Chapter 2

In those moments I didn’t know how I would feel. I want to cry, smile or whatever. But I only know one. I am safe with him. I really feel that I am far from disgrace, fear and nervousness. The fear that I had been carrying before has subsided. 

But is he following me? Is he the one who never stops scaring me? If its him, why he don't have sweat in his forehead. He isn't panting like me. Am I hallucinating again? The fact that I ran earlier for no other reason? But I really felt it.

There's someone in my back trying to follow me. I think I have to be careful next time. I'm not already familiar with this place. It is true that not everything you feel is right. It could be a false that might put you in danger. 

"Do you live here?" I noticed there was a house across from us today.

A huge house having a lot of lights. Not only huge, but also beautiful and amazing. Even if I’m just here on the outside I can say the things on the inside are very expensive.

"Ah ..... yes. By the way. Why are you alone? It's already dark. And why are you panting? Did you run?" he asked in confusion.

"Y-yes. That's because it's already dark." I have to tell white lies to hide what I felt earlier. He might think I'm just crazy or he might be even more worried than my uncle. I don't want that there's someone I bothered. I hate that.

So if I had to lie I would. Maybe when the time comes, they will be my bodyguards. I don’t want someone to always be watching me. It's as if everything I'm going to do is watched and I can be banned. I don’t want to lose freedom in what I want to do. I want to be happy the way I want to.

There is no obstacle that can stop what I want to reach. It’s not like before that there are a lot of things I can’t do. My parents were so strict when it comes to things like in critical way. It's not as deadly. Like having a group of friends, go to the beach alone, take a walk along the street and make their own decisions. I am their only child that's why they were afraid if there something wrong might happened to me. They were afraid of losing me. 

So after they disappear and leave the world I don’t have a chance to do the things I’ve long wanted to do. It isn't mean that I am glad or happy of what happened to them. I also felt longing, sadness and pain. But that doesn't mean also that I just have to mourn. I have to move on. I have to let go. Because I knew that, even if I'm going to cry a bucket of tears, my parents won't live again.

I was a scuba diver when I was in high school, but I did that secretly. That just didn't last long. Secret not meant to stay forever as a secret. There is no secret that cannot be revealed. My parents knew about that when my so-called ex-friend told them.

She is my only friend for almost a year that time. But I didn't expect that she can ruined my happiness.So I also thought back then that not only do they become friends in the end, they also become enemies in the end. 

"Ah .... is that so. If you want ..... I'll just take you home. Maybe you'll still be on the road. You're new here." he suggested, but my eyebrows rise when I heard what he said. How did he know I was new here?

"How did you know?" Is this really like this place? Easy to glean information. Because even the newcomers know immediately. How is that possible?

"Which?"

"I'm still new here."

"Ah ....." he nodded with a smile. "That's because I just saw you here. So I thought you were new. And you seem to be lost."

I felt a little ashamed of what he said. He seems to be telling the truth. How can he be my stalker? He is so handsome. He would really bother a person like me who has a miserable life.

That's not gonna happen. But he knows all the people here so he can say that he has seen me now. Has he already met the people who live here? It seems hard to believe. Especially since this place I don't think is big and wide. 

"Okay." I just said. 

"Shall we?" he says. 

I just nodded with a mixed smile and ignored the events that had just happened. Although, I'm curious a little bit, but I just didn't value it to waste my time. I am here to have fun and give myself enough time. Whatever happened, I just have to forget it. At least, I'm safe. That's what matters.

I just said which street I live. I still remember that. I will never forget. But I can forget everything when I'm in the midst of danger. While we were also on the trip no one wanted to talk to us. It seems like we've talked enough lately. So I just kept my eyes on the outside while memorizing the road. There are some street lights but some do not work. Our trip also took a few minutes before I got home.

"Thank you for taking me. We're really busy." I was embarrassed to reply. But even though I don't know him very well, I feel good about him. 

"That's nothing. It’s okay." he smiled so I just smiled, too. I slapped him on the shoulder.

"You're still good at flattering. It's a good thing I'm used to that. You can't fool me anymore." I comment, frankly. 

"Mr. Green, it's you. What are you doing here?" Uncle came out and I didn't think he knew this person. I think he is a kind of man that's so popular here. He really seemed so. 

"It's you, Mr. Courtson. How are you? It seems like it's been a while since we've seen each other." he turned to uncle with a big smile on his face. They seemed like an old close friend. They seem to know each other very well. 

"Here I am now, old. But I’m still strong." uncle laughed at what he said. As well as Kevin. 

"It's okay then. I'm leaving. I just brought Aurora here. She was the only one walking home." he looked at me for a moment.

"Well, thank you for that. You're really a real man right now, Mr. Green." uncle even praised this man. He looks really kind. 

"Don't you even want to come in? I'll make you coffee as a thank you. If you wanted to," I joined their conversation. Because they didn't even seem to notice that I was here. Their conversation was so good that I just looked like this wind that doesn't need to be noticed. 

"No, thanks. It's late and they might be looking for me there, too. Next time. Bye." He was even able to actually wink at me again with an extra smile on his lips before leaving.

I do not know. But even a little beating here in my chest I could not feel. I think I really forgot to open my heart again. Many times I suffer from pain is enough. So it was as if his heart had turned to stone. It is not easy to move on. It is not easy to forget what happened. Especially if it happened a few more times. 

"Come on. Let's go in," uncle invited and entered first. I followed too.

"How long did it take you to go home? You make me worried." he said after we entered. 

He starts preaching again. So I was just shaken. I still can't do anything. I'm still a subordinate and he is the superior. I can't do anything about that, but to listen to him. I don’t want to give him a problem. Maybe I won't stay here long and he'll kick me out. It's better to be kind even though I know he can't drive me away.

I approached him and hugged him from behind. "I'm sorry. Promise. I won't repeat that," I said, softly. 

"Oh, go ahead. Let's eat. Maybe what I cooked will be cold." he said afterwards. We eat together while talking to each other.

 "By the way, uncle. How did you meet Kevin?" I asked him. 

"I was one of their trustees then. But when his father died, I also lost my service to them. We were friends with his late father. I only followed him. Kevin was also close to me when he was young. So that's how we talk. Close to each other." he had a long explanation and the story was a bit sad. We have the same story.

I don't have a father anymore and Kevin don't have, too. Yet, he still having a mother that will take care for him. While me, I don't have a mother that will protect me and save me. But from his face, he looks like he already forget the past. He seems okay and happy.

After eating, I went inside to my bedroom. I took a shower first before I go to bed. My eyes looked into what I bought from the mall. Then, I think that I have to start cleaning and designing the house tomorrow. To make the inside of it looks new and gorgeous. And I don't have anything to do tomorrow so I will do the house chores alone.

At least, with that kind of little job - I can help my uncle. I don't want to look like a princess with nothing else to do. I don’t want to be a burden to uncle. I will do my best for him to be amazed by me. It was as if he came home from work to be happy.

I also want him to smile and be happy. Even if I just make him happy, I will do what I can just for him to let me stay here. I picked up my camera and wanted to look at the photos I had taken. I'm not yet sleepy so I better watch what I took from the outside. I went through the photos one by one and almost everything was beautiful.

Parks, restaurants, people, plants, streets, and even the mall I shot as well. But one photo caught my attention. In front of the wide and straight street there was a man familiar to me. It is still facing the camera. His posture, face, posture and form are very familiar. Did I see him before?

When I remembered who the person in the photo was, I suddenly felt fear, apprehension and trembling of my body. He is the man in my dream. The man who was killed the othet man and bit me. The man with the handsome face and second bit my neck. It's him. The one who save me, but also bite me in my leg.

Why is he here? I know that I am not mistaken. I can tell that it's him. That dream I have is not blurred. It feels like real. Or ...... it is really real. But I wake up in my bed. How is that possible to be real? I think there's something wrong. I have to figure this out. It makes me crazy to think deeply this kind of puzzle damn situation. 

I swipe again and again the camera of mine to see the photos that I took when I went to forest that time. But minutes passed and I failed. There were no photos from that scene. And because of that, I felt comfortable.

Those happenings were just a dream. I saved that in my mind. Next morning, I did what I promised to myself that night. I cleaned the house after uncle leave. I wanted to come with him and find out where he's working, but I urge myself to stop and just stay here. I started to clean my room.

I change the bed sheet, the pillow case, curtains, attach some frames on the wall, mop the dusty floor, and wipe the untidy window. I did that, too, in my uncle's room. But when I already in the living room, I additionally put some lively and green plants to make it looks like you can breath freely. In the kitchen, I placed the colorful tablecloth in the table and add the flower base with flowers having a sky-blue color on the top of it, I arrange the utensils, and clean the whole area of ​​the house.

After I cleaned the inside and even the outside of the house I felt very tired. It weakens my body as I lean my back on the sofa. I finished everything that took three hours of my cleaning.

Including don washing some clothes that I and uncle used. Except from those other fabric in my bedroom and in my uncle's room. I wanted to take a little rest first before I continue what I started. I still have to finish it all. I felt a little drowsy because I was tired so I looked at the time and it was close to twelve -thirty. I wanted to cook first for my lunch, but I'm too exhausted to do that.

So in the end I just chose to close my eyes and let myself take a nap for a while. I woke up for the reason that it was as if someone was wiping the bead of sweat off my forehead. I opened my eyes straight and I was surprised when there’s somebody in front of me while staring at me firmly.

The pounding of my chest revived and fear of what might happen to me at these times worsened. Why he's here? What does he need from me? Will he bite me? But from what I thought the negatives were the opposite of all that. He left in front of me abruptly. He moves so fast that it seems like lightning. He left me speechless and unable to think straight. Is it true what I saw? Or ..... I'm hallucinating again. But now is different. I really saw his handsome face. It's real.

But why is he here? Is he the one who wiped the sweat off my forehead? But why did he do that? What am I for him? A lot of questions pop up in my mind. My head hurts with so much happening to me. I'm already confused if it's still right for me to come here and stay here.

I want to answer all of that. Instead of thinking deeply, I decided to forget what happened first. I haven't eaten yet and my stomach is rumbling. I directly go to kitchen and cook something for me to fill my hungry stomach.

But while eating I could hear people talking in the distance. I could hear the chirping of birds, the flapping of the wings of flies and the sound of bees. What's happening to me? Am I going crazy? Why did I hear those voices and sounds? A few seconds later everything returned to normal. So I took a deep breath. I heard a car horn from outside and hurried to put away my food to see who it was. 

"Kevin?" I saw him from here at the door and he was still outside our little yard. I hurried out and went to him.

 "Hi! It’s for you." he said once handing over a bunch of flowers. It's my favorite red roses.

I accepted that. "Come on, come in." I am with him. I am so thankful that I was able to clean the house. It could be embarrassing if I let him inside of our house if it is a totally mess. 

"Where is your uncle?" he roamed his eyesight like observing and describing our home inside his mind.

I hope he's not the artistic type and doesn't enter a house like this. I don't want to have a friend that so stagey. I am irritated by their opinions. So sometimes I want to have a male friend. That's because man aren't choosy.

They are not very artistic. It is enough for them to look cool in the eyes of others. They don't want much anymore. But those men who are pretending to be a real friend yet they are a sex addict, I don't think so if I can even escape the embarrassment. 

"He's at work. He'll be home later tonight. Would you like some juice?" I offer him as I see he is still looking inside the house.

Why he is acting now like an engineer who's trying to find some damages of a building to fix it? Is he here to inspect our house? I still thought he wanted to talk to my uncle because they hadn't seen each other for a long time. They used to be a family before. Or maybe he also wants to renovate this house because he wants to help uncle.

"It's okay." he said and I found out that he wasn't listening to me. But what did he say? Is what I heard really correct? 

"Why are you here?" I raised an eyebrow at him as I trailed both arms.

 "I'm here for you." he answered directly. Why me? What does he need from me? Do I owe him and he will charge me now? Do I need to pay him for that delivery to me last night? I thought he is a kind of gentleman. But I was wrong. 

"M-me ?!" at the same time I taught myself. 

"Yes, you, Ms. Wade. You owe me and you need to pay."