NEOLA
“Wait,” I turn around to see Luke running towards me.
“Luke, what are you doing? Go back! The king—"
“It’s okay,” he took me in his arms and hug me tight. “He’s alright. I wanted to talk to you, I miss you...” he held me close, leaning in to stare at me. Though I snuggled in his chest and tried to avoid his gaze. “You never know how much I have longed for you for the past month.”
Oh Luke, I miss you so much but what you did disgust me.
I push him back, my lips trembling. “Quit acting like a saint, Luke, because you are far from being one.” He looks at me as though he doesn’t know what I am talking about. I glared at him. Puffing my cheeks, I put my hand on my waist and said, “Luke, tell me...what do you need to say so I can go?”
“What? You are going back?” he looks like a lost puppy, I couldn’t focus my gaze at him. He hold my hand but I just push him off, “Luke stop this nonsense.” I step back and stare at him. He looks at me and sigh, “Okay, well. I just want to tell you that I am done. You won, Neola. You won my heart.”
His smile is so pretty but I wanted to punch his face for that. Ugh. This bastard. He is toying with me again. He really have the prince syndrome, acting like he is the only man in this world. Well, he is the only man in my world but he ruin it all for me.
He betrayed me.
I glared at him, my fist on my side. “Really? Then what are you doing with Fleur at the forest?”
“Fleur, what about Fleur?” I clap my hands at how he looks so innocent, acting like he doesn’t know. “Wow, Luke. Quit acting like you don’t know.”
“I don’t know what you are talking about, Neola. I really don’t.” he looks genuine but I won’t fall for his tricks anymore. I cross my arms over my chest and glared at him.
“If that is always the case then, let’s just break up. Let us finish this engagement and go our separate ways. You have never been true to me ever since the beginning. It will be better to end it now.” My words rang with finality. He looks at me before pulling me to his arms, “Neo, what are you saying? I am yours ever since we met. You are my woman. Please, don’t do this.”
I push him off me before walking out of the castle. I got inside the cab and ask the driver to take me to the airport.
*
“Hey, Lyle,” I cleared my throat and blew a sigh, “I just wanted to give back your coat. Can you meet me at the cafe near my apartment? I have something to tell you.” The phone beeps as I ended the message.
I look around my room, refusing to check the messages that Luke has been sending me. Maple sat in her cage, bored. It must have been hard for her to travel back and forth but we have to. I had to take her with me. I stand from my chair and yawn, stretching. Being the most clumsy person I was, I slipped on a sock and bump my head on the wall, “Oof.”
I rub the bump that is slowly developing on my forehead and sigh, “Stupid, stupid, stupid!” I rub the bump and glared at the wall only to notice a very small hole. I squinted my eyes and slowly peek inside only to see a man. I pull away and took some tape.
Glaring at the hole, I pulled out my phone and contact the apartment owner. I ask if she could let me inside the room of the one next to me and she agreed, with apprehension.
I sat down on the chair and tried to assess my situation. Whomever is staying next door is surely stalking me. I’ll get to the bottom of this. I will tell Luke and have him arrest this person.
Oh wait, Luke and I haven’t reconciled yet. I guess, I can just ask the queen to help me. She would surely worry if she found out about this. Though, I won’t tell her yet. She has a lot on her plate, it is no good to add more unto it.
Maybe I should tell Gabe. He will surely help me with this.
I am so distracted I didn’t notice the knock on my door. I open it quickly to see the apartment owner, Mrs. Bell. “Oh, child.” She took me in her arms and brush my hair. I couldn’t help but hug her tight. “Don’t worry, we will catch this lad.”
We went out to the halls and I watch as she opens the door with her keys. She push open the door and we went in.
The room seems normal at first, until I turn my head towards the wall where the hole was drilled into. It was filled with my pictures. Me helping Simon with his artwork; Me guiding the kids on the hallways; Me babysitting Kendra and feeding her; me reading the newspaper; me eating bread; me laughing at something; me sitting by the park and a lot more pictures.
I couldn’t help but let out a small cry.
The pictures, it was only taken recently. Some of them were taken with purpose of seeing my private parts. Some focused on my chest, my face...the owner of this room is a complete whacko.
I can’t even imagine what he is doing with my pictures. He has a calendar on his bedside table. It was oddly marked with X and a week from this day, the date of December 21 is encircled. He left lots of notes though his handwriting is not legible enough, I had a hard time figuring it out. A couple of them with my name written along with a couple more pictures. I sat down on the floor and was surprise when I see my own clothes, under the bed. I wanted to snatch it but Mrs. Bell pulled my hand away.
Mrs. Bell took her phone out and took some pictures. She ask me not to touch anything. I stayed outside the hallway as she close the room and wait while she calls the police. I went at the exit stairway, trembling and crying.
This complete whacko has ruined me.
My hands are shaking as I think of what this whacko is doing with my pictures and clothes. How could that man enter my room? Who knows what else he took from my room?
I was so busy seating outside when I notice Lyle. He stood in front of the room and began opening it. I trembled. This is my moment to ask him of what he’s been doing. Gathering up my courage, I march inside his room, surprising him.
“Loisa...”
“Lyle,” I look at the pictures before focusing back on him. “What did you do?” my voice is only above a whisper. His eyes hardened at my question. He sauntered toward me, took me by the arm and before I scream, he whacked my head with his bedside lamp.
*
The ringing phone startled me. I woke up, feeling queasy. I couldn’t see a thing and my hands and feet are bound.
We are moving. To where? I don’t know.
I sat up only to be slapped. Lyle chuckled. I tried to move but I am bound tightly. “Lyle, please.”
“Shh, my puppet.” I can feel his lips on my ear as he whispered. He kiss my cheek and I tried to shrug away from him. Yet he hold me in place. “Now, now, don’t try to move away okay, and compose yourself.” I sobbed. My chest heaving as he pulled me up into a sitting position .
“listen, Luke is calling...” He whispered near before laughing, “ I need you to tell Luke that you are fine and that you don’t want to hear from him. I want you to tell him that you don’t care about him and you are happy with me, understand?”
I nodded but he just slap me back. I cried, sobbing terribly.
“Shh, shh. Don’t cry.” His lips were near my ear, he whispered, “Say, yes sir, okay?”
“Yes, sir.” I quickly respond, not wanting another slap. I sobbed, my body trembling as I lied down there. “Compose yourself, okay?” He laugh at me once again before pulling me up into a sitting position. “There you go.”
“Okay,” the phone rings once again and he chuckled. He pinch my cheek before he says, “3, 2 , 1...Action!”
계속
Hey guys, so what do you think about this chapter?