After they finished explaining everything that happened and how it escalated, I couldn't hide the disgust on my face—and it didn't go unnoticed by that smiling idiot guy.
"Ey! I didn't mean it! I just talked to her, she just took it the wrong way," he said.
This time, Wilbert didn't stop defending himself—he kept insisting he did nothing wrong, saying it was all a misunderstanding and all that. I just ignored them and kept walking toward the cafeteria to eat and eventually head home. There were no more classes anyway, and I was too lazy to cook something else.
The three of them followed and also started eating, since none of us had eaten earlier because of that walking snout earlier. We were eating in complete silence until Wilbert opened a topic.
"Can I ask you a question, Rayla?"
"You're already asking, aren't you?" I replied to him. He's the type of guy who can't even stay quiet for a second. He stared at me for a moment before asking again—this time a question I wasn't sure I even wanted to answer.
"Why are you like that? I mean, why are you so cold to others?"
"I was taught not to trust others easily. And because of that, being cold and shutting people out is the only way I think I can stay safe."
I answered while shrugging. I didn't see anything wrong with not trusting these two idiots anyway. I just don't know why, but I feel safe around them—especially Ashter. I don't see anything wrong with taking them as friends. Like, why not, right?
"Safe from what?" he asked.
I just shrugged, not wanting to answer that question. I continued eating, and after a while, we all eventually went home. We went our separate ways since Jane got picked up by her stepfather. I headed home alone, feeling that familiar emptiness again.
When I arrived at my apartment, I went straight to my room and lay down on my bed. You probably already know what I did next—yeah, I ended up staring at the lizard on my ceiling again. I feel so tired, yet at the same time, I don't feel tired at all. How do I even explain it? It's like I want to sleep, but I just can't.
I checked the time—it was already 8 o'clock in the evening, which means I should've been resting by now. But here I was, still just staring blankly at the ceiling. I was still wearing my uniform. I got home around 6 PM, and I still hadn't moved from lying in bed. Just stuck there.
When I looked to the other side of my room, I saw that strange little bottle again—the same one from yesterday. Right… I still haven't figured out where it came from. I stared at it for a moment before finally getting up to fix myself. I pushed all the questions that were slowly building up in my mind to the back of my thoughts, because if I didn't, I'd just end up wasting hours thinking about it again.
I started moving slowly to change my clothes and do my night routine. I decided to ignore it for now. I mean, I'm still okay… right? Sure, some strange things are happening, but I'm fine… right?
"Right, Lolo?" I said, looking at Lolo Brent's portrait.
I didn't even notice I had fallen asleep, only to wake up with the feeling that someone was watching me. I suddenly sat up when I saw my window was open. I'm sure I locked it before I slept—there's no way it could've opened just because of the wind.
I feel the cold breeze of nighttime wrapped around me, I shivered with the feeling of it. I got up to close the window, but I noticed a small piece of paper there. I picked it up and checked if anything was written on it—and there was. I tried to read it, but I couldn't understand it because it was written in a different language.
"Buscando ayuda alfa." I turned it over to check if something was written on the back, and I was right. "Alfa de la niebla oculta." That was the only message written on the paper. And I didn't understand any of it. I had no idea what language it was or what it meant.
It was strange that someone would leave a letter there at that hour of the night.
Is there someone spying on me?
Why is it watching me?
Was that what I was feeling earlier?
I couldn't sleep after that. Like I have to sleep? I can survive without it. Tsk. And besides, it feels like something doesn't even want me to sleep anyway.
Morning came, and I'd spent the whole night overthinking that letter. It's Saturday anyway, so there's no problem even if I end up looking like a ghost. I don't really feel like doing anything today, not like I even have anything important to do.
"Right! The project! That's what I'll do. Only my part is missing anyway,"
I started doing what I needed to do, but even after I finished, that letter kept stealing my attention again. It really won't let me be at peace. After a few minutes of just staring at it, I suddenly heard knocking on my door. I went to open it, and to my surprise—it was Ashter again, this time with Wilbert and Jane.
"Best Friennnnddddd!!! I miss you so much!"
Jane hugged me, then just walked straight inside my house. I didn't even have a chance to react because she was already dragging Wilbert in with her. I let Ashter in too, because it would be weird to just leave him outside. He'd look like an idiot standing there.
"What's this?" Jane asked, staring at the letter I had been looking at earlier.
I took it from her hands and quickly put it aside where she couldn't see it.
"Nothing. I just picked it up somewhere. Why are you guys here anyway?" I asked to change the topic. I didn't want her digging into that thing any further. She's too persistent, especially when she doesn't get the answers she wants—and since she knows me well, she didn't push the topic about the letter anymore.
"Well, there's no class anyway, so I thought we'd come here. Let's have some fun. I know you were just going to lock yourself up in your apartment and act like a loner again," she said.
Her usual talk. She's right though—I'm always alone on weekends, especially when Jane has plans. Then I remembered what I finished earlier for our project. I just handed it to her. She took it, but didn't even look at it, just stuffed it straight into her bag.
-_-
what the
"are you not going to check it first?" I asked her. She really didn't even bother checking it. I wasn't even sure if I did it right— this girl is really aarrgghh-_-
"Dont bother, I trust your brain. Come on, let's have some fun."
I sighed at her hyperactive attitude and just went along with it, knowing I couldn't really escape her anyway. Yeah, if Jane isn't around, I'd just end up sitting here doing nothing but staring into space.
Someone POV
"So, they're making their move already"
It's not a question, It's a fact. I just nodded as an answer. I sigh feeling this whole thing make me sick really.
"Aren't you making any plan?"
"I have, but I dont feel to execute them, atleast not yet! Let's just wait and relax. I mean I already did messing with her."
He looked at me annoyed. Sighing because of the laziness I have.
"Why? Just wait and see okay?"
And he walked out of my room, slamming the door behind me. I sighed and stared out of my window and memories filled my head. This memories always hunt me, even in my dreams. It hurts alot, losing my family? being abandoned by your own sister? and causing the death of our parents?
Tears run down in my face seeing those memories again and again. She took away my innocence, she took away my happiness, she did leave me behind, she didn't care about me, she didn't love me!
"You left me alone, you didn't even look for me! maybe they're right! I'm not important to you because you're the one who have them killed. I'm gonna kill you I swear! I'm going to kill you."
"Tss! I'll make you feel what you did! I will everyone you love."
I wiped away my tears and went to train myself.
'This is the justice that I desire! Have her head in my bare hands. This gonna be a bloodbath.' I smirked as I thought all the plan that I have to kill her.
Rayla's POV
Now I'm tired—literally!! I've only been with Jane and the others for a few minutes and I'm already exhausted. They're way too active.
Right now, we're at the mall—Timezone to be exact. They're playing almost all the games Timezone offers. I think they even tried the ones meant for kids. Still, it's fun being with them somehow—it makes me forget my thoughts.
It's just… really tiring.
"Guy's, let's eat first?" Wilbert asked while throwing the last ball in the basketball game, breaking another high score.
"Ooooooppppssssss, there you go Ash! You're treat—I beat your score! AHAHAHAHA!"
Ashter just shrugged and smiled at him.
We started walking out of Timezone after they redeemed all the tickets they collected into two huge teddy bears. They were so big you could barely see them while walking—honestly, it looked like the teddy bears were the ones walking instead of them.
"Just take out some food then let's go home," I said to them because I was really tired. We've been walking around the mall all afternoon. If I had known I'd end up this exhausted, I should've just refused to come.They agreed anyway, especially because of the teddy bears they were carrying. I mean, who wouldn't get tired carrying something that big, right?
After they got takeout, we finally went home—to my apartment—to eat.
I didn't even argue anymore. I was too tired, and I had no energy left to fight them because I already knew one of them would just insist anyway.
When we got inside the house, they immediately started causing chaos again, playing another card game. I didn't join anymore. I just watched them instead—I didn't even understand the game anyway.]
"Yeahhh I win!" Jane shouted.
I immediately frowned. My forehead felt tight from irritation. Seriously—my ears hurt.
"Jane! Tone down your voice. Ang sakit sa tenga," I said.
All three of them suddenly froze like they were shocked by what I said.
I looked at them, confused. They were just staring at me like I said something weird.
"What?"
"Tone down? Best, I wasn't even shouting. I just said 'I win,' and it wasn't even loud!" Jane said, making me stare at her.
didn't shout? Her voice was really loud earlier though?
"Rayla? Are you okay? No one was shouting," Ashter said, concern clear in his voice.
And that's when something suddenly clicked in my head.
Shit… what day is it today?
"Sorry, I'm probably just tired! Go on, keep playing!"
"Are you sure, best? If it's too noisy, we can just go home so you can rest."
"No, I'm fine. Just stay here as long as you want!" I said, then lay down on the sofa I was sitting on. I could feel their gaze on me, but after a few seconds, they went back to playing cards again.
I wasn't asleep—I just looked like I was because my eyes were closed. My senses feel heightened, and I don't even notice the passage of time anymore. I've been too occupied. At times like this, it's dangerous if I have people around me.
I opened my eyes and just stared at the ceiling. I noticed how quiet everything had become, so I looked at where the three of them were sitting. They were all asleep. I frowned at the sight. What time is it already, and why are they still not going home?
I looked at the clock on the wall. Seeing the time, I didn't wake them up anymore. It's fine—they were already asleep. Good thing my floor is carpeted, at least it's comfortable for them to lie on.
I went to the spare room to get pillows and blankets for them. Did I really think that long? It's already 10 PM. They didn't even tell me if they had, they could've gone home earlier.
After I finished arranging everything for the three of them, I went upstairs to get myself ready as well. They should be fine down there. I was already lying in bed when I heard my bedroom window open. I felt a chill run through me again. I was sure I locked it earlier—so what now? I couldn't bring myself to look right away. I didn't want to turn around. But when I realized nothing else was happening… I slowly looked back.
"Rose?"
Yes! It's a rose— a rose with thorns. Someone is definitely sending me a message. I'm sure of it… the whispers, that letter, and now this rose?
"What is all of this supposed to mean?" I said, looking out the window, hoping to see something—anything—that could answer my questions. But there was nothing. Tsk. Why am I so cowardly?
"Rayla, you can't run away from this. No matter how big the fear you're feeling is, you still need to face it and fight it."
"But Lo!"
"Listen to me. Sooner or later, they will take you back from me, and there's nothing we can do about it because that's your world. For now, you're happy—and so am I—because we met and got to know each other. But when the day comes that you need to leave me, there's nothing we can do. Do you understand?"
"Yes! I understand "
"You were the first one who left, Lolo. I'm not ready yet… I'm scared!"
———————
I looked at the rose in my hand again, trying to understand what it really meant.
A rose can symbolize love, right? Something people give to someone they care about, to express affection.
But a rose with thorns…?
For someone like me?
That feels like trouble—like something deeper, something heavier.
I know that because Lolo Brent taught me about this. Things that seem simple or shallow to most people can carry a much deeper meaning for someone like us.
A rose with thorns can also be a warning. A warning from someone who holds anger toward you. It could mean that if your enemy gives you something like this, either you will die, or the people around you will—maybe even both.
I shivered at the thought. So, it means…
"Only two things could this mean! Either a tragedy is coming, or someone wants to kill me, and the people close to me!"
Is it really starting now…?
Yay!! Chapter 4 is out,, Thanks for reading!! Hope you like it!!