Lying on the bed, I look at my phone's screen.
3 AM.
It's been four hours. There's no text or call from him. I told him to take a walk to cool off. Is he trying to break a world record in walking?
Is he all right? Did he get kidnapped or something?
But would the kidnappers survive his prattle if they kidnap him? That's highly doubtful.
Did he go to some other woman place?
He won't do that.
What if he does that? I kicked him out because of his annoying boner. Our relationship hasn't progressed to that level where I can be comfortable with his boner poking me.
I did kiss him.
He should have kissed me back when I kissed him. What was that all about wanting a proper kiss? Do I have to say it out loud? A kiss is a kiss. It lasted more than three seconds. Obviously, it's a kiss.
Buying a one-bedroom apartment? As if I can't tell what he is trying to do!
He can't kiss me back, but having a boner is okay? He probably can't do it either.
Did he go to another woman's place for experience? That idiot won't do that.
"That guy only has eyes for you." The Devil looks at me with bored eyes. "Little Marshmallow will never cheat on you."
"I know." I take a deep breath. "Should I call him? I don't want to sound like those annoying wives who are always keeping eyes on their husbands."
"It's normal to call." The Devil yawns. "It's been four hours. If he walks for four hours, he would reach the opposite part of the city."
"But if I call, he would go on and on about how he is happy that I called him." I grip the phone hard. I feel my energy drain whenever I hear his constant chattering. He can talk for hours and not get tired at all. It's surprising how he can talk so much.
"I am going to sleep." He goes to the side of the bed where Eli was sleeping and stretches his body. "Little Marshmallow's scent is best."
"Aren't you a male cat?" I narrow my eyes on him. "Why are you inhaling his scent like…"
"Like what?" The Devil raises his head. "Maybe I am trying to tell you that you already like him. But you are too arrogant to accept it yet."
"It's only been a week." I argue with him, "I am physically attracted to him, but falling in love takes time."
"Says who?" The Devil chuckles. "It only takes a moment to fall in love. Remember what happened with Baek Joon-Woo."
I let out a breath. "It was different with Baek Joon-Woo. I was younger and different too. Also…"
I haven't told Eli about my past. I don't know how to tell him. Would he be okay with my past? Though I don't remember the incident, I should tell him.
"Aren't you too cool about what happened to you?" The Devil sneers. "You went on and on about Baek Joon-Woo's death after you were reminded about him. But what about what happened to you? Do you want me to tell you how many men have been with you that night?"
I walk out of the bedroom. I don't want to know. Those men are already dead. I don't know the details because I didn't want to hear it. I didn't want to know how or why it happened.
"Why did you not care?" The cat laughs behind me. "For a decade, isn't it strange that you have never wanted to know?"
What's strange about it? There's nothing strange. I check the time. 3:30 AM. No sign of Eli Sanguine. I should call him. Even roommates call each other if they find it odd. I am just making sure that he's okay.
I could hear the sound of the ringtone from the refrigerator. I open the refrigerator and find the phone on the top of a food container.
"Little Marshmallow was overjoyed today. He must have forgotten to take it with him," The Devil defends him before I could scream in anger. "Wait for him. He will come back."
"I am worried." I take his phone and put it inside my pocket. "I am going to look for him."
"Wait!" The cat runs to the door. "Leave after thirty more minutes."
"Why?" The Devil is acting odd these days. "What if he got hurt? What if he got kidnapped for real?"
"He's strong." The cat says to me with a cool voice, "He is stronger than you are."
Someone could have sneaked upon him.
"Nell, listen to me." The Devil circles around me frantically. "It's not him. You are in danger. Don't go out at this hour. Let's wait for some time."
I am going to the police station. He might be kidnapped for real. There's no way that he would stay out for hours. It's going to be four of the morning soon. I open the door.
"Nell!" The Devil yells. "Don't take a step out."
What? I frown at the person standing in front of me. "What are you doing here, Evie?"
"Nell." Evie is still wearing the same clothes that she wore yesterday with a tear-stained face. "I didn't know where to go."
How did she find out where I am living?
"Nell, don't take a step out of the apartment." The Devil stands in front of me and snarls at Evie. "You, leave!"
Something about her is just odd. Evie and I have known each other for a long time, but we are not friends. She was an ex-girlfriend of my ex-boyfriend. She won't come to me if she's in trouble. "Why are you here?"
"I found out how Baek Joon-Woo died." Evie sniffles. "Nell, he didn't kill himself. Someone killed him. The letter was fake."
What is she talking about? Baek Joon-Woo killed himself. That was his handwriting in the letter.
"Where is Little Marshmallow when I need him?" The Devil hisses at Evie. "Leave before he comes back, Woman."
"I will tell you everything." Evie takes a step toward me. She wrinkles her nose and takes a step back. She gives me her hand. "Come with me."
A few years ago, I would have taken that hand. But I have a disease. Whatever I am seeing might be fake, just like the cat standing near Evie. It doesn't make sense that Evie would come to this place at this time. She wouldn't know this place. It's not logical at all. Besides, she would have barged into the apartment by now. I stare hard at her.
Her eyes are over-dilated. Is she on drugs? I should test her first. "I think that you have lost your marbles. Baek Joon-Woo killed himself. You were fine yesterday. Why are you talking to me like this today? Evie, go to the police station if you have something to say. I won't believe if you makeup stories and appear at my door like this."
"I am not making up." Evie smiles at me. "What about the bookstore owner? He also killed himself. Didn't you find his death odd?"
"No." Mr Emerson looked worried today. He must have had a fight with his son. I don't know the details. "Evie, don't make up stories."
"This woman is sent by that person." The Devil seethes. "No matter what happens, don't take a step outside."
Who is that person?
"Someone killed him, Nell." She stops talking and turns her head to the right. She grimaces hard. I look down at her elongating shadow. Her face contorts in pain. The corner of her lips twitches as if she's trying to open her mouth. Suddenly, her shadow grows huge and covers her like an umbrella. She looks up and opens her mouth wide to scream. Her scream gets cut off in the middle when the shadow envelops her and disappears in a blink.
The Devil lets out a breath of relief. "Came in time."