6. Meeting again!

Aurora's POV

I literally ran towards the car and got in while slamming the door shut. I won't be surprised if I get a heart attack in the coming days. 

"Woah! Slow down, beauty..."

Catherina chuckled.

"I wasn't going to leave you behind..."

"Sorry"

I replied, maybe I slammed her car door too rough. 

"Why are you saying sorry"

She chuckled and started the car.

"Now that I realised, you never really talk to me... You just say sorry and thank you..."

I looked out of the window as she started rumbling, Catherina loves to talk and I love to hear her talk. She gives me hopes that I am still in the normal world.

"By the way you are blushing today, I mean your cheeks and nose are tinted pink... It suits you, are you using a new blush or something?"

How do I tell her that it's because I cried. Yeah! And the blush name is Rafael Delgado. 

"I don't use makeup"

I chose to say instead. She always asks me what my skincare is and what made up products I use, she often checks my purse for the products but I don't use anything. 

I used to apply moisturizer but I don't remember when I used it last time since all this has started happening in my life. 

"Ohh, yeah... I forgot..."

She huffed.

"You look tired though... Have you had good sleep?... Have you eaten?"

My throat tightened with her every question. She is the only one one who asks with care and not authority.

Yes. Catherina! I am tired, tired of his abuses and tortures. Tired of this fucking miserable life where I can't even choose to breathe on my will. 

I haven't slept well, I don't remember when was the last time I had a safe and good sleep. 

I haven't eaten, I am hungry but I don't want to eat anything. I don't feel like eating and the medicines I have taken on an empty stomach are threatening to come out. I don't feel good. 

And he doesn't care, he doesn't care if I have eaten well or I am getting good sleep, he only knows how to abuse me and use my body for his pleasure. That's it! 

No! I am not well, Catherina!

"Here we go!"

She huffed looking at the library.

"I really wanted to go somewhere today, not in the mood to work..."

She looked at me.

"I think we need to order something to eat..."

I looked at her and I know she knows that I haven't had anything. 

"Catherina, can you hug me?"

Tears escaped from my eyes. 

She smiled and pulled me in a gentle hug. I hugged her tightly and rested on her shoulder. 

"I don't know what's going on and won't force you to share until you are ready but I know that you are strong... And you will survive"

She rubbed my back. 

I hope so!

"Let's go inside and eat something... I am damn hungry, I wasn't in the mood to make breakfast today"

She tried to cheer me up and got out of the car. 

I followed her inside and went to the staff room. Today we have a half day due to some program happening in the town. So most of the staff has taken off. 

"I'll order something"

She sat beside me while scrolling through the food delivery app. 

"What do you want to eat?"

"Anything"

I replied not being in a mood to really eat but I have to put something in my stomach as I have had medicines. 

"Aurora, your parcel is here... I signed it for you, if you don't mind..."

I looked confused at Mrs. Gracias. I didn't order anything. 

"Thank you"

I took the parcel from her and she smiled. She is too sweet for a senior. 

"Ohh, looks like we don't need to order anything now.."

Catherina grinned. 

I stared at the bag and the black colour is enough to tell me who has sent this. What is inside?

Blood? A missing limb of the person who dared to look at me? Or something else to terrify me? 

"Come on, open it"

Catherina encouraged. 

My hands trembled as I opened the packet. It's a food box.

"Wow! Isn't this your favourite breakfast... Strawberry pancakes... And look, strawberry milkshake..."

Did he really send food for me? I don't want to believe that he realised that I left home on an empty stomach and he is thoughtful enough to order food for me.

Catherina served our plates. It's in a quantity that three people can eat. 

"It's yum!"

She grinned after the bite.  

I took a bite while staring at the brand name, it's hard to miss that it's from my favourite cafe.

I feel even more scared when he does something like this. He plays with my mind, to give me false hopes that he cares when In reality he doesn't give a fuck about anything.

We finished food and my phone buzzed making my heart skip a bit when his name appeared on the screen.

'Done having breakfast!... We will talk about the way you take medicines on an empty stomach, when you come home.'

All my food threatened to come out due to anxiety. 

I am not surprised that he knows I am done having food, he always has an update about what I am doing but now the problem is, he is mad about me taking medicines on an empty stomach.

"Aurora, you look like you need some sleep..."

Catherina placed a gentle hand on my shoulder.

"Do one thing, take some rest here... Anyways there is no one except three of us... I'll handle your work..."

"No, it's not fair"

I shook my head. I can't avoid my responsibilities just because my personal life isn't good. 

"Oh, come on... It's not that deep, bro!... Shut up and get some sleep"

Catherina ordered in no place for argument voice. 

"Buy me some coffee after that"

She winked and I almost smiled but bit my cheeks. 

I could have risked her life. 

"Okay... I'll buy you pastries also"

I replied and she looked at me like I am some cute puppy. 

"Sure"

She chuckled and walked out while closing the door behind.

I laid on the sofa which is not so big but I fit in it. I don't remember the day I slept without any worries.

Since the night he came back, it became almost impossible. 

I get sleep only when I am fainted due to exhaustion.

As soon as I closed my eyes, I remembered the day when he came back. 

I went home after work that night, I was hungry. I quickly unlocked the door and switched on the lights because I am scared of darkness. It always feels like some creepy thing will come crawling towards me from the dark corner.

Not to mention that my house is built on the graveyard, I would have sold it a long time ago but my grandmother had built it with so much love and the second problem is, no one wants that house. They think it's haunted and I am crazy to live in a place like that.

My stomach growled in hunger, I quickly went to the kitchen and opened the refrigerator. It had only one piece of sandwich which was leftover from the breakfast, my face fell. 

But it was workable, so I decided to eat it for the time being and then decide to cook a meal for myself. At least that piece of sandwich would have controlled my hunger.

I placed that piece in the microwave and went to my room to get changed and freshen up. 

I wore comfy shorts and a t-shirt but then I smelled something bad. I rushed towards the kitchen and saw smoke coming out of the microwave. 

"Oh no!"

I rushed towards it and turned it off. What happened to it? 

It was working just fine, I groaned. 

I had just this small piece but now it's ruined. Now I had to cook something. After checking the shelves and cupboards, I realised that I don't have instant noodles. 

Giving up I took out the bread slices from the refrigerator and applied peanut butter on it. I couldn't control hunger so that was the best option for that time. 

It had been two days since I helped that stranger, I didn't even know his name but the thought crossed my mind. Who was he? Was he grateful that I helped him because he didn't even say thank you. 

I sighed and forced myself to eat the dry sandwich. I hated that combination. I can't even order food because it's late and my house is quite far from the market, it makes it hard for me to find a restaurant which makes deliveries here. 

I finished eating and sighed at the peanut butter jar when the doorbell suddenly rang. I looked at the door scared, no one had rang my door bell that late. It was almost 9.30 in the night. 

I debated on whether I should answer the door or not, I should have left it unattended. Opening the door was the biggest mistake in my life. 

But now I think about it, I realised that answering the door or not, it wouldn't have mattered because he would have made his way inside anyway. 

I peeped through the door hole and saw the same man standing outside. 

I opened the door and looked at him confused, he wasn't messy anymore. His hair was tucked back neatly, his suit was screaming money, not even a wrinkle on it and looked like he had come out of the business conference. 

Black suited him, his toned complexion complemented the black colour he was wearing. 

My eyes stared at his face for a minute. The man was incredibly handsome but with the hint of danger. His smirk, his eyes, his posture and everything in him held power and authority. I had to look up to meet his gaze, his height felt intimidating and not to mention his built body, no fat and only muscles. 

It looked like he was carved out of the stone itself. 

The first time I had seen a beautiful man like him and that time I understood why people stared at me. It's a human tendency to admire a beautiful thing. 

His eyes were on me only or rather I would say my face only. He looked like he is in daze and can't come out of it. 

"Hi?"

I broke the silence even though I myself had to come out of the daze of his beauty. He looked like the man you could have wet dreams about.

Finally he blinked his eyes. 

"Hello, Aurora"

His voice was deep and authoritative. 

"How may I help you?"

I had no idea why I felt uncomfortable. Was it because he was handsome or because he was there late in the night. 

"I forgot to thank you that day..."

A small smirk formed on his lips. 

"It was so rude of me to leave without acknowledging the kind lady like you... You saved my life"

The way he forced a kind words, it was weird like he doesn't like that work. 

"You are welcome."

I smiled at him. I didn't want to come out rude.

He handed me a black paper bag. 

"Small gesture for saving my life..."

I frowned at his words. The bag felt hot and smelled like food. 

"It's not needed, Mr.___"

Then I realised that I don't even know his name.

"Rafael"

There was pride in his tone. 

"Rafael"

I repeated and I felt like his eyes darkened.  

"It is needed"

He stepped forward and I stepped back with the frown. He came inside without permission. 

I looked at him flabbergasted.

"No, I think you shouldn't do this... It was nothing..."

I shook my head.

"Why are you scared, Aurora?"

He asked calmly like he knew what I was thinking. 

"I think you should leave now, thanks for the food.."

My hands started sweating. He is giving me creeps. 

No matter how handsome he is, the way he was acting was scary. I had no idea if I was just paranoid or overthinking. For a second I thought that I was scared and overeating for nothing.  

But my eyes widened when he locked the door behind him. 

"What the hell are you doing?"

I yelled. 

He just looked at me amused.