4. ABNORMAL MONDAY

I tethered in the barrier between wakefulness and slumber. It was plain black and then suddenly, the image appeared. Colors of blood and tears, with the smell of antiseptics, filled my vision and olfactory. I saw her, sitting in that white chiffon dress and bawling out her eyes, wailing uncontrollably. 

Then it came, in one swift movement, and went through her form, leaving splashes of blood and a loud harrowing scream.

I woke up with a start, panting heavily.

A slight wave of pain hit me as I opened my eyes. This was coupled with the stream of light that came from the window my face was directly facing. 

I turned away while covering my face with my hand. 

My breathing slowed down as I took in my surroundings. This is Sophia's room. The largeness, alongside its rich aura of it, gave it away. 

But the owner was not here. So, I began scrambling for my phone that I saw in the bedside drawer. Just when I reached it, the door flung open and she appeared.

She was holding in her hands a small tray containing a glass cup and other stuff I cannot see.

"Hey. You're awake." She stated the obvious when she got closer.

"No. I'm dead and my spirit is roaming utopia." I managed to say, even though my voice came out like that of a wounded frog. "Can you not see?" 

She laughed.

"You sound okay. I am glad."

"Why didn't you take me home? This is a huge bother."

"For the record young lady, you blacked out before we even got into the car. How could I have taken you home and left you all by yourself? You did tell me that Jake is away on his usual hiatus and he is not coming back anytime soon. Should I have left you vulnerable to another pervert situation?" She scolded, handing me the glass of water on the tray she carried.

That was guilt. Given her person, she would never admit outrightly that she felt responsible for what happened but it was obvious in what she said.

I took the glass from her and gulped down the contents thirstily. When the glass became empty and my throat was moistened from the dryness, I said to her, "Well, thank you miss thoughtful. Thank you for thinking about me and being thoughtful. Happy now? I better start going." I began trying to move my legs down from the bed.

"Stay. It's a Sunday and there's no work. Just stay and get a lot better."

I gave her a face. One asked her if she was being serious. Then I reclined back on the bed and asked, "Did they get the idiot?"

"Of course. I made sure security took him before we left. But with the look of things, he might walk free."

"Walk free?!" I shrieked.

"I am going to do everything I can to make sure he doesn't go so free." She allayed my fears. "I requested that they looked at the security cameras around to get proof." 

A sad sigh escaped me. I climbed out of the bed slowly, holding my head. 

"Are you okay? Are you sure you do not want to take pain relievers or something?"

"I am fine," I replied curtly. "I just want to go home."

I look around for the bag I had brought here the night before. It contained my idea of a party dress alongside shoes. But I had to abandon it when Sophia picked out clothes for me to wear from her closet and gave me a shoe higher than I could manage. 

But given how I ran in them, I suppose I did well. A thought came to mind immediately. I spun around and faced her. "Did you see the guy that gave me his jacket? He was the one who got that jerk off me."

"Guy? I didn't see any guy. You were by yourself when I came. It was just you and the pervert. But I did see the jacket though." She said. "There it is." She pointed at her reading table.

With three strides, I walked toward the large table and grabbed the garment. Examining the front part didn't take long. It was it. This was the jacket the guy that refused to sleep with me wore. The zipper was the same one I saw yesterday.

"Do you know the owner?" 

"The owner was the guy that refused to sleep with me."

"What?!" Sophia shouted. "You couldn't do it yesterday? You didn't end up doing it?"

"No. I approached him and asked that he disvirgined me. Long story short, the man simply kissed my senses away and told me to decide that with a clear head. Then he disappeared." I shrugged. 

"So basically, he turned you down?" She asked, surprise coloring her face. I gave her a nod. "And you were drunk?" I gave her another nod. "That is a first." She commented. "Are you sure he was alright? I mean, he had the opportunity to do whatever with you and he simply let it slip by. That's unlike most men."

There was reason in what she said, even though she was generalizing. At a place like that with the indulging aura of a woman in a vulnerable state, the guy could have simply taken advantage of me.

"Maybe he is a gentleman," I said, getting out the t-shirt I put in my bag everywhere I go. I was in my underwear and I figured Sophia must have had a tough time undressing me yesterday. 

I slipped the tee over my head and picked out denim shorts to wear with it.

Sophia scoffed. "Gentleman indeed." She said. "Just count yourself lucky."

I agreed with her.

When I was done changing, I grabbed the jacket and my bag. "I am going home."

"You're sure you don't want to stay back? Take some pain killers?"

"I am fine, scaredy cat. That was not the first time I got drunk."

"Well, that was certainly the first time you had to deal with a crazy pervert while you were drunk. I'll have Desmond drop you off." She said, conclusively.

I could not even bother to argue with her.

I spent the rest of the day in the comfort of my room, mulling about how my mission for the previous night was a failure. But instead of profound sadness, I felt relief. Relief and Hope. I was hopeful in mankind that at least, there was someone out there who cared to not take advantage of me, even though I don't think I could call it that since I had gone on to him first.

I was thankful still. 

Moreso, I could not get the image of the hat man making me turn to goo with simply his fingers and lips. I wonder what he would do if he had the chance to do more. 

From all indications, he would turn the sparks I feel in my stomach right now into an inferno that will consume me and my entire senses.

After daydreaming about him for a long time, I picked up my phone and called Jake. The call went into voicemail. He was definitely at Kim's place, his South Korean friend, fooling around, writing his nonsense stuff and uploading them into the internet.

Sigh. My younger brother has a more fun life than I could ever dream of. He was pretty much a good kid but he makes me worry greatly. He doesn't listen to much that I say and it ticks me off sometimes.

I guess that's just the phase he is at. At times like that, I wish my dad and mum were here. It would have been a lot easier.

Since I had nothing to do, I turned around in my bed and tried to get a much-needed sleep but it was not forthcoming. Only the hat man's kisses filled my face.

Of course, I finally slept off, without even knowing when.

When Monday came, I got dressed and prepared for work on a cheerful note. The weather was calm and welcoming and it seemed that the day will be great. I climbed Jake's bicycle like I do sometimes and with my bag across my chest, I cycled to work.

A black van with the police inscription was parked right outside, beside the hospital director's land cruiser. I left the bicycle where I usually leave it and made my way inside. 

The entrance of the hospital was occupied by a couple of people. I moved through the humans until I got closer.

Then I locked gazes with this hunk of a man. He was standing next to the hospital director who I am genuinely surprised to see so early. The man walked briskly towards me.

"Miss Matthews?" He asked, flashing his ID before me. I was too stunned to say a thing so I simply nodded. "You have to come with us to the police station."