as she stared intently at the faces of the people whom she once called family.

"And what about you, Mother?" she tried not to look tumbled upon. "Have you for once, seen me as your daughter? You're despicable and undeserving of the mother title."

"How dare you," Emelia resonated with a slap, shutting Paige up. "You should be thankful I didn't send you to the psychiatry, you misfit."

Disappointment sagged through Paige at her mother's words and her heart wrenched. She saw herself drowning in grief and she wasn't going to give them the satisfaction of seeing her crumble.

Before the tears drop from her eyes, she snatches her bag and storms out. Hoping into her car, she drove off. She had no plans at all for where she was going but she was going anywhere except staying with her supposed family.

☆☆☆☆☆

The kaleidoscope of shimmering lights flickers in the distance as the starry sky has already swept over New York, the city that never sleeps. The night was still young when Paige drove into the streets.

The sky was clear, and the stars shone brightly, creating a dazzling display of light. But this was masked by the city lights. All the lights reflected off the windows of buildings in every color known to man.

The air was filled with the sound of laughter and music when she drove into the main streets and the atmosphere was electric. Ever lit, ever awake, ever with pulsing heart.

The people around were happy, it was simply an awesome night.

A time when everything aligns perfectly and you feel a sense of camaraderie and connection but she didn't. She was in misery and just anything that could lift her from it was what she was up for.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" a voice rasped her ears as various thoughts ran through her mind.

Deftly, her gaze went to the passenger's seat beside her– the direction where the voice came from. "I asked if you would be able to handle it." the intruder sounded with concern.

This was a hint for her to take her medications. Balancing her gaze between the road ahead and the glove box, she Reaches into it. Rummaging through, she pulled out a white labeled container. She was going for revenge and for this to happen, she needed to be in her right mind.

Throwing a pill in her mouth, she gulps it down with the aid of water. In the next minute, her hallucination was gone. Veering into MAC N DUK street, Paige spots a Pub– DEJAVU, it boldly reads. She wasn't going to go in but then, she needed something that would make her feel better.

Without hesitation, she pulled into the car park of the Pub. Stepping out, she trod in. Maneuvering through a few crowds of people, she found a spot just perfect for her. She was quickly attended to by a waiter.

"Moscow Mule," she ordered and the waiter left. She lurked around in wait for her drink which was soon presented to her. She gulped it down in a go and went in for another shot. In no time, she was ordering more than a Moscow Mule cocktail.

All along, someone from the counter had spotted her. He watches as she effortlessly does justice with every shot served. He smiles, finding her cute as she slowly goes off character at every shot.

"Over here, " a customer draws his attention.

Paige didn't realize how long she had been drinking until the room seemed to float in her eyes. She felt them lagging when she tried to look in new directions. Slowly, her visions began blurring out. As if in sync, she blacked out.

----

Pub Dejavu is not a late-night pub. It's a pub that usually closes around 1 am unless there is an event happening. Slowly and one after the other, the spirit-filled pub went empty.

Just as Clinton stepped out of the staff room, one of his employees walked up to him. "We have a problem," he hinted, pointing in the open.

Spontaneously, his gaze followed the direction of his hand only to see the lady he had been watching still in but fast asleep with her face down on the table.

"Is she alone?" he inquired and the employee nodded. Staring at her for a while, he allowed his gaze to travel back to the employee. "Don't worry, I'll handle her." he patted his shoulder and strolled off.

Clinton walks over to the table where Paige sat– shaking her up from her slumber only for her to look up at him, smile, and collapse on the table once again. Intuitively, Clinton scoffs and sighs at the end.

With no options left, he gently picks her up– carrying her in his arms. "I'm heading out first, Dave..." he calls out to his friend and partner who respond swiftly after. Effortlessly, he marches out with her.

BLEEK... BLEEK

He unlocks the car as he heads towards it. Pulling it open, he sits her in the passenger seat. Resting her back against the seat and pulled the seat belt over her– locking it.

Settling in his, he slowly navigated into the driveway and sped off.