Chapter 15

Emily's POV
　　I lay in my bedroom bed reflecting on the day.
　　It was the first time anyone had celebrated my birthday since Hellen got sick. I'm used to being alone, but Andre and Kate surprised me. I've never been happier than I am today.
　　I couldn't control my joy as I looked in the mirror at my beautiful dress and the two necklaces Andre and Kate gave me.
　　"Emily, I'm sorry, honey. I can't spend your birthday with you today. Wait, what's this?" Susan, who had come to apologize for missing my birthday, looked at me in surprise, "Wow, can you tell me what happened to you today? You look so different."
　　She spotted the new dress and two necklaces on me and curiously asked me about everything that had happened today.
　　"Andre and Kate celebrated my birthday at the Gaze Hotel. And then we went to Paradise."
　　I told Susan everything that had happened today.
　　"OMG, Andre, that dude, he took the time to celebrate your birthday!" Susan looked at me, "Emily, have you ever thought that maybe Andre loves you?"
　　Does Andre love me?
　　My heart began to pound at Susan's words. I remembered that Andre had been looking at me very tenderly today. I felt shy when I remembered the deep love in his eyes.
　　I didn't want to admit that I seemed to be in love with Andre, the playboy.
　　Andre has had so many lovers, and I am not a special one. He is now treating me so well perhaps with a playful attitude and not seriously.
　　I think I fell in love with him because of his tenderness, patience, and thoughtfulness, but I don't expect anything from Andre.
　　How could he love me?
　　"Well, Emily. what's wrong with you? You look like you haven't slept all night."
　　The next morning, Susan exclaimed in surprise at my appearance.
　　I hadn't been up all night, I had just lost some sleep over the fact that I was in love with Andre.
　　"No, in fact, I slept for one, no, two hours. Oh no, I'm late for class!"
　　Fearing that Susan would ask me about the reason for my insomnia, I grabbed my book bag and quickly ran out of the house.
　　My professor for this morning's class was a very strict old man. No one dared to sleep in his class because it meant that they might face retaking the class. But I was too sleepy. Therefore, I sat at the end of the classroom for safety. There were so many people taking the course that I thought the stern professor would not find me sleeping.
　　"Emily, Emily Jones, please come up and answer the question."
　　"What?"
　　"Mr. Schmidt wants you to answer the question."
　　I was nudged awake by the student sitting next to me and stood up to find everyone in the classroom looking in my direction.
　　"You're Emily?"
　　"Yes, I'm Emily, Mr. Schmidt."
　　"You were just sleeping."
　　Mr. Schmidt looked at me sternly with his eyes that were wrinkled at the corners.
　　I couldn't just admit to this. I didn't want to retake the class.
　　"No, I didn't. I was just too serious so I didn't hear you. I'm sorry, Mr. Schmidt."
　　I sincerely apologized to Mr. Schmidt, hoping that the old man would not cross me off his final list, simply for the fact that I had been taking my studies seriously until then.
　　"Okay, I'll assume you didn't sleep. So Emily, please answer the question."
　　My mind went blank as I followed Mr. Schmidt's finger to the question on the screen. I looked down at my classmates and realized that they couldn't offer me any help either; Mr. Schmidt's class was so deep that I couldn't keep up with his lectures if I didn't pay attention for just one minute. But I did sleep.
　　It was a really bad day. I wonder if Mr. Schmidt will cross me off the list for the final exam because I didn't give the right answer to the question.
　　"Even though he's a flirt, he's handsome!"
　　"Who? Oh, Andre Vincent, is he in the news again?"
　　"Yes. But I think his taste has gone down, is that model as hot as me?"
　　I was sitting in the school cafeteria eating lunch when I heard Andre's name and the discussion about him. I felt very bad and pulled out my phone to see Andre dating a young model.
　　This girl was not the same model I had seen at the hospital. Earlier at the hospital, Andre had assured me that he would not be with a woman other than me as long as the contract between us was not over. Why should I take his words seriously?
　　I am now even more sure that Andre does not adore me. He just sees me as a novelty pet because no one would have rejected him before this. I intrigued him, and my rejection may have just sparked a desire for conquest within him. When his curiosity and novelty pass, he will abandon me to find new prey.
　　I seem to have fallen in love with someone I shouldn't have. He is surrounded by so many girls who are prettier than me and sexier than me. I felt so uncomfortable that I had no desire to eat all the food I liked.
　　My classes were all over, but I didn't want to go home.
　　Susan told me earlier that drinking would solve my problems. If I got drunk, I could forget all my worries.
　　I went back to the Kaka Club and sat in the corner, watching the new dancers on stage writhing their bodies to the whistles and screams of the men.
　　When I first danced at the club, when I didn't know what to do in the face of men's desire, it was Andre who came to my rescue. Then I became his secret lover.
　　I probably shouldn't have come to this club, there are memories of Andre and me, and now I just think of him and I feel bad.
　　I was drunk after half a bottle of whiskey. But I didn't stop, I finished the bottle and ordered another one. I don't know how much I drank, but the amazing thing is that I stayed a little sober.
　　My phone rang a call. I pulled it out barely recognized Andre's name and pressed hang up. I didn't want to hear his voice right now.
　　The caller kept ringing and the text alerts kept telling me that Andre was looking for me.
　　I picked up the phone.
　　Where are you?
　　Susan said you didn't come home, so are you at the hospital now?"
　　Hellen said you didn't go to the hospital today, Emily, where the hell are you?"
　　Emily, tell me your location!
　　I don't know if I replied to him, I just tossed the phone that kept ringing to the side not wanting to bother with it. I pretended I couldn't see Andre's calls and texts and continued to drink.
　　"Beauty, are you experiencing sadness? Why are you here drinking alone?"
　　A man was talking to me. I looked up in confusion to see that it was a man I didn't know. He looked very young, probably the same age as me, and very handsome.
　　His voice sounded very soft and gentle, and his looks were also very gentle. His looks reminded me of a neighbor who lived next to my house in my childhood. So I couldn't help but pour out my heart to him.
　　"Yes, I am very sad now. You sit down. Let me talk to you."
　　He obeyed and sat down, without making any dirty gestures to me or looking at me with lust. He just smiled and waited for me to speak.
　　"Go ahead, I'll listen."
　　"I'm in love with a man, but he doesn't love me."
　　I was aggrieved. I felt very humiliated to cry out in front of a strange man, so I restrained the urge to cry.
　　"How are you sure about that? You're so pretty, I don't think any man would reject such a beautiful girlfriend."
　　"I am very sure. How could he date another girl if he loves me? He has so many beautiful girls around him. Every one of them is prettier than me."
　　I couldn't control my aggression when I remembered the news I saw today at noon. Andre said he wouldn't date other girls, but he did it, many times!
　　"I don't want to talk about him anymore, he's a jerk. Sir, can you tell me your name?"
　　I looked at this man's handsome face and remembered that I didn't know his name.
　　Andre can date other girls, why can't I find another guy!