He's wearing a white long sleeve polo with the sleeves folded up to the elbows. Two buttons are open. Turned coat and slacks black. He looked really clean with his haircut and it seemed to look brighter than when we last met.
I quickly averted my eyes from him and passed him there. I was about to enter the building when he grabbed my wrist.
“Wait! Let’s talk,” he softly said to me.
I could feel my chest pounding again because he was holding me. One after another, those events on the island struck me again, especially when I heard his voice. I kept my hard expression and smiled hard at him.
“Nice to see you again. Why are you here?” I casually asked him and forced him to remove his hold on me.
I saw the shock in his eyes when I removed his hand. Wow. Why? Rae, what is this?
"I was looking for you," he replied in extreme confusion.
I laughed and violently brushed my hair blocking my face because of the strong wind.
"Why?"
"I wasn't joking when I told you I still wanted to know you—"
“Bullshit. Leave me alone,” I said to him coldly and he left but he pulled me back again.
"I told you, we need to talk," he told me emphatically so I laughed.
Before I could answer I heard Yerim and Rafa calling to me because I could clearly see them behind this man, walking towards the two of us. I immediately panicked when they finally got close to us. I could see how they looked down at his hand holding me and at himself. I even saw Yerim put her hand in her mouth when she realized who the man in front of me was.
“Oh my god! It’s you again. What’s happening here?” Yerim hysterically asked and then looked at me.
I quickly removed his hold on me again and walked away from him.
“I need to go. Don't come near me, please. I don’t even know who you are,” I told him emphatically and left the three of them there.
My mood was on fire until I got to the working office. I almost sat down in my swivel chair and turned on the computer to start this pest book. I don’t want to write ‘em, but I think this is the best story I can do before I stop writing temporarily and move on to another field. Miss Rochelle offered to publish it into a physical book and said that the company would schedule my book signing when this book was released.
The Night in Tierra Fima
It’s all about him. How we met each other and how it ended. It's only ten chapters because that's how short things really are. No need to add more.
When I finished five chapters with my lips almost exhausted from the bite because of the memories that came back to me, Yerim and Rafa came and watched me intently from their cubicles.
"So, what happened to you on that island?" I heard Yerim's first question unsatisfied and approached me, while Rafa was just waiting for an answer.
We were the only ones left in the working office because it was lunchtime as well. I don’t know what these two are up to, but my guess is they’ll be half-day today.
I ignored Yerim’s question and continued typing the next chapter of my book.
“... falling in love with a stranger is the worst thing you can do while on vacation — oh my god! Is that what happened to you while we were away?"
My eyes widened and I immediately closed MS Word because of what Yerim said and turned my gaze to her.
"Of course not!" I was quick to respond to what she said. I heard Rafaella laugh.
I just blinked when they both laughed at what I said. They sat in front of me and looked at me at the same time so I avoided looking at them. I know what they are thinking.
"So, you fell in love with a stranger," Rafa stated while looking at me intently. “To that man? Is that why you don't want to talk to him?” this question adds.
I'm still not moving.
“Why don't you talk to him? What happened? Did it end right away?” Yerim also asked me in a teasing tone.
I went back to what I was doing before and saved it just to be sure. When I finished, I turned to the two of them. I thought hard about whether to tell them or not but in the end, I said that because they are my friends. I trust them and I know they will understand my decision.
"I gave in to him," I almost whispered to them but I knew they heard that.
They both had the same reaction. Their jaw dropped while looking at me in disbelief same as Miss Rochelle’s reaction a while ago. Even I would react the same way to what I said.
Rafaella stood up and went straight to her cubicle to get some water, while Yerim just kept staring at me. Still can't believe it.
"Are you fucking serious?" She hissed.
I nodded at her. She stood up suddenly and grabbed her head before turning to me again.
“Oh, my god. Are you still you, Astraea Lumiere? Is that really you? How? Why? We believed when you said you're still virgi— ”
“I was!”
“So, you’re telling us now that he’s the — oh my god! How did it happen?" she asked again in shock so I was shaken.
I just stared at them both and left them there to go to the pantry. When I got the food I went back to our working office and they were still there, waiting for me.
"Did you use protection?" Rafa asked me all of a sudden so I threw out the bread I was eating.
We did not. Oh, gods.
"No, right?" she added. Next, I heard her exhale murmurs into the air.
“Hey, why don't you talk to him? You should talk with— ”
“I can’t Yerim. I really can’t,” I said to her, cutting her off.
If only they both knew how much I wanted to talk to him about what happened, but I didn’t want to ruin their relationship just because of that ‘nonsense’. It didn't matter to him because I saw how quickly he forgot about me when he saw the one he really loved. I am just a one-time experience. No more, no less.
“Why, Rae? Doesn’t he like you?” Rafa straightly asked me that made me stutter.
I sighed when I heard that question. I am ashamed to answer because I know the real answer. They might have been even more surprised when I said I didn’t know what his name was yet.
“He’s engaged,” I almost whispered and went back to my swivel chair. “I don’t know his name. All I know was the last thing he said to me before we bid goodbye to each other. I don't know why he's here,” I finally told the two of them and put on my earphones so I wouldn't hear what they had to say next.
Not worth your time, Rae. Move on.
When I went out to work, the two of them invited me to the bar they used to go to but I refused. I plan to go home to our house now because it's been three weeks since I last went there. When I got home, mom was asleep because it was too late. I was stuck in traffic earlier.
I found Arthur, my youngest brother, who was still studying so I smiled.
“OMG, sis! You're home. Mother dear misses you so much," she artfully greeted me when she saw me.
She came up to me and kissed me on the cheek.
“You are so tired today. What happened? Did you eat already?” this question adds to me. I just answered her with a shake.
“I’m full, Art—”
“Oh my g, sis! Stop calling me by that name. My name is Ari, as in Arianna,” she was irritated by what I was going to say and even stared at me so I just laughed.
"Yes. I'm full. Why are you still awake?"
Before he could answer, what she was going to say was cut off when my cell phone suddenly rang. We looked at it together when I took it out. My forehead furrowed when I saw this unregistered number so I didn’t answer. Eventually, it stopped. Simultaneously with stopping the call is the entry of two text messages
Unknown Number
Greetings from Acuzar Empire! We would like to invite you for an initial interview for the position you have applied for. Kindly wear your formal attire and be on time. To confirm your attendance, kindly reply with your full name. The said interview is at 8:00 o’clock in the morning. Thank you and have a great day!
Acuzar? It's like I've heard that name before. Where is it?
I just shrugged and replied to that message. This is probably what Miss Rochelle was saying earlier. Next, I opened a message from an unknown number also.
Unknown Number
I got your number from your friend. I know you will receive this text. Please, talk to me.
- L.A
Oh, Yerim and Rafa. Why?