My heart beats loud and fast out of fear, his mere presence gives me chills.
Whenever at work, I didn't bother to keep my things first in my room because I will always end up reading and taking notes while working. I'm not bothered because this place doesn't even have a single customer on a normal day.
I'm not sure at first glance whether this will only last for today but with that beast hosting the crowd, he's definitely doing this on purpose and will also definitely do this not only for today neither tomorrow.
Before I even approach my designated place, I have to squeeze myself so that I can move forward with all these big guys he's with. The landlord which is nowhere to be found while I was struggling to move suddenly appeared.
"What are you doing there? Come over here." He helped me to get through but gave me a devastating command. "It's bad timing that my relatives call me for something now that we have lots of customers but I know you can do this all by yourself, you're responsible enough and I know that. I trust in you so I'll go ahead, okay?"
He didn't even wait for my answer and hurriedly left me alone. How could he? I should be under his care, what if something bad happens to me?
After the landlord left, nonsensical orders from that beast came up. He orders me anything that he sees fit just to disturb me but frowns whenever someone does the same.
He literally wants to be the one who gets on my nerves.
While serving snacks at their table, a familiar guy caught my attention because of his notable sarcastic demeanor. He's at the billiard table aiming where to hit the cue ball. He's the guy I met at the convenience store yesterday!
I quickly hid my face with the tray I used for those snacks.
Why is he here? Is he friends with that beast? No wonder they are both an asshole. They are of the same species, huh?
As a result of hiding, I move forward slower than my pace before. I try not to distract them as much as possible when a loud bang hits my right ear where the tray is.
"Ouch!"
A long silence fell, I don't know if it's because of the damage or the crowd really fell silent but it lasted for a minute, my right ear hurts so bad and I feel dizzy. It's a miracle there's no blood that came off.
I removed the tray to look for that asshole who hit me and my intuition is correct. It's him, the beast. He did it on purpose! He hits the cue ball so well on the previous game he has no excuse for this!
"Oops. My hand slipped." He raises his hands to prove his innocence but his expression says otherwise.
He's smiling in all ears like he's winning this game he set up. I clenched my fist and remembers the tray I'm holding, yesterday I throw him his papers. What would he feel when I throw this tray directly at him? I'm dying to rip off that annoying grin of his, my heart starts to beat abnormally.
Just when my rage was about to reach its boiling point, cold hands engulfed my clenched fist and unwrapped it to get the tray from me. The grin of that beast starts to wipe off, before I could see the one who went for me he already touched my head and a sudden hurt strikes me from it.
"Ouch! What are you-"
"You hurt your head, you should rest."
"What?" I was dumbfounded because of his gentle voice especially when I saw where it came from. What happened to this sarcastic guy? Did he also hit his head?
He starts to lead me to my designated place but a voice interrupted.
"Where are you two going?"
"She's hurt her head so she should rest."
"I'll aid her, she'll be under my care. You should help the others clean the hall, the hang out's over."
What? Did I hear him right? I'll be under his care? Hell, no. Over my dead body. I'd rather prefer this sarcastic guy over him. This guy's bearable.
I felt his hold on me tightened. "You did this and you have the nerve to take her under your care?"
That's what I'm exactly thinking! The crowd started to whisper, the buzzing sound makes me dizzier.
"I did that so I'm the one who should be responsible for her."
As he starts to move towards our direction, the loud beating of my heart adds up to my dizziness causing me to lose my balance.
"No, I'm fine." I regained my composure and give my thanks to the guy beside me.
He said they'll be cleaning the hall so I didn't have to worry about it. Instead, I cleaned up my things and wait for them to finish cleaning so that I can close the hall early. It's already getting dark.
"I can lock the hall you should go ahead." The guy from earlier approached and stand beside me.
I gave him the exact look he gave me yesterday. "I don't even know you."
"Jillian Alfaro."
"Okay, Jillian." Like I'll trust him so easily?
"I didn't do it for you. Just to be clear."
I stared at him, thinking about what he did earlier.
"I didn't expect you to help me out of conscience."
"I dislike that guy's smirk so I interrupted his play and..." He stared back at me, grinning. "I also sense that you don't like him either."
Who would like someone who hit her?
"Wait, so you guys are not friends?"
"What do you mean friends? We're just hanging out."
"Alfaro," Lyndon called out as soon as they finished cleaning. They're preparing to leave.
"Coming." But he didn't move. Instead, he lifts his hand and gently caressed my hair. "You sure you're okay?"
I frowned at him. "What the he-"
"Okay, then. See you again soon." Then he left hurriedly.
Lyndon's eyes followed him until he's gone but when I moved and lift my bag his eyes immediately fell on me.
"You can leave now. I'll lock the hall." He steps aside when I reached the gate. Thinking that they're finally gone, I sighed.
But I was shocked when I saw him still standing near waiting for me. He didn't even say a thing. My heart starts beating fast again, thinking that maybe this is the perfect time for a perfect crime.
I quietly and swiftly move to avoid him and go upstairs but his damn room is next to mine so he's basically following me behind. I speed up my pace but he's quick to follow. When I almost reach my door he grabbed my wrist. My heart almost leaped out of my throat!
"What the hell?!" I shouted.
"I'll treat you." He firmly said.
"What?"
"Your head."
He doesn't mean anything wrong but my heart still keeps on beating abnormally out of shock and fear.
"I'm fine. I'll just rest."
His jaw clenched a few times before he decided to let go of my wrist. He stared at me with confused and disgusted eyes.
I feel more irritated by it. He then entered his room earlier than me and slammed the door loudly. I'm the one who got hit and yet he has the audacity to act like this? Does he hate me that much? Just because I threw papers at him?
"Such a beast," I mumbled before entering my room.
Oh, yeah! The papers I forgot to give him another copy but I'm too dizzy to even care about those. I didn't even get the chance to review my notes for today.
Despite my dizziness, my mind keeps on remembering what happened earlier. My heart never stops beating loudly too. Is this how you kill your prey? You take over their senses slowly and grasp them within your big claws? If so, then I'm in danger.
I thought he changed his mind even for a bit but I am mistaken. I woke up in the same situation as yesterday with the loud noise of rock playing from his room.
He didn't have any bit of conscience since my head is damaged from his cue ball. I shouldn't have any expectations just because of what he said last night.
After getting ready, the music stopped. I waited for a couple of minutes before going out so we won't bump into each other again but when I opened my door, he's in front of his room already waiting for someone.
"What now?"
Is he finally going to stab me?
"You shouldn't go near Jillian."
I repeated his words mentally, I don't get him.
"Why would I listen to you?"
Is there bad blood between them? He moves forward so he could get close to me. I maintain my expressionless facade.
"You're my prey."