20

~Anika~

"You are hiding from someone who's none other than Jordan?" I answered though I am not entirely sure she means what she's saying. How? Why?

Should I break it to her…?

"I know why you look so shocked. After all everyone knew him and how he is. A reason I am trying to hide my feelings for him even as he recently just made a love confession to me." Her voice sounded tired and I felt guilty for bringing it up in the first place.

"You're the one to make your decision then." My groan lasted a full five seconds. I can't even make a decision for myself.

What I'd advice would lead her astray.

~~

I sat in my room feeling my stomach grumble. Despite my trick to avoid Master Xander earlier, I still hadn't been brought any food, I tried to push the worry out of my mind, telling myself that it wasn't Master Xander's doing.

After all, he had more important things to worry about than whether or not I was being fed but the longer I sat in my room, the more my stomach growled.

What can I do? There was no way I could sneak out of my room without being caught, and I doubted anyone would take pity on me if they found me wandering the halls.

The longer I sat there was the more I felt myself growing desperate. Finally, I decided to take a risk. I crept to the door, pressing my ear against the door and straining to hear any sound of life in the hallway.

Nothing.

I turned the knob and inched the door open, peering out at where my guard ought to be.

I had to find food, and Master Xander's office was the most likely place to find it. He should have them give me my meal, I'm only going to apologize for what I had done tracking.

I walked the hallway not even trying to be silent and when I reached his office, I could hear the sound of muffled voices inside causing me to hesitate because it seems he's busy.

I reached up to knock on the door, but before my knuckles could connect with the door I heard a voice behind me.

"Miss Anika?"

I turned to find my guard standing at the end of the hallway, my usual tray of food in his hands. "I'm here with your meal. What are you doing out here?"

"I I was just...I thought my food had been forgotten. I won't put it past you guys." Feeling foolish for jumping into conclusion I defended myself.

"Well, it's here now. You should return to your room and eat." I received my food from him and we both headed back, me to my room and him standing back at his position.

I should start learning how to be patient, I wasn't fed at morning because I refused to go for lecture anyway. Thus I couldn't bare to lose dinner too.

That reminds me, whether I like it or not I'll still have to go to Master Xander. I was dumbfounded when Mabel lets me know she do call her parents almost frequently.

Even if mine wouldn't call, I want to least do so and try persuading them I was now a different person and want to place be out of here even as I'm not really it was going to work or he was going to finally lend me his phone.

I made it the next morning after I've had my meal before reaching out to him at his office. Mental note to self, Mabel insisted she loves my company and wants to come over.

I did nothing for another other than to frown while she laughed.

"Can I come in?" This time I knocked, I don't want to give him any reason to refuse me.

I clicked the door opened and barely entered when he looked my way, but he doesn't look angry but rather not expecting I had show up.

"I'm sorry for the last time, and can I have one or two words with you?" I said coaxing him along.

I don't need to look down at my palm to know it's now become sweaty.

To clear this nervousness away I placed my hands on my hips and I can feel his bored stare penetrating and swallowing my face whole. Do I look good this morning? I didn't even put on any make up, this is just what morning looks like for me and he's this fixated on my face?

"One minute is what I gave you." He claimed.

I'm sorry but what's with him and timing?

"I heard from someone who claimed to have always been speaking with her parents every now and then. I'm not here to ask why my own is different but to receive the same privilege." I skipped over to the real topic, pursing my lips.

"Who could that be?" His tone turns agitated.

"Excuse me?" My first clenched at his pack of sympathy. Was it that hard for him to feign believe and take pity on me.

"Who was that person who claimed such a thing?" He repeated his condescending making me feel so small for someone who's not the short type.

"Someone reliable, possibly?." I gave him a small shrug.

Home. I haven't seen it as important for the past here.

When I left there and was brought here, I thought to myself it was someone I would never miss. It will feel like a day dream returning to the same place I have always taken for granted.

Where I made the mistake that broke the camel's back and got me here.

My father especially has always complained about my wayward attitude which I can never stop any I'm sure my mother even wallowed in depression for some time.

I wish I can be the daughter they deserve, in which I doubt. I swirled around to take my leave counting the phone call has unimportant when I heard something—

"You can have the phone."