Chapter 13

"Aish! That shitty guy!" Stella keeps muttering as she walks on the sidewalk.

After she said she'll go on her own, Charles just told her to take care and now she's damn upset about it. He invites her out and leaves her hanging? What kind of man does that? He is a curse!

She inhales deeply, breathing in the air of Deib. Forget about Charles! There is great scenery in front of her, lots of paths and wonders to take on. Charles is nothing! With a bright smile on her face, she explores the streets. There were signs and g****e to help her find spots.

On the beach, the golden color of the sun reflected on the water to the shore. It's the scene she won't get tired of watching over and over again. The last time she saw it, she was letting go of someone. The sunset is beautiful, isn't it?

Stella suddenly remembers about Doctor Akira. She took out her phone and dialed the doctor's number. It was a good thing she saved the number earlier.

"Yellow?" Doctor Akira answered on the fifth ring.

"H-Hi, doctor A-Akira," she stammers. "I-It's Stella."

"Oh, hello, honey! You suddenly changed numbers without telling me. I was worried about you!"

"I'm so sorry, doctor. Things just drastically changed over the past few days but I assure you, I was going to contact you!"

"It's fine!" A sob of laughter came from doctor Akira. "But that guy who answered my call. Was he really your boyfriend? You never told me anything about the father yet."

Stella looked down, nibbling on her lower lip. Should she tell doctor Akira about Charles? There is that feeling that she should tell her doctor about what's happening but at the same time, she didn't want to trust anyone anymore.

"Yes, he is my boyfriend and the father. It's just a little complicated right now, doctor."

"I won't force you to tell me. I am just glad that the father seemed nice and caring. I didn't tell him anything as that's your part, love."

"Thank you, doctor Akira." Yes, she's really grateful that her doctor understands. "And the sickness is bearable. I can fake being all fine now."

"I am glad to know you are doing good. If you want to tell me something just go ahead. Know that you can trust me."

"Doctor, I'm in Deib right now. Tomorrow I'll be flying to another city, further from ours. But I will be back within a month."

"Get me some souvenirs, will you? Take good care of yourself out there."

"Will do."

After the call, Stella decided to take off her shoes and walk on the white sand, feeling them in between her toes. The waves crashing on the shoreline makes her giggle, deciding to go dip her feet.

One day, she would like to own a house near the beach. Her child would run around the sand every sunset and she'd call him or her for cookies and snacks. It's her dream to live a peaceful life.

Just as she turns around, her smile slipped off her face. Her eyes grew large meeting Charles' marble ones. She blinked a couple of times, realizing he was real and then she frowns.

"What the hell are you doing here?"

"I can't just let my girlfriend roam around a city she isn't quite familiar with." He took steps closer to her, stopping when she is in front. There was a charming smile plastered on his face. "Especially when you are wearing something like that, looking all beautiful," he added.

Stella flustered, looking sideways. His sweetness might give her heartaches in the near future. Charles is charming and it's easy for him to enchant her. She knows that fact and it keeps reminding her not to look his way.

"There's literally a map on my phone." She rolls her eyes at him. "How the hell did you find me?"

"This." He lifted his hand, showing her his phone screen. "I got a tracker installed in both our phones, baby."

She shifted her gaze at the phone and saw it was real. How could she not have noticed? How is he freakin' doing those things?

"You're creeping me out!" she yells, looking at him disgustingly.

"I don't care. As long as I find you, that's all that matters to me." He lifted his hand, opening his palm for her. "Come on, let's stroll some more."

"What makes you think I would with you?" she asked, throwing him another glare. "I remember you said--"

The fast brush of the wind interrupted Stella and the next thing she knew she is being pulled by Charles. All she could see is his back while he holds her hand.

"You're bitching too much today, baby. It doesn't work on me."

Her forehead creased hearing those words. It's easy for him to handle her. It's obvious from that night that Charles goes messing up with some girl every now and then. Her solution is to ignore him.

They walk the white sands in silence. As the sky show the pastel colors, Stella had to stop and stare. The afterglow in this place is nice. It wasn't golden anymore, they were soft hue.

"My mother never taught me anything but to survive," she out of nowhere uttered. When she realized it, she looks down and tried walking ahead. But Charles stayed, holding her hand tighter.

"They say it's better to open up than bottle it in," he told her. They look at each other, their eyes reflecting on each other's eyes. "I'll be a stranger after a month so why not tell me anything you want?"

Right. Charles is a stranger she happens to stumble on her path with. He made her life more complicated than it was before. And like he said, after a month they'll be strangers again; the more she's not supposed to tell him anything about her.

"Exactly, mister Castigado. The reason why I cannot trust you."