Chapter 5

            Ray's P. O. V

    It did take some time, but I eventually found a shop that was still open. It looked like a restaurant and very few people in it. Walking briskly, I crossed the road and walked into the shop, jingling a bell as the door opened. Everyone seemed to be minding their business as no one paid attention to the new customer. I walked over to bartender and after exchanging pleasantries,  stated my reason for coming here. She offered to help but told me I had to wait a wile my phone was still charging.

    " No problem ma'am. Thanks by the way." I said and nodded.

    " You're welcome. Would you like anything while you wait?"

    " Sure. A glass of whisky doesn't sound bad right about now" I replied. She poured me a glass and passed it to me. I nodded and took a sip.

    " I'll leave you here. I have some things to attend to,"  she said as she cleaned her hands, smiling at me. I smiled back.

  " No problem." In no time, she disappeared into the background while I waited for my phone to charge.

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         Vera's P. O. V

    " Vera?" A voice called, jolting me out of my reverie. It was ma'am Deborah.

     " Yes?" I answered while wiping my hands, she came closer to me.

    " Outside there is quite dull, they could use a bit of entertainment." She said. I raised my brows.

    " What do you mean, entertainment?"

    " What I'm saying is, you should go sing a while... To lighten up the mood." I sniggered.

   " But I have any songs that ligtens up moods," the last  I checked, they were all suicidal, I added in my mind. Ma'am Deborah didn't seem to care and she smiled wistfully at me, patting me on the shoulders.

    " Then sing the one you know, besides it helps you relax."

     Ma'am Deborah was right, singing does help me relax but it's not the type of songs anyone would like hearing. I shrugged.

    " Okay..... I'll do it." I said.

    " Good gir.l.. go on outside." She prodded and left me there. I took a deep breath and went for a change of clothes, soon I'll be going outside to sing.

        Ray's P. O. V

     I was still sitting there, sipping my whisky while waiting for my phone to charge when someone climbed up the raised pavement and sat on the chair there. I didn't pay much attention until the person started singing and for all I was worth, was listening

     I stared at he while continue singing, how could she manage to sound so sad and melancholic while singing, it was just so weird to believe. The rest of the people didn't seem to pay attention to her but I had my eyes on her the entire time.

      The song ended and after sitting there for a while, stood up and retreated to the inner chamber. I checked my phone and saw it was good enough to make a call but I still wanted to see.the girl who sang before I left the place. So I stood up and followed her, passing the route she took. It led me to the kitchen but I couldn't find her there. Instead I met the woman who had helped me earlier.

     " Oh hi, is there something wrong?"

     " Nothing, " I began. " I just wanted to see the girl who sang earlier." I explained.

    " Oh...." She trailed off. " Actually she's in there somewhere but you can't go and see her. But if you still have some time, maybe you can wait for her to come out."

    " I definitely have some time." I said and nodded. She smiled.

   " Sure, please wait outside."

     I walked outside and sat down waiting for her, while sipping my whisky

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        Vera's P. O. V

    I was packing up my hair when ma'am Deborah came up to meet me. I glanced at her.

   " Uhmm Vera?"

    " Yes ma'am?"

    " Someone would like to see you."

  My heart skipped a beat.

   " Someone?"

   " Yeah, and he's outside waiting for you. Come on hurry..."  She said and walked away. It's even an 'he?' did I forget that I didn't like men. Well here goes...

    I walked over to the supposed person waiting for me, making sure I was keeping a safe distance in case he tried anything stupid.

    " Hello." I said, alerting him that i was there. He looked up at me with a startled look on his face, then assessing me slowly... Something they all seem to do.  " What do you want? You called for me." I reminded him.

   " Oh... Yeah." He trailed off. " I just wanted to say you sang beautiful out there, a but melancholic but fine." He said with a smile. No one compliments me, except ma'am Deborah so hearing it from someone else comes off as strange, if not alien.

   " My name's Ray. What's yours?" He asked stretching his hands for a handshake. I looked at it icily and refused to take it. He slowly put it back.

    " Vera." Came my quick reply, with no emotions attached to it.

   " Oh... Seems you don't like to talk a lot, don't you?." I purse my lips, letting out a sigh.

    " No, especially with the opposite sex." I replied. I expected him to get angry or do something rash but he just shrugged it off. Okay, this guy is beginning to tick me off.

   " Anyway that's a pretty name. I like it." He said.

    We kept quiet for a while, just staring at each other. He didn't seem ready to leave.

    " Don't you have anywhere to go? You've been here for a while now and we are about to close." I announced stressing each word.

   That caught him off guard but he replied anyway.

   " I do have somewhere to go... Damn! they must be looking for me by now." He muttered as he brought out his phone to call someone.

   I scoffed. " Popular jingo." I mumbled underneath my breath.

    " Did you say something?" I heard him ask. He was still staring at me

    " Nothing."  Then rolled my eyes. He chuckled a bit at my expression before excusing himself and exiting the shop. I left the room back to the kitchen.

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          Ray's P. O. V

      " Have you gotten the address?" I said to Stacy who was at the other end.

     " Yeah I did. Thank God it's not too far from here. How could you go that far without a car!" She exclaimed.

     " Just come and pick me up. Bye, kisses." I said and cut the call, walking back to the shop.

    If I thought Vera would still be standing there waiting for me, I guessed wrong. She must've have disappeared the second I left. I grinned, that girl is something else and it's weird that I'm attracted to her.   The last people in the shop had already left leaving me and of course, the owners of the shop. I could've have gone to but I didn't want to receive another cold shoulder so I just stayed where I was and they seemed fine without me.

    After a while a car came screeching in front of the shop. The person stepped out and it was Stacy.

   " Thank God I found you!" She exclaimed while coming to give me a kiss. Vera was standing not so far from us and I don't have the slightest idea why I was concerned about that.

    " I'm sorry, but my phone died." I said apologetically.

    " Yeah. We have to go back the party is still on you know?"

    " Yeah, the party...." I trailed off. I turned back and greeted the old lady goodbye and Vera as well who ignored me, actually she ignored everyone in the room.

      " Come on let's hurry..." Stacy prodded, dragging me by the arm. I walked out with her and got into the car. She started up the engine and it roared to life. I buckled up my seatbelts.

   Just before we left the place, I shared one last eye contact with Vera. Her eyes seemed cold and dead staring back at me. It pulled something in me before the moving car disrupted it.

     I laid back at the chair, heaving a sigh. I should probably forget about it and her.... But everyone knows it's easier said than done. There's no way I'm forgetting that.