Chapter 22

Freshia Ava's POV

This morning I woke up feeling weak. I feel like I just woke up from a long sleep. For some reason, after eating together with Eros last night, I felt very sleepy. I feel like if I don't get home soon and fall asleep, I'll just pass out. But fortunately, I managed to return to my apartment and fell asleep normally as usual.

After being silent for a few minutes to collect my thoughts, I got out of bed and went to the bathroom to clean my body. Before washing my whole body with water, I first washed my face and brushed my teeth in the sink in the bathroom. However, when I looked at my reflection in the mirror, I noticed reddish spots spread across my neck area.

Not only that, when I opened my clothes, I found it was also around my chest. Is this the effect of the medicine I'm taking? My body was tired, then a red rash appeared on my body. I will consult Dr. George at our next meeting, I thought. After that, I immediately finished my activities in the bathroom.

It was thirty minutes past six when I heard my cell phone ring indicating an incoming call. I saw Simon's name on the screen, and then immediately picked up the call.

“Freshia, again you didn't tell me what happened to you? I was at your apartment but they said you had moved out of here?” Simon said.

“What exactly happened to you, Freshia?” Simon said when I just said hello when I picked up the phone.

“Simon, a lot has happened to me lately and it all happened within a short period of time. I didn't have time to tell anyone what happened except Amara, who has been accompanying me everywhere since yesterday." I said while gently massaging my forehead which was a little dizzy from hearing Simon's many questions.

Simon was silent for a moment before finally speaking again, "Do you no longer consider me your good friend, Freshia?"

I took a deep breath when I heard the words that had just come out of his mouth. "Simon, I've just experienced the most traumatic thing in my life and my psychology has been disturbed."

"What?" he asked, surprised. “What exactly happened to you, Freshia?” He said again and his tone now changed, filled with worry.

“I am currently undergoing treatment for my mental health. I'm thinking about a lot of things right now. So sorry if I forgot to let you know about my situation. But, I really didn't mean it like that, Simon.”

"Can we meet this afternoon after you finish work?" Simon asked which I immediately agreed. "What time will you finish?" he asked again.

“I finished at five in the afternoon.”

“Okay, then I'll pick you up at five o'clock, Freshia. See you later." His words ended our telephone call that morning.

I sighed in resignation as I imagined how excited Simon would be when he found out what happened to me. Sometimes I'm confused about how I should reject his treatment of me because honestly, I don't want to have anything to do with Evelyn again. Even though I had previously warned him to put distance between us, Simon didn't listen to what I said.

In the afternoon, according to what he said this morning, Simon really came to pick me up at the office. I immediately went down to the hotel lobby and approached his car which was parked in the White Stone lobby yard.

“Simon,” I said as I got into the black car. Simon looked at me sadly and immediately hugged me.

“I really missed you, Freshia. I'm sorry about what just happened to you. I'm sorry I got angry at you. That's because I was worried when I didn't get any news from you. I'm just afraid of losing you." Said Simon who was still hugging me.

I tried to break away from the hug after a few minutes and reminded him that we were still in my office area. I'm afraid people who know me will see me. "Let's talk at the nearest cafe, OK, Simon," I said, which he immediately nodded.

Twenty minutes passed when we arrived at a cafe located not far from my apartment. We immediately ordered two drinks at the cafe and then sat on one of the benches in the corner of the room. After that, I told him what happened to me yesterday.

Starting from strangers forcing their way into my old apartment, my moving to a dormitory, then my treatment with Dr. George, until my move to a new apartment. Simon listened carefully without interrupting my words. Occasionally asking one or two questions in response to my story that he doesn't understand. But despite all that, I didn't tell anything about Eros, including him who is now my neighbor.

After I finished telling my story, Simon suddenly grabbed my hand which was on the table, and held it. But I, who felt uncomfortable, immediately asked him to let go.

“Don't be like this, Simon. I know you sympathize with me, but it didn't have to come to this.” Simon, who was surprised, immediately let go of my hand and apologized. He admitted that it was a reflex action after hearing what happened to me yesterday.

“Sorry, Freshia. I didn't mean anything. It's just that I feel how hard what happened to you yesterday. You're great because you can get through everything."

He said to me, “Freshia, what if you live next to my apartment unit? That way I can easily look after you.” Simon said again which surprised me.

“No, it's impossible, and it's not necessary. I can take care of myself. Besides, I think we really should keep our distance, Simon. I can no longer relate to you like before. You are now engaged, I don't want any more problems just because of our closeness. Please respect my opinions and feelings, Simon.”

Simon seemed to sigh. "Okay, if that's what you want. But please give me time to adapt to it. I definitely won't be able to keep my distance from you that easily. Besides, allow me to still worry about you as a friend, Freshia.”

After that, we decided to go home and Simon took me to the lobby of my apartment. Arriving at my apartment unit, I felt a little unwell and decided to clean my body first before resting. However, I actually felt dizzy in my head. I decided to go to the pharmacy to buy medicine.

Arriving at the pharmacy which was located next to the supermarket in the apartment lobby, I immediately told the pharmacist who was on duty that night what I felt. Then he gave me medicine that he thought was suitable for my condition. After that, I returned to my apartment unit and when the elevator door opened just as the elevator stopped on the ninth floor, I found Eros standing in front of the elevator. However, he didn't look like usual because he just looked at me flatly and didn't greet me.

But I pushed aside my bad thoughts and still greeted him. He smiled slightly at me then passed me and entered the elevator. What's wrong with Eros? Did I do something wrong to him? I thought.