FOUR

Annalise

First thing I noticed the moment I woke up was the wrong angle of the patterns of my ceiling. It took me a few minutes to realize I was lying on the wrong side of my bed. Next, I felt the searing pain all over my body but more on my head and my neck.

My hand went unconsciously to my neck and pressed it. Nothing was there. Did I hit myself somewhere last night? My head was protesting as I tried to get up. Did I get bruised? I reached for the small mirror on my table and looked at my neck. There was nothing there. Not even a scratch or a bruise but I couldn't mistake the pain I felt earlier.

I groaned as my head spun and that's when I heard someone knocking on my door. There's no one here in this house except Rita and me so I told her to come in.

Rita came in bringing a glass of water and a bowl of something that smelled good. She laid it down on my table silently. I was aware of the side glances she was giving me. I forced myself to get near the table and tasted the soup.

She did not say anything and walked towards the door but I called her. Rita faced me and I realized she was more aloof than ever. She couldn't even look me in the eye. What did I miss?

"How did I get home last night?" I asked because I truly couldn't remember how I got home. I remembered I was out drinking and then that's it.

Rita still couldn't look me in the eyes and even though that's what she always does, I still can't help but find it strange.

"Someone...someone took you home," she answered. I furrowed my brows because as far as I can remember, I didn't have any friends and I certainly didn't make one while I was out there drinking. But then perhaps I got lucky and someone was kind enough to take me home.

I caught Rita glancing at me but then she was quick to avert her gaze. Something is definitely up.

"What is it, Rita?"

She started fidgeting and I continued eating.

"This food isn't poisoned, right?" I said and stopped chewing. I saw how her face turned into pure terror and then she shook her head.

"Then what is it?"

She swallowed hard before she said, "I just want to tell you to be careful out there." Her expression changed very much. It was as if she was warning me about something more than a common danger of drunk girls alone at night. Then I remembered Rita is quite superstitious. I felt the hair on my spine rise.

"I will pay attention to how much I will drink next time," I said and then gave her a suspicious eye before I placed my spoon down. "Did my uncle pay you to watch my actions? Do you report to him?" 

Rita was quickly shaking her head. "No, he didn't ask me to do something for you."

I nodded. That would make sense. He wouldn't even let Rita clean my room or make my food. Well, it's not like I need someone to do those things for me. Maybe my uncle thought it would add to my punishment. The joke's on him. 

"Thank you, Rita," I said and before she could even walk away, I called her again. "Did you happen to know who brought me home?" 

She nodded and then said, "Adam Savedra" 

My brows quirk up. Adam Savedra. The name seemed quite familiar to me and then when recognition hit me, I forgot I had a headache and I jumped out of my bed. 

"A tall, handsome man?" I asked and Rita nodded and it felt like a whole bucket of ice water was poured over my head. I don't remember meeting him last night and I don't know what embarrassing things I did. He even brought me home. How on earth did we even end up meeting each other? 

"Did he say something?" I asked because I'll be damned if I did something embarrassing in front of him. Whatever it is, I need to know so I will know what to apologize for later when we see each other at school.

"Only that he saw you almost passed out on the street and took you here." 

Does that mean I didn't do something embarrassing? I muttered a curse inside my head. Why the hell couldn't I remember what happened, anyway? 

"Thank you, Rita," I said and Rita immediately went out of my room. I went back to my bed, groaning as I tried to lie down. 

"Fuck," I mumbled as I tried to close my eyes. I could still remember how he threatened me not to fail the class and then he sees me drinking in a bar and nearly passed out on the streets. I don't think he will think of it lightly when we see each other later. Will he reprimand me? God, I don't even want to think about it. Worst case scenario, if he scolds me, I will definitely talk back and nothing good ever comes out whenever I talk back.

I took the medicine Rita prepared for me and I wanted for several minutes for my headache to subside. I still have a  class in about an hour where I will be seeing Adam after last night. 

*** 

The moment I arrived at school, I wanted to turn around, walk back home, and then sleep. I don't know what got into me that I decided to drink when there's class today. Now, I have to suffer. I planned to skip but I figured I need to go to school and apologize for the inconvenience I caused Adam last night. 

As I turned the corner, I hitched my breath as I saw Adam walking in my direction. I don't think he's seen me yet but I couldn't blame him. With my height and a face that's certainly not remarkable--oh crap, he's seen me. 

I stood frozen as his eyes met mine but I willed myself to walk closer to him. But when I was about to call his attention, he averted his gaze and walked past me. 

I blinked as I tried to register what just happened.

He just ignored me. I was certain he met my gaze. I was certain he saw me but he just walked past as if he couldn't be bothered to even say hi or at least ask how I was. Well, he wasn’t obliged to do those but really? He could have at least given me a chance to talk to him and say sorry for the inconvenience I caused.

He's a real jerk and I've seen it yesterday in class. I just thought that after what he did to me bringing me home while I was drunk, he was not so bad at all. I let out a frustrated sigh before I turned and glared at his broad back. Fucking broad back. 

"Fine," I said before I walked the opposite way. 

That whole morning, he didn't come to class. I scoffed. He was all talk about him not intending to fail this class and look who's skipping. I stopped the urge to roll my eyes and just listened to the lecture. If he wants to pretend that we don't know each other, fine. I can play that game very well. 

By the time my classes are done, I felt like my head was about to fall off. The pain in my neck was getting worse I had to constantly massage it. Where on earth did I hit myself into?

I decided to go to the shops to get something to eat because I know the soup Rita made earlier would be the last food she will make for me. I don't feel like cooking tonight and honestly, I cook crap so it's better I buy something ready to eat. Good thing my uncle gives me enough allowance. More than enough allowance. 

When I was done ordering chicken and burger, I decided to go straight home. I can't afford to be drinking tonight not when I couldn't remember everything whenever I get too drunk. I wasn't like this before but perhaps everything changes especially if you're placed in a city you don't like. 

I was walking down the sidewalk, drinking juice when I suddenly heard a noise. I stopped walking and looked around to find it. I know that in situations like this, we shouldn't get too curious. Especially when you're all alone on a quiet sidewalk with the blinking streetlight. 

I listened to the surroundings and concluded that it must have been a cat. But when I walked another five steps, I heard the noise again. This time, it was stronger and clearer. It sounded like a grunt and then whispers. The hair on my arms rose. I know I should run as fast as I could but being trouble's favorite person, I found myself standing in front of an alleyway. It was dark but the blinking streetlight gave me enough vision of what was happening in the alley. 

A tall man was choking another man. I could clearly see how the man's feet lifted off the ground as the other continued to choke him. I could hear the other man pleading for his life, clawing at the other man's hands but it was futile. The other man was clearly stronger and I stood there, watching as the stronger man snapped the other man's neck. I could clearly hear the crack and I gasped. 

That's when I realized I had just witnessed a murder. But what's more terrifying was that when the man dropped the dead man on the ground, he looked in my direction. I was frozen on my feet and even as my mind shouted for me to run, my body wouldn't. 

The man faced me. I couldn't see his face and he was walking closer to me. I wanted to scream for help but nothing came out of my mouth. He’s going to kill me next. He’s definitely going to kill me next. I dropped the bag of food I just bought and I could see him coming closer. 

No, no, no. I wouldn't die here. I refuse to die here. 

I gathered myself together and then started bolting away. A sob broke out and tears started streaming down my face because of fear. I have never run as fast before and my feet felt like they couldn't keep up with it. But I continued to run. I need to get away. I need to--

I was stopped in my tracks when I saw a man standing in my path. I gasped and stepped back. But when he stepped closer, a surge of relief went through me as I realized who it was. 

"Oh, god," I said and I didn't care if he was a jerk to me earlier this morning. I ran towards Adam and hugged him as tightly as I can before I continued sobbing.