38.

-HER-

My heart thrashes in my chest as I sneak in. It’s only after getting inside my room, I breathe in relief. My heart is still racing due to tonight’s events.

The bathroom is the first place I rush to. I look completely flush and my lips are swollen. Several dark marks decorate my neck. My stomach dips when I think about the time that we spent together this evening.

It seems like a dream, far from reality.

I am interrupted by a knock on the door of my bedroom.

“Cybele, are you back?” It’s mom. My heart speeds up even more.

“Yes,” I sigh before she goes away. It’d be hard for me to sleep tonight with the adrenaline rush and a wild beating heart in my chest.

I take my time to shower and calm down but I couldn’t help thinking about our time together again and again. All the emotions and thoughts that I tried to press down all these months were slowly finding their way to the surface. It felt like they were fighting me.

I was still hot but I gave up and went to bed in hopes that sleep would greet me because I needed it for the next day. I have college tomorrow and I am sure I’d be bombarded with questions by Lisa after I had disappeared from the part tonight.

As I had expected, I was hardly able to sleep last night. In the morning I drag myself out of the bed. As soon as I see myself in the mirror and my eyes find those dark marks on my neck, the memories of last night wash over me like a high tide.

I am wide awake as soon as I remember who put them there.

It takes me immense concentration to get ready and drag myself to today’s classes. I go down for breakfast with a muffler wrapped around my neck and my fingers crossed. Fortunately, no one notices me too much this morning. It’s snowing outside anyway.

On my way to college, I check my phone. His name is at the top of all the messages. I deliberately chose to ignore them because I need to concentrate in classes today. He said he was going to visit me today anyway.

“So where did you disappear last night? You gave me and Sid a fright!” Lisa speaks as soon as she sees me outside the main building. I couldn’t decide whether I should tell her yet. I had never talked to anyone about Jake and me after we had stopped talking… even before that.

I was still trying to process whatever happened last night. First, even before I tell Lisa or anyone anything, I needed to get somethings straight with Jake today. We were caught up in our feelings and urges yesterday.

We needed to have a civilized conversation today.

“I wasn’t feeling good so I went home early,” I told her exactly what I had texted her yesterday. She didn’t look convinced enough.

“Why didn’t you tell either of us then? We could’ve driven you home,” She frowns at me as we climb the stairs.

Fortunately, she lets go of this and starts talking about other things. Today, Holly’s full group is present. In fact, today many people are in the class who don’t really bother to show up otherwise.

I guess it’s because we are about to receive our last assignment for this semester. It’s an important assignment and it’d contribute a good lot to the grades. The finals are a month away.

“Cybele, Holly, Daniel, and Carter, your topic is Geopolitical relations of Egypt under Ptolemy empire and it’s influence on their trade and commerce,” My head instantly snaps to Holly. She has a sly smirk on her lips while the professor continues, “Even though the topic is the same, your assignments shouldn’t be. If it is then I’d be canceled. You can discuss among yourselves and distribute the topics so that two people don’t end up doing the same thing,” The professor adds before she calls out the names of other students and announces their topics.

“Fvck,” Lisa mutters beside me while I watch Holly’s group talking among themselves. Lisa ends up getting the same topic as one of Holly’s minions too.

“I’ve got a wrong feeling about this,” Lisa mutters as we see Holly’s group look at us. I couldn’t help but agree with Lisa. We have to be cautious. Holly could use this as a perfect opportunity to get back at us. I’d hate to be the victim again.

As soon as the class ends, the guy names Carter instantly approaches me, “Hey, I just wanted to let you know that Daniel and I have sorted our topics. You and Holly can discuss the rest among yourself and let us know, okay?” He offers. I contain myself from frowning but I nod anyway.

I decide not to talk to Holly today and save the trouble for later.

“Hey, I’d see you later!” Lisa chirps as soon as we climb downstairs before she disappears. I didn’t need to ask where she’d be going. I bid her goodbye before I walk out of the main building.

I was walking towards the station mindlessly when someone pulls me back by my hood.

“Hey!” I choke.

“Where are you going?” His familiar voice sets my heart racing. My stomach fills up with butterflies as soon as I turn around and see him. He’s looking good as always. The snowflakes on his black hair are like icing to the cake.

“Er… nowhere,” I lie. He instantly cocks an eyebrow at me before he lets go of my hood. He takes me by surprise by slipping his hand into my mine before he leads me to his car.

“Where are you taking me?” I ask him hesitantly. He looks at me through the corner of his eyes before answering, “Somewhere where we can be alone,”

Should I be alone with him?

....

The next update is on Wednesday.
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