Chapter 4 Something to ponder

Thankfully, everything went well that day with no issues, though there were more patrons than before. So their shift ended up getting later than before.

After saying their farewells to the owners, she and her new friend Loraine make their way home.

Clouds shrouded the sky, covering the moon’s shine and shrouding the entire street in darkness. Even with the streetlamps, their glow focused on the road and nowhere else.

If it wasn’t for the lively companion Selene had right now, she’d have a hard time walking alone because of how eery it became.

“I can’t believe you know Lucas Mandel?”

Loraine squealed in delight, uncontrollably jumping while clapping her hands non-stop. The girl looked like a child that had too much candy, continuously prancing around without a sign of tiredness.

“I’m not sure of his surname, but I only met him a few times.”

Thinking back on the people she had a conversation with that day, there was only one person with that name. Also, seeing how the woman was ogling the fellow this morning said a lot.

“So you know him?”

Loraine’s eyes grew wide, along with her smile growing.

Again, the girl let out a deafening squeal, so loud it caused Selene’s ear ring from the shrill.

Selene ended up hushing her, taken aback by her friend’s reaction. She was keen to look around to see if they had bothered anyone’s sleep, as the noise her companion made was enough to wake anyone from their slumber.

She heaved a sigh, when it seemed nobody was there. As the entire neighborhood remained silent.

The only sound she could hear was the incessant chattering of her friend.

“Sort of.”

She finally answers when the girl continued repeating her question.

That made Loraine roll her eyes in disbelief, scoffing with a playful grin.

“Stop being so modest.”

She fanned a hand toward her.

This got Selene shaking her head, heaving another sigh, as she cannot understand why her friend was acting this way.

“I swear, I just recently met him.”

She says again.

Though her skull was throbbing from all the asking and squealing of her companion. Her tone remained calm, along with her demeanor, since her fear of offending etched deep inside of her.

“Still, him talking to you. That only means one thing!”

Loraine jump in front of her, leaning forward so that they were looking eye to eye.

The girl’s eyes were so close and wide, she can see the glint of joy from within the very depths of it.

This gave her the idea that her new friend was crushing on Lucas. Of course, she can’t blame her, considering how gorgeous and kind the guy was.

“Not really.”

Yet she remained confused why the girl was giving this so much thought and attention.

“Oh, my gosh! Are you serious?.”

Loraine gasp in disbelief, her brows suddenly furrowing along with the flash of burning rage in her gaze.

That got Selene to pause for a moment, swallowing hard from the sudden awkwardness. She considered what she was going to say next, seeing the fanatical manner of her companion.

“Is there something I need to know?”

She chose this question cause it was the safest she can come up with.

That was true, because she’d only been there a few days, and she hardly gotten to befriend anyone. Even with her job, it did not make it easy to talk to others since she now became more cautious after the last incident.

“Duh, besides being from one of the richest and known family, he’s also made a name for himself. At his age, he built up a business from scratch that can rival his family’s, thus becoming the most eligible bachelor in the entire town.”

Loraine again rolled her eyes, as if everyone who was there should know of such a thing.

“Wow, I’m aware he was well off. But I didn’t think he was such a person.”

Selene’s mouth ended up in a wide gaped upon hearing this. With how casually the guy talked to her and how their age was the same, she wouldn’t have found out the fellow had achieved so much.

This got her admiration but also spark envy in her, as she too wanted to be like him. But with how she was, she accepted it would be impossible for her.

She heaved a sigh, biting her lips in embarrassment, now remembering how she talked and approached Lucas before. She noted that, not wanting to make such a mistake again.

“This is where we part.”

Loraine points to the other end when they reach the crossroad.

Unlike where Selene was going, the area seemed darker, longer, and shrouded by tons of trees and shrubs. Also, the path didn’t even look finish with the pavement ending, leaving the rest of the way with a muddy route.

She somehow became worried, noticing how the place looks like it’s unused, but in the end she shut her mouth, not wanting to offend her companion.

Also, she was certain her new friend had taken that way plenty of times without a problem.

“Oh, I’ll see you tomorrow then.”

She waves goodbye to Lorraine as the girl already ran towards the clearing, doing the same. She waited a few moments until she disappeared into the darkness.

Now alone, the walk home became creepy and less enjoyable.

With how the dark the path was, there was barely anything to see. It didn’t help that the wind grew colder, along with the place being quieter than before.

She can’t hear a single sound besides her footsteps, because even the insects and animals turned silent.

She hastened her movements since she still had a long way to go, and this was the area where there were no houses nearby.

This was the first she got home that late, so there were no longer people or vehicles passing by.

Left with no choice, she swallowed her fear and steadily jog with her remaining strength. Even with her legs feeling tired and heavy from all the day’s work.

Selene stops midway, pivoting around to check when she hears a sudden snap behind her. It sounded so close it caught her attention.

Is it some kind of wild animal or something else? But once she was certain her back was safe, she runs without a second thought.

Unaware of what could have made that sound, along with being all alone in that place. All she wanted was to get out of there as fast as she can.

But then a soft scurrying noise followed her, causing her to panic, aware that something was chasing after her.

Fear gripping upon her, she still cannot help but take another glance, only to end up losing her footing because when she slipped from a pebble.

She let out a scream out of sheer terror, sensing the danger getting closer, along with the pain of her falling on the ground. She hugged herself to brace for the hard pavement, as she did not know what else to do to protect herself.