329: [Bonus chapter]Help me

[Bonus chapter]Help me

DING DONG!0

Manager Chu pressed the doorbell repeatedly. Worry was clear in her eyes, afraid of what could've happened and what Paula had done. Worse. She was concerned that Paula would hurt herself at how she constructed her words.

DING DONG!

"Paula." This time, Manager Chu knocked as if abusing the doorbell wasn't enough. "It's me. Open the door..."

Manager Chu trailed off as the door slowly opened from the inside. However, the door wasn't fully open, barely giving Manager Chu a glimpse of Paula inside. 

"Paula?" she furrowed her brows, trying to push the door only for her to realize it was double-locked inside. "What are you — why don't you open it inside? What's going on with you, huh?"

Paula pursed her lips, staring at the panicking manager outside the door. "Manager Chu."

"Hmm?" Manager Chu paused, gazing at Paula with slight panic. "What, Paula? Let me in."

A minute passed before Paula closed the door once again, unlocking it from the inside. Manager Chu didn't have spare patience as she stepped in, standing in front of Paula to check the latter. 

"Oh, my god, Paula." Manager Chu held Paula's shoulder, breathing in and out in relief. "I thought something bad happened to you."

"What did you think happened to me, Manager Chu?"

Hearing that nonsense question, Manager Chu glared at her. "What do you mean? Have you read the message you sent me?! I thought you were planning to commit suicide!"

"Oh. Sorry about that." 

"Goodness." Manager Chu caught up to her breathing, retrieving her hand from Paula's shoulders. "So? What's this emergency that you made me rush here as soon as possible?"

"Well..." Paula bit her lips hesitatingly, only to see her manager furrow her brows. 

"Your IV." Manager Chu frowned. "Paula, did you remove your IV?"

"Oh. Uh-huh."

"Uh huh?" Manager Chu scoffed. "Why did you remove it? It should take at least an hour or so to finish the entire bag. That's why I was going back here since I forgot that a nurse from the infirmary will come back here to remove it or replace it. Depends if your condition is better."

"Condition?" this time, Paula frowned, disliking the nonsense Manager Chu was spewing. "Manager Chu, I only passed out because of lack of sleep and stress. Don't make it sound like I am sick."

"Paula, are you still going to lie to me?" Manager Chu clicked her tongue. "I know you've been doing drugs, okay? The doctor confirmed that to me. That is why I'm trying to flush all that drug out of your system. There's no need to lie!"

"What?"

"Tsk. No matter how painful the breakup was, you shouldn't turn to drugs. Paula, you, of all people, know that being involved in a drug scandal will most likely kill your career. People are unforgiving of celebrities who were involved in such scandals." Manager Chu huffed in disbelief that Paula was carrying on with her 'lies.' "So, please, listen to me. I know you hate me, but I'm saying this for our sake. Stop using illegal substances before you get hooked. This will destroy us, you, especially. I'm not saying this to threaten you, but I can always find an artist to manage. As for you, that'll be it."

"But... I'm not doing drugs, Manager Chu," Paula asserted. "How can I be on drugs if I hate them to the core? You know me and you should believe me."

Displeasure overtook Manager Chu's face at Paula's denial. Although the latter was telling her the truth, it was hard to believe it. 

"I know, Paula. I know you're the biggest bitch I met in my life, who hates drugs with such intense passion, but the doctor said otherwise. You were high and almost overdosed today, Paula." Manager Chu stressed each word in hopes Paula would stop lying. "That is the reason you passed out after hallucinating. Deny it all you want, but facts are facts. I had to bribe the doctor to make sure he keeps his mouth shut."

"You're crazy." Paula ground her teeth as her growing annoyance swelled in her heart. "I don't do drugs, okay? I'm not lying!"

And that was enough to make Manager Chu throw her hands in the air. This was pointless. Paula wouldn't admit it even when she didn't have to hide it. Manager Chu was willing to help Paula to recover, but Paula was shamelessly denying it. The growing annoyance in both women's hearts grew worse with every passing second. 

Paula's eyes shone with malevolent, hands balled into tight fists. 

"Fine! You win, okay? You're sober. Fine. If that is what you say." Manager Chu raised her hands in surrender, looking back at Paula. She was exhausted from arguing with Paula, and she realized this discussion wouldn't end. Thus, giving what Paula wanted was her way of ending the discussion. 

"If that's a close discussion, why did you make me rush in here? What is so urgent you were talking about?"

Her tone didn't sit well with Paula. Being accused of something she didn't do was one of the top lists to make it in Paula's hated list. And Manager Chu just went up a few ranks on that list. 

'Well, this only means I don't need to feel sorry for her,' thought Paula, calming her raging soul and preventing herself from striking this annoying woman. She did it once, almost an hour ago. Doing it again wouldn't be as hard. 

"Something happened." Paula calmed down, tipping her head toward the living area. "Can you please help me?"

"Help you with what?"

"See for yourself, Manager Chu." Her lips pressed into a tight line as its corners hooked up slightly. 

Manager Chu arched a brow, narrowing her eyes suspiciously. "Paula, what's in the living room?"

"You'll know once you check it."

For some reason, Manager Chu's gut feeling was telling her to leave — to run. Looking at Paula's short smile brought this inexplicable dread creeping into her heart. 

"If it's not that important, I'll come back tomorrow," said Manager Chu, knowing Paula could still be high at the moment. However, just as she turned to the door, Paula slammed her palm against the door, stopping Manager Chu from going.

"Manager Chu." 

Manager Chu froze on the spot, twisting her neck like a robot to face Paula. Much to her surprise, Paula carried no emotion. However, that look in her eyes just felt… evil. It was as though Manager Chu was looking at a monster. 

"It can't be postponed tomorrow, Manager Chu." Paula's eyelids drooped. "Please. Help me. I've helped you get out of a shitty situation before, so this time, you have to help me."

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