Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Thirteen

The question should’ve been, how was he here? Has he been stalking me all along? Or else, how would he know that I lived here?

He clears his throat, “Done drooling?”

I fly into a rage at his words. “Drooling?”, I scoff, was this surprise not too much to start with? First, my landlady, and now, him.

“I thought we had a deal?” I glare at him with folded arms.

“Did we?” He says in a raspy voice, feigning surprise.

“How could you forget? You gave your word for it!” Even though, I was kinda pleased to see him, I was still pissed that his entitled legs won’t let him stay away from me for too long. He was just - overbearing.

“I don’t remember doing that.” He has an amused look on his face, like he was enjoying my frustration.

“Or you’re not man enough to keep your promise.” I spew in disgust.

“Hey… Easy,” he sure didn’t like me puncturing his ego with the pins from my tongue. “I came to return these.” He adds, indicating the medications and the letters I received from my ex best friend while in hospital. Yeah, you heard that right. She sent me letters and cards to wish me quick recovery, and of course, I was disgusted by it. Now, I was more disgusted because the things he came to return disgusted me so much. You never can imagine how much I hate drugs, like… how did they still find me here when I thought I had escaped them from the hospital? Man, I literally left them there on purpose!

“Are you going to take these or not?” His cool voice rings out pleadingly, I must have left him hanging for too long. Well, tell you what? He deserves it! People give out chocolates, but here he is giving me some… ugh!, medicines.

I take it unwillingly with a sulky expression. If only he knew what was going through my mind!

“Hope you’re not planning to skip any dose?” his voice is suddenly intimidating, the usual Brandon kind of voice, and he is glaring at me. How coud he read my thoughts so well!?

“What if I do?” I roll my eyes at him, and he chuckles darkly, drawing my attention to his alluring Adam’s apple.

“I’ll do to you what I do to bad girls.” His voice was simply intoxicating. My throat instantly went dry and I couldn’t contain the curiosity that brewed inside of me. I swallowed the lump that had grown in my throat, and with the most innocent, yet lewd look I got left in me, I managed to find the courage to stare into his grey, enchanting eyes, while I asked him: “What do you do to bad girls?” with the meekest voice possible.

I could feel the tension rise between us, as his eyes grew dark and foggy with an emotion I couldn’t comprehend, giving him a screaming hot or seductive outlook. His eyes never left mine, and I thought I would melt under his intense stares.

“Very bad things.” was his simple reply, yet it had a way of turning me on. How could just words explode desire in me, and make me feel so hot?

What bad things?

My subconscious pried. My heart was racing faster than a Bugatti, and my palms got all sweaty.

“Be a good girl.” He patted my shoulder and turned to leave.

“Mr. Brandon?”

Oh no! Why did I call him back? What is even wrong with me? I mentally face palm myself beratingly.

“Yes Miss Galena?”

“Uh… thanks for this.” I say shakily, lifting the parcels he handed to me. He nods casually and leaves. I close the door to my apartment and slouch down slowly to the floor. What was even wrong with me?

Wait!

HOW DID HE FIND ME???

Oh I should’ve asked him that earlier but I was too carried away by his err… err… jeez, forget it! He might not have gone that far. Wait let me have a look.

I quickly run out again to find him but he’s already gone. I sigh and go back into my apartment feeling a bit disappointed. Or very.

* * * * *

I wake up from a tiring sleep and head over to the kitchen to make a decent meal for myself. Nothing could beat the fact that I loved home made meals, especially, when I made it myself. I got a stool from the kitchen table side and placed it next to the stacks of cupboards in my kitchen. I opened the first shelf and it was empty.

What was I missing?

I opened the second and just a few empty containers laid helplessly there.

I find a note on the kitchen counter that read: “My friends and I had a little party at your place while you were away. I’ll replace everything when you come to my place.” and it was signed “Ethan”.

Ethan! How dare he!? How could he be this audacious!?

My face cringed in disgust at his message. Why was he trying so hard?

Tell you what? This is actually what he usually does…but then… I was mad stupid in love… I didn’t mind whatever shit he actually rubbed on my face. But now that I think of it, I was actually so stupid! What was I even thinking? How could a grown up like me be so naive? Huh? Is there an explanation to this?

Ah! I think I got an answer! I was sick! Seriously sick, and I just got cured. I must have been suffering from serious cataract and brain impairment to not see through his facade. Gosh! How could I be this crazy and call it love? Haaa I’m soo stupid!

But seriously… how long does he intend to blackmail me?

I toss all the empty cans into the trash and take it out for disposal. As I come out of my apartment to throw the trash, I feel like someone is watching me. I dart my eyes towards the location where my instincts inspires, and there is a black, tinted jeep parked by the side of the road, but I cannot see beyond the glass as it is tinted. I adjust my hoodie nervously and dispose of the trash regardless.

The feeling grows bigger and anxiety constantly detonates inside me. Who could be watching me? Ethan? God please no.

As I turn to leave, I scan around again with my eyes, just to be sure if someone was actually watching me, but people just casually walked by on the street, minding their own business. Maybe, I was just being paranoid.

I stood there confused, gaping around, but when I turned to leave, I bumped into someone and fell to the ground. I looked up and it was a guy in a black hoodie. He looked sneaky and glared at me as he walked away without an apology or even offering a helping hand to get me up.

He had quite a strange face and I was sure I had never seen him around there. Was he a new neighbor here?

I shakily get on my feet, dusting my trousers and walking back to my apartment, not ready to create a scene. Immediately I get to the door and try to push it open, my phone pings with a message notification. I take out my phone from my back pocket and my jaw drops on reading the message.

It read: “I see you Galena! Keep your eyes behind your little slut ass or you’ll get it whipped soon!”

Who could that be? Was that a threat or what?

I peer again into my screen and I find that the message is from a private number, rousing more suspicions in my head as to who it might be.

I turn back in fear to look behind me and my eyes widens in horror at who I see.