Chapter 22

Selina woke up slowly, feeling confused and disoriented in her thoughts. She had a nagging suspicion that something wasn't quite right. She blinked away the last of her sleep and looked down at her clothes, which looked like they had been hurriedly rearranged.

"Strange," Selina whispered to herself, her eyebrows furrowing in confusion. "I don't remember falling asleep fully dressed

Her fingers brushed against her neck, and she winced as they grazed over a tender spot. Bringing her hand up to inspect the area, she felt a small, raised bump, surrounded by a faint red mark.

"Ouch," Selina murmured, pressing her fingers gently against the spot. "Must be a mosquito bite."

But a persistent feeling of discomfort gnawed at the corners of her mind, even as she made attempts to console herself with plausible explanations. She couldn't quite put her finger on it, but something didn't feel quite right.

Selina kept feeling as though an important thing was missing, that there was something lurking on the edge of her mind, even when she moved to the kitchen to make breakfast. Her knowledge of what had happened the previous evening was disorganized, as though a puzzle piece had fallen out of place.

There was a knock on the door as Selina was already expecting Amara over for breakfast before going to work.

"Morning, Selina," Amara greeted cheerfully as she entered the kitchen, her voice breaking through Selina's mood.

"Morning, Amara," Selina replied, forcing a smile to her lips. "Did you sleep well?"

Amara nodded, her eyes scanning over Selina's disheveled appearance with concern. "You look a bit out of normal," she observed, her brow furrowing in worry. "Is everything okay?"

Selina hesitated for a moment, unsure of how to articulate the strange sense of unease that had settled in the pit of her stomach. "I'm not sure," she admitted, her voice a whisper. "I just feel... off, you know?"

Amara reached out, placing a comforting hand on Selina's shoulder. "I understand," she murmured sympathetically. "Sometimes, we just have those days. But if you need to talk about anything, I'm here for you."

Selina nodded gratefully, grateful for Amara's unwavering support. "Thanks, Amara," she said, offering her friend a small, grateful smile. "I appreciate it."

Selina's sense that something was wrong lingered just on the edge of her mind as they ate breakfast together. She forced the uncomfortable ideas to the back of her mind for the time being, though, and concentrated on her friend's warmth and comfort.

As Selina descended the steps of her apartment building, she spotted Simon waiting for her, a warm smile gracing his features. "Good morning, Selina," he greeted, his voice tinged with genuine warmth.

"Morning, Simon," Selina replied, returning his smile as she joined him on the sidewalk. "What brings you here?"

Simon shrugged casually, falling into step beside her as they made their way towards the company. "Just thought I'd accompany you to work today," he said nonchalantly. "We've got that collaboration meeting, remember?"

Selina nodded, her thoughts drifting to the upcoming meeting. "Right, of course," she replied, a hint of anticipation in her voice. "I'm looking forward to it."

They strolled along, laughing and exchanging jokes as their conversation flowed naturally. Selina couldn't help but feel more at ease with Simon's familiarity, which helped to dispel any lingering anxiety from earlier in the morning.

Felix, in the meantime, was observing Selina's interactions with Simon from the shadows, his eyes blazing with resentment and jealously. Selina was unaware of this. His need to dominate Selina's every action was fueled by the sight of them together, their effortless companionship, and their close bond.

With a determined tone, Felix murmured to himself, "This can't go on," working up a mental strategy. "I won't allow anyone to come between us, especially not him."

Felix started working on his plan with a strong feeling of purpose, willing to do whatever it took to keep Selina firmly under his control.

Selina was lost in a sea of thoughts as she walked to the grocery store following a demanding workday. They were all circling her head like leaves in a light wind. Although she felt overwhelmed by the responsibilities of the day, a sense of excitement was bubbling beneath the surface.

The streets bustled with activity as people hurried past, lost in their own worlds, their footsteps echoing against the pavement in a rhythmic melody. Selina watched them with a distant curiosity, her thoughts drifting to the tasks that awaited her at the supermarket.

Despite the hustle and bustle of the city around her, Selina found solace in the simple act of walking, the gentle rhythm of her steps serving as a soothing balm for her weary soul. With each passing moment, she felt herself inching closer to her destination, a sense of purpose guiding her forward.

Selina felt a tiny bit better when she turned the corner and saw the neon sign for the grocery, which lit up familiarly. She might finally escape the chaos of the outside world with the promise of fresh vegetables and necessities.

Selina walked into the supermarket with a determined rhythm, pushing open the entrance and feeling the cool air welcome her like a hug. Stretching out before her were aisles filled with colorful packages and orderly shelves, all of which held the promise of nutrition and nourishment.

Even though Selina had a lot on her plate, she couldn't help but notice her excitement level rising. Even in the middle of chaos, there was beauty to be discovered in the ordinary moments, and the basic act of grocery shopping had come to represent a tiny glimmer of hope in an otherwise ordinary day.

Selina made her way down the aisles with purpose, her strides sure and light as she picked up the things she needed, her shopping list in hand. With every item she added to her cart, she got closer to her cozy home—a place she could finally go to relax and rest after a demanding workday.

Selina couldn't help but feel a wave of satisfaction pass over her as she headed to the checkout counter. She felt a sense of accomplishment just from finishing her grocery shopping.

She felt uneasy because of the day's events as well as Felix's continuous presence in her mind. Silently telling herself to "just breathe, Selina," she attempted to ignore her increasing anxiety. "You've got this."

Felix, In the meantime, was pacing back and forth in his flat, dark feelings bubbling beneath the surface of his consciousness. He was fighting to keep his cool when he saw Selina, her presence setting off a violent storm of want and possessiveness inside of him. "Keep yourself calm, Felix," he whispered to himself, his voice straining to cover up his chaotic feelings. "She can't know how I truly feel."

Later that evening, when Selina got home, she found herself standing at Felix's door, her heart racing fiercely. Raising her hand to knock, she forced herself to take a long breath, willing her butterflies to calm down. She repeated to herself, "You've got this, Selina," trying to find confidence in spite of her uncertainties.

Felix was inside his flat when he heard Selina knock, and his heart jumped with excitement. He forced himself to adopt a calm facade, smoothing down his features into a mask of indifference. "Keep it together," he reminded himself sternly, his voice barely above a whisper. "She can't see how much she affects me. I cant let her see how much power she has over me.”

The tension between Felix and Selina was heavy and obvious as they stood on opposite sides of the door, each struggling with their own inner torment.