Chapter 40

KATELYN.

"Is your new cellphone all set? Do you still need to register your SIM card?" he asked while preparing our packed lunch. It has been a month since we started dating, and my plaster cast has been removed from my foot. I can walk properly now, but I still need to be careful and avoid long walks.

"It's fine. They managed to recover my phone, and my SIM card is intact," I replied, helping him with our meal preparations for work.

"That's good to hear. Just let me know if you need anything," I nodded and looked at him while he was busy with his tasks. I still can't believe that Eligor is my boyfriend now.

I didn't expect to move on from Gadreel this quickly. Whenever I see him at work, I still can't look at him directly. I often avoid him, and he does the same to me.

It seems like he doesn't care about the news regarding Eli and me, but I occasionally catch him giving us a disapproving look. On the other hand, Eligor acts as if it's no big deal. He's always happy, and it feels like nothing has changed between us since we were friends and now that we're in a relationship.

He has become sweeter to me, more caring, and surprisingly, he has become distant. I don't know why, but ever since that incident, I noticed that he avoids being alone with me. He goes out of his way to prevent the mood from turning into that kind of situation.

What surprises me even more is that while he's avoiding it, I'm the one seeking it. Honestly, when I said yes to him, I thought something more would happen between us. I thought we would continue what we were doing in my room, but no, he just went back to his apartment, took a shower, and then helped me clean, and that was it!

I'm not sure if I'm just frustrated because I no longer have dreams like before or if my body is yearning for that. In the one month we've been together as boyfriend and girlfriend, we've only gone as far as holding hands.

Well, yes, I did touch him, but that was the last time.

It's driving me crazy. Was he shocked by what I did? Was I too fast? Did I become too liberated? Or maybe that's not what he expected me to do because, hello? I'm known to be unapproachable by guys, and suddenly, I'm being wild?

"Tsk," I sighed because I feel like my initial action or response was wrong.

"Did you just sigh? What's the matter?" I shook my head at him, taking a deep breath. I didn't want him to wonder about my behavior or realize that I'm frustrated with things like this.

"It's nothing. I'm just annoyed because I couldn't find the old woman who sells dream catchers," I made an excuse, but deep down, I was really disappointed and couldn't find the old woman at the grocery store.

"Why do you need that? Let me buy you another key chain instead. What do you want?" he asked, and I shook my head. No other item can replace that keychain. I feel safe when that item is close to me.

Ever since I started carrying that dream catcher, my headaches have become less frequent, and I don't feel heavy or accumulated bruises on my body anymore.

"It's my lucky charm," that's all I said to him because if he knew the real reason, he might think I believe in those sayings. Plus, would Eli even believe me if I told him that an incubus visits me in my dreams?

I forgot about that thing since so much has been happening around me. I haven't been dreaming about it either, so maybe it slipped my mind.

"I'm your lucky charm, dummy, so you don't need to look for anyone else," he replied, raising one eyebrow. Is this guy for real?

"Fine, I'll hang you on my cellphone then?" I sarcastically replied, and he laughed, patting my shoulder.

"Hang me on your body instead. I won't complain if we're together 24/7." Look at this guy, such a smooth talker, but he can't back up his words.

"Ha, you can't even hug me properly."

We exchanged glances after I responded, and it was then that I realized I was being needy. I looked away from him and focused on packing our lunch boxes.

"Do you want some?" he asked, and I walked towards the room to get my things.

"No thanks, you stink," I retorted, giving him a side-eye before closing the door. But as soon as I closed the door, I immediately pulled my hair. What the heck was I saying? Why couldn't I say that I wanted a hug from him?

What am I, a teenager? Sixteen years old?

Why can't I express what I want to happen between us? Why can't I make the first move even though I want to so badly?! This is the first time that I actually want to touch him, but I'm consumed by shyness, so I want him to make the first move!

But even if I drop hints, he refuses to acknowledge them!

"Could it be that Eli was just forced to be my boyfriend? Maybe he pitied me at that time, so he took me in, and now he regrets it, that's why he can't touch me?" I frowned, unsure why I'm feeling like this.

"Kate, let's go! We might be late!" I heard him call from the kitchen, so I grabbed my things and left the room. I forced myself to smile at him despite overthinking everything.

We entered the elevator, heading down from the apartment complex. He's still the same, nothing has changed, and he's still talkative as ever. Sometimes I wonder what Eli's true personality is like. I haven't seen him get angry, complain, or be annoyed by things that bother him.

I don't even know who his parents are, what his favorite things are, his favorite food, or even his favorite color. Now that I think about it, there's still so much I don't know about Eli.

We arrived at school, ten minutes before our homeroom classes started.

"Bye, see you at lunch!" I waved to Eli as he walked towards his faculty. I sighed as he disappeared from my sight and focused on organizing my things.

"Something wrong, girl?" Aimee asked, and I just frowned.

"You're being nosy as always. It's like I've been seeing you like this for a week," she added, and what else can I say? I've been thinking about Eli's actions for a week.

"Oh, by the way, Loraine invited us for dinner. I told her I'll ask you first." I looked at her, puzzled. Who is this Loraine?

"Loraine?" I furrowed my brows while looking at her. It's obvious from her face that she's also surprised by my response.

"Girl, hello? Loraine, remember? Do you have amnesia or something?" she asked, her expression showing disbelief at what I just said.

"Wait a minute, who is this Loraine you're talking about?" I asked because Aimee is confusing me with the name she mentioned. Suddenly, she's talking about someone I don't know.

"Oh my goodness, girl, it's like you're lacking sleep. Come on, our class is about to start. I'll just tell her you're feeling a bit tipsy," she replied, and we walked out of the faculty room.

As we walked, I couldn't help but continue to ponder Aimee's words. I scratched my head and wondered who this Loraine was, someone supposedly our friend.

"Loraine?" I furrowed my brow, looking at her in confusion. It's evident from her face that she couldn't believe my response.

"Girl, hello? Loraine, remember? Are you suffering from amnesia?" she asked, and her expression showed her disbelief in what I just said.

"Wait a minute, who is this Loraine you're talking about?" I asked, feeling even more confused by Aimee's mention of a name I didn't know.

"Honey, we were friends with Loraine back in high school," she replied, and I was even more puzzled. When did I have a friend named Loraine? Am I going crazy and forgetting who she is?

"Oh dear, I think you just need more sleep. Come on, our class is starting. I'll just tell her you're a bit out of it," she said, and we headed out of the faculty room.

Class ended quickly, and it was now our lunch break. Eligor picked me up from the faculty room, and we ate together in the school's back garden.

"Do you want to go to the cafeteria instead? You might get tired from walking," he asked, and I shook my head.

"I've been going up and down the stairs, and my feet are not hurting," I replied to him.

We sat on the bench where we used to eat lunch together before Gadreel and I started dating. It was our special place where we could be alone, undisturbed by others.

"I'm so hungry. I've been looking forward to eating your cooking since earlier," he said, even though all I contributed to this lunchbox was an egg.

"I am too. I'm excited to taste what you've cooked," I said, and we both sounded like idiots. We did this almost every day, but we still got excited about the meals we prepared for each other.

"Oh, by the way, Eli—"

"Oh! Hello, guys! You're here too!" Eli and I turned to see a woman with blonde hair, red lips, and a super-white complexion.

When did we get a supermodel on campus?

"Loraine? What are you doing here?" I looked at Eli when he mentioned that name. Is he serious? Is she the Loraine Aimee was talking about?

But this is the first time I've seen her, so how did we become friends? Wait, who is she exactly?

"I'm looking for Kate. She didn't respond to my message," she replied, and my forehead furrowed in confusion.

I quickly took out my cell phone from my pocket and saw her text message to me, but what puzzles me is who registered her number in my phone. I don't remember having a friend named Loraine.

"Kate? Why are you reacting like that?" Eli asked, and I grew more anxious. Hold on, something is not right with what's happening. I really don't remember having a friend named Loraine. This is the first time I've seen this girl.

"E-Eli, do you know her?" I whispered to Eli, and he seemed surprised by my question. He couldn't believe what I just said, but I truly don't remember her.

"Is there something wrong, Kate?" Loraine asked, and I just shook my head in response.

"N-No, it's nothing hahaha," I forced a laugh in front of them, but deep down, I'm getting nervous about what's happening to me.

Am I the only one who doesn't recognize her? Am I the only one who can't remember anything about this girl?

"What are you guys eating? Can I have a share?" she asked, sitting beside Eligor. I saw her grab Eli's fork and take a bite of his food.

My forehead creased. She's getting too close to Eligor. Who is this girl?

"Loraine, that's my fork, and why are you here? Can't you go somewhere else and ruin a couple's moment?" Eligor responded irritably, and Loraine just laughed, but I quickly noticed her gaze on me.

She smiled at me, and I averted my eyes. Why is this happening? There's definitely something wrong with what's going on. I can't explain it, but I know something is off.