02

My headache caused me to wake up. What a shame that I was a complete mess last night.

When a man approached from outside the room, I was going to get out of bed. He has a platter of food and soup in his hands.

He pushed the meal to the side and said, "You're awake." I have a puzzled expression on my face as I stare at him.

He's a baritone - a particularly attractive one, to be sure – but I remembered something.

"Yes, I'm the man in the café," he says, cutting off my words.

"You didn't hurt me in any way, did you?" I inquired, cautiously. He just sat on the couch and laughed at me.

"Why? Did you have a strange sensation in your body?"

What? What exactly does he mean?

"What exactly do you mean?" I inquired.

"Every time you're devirginized for the first time, it's unpleasant, so did you feel anything when you woke up?"

My mouth dropped open because he's so direct. Fudge, I was feeling uneasy.

"Nothing. I'm just afraid, " I said hesitantly.

Sel, you really should thank him before accusing him of something. Idiot!

In front of me, he placed the soup and some pills.

"It'll help you sober up, so take it and eat it so you can return to your apartment."

When I stopped him, he was about to go outdoors.

"Thank you," I murmured sincerely, but all he did was nod and walk out the door.

Just a nod? My lips pouted automatically. He's a real snob!

I eat the soup and take the prescription just as he instructed.

The last thing I did before we got there was to check my phone. Britanny and Haxilla bombarded him with phone calls and text messages.

From nowhere I said, "I'm dead."

During a road trip, Raver asked, "Why?"

Currently, I'm gnawing my nails. This is a habit I get into whenever I'm worried.

In response to this, I turned my phone off, saying, "My best pals are constantly calling and texting me." A deep breath helps me to relax.

"It's possible that they're anxious because I didn't call them last night to let them know, and I don't know their phone number or their names," he said.

But I'm terrified because I know Haxilla will engulf me in a sea of inquiries.

Such a mess you are, Sel.

"What the hell happened to you, Sel?" As my foot entered, Haxilla screamed. Britanny appeared to be concerned as well, but she remained mute knowing Haxilla would handle the rest. Wowsers.

"A man snatched me—"

"What?!"

"Are you crazy, Selena Formosus?" she exclaims.

Haxilla is furious, to be sure. She went so far as to say my full name. Now I'm a rotting carcass.

"Why don't you finish me first and tell you everything?" I inquired, sarcastically. I became irritated all of a sudden.

I know they're scared, but they usually respond first and don't let me speak first.

"Okay, I'm sorry, but what happened now? Why did you suddenly vanish, not responding to our texts or phone calls?" Britanny was the one who inquired.

I told them everything there was to know about Raven and how he had assisted me.

"Is he still alive?"  Haxilla was the one who inquired about it.

"He's on his house," I gave a straightforward answer.

She cursed and walked away, saying, "Fuck you."

On my forehead, there were lines. Then what's the matter with this girl?

Britanny sat next to me, looking a little giddy.

"Raven's appearance is unknown. Do you think he's attractive? Oh, that's clever–"

By displaying Raven's picture on my phone, I was able to cut her words short. I expected this, so I asked Raven to join me in taking a picture.

Britanny took out my phone and scanned the photo attentively.

She abruptly asked, "Wait, Raven Ventrius?"

When she said Raven's full name, it made my brow furrow.

"Are you familiar with him?" She smiles at me and gives me a kind nod.

"He's the one who came to your aid when you got hurt in the middle of our performance."

"Are you all right, Selena?"

"Please get her to the clinic!"

Many people came to find out what had happened to me. I'm biting my lower lips to alleviate some of the pain.

I tripped on stage while we were performing, and my ankle pain has gotten so bad that I can't feel that part of my feet.

Suddenly, a man carefully ties a bandage around my feet. He even assisted me in getting to the clinic.

"Oh, that was him; I should've thanked him first before accusing him!" I thought to myself.

"He can't blame you, though; you're only concerned with yourself." I simply nod in agreement with Britanny's statement.

As of right now, I'm all alone in the house. When Haxilla couldn't find the keys to her car, she borrowed mine. Britanny stated she was going on a date. When she complained about her date, I even advised her not to come home.

I was so bored that I didn't even check my social media accounts. While listening to music and toying with my hair, I got a call.

It was a non-registered phone number.

Who could it possibly be? I still answer the phone as soon as it rings.

"Hello?"

[Hi it's Raven.]

I shifted my gaze away from my phone and took a look at it.

Seriously?

"Hello, why did you call?" I inquired because it seemed unusual.

[Can we go outside? I'd like to ask you a few questions.]

"Ahm, Haxilla borrowed my car now, and they didn't leave me any money for commuting if ever," I lied.

It's not that I don't want to accompany him; it's just that I'm still embarrassed over what occurred the day before.

His sigh was followed by a hospital pronouncement.

Is he a physician by profession? or waiting for something?

[I have to leave; please call me when you have time.]

He abruptly ends the conversation. Weird.

I stood up and began removing items from the cabinet in order to clean it, as it had been over a year since the last clean. A class photograph dropped to the floor when I removed the books and notebooks.

My other classmates are still fresh in my mind, but I can't recall their names. I have a terrible memory when it comes to names.

I sat down and examined each of their faces individually. My gaze was drawn to a man standing near Haxilla, who I recognized but couldn't place.

I shrugged and went back to cleaning the cabinet, or more accurately, the entire house.

"How's my car?" As she entered the house, I asked Haxilla. While watching documentaries, I'm snacking on chips. She threw off her coat and dashed to the refrigerator.

She said, "Still a car."

She throws the keys at me, and I roll my eyes.

I started the conversation with, "By the way, Raven called earlier." She came to a halt and gave me a thoughtful look.

She asks, suspiciously, "Why?"

"He'd like to meet with me and ask me some questions."

She only gives a simple nod. I had a dubious look on my face when I saw her.

"What's up with that look?" she inquired as she took a seat next to me.

"If you enjoy documentaries so much, why don't you go to law school?" she suggested.

"No, I'm not interested. Do you have any history with Raven, by the way?" Without hesitation, I inquired.

She choked and sipped some water. When I already knew the answer, I smirked.

"What? We're nowhere near each other."

"Liar," I replied as I munched on chips. Her lips were parted.

"Wait—why? I'm not exaggerating—"

"You don't seem interested in boys; I've never heard you talk about them, but you suddenly seem intrigued if I mention Raven's name."

She was taken aback by anything I said.

"Is that how strong your instinct is?" she cynically inquired.

I shrugged my shoulders and kept my gaze fixed on the screen.

She handed me an advertisement poster and said, "By the way, take a look at this." As I read the company's name, my eyes widened.

"Is S-Silvenia Technology a real thing? Is it true that they're finally accepting applications?" Incredulous, I inquired.

"Yeah, Monique gave it to me since she knows how important it is to you—"

Her word is cut short by my hugs.

"Thank you so much," I replied gratefully, tears welling up in my eyes, but I held them back.

She tapped me on the back and ruffled my hair.

"Wishing you luck," she said.

Britanny returned home a few minutes later, her face irritated. Another date that went terribly wrong.

Haxilla was up early because she couldn't wait for Britanny to arrive.

"Didn't I warn you not to come home if all you do is whine on your date?" Before she could say anything, I said something first.

She sat down on the sofa and rested her head on my shoulder.

"Sel, he's stunning. He really is." She got things going.

"Then why did you have such a regretful expression on your face?"

"He already had a wife to contend with! Ew, I wasn't destined to be a mistress."

My arms were slapped when I laughed.

"What's the deal with you?" She said this with a sour tone. She pouted and walked away from me, holding my chips.

I taunted, "You're suited to be a mistress," and burst out laughing.

"You disgust me!" she said and rolled her eyes.

"By the way," I added, "I'm applying at Silvenia Company."

She hopped up close to me and excitedly shook my arms and shoulders.

"Really? When? How do you do it? "she enquired.

"Monique gave this to Haxilla, and she expects me to apply." I presented her with the poster.

She held me closely after reading all of the information on the poster.

"I'm ecstatic for you! Goodluck!" she exclaimed cheerfully.

Before she walked to her room, I hugged her again and talked about a few more minor details.

My grin is permanent on my face. I'm both excited and apprehensive.

I head straight to my room after seeing the documentary.

I collapse onto my bed and scream silently into my pillow. I took out my phone and played a song to commemorate the occasion.

I was exhausted, so I sat down and smiled at the ceiling once more.

"Sel, this is it. Your wish has finally been granted."

I know I'll never be able to fall asleep. But nothing happened when I rolled around in my bed.

Am I overjoyed?

I got up and went into the kitchen to get some milk to help me sleep. My yawn was cut short when I noticed Haxilla standing near the window.

"Just don't tell her everything, even if it's been four years," Haxilla said over the phone.

I was about to approach her when I heard my name come from her mouth.

"Selena knows nothing, and we don't want her to find out."

My brow furrowed. What was it that I didn't realize? 

She had just hung up the phone and was on her way to her room, so I pretended that I had just left the room.

She flinched when she saw me, probably expecting me to be asleep.

"Why are you still awake?" I ask her, even though I already know why.

"Ahm, someone called me urgently, but we fixed it in no time," she replied with a fake smile.

She never looks me in the eyes, perhaps because she knows I can catch her lying if she does.

"Please go to sleep. I'll go get some milk."

"Alright, you too, goodluck to your application."

We kissed goodnight and she went into her room.

I took a look at the path Haxilla had taken.

What is your secret?

What did I not know?

Argh, this is so frustrating!