Chapter 5

Calista was sitting in a chair inside her campus library. She furrowed her brows in thought while stroking her lips with her finger. Her brain was busy thinking about what happened last night.

“Did I dream last night? If it was a dream, why did everything feel so real? I can feel his touch and smell his scent. I can even feel the coldness of his body,” she said in her mind.

“Calista...”

She woke up from her thoughts and immediately looked in the direction the voice came from and she saw Alice sitting beside her, looking at her with a sad, worried face.

“Alice, what happened? Why you look sad?” she asked worriedly.

Alice held her hand and looked back into her eyes. “I have bad news. It’s about Stefan. He just called me. He said some men have ruined his cafe last night.”

It shocked Calista to hear what she said. “Oh, my God! How did it happen? And Stefan, is he all right?”

“Don’t worry, he’s fine,” Alice said, “Let’s go, we better go see him now.”

Calista nodded anxiously. They immediately stood up from their chairs and left the place.

As soon as they arrived at the cafe where they worked, they immediately went inside. They both shocked to see broken glass windows and also broken chairs and tables.

Stefan was sitting alone, looking at them with a sad face. They immediately walked over and sat beside him.

“Sir, how did this place become like this? Who did this?” Calista asked.

Stefan sighed. “Last night, the men who harassed you came back with their friends. They wanted to see you. I told them you didn’t come to work, but they didn’t believe me. They were looking for you all over this place, and they get furious and ruined everything when they couldn’t find you. They also threatened me. They said if I reported them to the police, they would do worse than this.”

Calista stared at him with her mouth closed as her heart beat fast in sadness and worry.

“Those men are truly bastards! How could they do that! I really hate them!” Alice said.

Stefan looked Calista in the eye as he hesitated to speak to her and finally he said, “Calista, as you can see. I can no longer let you work in this place. I don’t want to do this, but I have to. I really have no choice. I hope you can understand my situation.”

Alice became angry. “But sir —”

Calista immediately held her hand to calm her down. She tried to smile at Alice, who was looking at her with her sad eyes.

Calista then looked into Stefan's eyes. “It’s all right, sir. I understand. I’m so sorry for causing you trouble. All this time, you’ve been so kind to me. I’ll never forget that,” she said gratefully.

“I’m so sorry. Please forgive me,” he said, holding back his tears.

Calista nodded at him with a smile. She tried to reassure him she was fine. He couldn't bear to look her in the eyes. He then looked down while shedding tears.

Alice also had tears in her eyes, staring at Calista's face.

Calista tried not to cry. She pretended to be strong. She didn't want them to know that her heart was crying right now.

******

Calista had arrived in front of her house and went inside. She came home by bus. Alice couldn't take her home because she had to work at the cafe.

Amber and her aunt haven't come home yet. Calista then walked into her room, didn't turn on the light, and sat on her bed. Sadness and worry gripped her at the same time. She tried to stay strong, but she couldn't.

“Mom, Dad, I really miss you both. I wish you were here with me,” she said and she cried silently.

******

The next morning, Calista didn't go to campus because she wanted to find a job. She was sitting at the bus stop when her cell phone suddenly rang. An unknown number called her.

“Hello, who is this?” she answered the call.

“Good morning, Miss Callista. My name is Claire Brown. Are you looking for a job? Our boss is looking for someone to take care of his library. Do you want to take this job?” A woman’s pleasant voice said.

Calista was surprised and so happy to hear that. “Yes! Of course! I want to. I really want to work in the library.”

“All right, then. Stay there. I’ll pick you up,” Claire said hastily.

“What? Pick me up? But, how do you — Hello?” Calista asked in confusion.

Claire didn't answer her question because she had hung up on her phone. Calista wanted to call her back, but before she did, a black luxury sedan parked in front of her.

A middle-aged woman with short brown hair in a black suit came out from the rear door of the car and stood beside the car. She looks friendly and graceful.

Claire smiled kindly at Calista. “Miss Callista, please come with me. I’ll take you to my boss’s place,” she said politely.

Calista couldn't open her mouth to speak, staring at her without blinking. She couldn't believe what she was seeing.

Claire smiled again and said, pointing her hand into the open rear door of the car, “Miss Callista, get in, please.”

Her voice woke Calista from her shock. “Y-yes,” she said. She then stood up from her seat and got into the car with Claire leaving this place.