Chapter 26

Freshia Ava’s POV

Eros still accompanied me until late at night. He kept asking me to talk about anything. I know its purpose is to cheer me up and divert the bad thoughts that are nesting in my mind. But all of that wasn't enough to eliminate the restless feelings in my heart.

“Freshia, you still seem restless,” Eros said to me who seemed to be aware of my situation.

I was silent for a moment before answering his words. “Yeah, I don't know why I felt like this apartment wasn't safe either. I haven't told you about my previous bad experience. But lately, I feel like there are people who have evil intentions towards me, and that has traumatized me. In my previous apartment, I once experienced an incident where someone broke the door of my apartment unit from the outside as if forcing their way in. That was the beginning of how I got my trauma.”

I paused my words for a moment. "Because of that, I decided to go to a psychiatrist to treat my trauma and after that, I left the apartment and returned to the dormitory. However, in my dorm I still experienced disturbances, and one night I felt someone coming into my dorm room, like tonight. I'm scared."

Eros suddenly hugged me. “Don't think too much about what happened, Freshia. You'd better go to a psychiatrist tomorrow, I'll take you, okay? For now, you should rest." He said while rubbing my back to calm me down.

I nestled in his arms and it felt very comforting. I tried to inhale his scent but a second later my eyes widened. I've smelled this scent before, soft vanilla mixed with masculine cypress. But where have I smelled this scent before? I thought. While I was trying to remember, I heard Eros whisper in my ear, "Calm down, okay? At least remember that I'm by your side."

That voice. Instantly my memory became complete. That familiar smell and deep voice. I remember that voice appeared in my dream last night. So is it actually a dream or is it reality? Why do I find that smell and voice on Eros? Is Eros related to what happened to me?

The hug that was originally warm turned into a terrible feeling. I had goosebumps all over my body and it seemed that Eros felt that my body was stiffening. He let go of my hug and asked, "Are you okay, Freshia?"

I was silent for a moment, then looked at him deeply. I really wasn't ready to know if my estimate was correct. I'm not ready to face it if the man in front of me now has something to do with the incident that traumatized me again. "Eros, can I trust you?" I said finally. Trying to believe that what I'm thinking right now is wrong.

Eros fell silent and looked at me deeply. “Not only believe, you can even lean on me, Freshia.” He said deeply.

***

Eros Robinson's POV

I felt that Freshia seemed suspicious of me. To be honest, I was surprised when she asked if she could trust me, but fortunately, I managed to control my expressions and emotions. What did I miss that she could suspect me? I thought.

But our conversation that night returned to normal. She looked tired and didn't want to discuss the question earlier. I just followed her and used the opportunity to chat about other things. Until finally I accompanied her until she fell asleep, and took her to her room to lay her on the bed.

The next morning I returned to the Freshia apartment unit. Fulfilling my promise to accompany her to consult with Geroge. Previously I had contacted George and informed her of our arrival so that she could prepare herself and answer my wishes.

The door to the apartment unit opened after I rang the bell in front of the unit three times. Freshia appeared in neat clothes and we immediately went to the hospital where George was doing his practice.

Arriving at the hospital, we immediately went to George's room. I told George to hide the fact from Freshia that the two of us knew each other. Not long after waiting a few minutes in front of the room, Freshia's name was called and we immediately went inside.

George immediately examined Freshia's physical condition and then the counseling session began. Freshia told him what happened last night, including asking why yesterday her body had red spots.

"Are the red spots that appear around my neck and chest the effect of using the medicine, doc?" She asked while showing an example of the red marks that had almost disappeared on her neck.

George seemed to think for a moment before finally glancing at me sarcastically. I'm sure he knows exactly what the red mark is. Then he immediately smiled at Freshia and told her that she didn't need to worry about it because it was common for patients who took the medicines he prescribed. He also said that he would change the prescription for the drug that triggered allergies in Freshia's body.

"Then what is the doctor's response to last night's incident?" Freshia asked.

"Some patients do show symptoms of excessive hallucinations while under the consumption of the anti-depressant drug, Freshia, and if it turns out that it has reached the point where it bothers you, then I will temporarily stop prescribing that type of drug to you. Later we will evaluate again whether by stopping the prescription, any changes will occur in you."

Freshia nodded her head. "But is there any other way to speed up my recovery process in the future, doc?" She asked again.

"There is. If you wish, I will give you a hypnosis method and try to talk to you through your subconscious. From there, I will look for where your biggest trauma lies so that we can focus on erasing the wound in your heart that triggered the trauma. However, the hypnosis method also means that you will really open everything to me, there are no secrets that you are hiding. Including what's in your heart. So do you agree?”

Freshia looked confused and doubtful. “You can think about it first, Freshia. No need to rush. And if you really want to try it, we can do a hypnosis session immediately, no need to wait for your next consultation schedule. The point is, first firm up your decision." George said again, which Freshia immediately agreed with.

"Okay then, I will think about it carefully first and let you know if I agree to undergo this therapy," Freshia said.

After that, we ended Freshia's counseling session and as I knew, George would prescribe medicine that Freshia had to take again until the next counseling session. After redeeming the medicine, we immediately returned to our apartment.

"Eros, what do you think about the hypnosis method suggested by Dr. George? Do I really have to take it?” Freshia asked suddenly when we were on our way to our apartment.

“Everything depends on you. Do you really feel you need it? But if I may give you advice, it would be a good idea if you try it first to determine whether the method is effective or not. Considering the hallucinations you're experiencing now, they seem quite severe, Freshia. But, back again. It all depends on your decision.”

Freshia looked thoughtful but she still seemed unable to confirm it now. Little did he know that everything was included in my plan. I told George to give him hypnosis therapy so that I could confirm who the person in her heart was as she said at the meeting with Martin last night. However, George said that I had to be patient because hypnosis couldn't just be forced if the patient didn't want it. Therefore, I was thinking about how to get Freshia to do the hypnosis.