Chapter 25: Token

**FIRE'S POV

She looked at me differently. The kind and gentle face expression she always had is now gone from her face. I do wish to see that look on her before leaving.

I contemplated whether I should show a smile or frown on my face as I witnessed how her pale face became emotionless after taking my presence in.

Ultimately, I showed her a furrow in my forehead before asking, “What are you doing in here?”

Her eyes twitch in different directions. Looking from her sides and up and down, searching for an answer. What was her real reason for coming here that she can't truthfully tell me what it is?

“How about you? What are you doing here?” She questioned me back after failing to make up an excuse for being here.

Responding with a question is what she does every time she fails to come up with an answer or lie whenever she's being asked with something she doesn't want to tell the truth of. Gladly, I knew what was coming and I was prepared for her question.

“I’m here to take some documentation. We were told by our professor to secure some footage and videos of the places we went to on this tour. It will serve as our project, she says.” *Maybe that was too long of an explanation. It sounded very fake.

She didn't hold my gaze. She nodded slightly though her face says that she's uninterested with everything that I just said.

*Let's talk about last time. I actually didn't mean everything that I said. You can have male friends. You can have them, as many as you like. I was just worried. I was worried about how that bastard, Shan, looked at you. I was scared that he’ll take you away from me. The thought of loosing you made me fucking loose my mind that moment.

“I think I should go now. I might miss the bus' last trip if I stay this late.” The staleness in Solene’s voice was loud in my ears.

*I know I don't own you. You were never mine from the start. I know I enslaved myself into the illusion that you were mine because I get to sleep with you — that I get to mess with your body.

And from where I’m standing, I watched her walk down towards me slowly. She kept her eyes on the ground, avoiding my prying eyes. I stood still on the ground but immediately moved my body to the side, pressing my back on the railing as she reached the step where I’m at. I made sure I was close enough to the railing, allowing more space for her to pass through.

*Can't we just fix everything please? Can't we start all over again? Can you just give me one more chance? I promise I’ll change, I’ll become a better man — a better person for you.

She walked past me without even bothering to look into my eyes. My tongue was glued inside my mouth that moment that I failed to utter even a single word to stop her from stepping outside that mansion.

I watched her back as she went out of the door, her figure disappearing into the darkness outside.

*Can you just come back to me? Can you just not leave me?

I was left standing for a while, staring into nothingness as the yellow lights above me flickers occasionally. The self-portrait of Cristina Alonzo, the owner of this house hangs on the side of the wall, facing me. Her eyes on the painting appear to be sparkling and alive. And with every more minute that I was blaming myself for not telling Solene everything that was on my mind earlier, Cristina's gaze from the painting seemed to mock me of my cowardice.

A part of me went to great lengths just to know where I could see Solene while on this tour. That part also urged me to see her even after what happened between us — everything that was said during our argument. A part of me badly wanted to talk to her, to explain, to apologize, so that I might prevent losing her. But the other side of me won. The part where I was scared of losing her then and there even after explaining myself and risking my chance of getting back to her.

I think I’m going insane. It was a very rare chance to meet her again. I won't know whether I could even still see her in the campus now that I know she'll do everything to prevent crossing paths with me again. But just like that, cat got my tongue and I failed to say everything that's circling in my head.

I looked down at my closed fist. As I opened my hands, a chain of silver necklace with a moon pendant glimmered against my skin.

*”What's this?” She asked as she opened the red box I placed in front her.

*“Treat it as a token of our contract. As long as you're wearing it, our contract still stands. So don't do anything that will make me mad and snap that necklace off your neck.”

*Solene carefully lifted the jewelry from its box as I watched the silver sparkle in her eyes. She said nothing and wore it on her neck. She followed me like an obedient pet as that moon pendant dangled on her neck.