43.

-HER-

I don’t remember anything after I go home. I am on autopilot as I have dinner with my family and go to sleep. The next day rolls in quicker than I was anticipating.

Lisa texts me in the morning to inform me that she’d be missing classes because she’d be taking her stuff to Sid’s place. As much as I am happy for her, I also dread her absence. She makes college bearable for me. I had to sit through the classes alone.

Fortunately, it was Friday and we only had two classes today. Most of the day was very uneventful and passed by in a blur. I went straight home and started working on the assignment since I wouldn’t be home this weekend.

As I sit down to work, I couldn’t help but think about my exchange with Holly. She didn’t say anything or annoy in any way I was anticipating. She easily agreed to work on the topic.

I couldn’t help but feel that there’s something wrong. It’s a gut feeling. I look at our topics again. Mine is a lot easier compared to hers. She should have said something or protested.

It was in her nature and she was acting unnaturally. I couldn’t swallow it easily.

Our assignments have to be completely different otherwise it will be canceled. It wouldn’t take me much time to complete my assignment. I’d be left with enough time to do more things.

I have this feeling that Holly would do something to get back at me. All these months she didn’t do anything. Maybe she was looking for a perfect opportunity to put me down. This could be it.

A sly smile climbs on my face as soon as I get an idea. If she is deciding to mess with me with this time then she’d be deeply disappointed. I wouldn’t let her get to me this time.

I instantly get to work. I don’t leave my room until it’s dinner time. I eat quickly and go back to my room to get as much done as possible. I retire to bed around midnight, completely exhausted.

Just when I was about to fall asleep, my phone rings up. My eyebrows come together, wondering who’d have called me at this hour. As soon as I look at my phone, I almost drop it.

Jake’s name flashes across my screen as my heart speeds up. I stare at it until the call is disconnected. My screen instantly lights up with a text from him.

Jake: Pick up my phone, mate.

I click on his name and my heart leaps out of my chest when I see all the unread messages from him. He must have been trying to message me since the evening and I was so busy working that I forgot to check my phone.

My phone rings again as he calls for the second time. I take a deep breath before I finally pick up his phone.

“Hello,” I croak in the silent night.

“What’s with you ignoring my messages?” He demands. He spoke calmly but I didn’t miss how he seemed to be on the edge.

“Jake…” I yawn, “I am sorry. I was working on an assignment,” I tell him sleepily. Silence follows my words before he answers, “I didn’t know you sounded so cute when you are sleepy,”

I could hear the smile in his voice. Unconsciously a smile climbs on my lips as well. I roll over so that I am laying on my stomach while I talk to him.

“I am not sleepy,” I tell and instantly a yawn follows. He chuckles instantly. The butterflies that were missing instantly fill my stomach.

“Really?”

“Yes,” I answer with another yawn. Sleep is dancing on my eyelids. Hearing his soothing voice makes me calm and puts me on ease.

“Cybele…” He breathes, “I wish I could see you now,” He whispers. His words make my heart race, almost driving the sleep away. A part of me missed him today too.

“Well, you’re going to see me tomorrow,” I tell him after suppressing another yawn.

“Still, I wish you were with me now,” He groans before a few moments of silence follows. “Can I ask you something?” He asks and I hum in response.

“Don’t you feel anything for me?” He asks after a momentary silence, “Why do you keep pushing me away?” I could hear the pain in his words. A groan escapes my lips as his words tug at my heart.

“I am not pushing you away, Jake,” I whisper as I rest my head on the pillow, “I am just… it just makes me mad to know that you don’t tell me anything,”

“I want to tell you everything, Cybele bu-“

“Then why don’t you tell me?” I interrupt him. I hear him sigh deeply before he answers, “I am scared that you’d run away if I tell you everything at once,”

What does that mean? Should I be worried?

“Cybele?” He calls for me when I don’t answer for a long time. I got so busy squeezing the meaning out of his words that I had forgotten for a moment that he was still on the line.

“Should I be scared of you, Jake? Is there something terrifying?” I ask him urgently. He falls silent for some moments before he answers, “Cybele, I don’t want you to be scared of me. I will never hurt you intentionally. Do remember that,”

He sounds promising but his previous words have stirred something inside me. I am suddenly anxious to meet him tomorrow. He told me not to be scared but that’s the only thing I am feeling right now.

“Ok,” I mumble.

“Are you scared, mate?” He asks instantly. I could hear the urgency in his voice.

“No,” I lie instantly, “I am not scared,” My voice wavers.

“You’re lying,” He comments instantly. I hate it how easily he could tell if I am lying or not. It’s as if he could read my mind.

“How could you be so sure?” I accuse, feeling all the blood rushing to my cheeks.

“We are mates, Cybele. I can feel it through the bond even if it’s not that strong,” He tells me. A frown climbs on my face when I realize that his words don’t make any sense to me.

“English please?” I croak and he chuckles lightly.

“I will tell you everything. All I ask from you is not to be scared of me. Please, Cybele,” He speaks gently.

“I will try, Jake,” I tell him and he seems to be satisfied with that for now. I don’t know what to expect from tomorrow. I am anxious and excited. Even though I am scared, I couldn’t wait to uncover the secrets that the future has to offer me.

....

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