Ice and Fire

Stephen froze when his eyes finally focused on the corner she was sitting in. It was a familiar, but emaciated face, and her figure, as well as her appearance, made him feel an icy quiver in his heart.

Stephen stared at Cherry, and slowly started to walk up to her.

She sat in the corner and blankly stared at all the people twirling around on?the dance floor. She was there because she missed Emily, not to see other people having fun.

Cherry wasn't aware of the fact that Stephen was standing beside her until he called out her name. "Cherr, you're here!"

When she heard someone calling out her name, Cherry looked backwards, and saw that it was Stephen. She tried to quickly adjust her mood, and a reluctant smile appeared on her face, which was even more uglier than a grimace. She said, "Stephen, how did you know I was here?"

Stephen suffered when he looked at Cherry's face, and he had no choice but to withhold himself from speaking.

"Don't forget that this is my territory. I always know when you're here, " said Stephen.

Cherry believed that what he said was true. After all, it was his bar, and that meant that everything was under his watch, her included.

Embarrassed, Cherry quickly replied, "I'm so sorry..."

However, Stephen felt an unbearable pain pierce his heart. He fixed his eyes on Cherry, and said, "How are you doing these days?"

She was shocked by his greeting, and because Stephen acted just like a friend, this reminded Cherry of Emily one more time.

"Fine, not so bad, " said Cherry.

Stephen stared at her all the time during their talk. He said, "Not so bad, but it seems that you're not a bit happy at all."

When she heard him, Cherry looked down, and lowered her voice. She replied, "No, I'm actually leading a good life now."

but his words were quickly stopped

in the eye, and said, "Please, don't talk about Emily. I came here just to relax." She tried

after a while, he asked,

" said Cherry. She hoped that the alcohol would do a quick job to anaesthetize her

gestured to a waiter, and told him to bring several glasses

table,

" said Stephen, a bit worried when he saw that Cherry was so anxious. He knew that she still missed Emily very much, and he also knew that she couldn't get her off of her mind, even though she had been long gone

Stephen for a second, and instead kept on gulping one drink after another,

at the empty glasses, Cherry said to Stephen, "Give

wanted to soothe her heavy heart, and to release all the sadness that had been built inside of

but he also knew

called the waiter

as she saw the wine, Cherry started to drink again, despite of the fact that she started to feel uncomfortable and wanted to vomit. She ignored her nausea, and instead kept on gulping wine.

another glass of wine, she immediately felt sick to the brim. Cherry started to feel like throwing up, and when she eventually realized that she couldn't

he saw Cherry's unexpected move, Stephen

to the ladies' room. He ran directly inside, and didn't pay any attention to that because he

the toilet, and she saw a girl running into the toilet, bending

Stephen, she immediately greeted

he heard that some called him, Stephen calmed down, and stopped when he saw that Cherry was vomiting in the sink. He said to the custodian next to

the custodian,

to Cherry, and while he gently touched

and didn't answer Stephen's

her stomach was still cramped, and she couldn't figure out

was feeling better than before, and asked again, "How are you feeling now? Would you like to go to the