Chapter 28

"Markus! What did you do!" I shouted loudly. I was horrified by what I saw. His whole body was covered in blood. He turned to face me. His blue eyes are red.

The expression he showed me was strange. His eyes were very angry. He looks more frightening now than before. The blood on his right cheek made his appearance even more terrifying.

The veins in his hand leading to his arm were defined.

"No one should take you from me, Celestine! You're mine!" he growled.

"What are you talking about, Markus?! Wake up! That's not you! You're losing yourself," I convinced him.

Even though there was so much noise around me from people screaming and houses being consumed by fire, I still couldn't panic.

From what I can see, Markus is out of his mind. He's not Markus! He's a monster! His eyes are merciless. He can kill people!

Because of what he did, everything will be in chaos!

"I won't follow you anymore, Celestine. I'm tired of waiting for you! So I'm the one who will be followed now between the two of us!"

"Markus-"

"Markus is dead. His body is mine. You will never see him again. So you are mine", he smirked.

Markus? Why? What is happening? This is not true!

No!

"No!" I screamed loudly. I jumped up from my bed.

As soon as I opened my eyes, I immediately held my face to cover it from the sun. The curtain to my window was open. Like last night before I went to sleep, I opened it. The moon was beautiful, so I fell asleep while looking at it.

Markus was away last night because he had something to take care of. He didn't mention what it was for, but I have a strong feeling he might be planning something. Based on the other side of the bed, he didn't sleep there. He must be very busy.

My heart skipped a beat. Thinking that maybe Sabrina was with him. In the first place, she was his wife.

I'm also troubled by my dream. Did that really happen? Is it part of my memory? Or was it really just a dream and not real?

"Oh shit!" I groaned loudly when I saw the alarm clock on the bedside table.

It's already eight in the morning! I'm late! I'm holding my head because I'm so stressed. Madam Violeta's scolding immediately came to mind. I promised her that this morning I would give her the papers she needed.

"How unlucky I am! It's only my second day back at work... I'm already late" I whispered to myself.

I quickly took a shower. I'll have breakfast at the office. I don't feel hungry yet because Markus and I had a late dinner.

By nine-thirty in the morning, I had arrived at our department. I secretly winced when I saw Madam Violeta standing in my cubicle.

Based on her appearance, she seemed to be in a bad mood. One of her eyebrows was raised like yesterday.

"Madam Violeta" I said in a small voice.

I quickly picked up the finished folder from my desk. With trembling hands, I handed it to her. Madam Violeta took the files with a sharp eye. She read them carefully.

Why isn't she leaving yet? My workmates are already looking at me. Even though they're used to Madam Violeta always scolding me, they still can't help but feel nervous for me.

"Hmm...are the files okay?"

"Yes. Continue your work," she said.

"Huh?" was all I could say. Is that all?

"What's huh? Get to work. Are you still waiting for me to yell at you?" said Madam Violeta, keeping her voice down so she wouldn't yell at me.

"Ah, yes!"

She left, leaving me wondering here at my desk. Is that really all? Isn't she going to scold me for being late again? Or maybe she's used to me always being late?

"It seems the wind has changed, Celes. She's not a dragon anymore," Lindy commented as I sat down in my swivel chair.

Lindy giggled at her own words. I turned around, laughing too.

"Isn't Madam Violeta having a sex life?"

"Hey! Your mouth, Lindy. Someone might hear you," I scolded. I looked around the other people in the cubicle to see if anyone had heard.

I took a deep breath. They were all busy doing something.

"Oppsss" she said.

Lindy didn't bother me anymore. She continued working just like me. I continued with the files I hadn't finished yesterday.

My morning was peaceful. Madam Violeta didn't lecture me. It's just that I didn't get to join Markus for lunch because he had a lunch meeting. I prefer that because I feel lost in his gaze on me.

At two in the afternoon, we were called for a meeting. This is the meeting that did not continue in the past when Markus had not yet become Marko.

The conference room was cold when I entered. There were a few people inside. They were getting ready for later. I was about to sit in the farthest seat when someone stopped me.

"Miss Delaney, your seat is up front. Everyone has their own assigned seat now," said a man in the other department.

I thanked him. I was also surprised. Of all the seats, it was next to the CEO. My chair was on the right.

Markus must have done this.

After twenty minutes, everyone in the conference room was complete. Then Markus arrived.

He looked at me immediately when he entered. I held my breath. I looked away. He looked very tired. He must have been sleep-deprived.

"Let's begin" he said after sitting in his assigned seat. He folded his hands on the table.

He was silently listening to the discussion about the stalled project. He didn't comment on the other suggestions of the employees. I don't know if he was listening or sleeping with his eyes open.

"Mr. Sullivan, what do you think of Mr. Fern's new suggestions?" asked an employee, unable to bear Markus's extreme silence.

What's wrong with him? Yesterday he was fine before we went home. We didn't even fight when he took me to his room.

"Just go on. I'm listening. I'll comment later when I've absorbed everything you said," Markus replied.

Even though his tone was lethargic. Is he sick?

I looked down at my lap. My cellphone was there. I felt it vibrate. I wasn't going to pay attention, but I saw Markus' name.

I looked at him secretly. He was looking at me too, holding his cellphone. He gestured at me to open my cellphone.

What is this Markus? He knows there is a meeting.

I couldn't do anything when I opened my cellphone. My workmates might tell me I was unprofessional. It was even scarier because Madam Violeta was there. I won't even look at her from her seat and she might be frowning at me again.

I miss you Celestine.

That's what I read. My chest pounded loudly. I couldn't help but blush.

I looked at Markus again. There was a secret smile on his lips. He was trying to keep it from showing it to the people here. I didn't want to reply to him, but he was persistent. He motioned for me to reply.

You look lethargic. Are you sick? That was my reply.

I guess, just lack of sleep I weakly read in his reply.

Take a break after the meeting. I said.

I miss you. I want to kiss you now.

I looked at him for a long time. He puffed out his cheeks to hold back a smile.

Markus is really shit! Is he flirting with me?

Wait!

My eyes widened when I noticed him. His eyes were blue now! I hadn't noticed before because I was thinking too much.

It means. Markus is back!

Markus grinned when he saw my reaction. He was happy that I realized he was there.

I want to be happy, but deep down in my mind. What about Marko? Even though Marko has a bad attitude, I can't deny that he cares about me.

My cellphone vibrated again.

Do you miss me?

Of course, I do! That's what I wanted to reply to, but I didn't. Instead, this is what I replied.

Focus on the meeting.

Markus sighed when he read my reply to him. The smile on his lips disappeared and was replaced by a serious face.

Markus is really easy to talk to, I don't have to force myself to convince him.

During the meeting, I couldn't understand anything. There are so many questions in my mind. How did he come back? What triggered them to switch personalities? Based on Marko's personality, he is stubborn. So what happened to bringing him back?

After the meeting, I didn't get any sensible answers. I went straight to the powder room to retouch and then returned to my cubicle.

There's only one powder room here outside the conference room. The restroom is separate. So it's not embarrassing if you stay longer.

After I finished applying my facial foundation, I closed it. I was about to leave when Markus suddenly appeared inside the powder room and locked the door.

"M-markus-"

"Shhh..." he stopped me from saying anything. He covered my mouth, so I couldn't make any noise.

What is he going to do? And why do I seem excited?

Oh no Celestine!