Chapter 113: Lingering Thoughts

I leaned against the wooden door, clutching my chest, trying to calm the chaotic pounding of my heart. I exhaled repeatedly, hoping my lungs would function normally again and my pulse would settle.

"What just happened?" I whispered when I was inside the house.

I shook my head, trying to drive away the event that had just lodged itself in my memory. I pressed my left chest. My heart was still racing, even though it had been several minutes since it happened.

"Damn it," I muttered softly. I rubbed my face roughly. "Oh God, why have I been thinking about Kenn all the time lately? And why does my heart pound so fast every time I’m near him?"

I bit my lower lip while rolling my eyes in the darkness of the room. "This isn’t right. I already have Kevan. Remember, Frel, you belong to Kevan."

Suddenly I jolted when the lights turned on brightly. I saw Grandpa Grandma standing in front of me, looking at me with worried eyes.

"Dear, are you okay? Why are you standing in the dark?" Grandpa asked as he came closer.

"You just got home, Frel? Look at the time," Grandma continued. She glanced around toward my back, looking for someone. "Where’s Kenn? Didn’t he stop by?"

I let out a long breath. Just hearing his name now made my body react strangely.

"Yes, Grandma, Grandpa. I’m sorry I’m late. The road was completely jammed earlier because there’s roadwork along the city park. As for Kenn, I already told him to go straight home. Besides, it’s very late already, it wouldn’t be appropriate for him to visit now."

Grandma nodded as she listened to my explanation, while Grandpa smiled in relief.

"All right then, go to sleep now," Grandpa said gently.

I nodded weakly. "Yes, Grandpa."

"Wait a moment," Grandma called when I was about to step away.

"Kevan has been calling you nonstop. Earlier this afternoon Grandma already answered and explained that you went out, but since this evening until now your phone has kept ringing. That’s why when you go out, your phone—"

"Yes, Grandma, I understand!" I cut in quickly.

Without waiting for Grandma to finish speaking, I immediately ran toward my room.

As soon as I got inside, I smacked my own forehead. "You idiot! I forgot to bring my phone!"

I examined all the items on my study desk. I turned everything over, but it was still nowhere to be found.

I lunged toward the bed. I lifted the pillow, the bolster, even pulled the sheets down until they scattered onto the floor.

"Phone, where are you?" I ruffled my hair in frustration while cursing my stupidity.

"That’s why when Grandma is talking, you should listen until she finishes. Don’t just leave like that," Grandma said as she suddenly entered the room, holding my phone in her hand.

"Grandma!" I exclaimed in surprise.

"This is your phone. Hurry and call him back, poor Kevan must be very worried," Grandma said as she handed it to me.

"Sorry, Grandma. Yes, I’ll call him back right now," I replied sheepishly while taking the phone.

Grandma just shook her head at my behavior and then left the room.

My eyes widened when I looked at the screen.

There were thirty-seven missed calls from Kevan.

I took a deep breath before calling back.

The ringing tone sounded once, and the answer came too quickly from the other side.

"Hello, darling? Are you okay? Where are you?" Kevan’s voice sounded very anxious.

I winced even though Kevan could not see me. "Hello, Kevan. I’m fine."

A very long sigh of relief was heard from the other side.

"Um, I’m sorry, I forgot to bring my phone earlier. And I just got home. Sorry for making you worry."

There was a brief silence. I felt uneasy waiting for Kevan’s response.

"From noon until this afternoon I deliberately went out. I saw ...," Kevan paused, sounding like he was taking a heavy breath. "But never mind. What matters is that you’re okay now."

I frowned in confusion. "Saw? What did you see, Kevan?"

I waited for him to continue, but he did not answer that question. I chose to ignore it because what mattered most now was that he was no longer worried about me.

"Darling, go to sleep now, okay. Tomorrow when we go to school I’ll pick you up," he said again gently.

I smiled faintly. "Yes, Kevan. You should rest soon too."

Kevan chuckled on the other end. "Yes. Sweet dreams. Don’t forget to dream of me."

Click.

The call ended.

Don’t forget to dream of me, don’t forget to dream of me, don’t forget to dream of me.

Those words echoed in my ears over and over again.

"Why are Kenn’s words the ones that keep sticking in my head?!" I shouted in frustration. "Dream of you? In your dreams!"

"Argh, damn it!"

I tossed my phone carelessly onto the bed. I scratched my hair roughly until it was a mess.

"Oh my God, I just remembered! There’s a physics assignment I haven’t done yet!"

I opened the notebook containing the physics assignment with ten questions.

My face instantly went pale. "Ten questions?" I complained.

It wasn’t that I couldn’t do it, but this would definitely take quite a long time to finish. Just one question alone could fill an entire sheet of paper because of how many formulas had to be included.

I started working on it as fast as I could. Sleepiness attacked me more and more when the clock showed four in the morning.

I stretched both my arms while looking around the room, which was still messy. But my eyes suddenly widened when my gaze landed on a large poster on the wall of my room.

I was instantly startled. "Why did my favorite actor turn into Kenn’s face?"

"Oh no, no. That’s impossible. There must be a mistake." I tried to convince myself.

I rubbed my eyes just to make my vision clearer so I wouldn’t be mistaken. But the more I looked, the clearer Kenn’s face appeared on the poster, as if he were smiling at me.

I shook my head. I rubbed my eyes once again.

My eyes widened in shock. "Why is it still the same?"

"No. This isn’t right. This must just be a hallucination because I’m sleepy. Yes, that’s it!"

I looked at my answer sheet, where I had only finished seven questions. I groaned in frustration.

I glanced once more toward the poster, and spontaneously turned my face away and shut my eyes tightly when Kenn’s face greeted me again.

"Argh! Damn you, Kenn!" I shouted. "What have you done to me? Why are you haunting my thoughts all the time now, huh?"

Without thinking any further, I let the physics problems lie on the desk. I quickly pulled the blanket and sheets from the floor and wrapped them clumsily around my whole body.

I hoped I could fall asleep without thinking about him anymore, even though several times I still let out muffled screams like a possessed person every time the image of Kenn’s face flashed through my head.

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