Anastasia.
It was like waking up from a bad dream. That was how fast I was startled, literally. I didn't mean to be that startled but it was as if my sense had been slapped right back into my body. I sat up straighter, ignoring the horrible goosebumps on my skin and answering in a slightly confused voice.
"H - hello?" I muttered to him and quickly turned away. It was subtle, but I heard his chuckle as I did.
If embarrassment could kill, this would've been my cue. I was staring so hard that he had to say hello.
"You know him?" Sebastian's voice made my eyes snap up to meet his. He raised an eyebrow as he chewed slowly.
"What?" I asked dumbfounded, even though I knew quite well he was asking about the other guy. "Who?"
I dragged on my earlobe, out of habit, something I always did when I was in a weird situation. Sebastian also looked at the table and then looked back at me with his eyebrows furrowed in confusion.
"Then why did you say hello?" He asked as if it was a bad thing.
"Well, I-"
"It doesn't hurt to try to make friends," Mrs. Gunner intercepted placing our mugs on the table, her smile never wavering. "You should try it too."
Sebastian scoffed and picked up his steaming cup.
"I'd keep away from anyone with glasses that huge." He said blowing unto the steam and tipping the cup over to where the man was sitting before taking a sip.
Mrs. Gunner only chuckled and shook her head at him, but my brows etched together in confusion.
"What glasses?" I asked tucking a few strands of my hair behind my ear.
"What do you mean? I'm talking about those thick ass reading glasses he has on."
He said before sipping his drink again. "They look heavy, and he looks so pale, I don't think he has any friends, to be honest."
I turned around without hesitation to look back at the man and I wasn't expecting him to be already looking at me. But my surprise was not heightened by him looking at me, it was the fact that he has no glasses, his hazel eyes were filled with humor, the golden specks shining with mischief. His skin couldn't be pale in any way since his complexion was a honey-brown color.
"What-" I whispered in confusion, looking back and forth at the coffee shop. No one else was here, no one was wearing glasses. Who exactly were they talking about?
Amid my confusion, the handsome man stood up and started walking out the door. Shamelessly, my eyes followed him out.
"Why are you staring at him like that," Sebastian said in a hushed whisper and kicked my leg from underneath the table.
"Sebastian is right, Anastasia. Staring is rude." Mrs. Gunner said in a disapproved voice.
"Yes, but-"
"Can we just get something to eat?" Sebastian said, cutting me off. "You can flirt with someone else later." He added giving me a side-eye.
I opened my mouth to explain to him that I wasn't flirting, and I was confused because the guy wasn't white or even wore glasses. But Mrs. Gunner clapped her hands together making me startled for a second.
"Okay, children. Cookies or cupcakes?" She said looking at both of us for an answer.
I dragged my clammy hand across my jean-clad thighs to get rid of the sweatiness.
"Both," Sebastian said without a second thought and then they both looked at me for a response.
"Erm, I'll just have whatever he's having," I said with a forced chuckle.
Mrs. Gunner nodded with a smile and took off to the kitchen.
I tapped my foot quite uneasily against the tiles of the coffee shop while Sebastian went through his phone, slurping his coffee. I quietly picked up my mug and tried to enjoy my coffee.
It felt strange, I felt like they were doing this on purpose just to make me confused.
"You really got me there for a second," I mumbled to Sebastian.
"What?" He questioned looking up from his phone.
"Shut up," I mumbled with slight irritation.
I picked up a cube of sugar from my saucer and chucked it at him. He laughed and easily caught it in his mouth. He winked at me playfully making me stifle a smile and dropped the cube in his mug and continued slurping his coffee.
I felt at ease as I realized that they were joking with me. I thought I had gone crazy for a second.
"Here's your treat." Mrs. Gunner's cheery voice called out as she emerged from the kitchen.
"Finally," Sebastian said in a dramatic tone making me roll my eyes.
"You're such a glutton." I joked making him fake an offended look.
"Are you calling me fat?" He played on, snatching a cookie from the tray before Mrs. Gunner could put it down.
"If the shoe fits." I teased making the aged lady laugh.
"My therapist will hear about this." He joked as he pushed the whole thing in his mouth making his cheeks look funny.
Mrs. Gunner and I burst out laughing and he joined in too.
We enjoyed our coffee afternoon and chatted with the lady for a while. There was something that I had noticed though, the coffee shop had become warmer. Maybe the heating was fixed after that man left or something else happened.
Either way, it was something I had noticed rather than pointing it out. It was a mental note to myself.
~*~
"Traditional people that live on the shores of Lake Kivu in Central Africa tell a tale in which humanity managed to doom itself by being too helpful." Mr. Palyvus said, his calm voice reaching Anastasia's ears from the middle of the lecture hall. "They said, God had created mankind to be immortal, but Death wandered the land trying to start a fight with humans."
"Now that's dumb," Max said behind me under his breath.
"I would've been surprised if it made sense to you," Sebastian replied to him.
"Will you guys cut it out?" Vicky snapped through gritted teeth as she struggled to take down notes.
I calmly jotted down all the important stuff Mr. Palyvus was saying.
"They said, Death shouldn't be seen. The people who saw Death passing by always ended up by the lake, either mad or lifeless. Everyone was scared and didn't know how to avoid him. But a lady from the outskirts of the town came to warn them." He explained.
"She told them that when the night breeze becomes more cold than usual and the poultry and herd from the farms start cowering for shelter, it is he who has come. His will for chaos travels with the wind and the spirit of animals can feel him too."
Mr. Palyvus ended with a slanted smile on his face. As if the tale hadn't said enough about what Death really is.
I think the whole class was soaking in the information like I was. The entire hall was silent and by the time everyone had recovered, his time was up, and he left the class.
My friends and I immediately stuffed our belongings into our bags and hurried out before the place became crowdy.
"That was the creepiest tale I've ever heard," Max said.
"Me too," Vicky said with a shudder.
"It was disturbing," Sebastian said in his own way making Max scoff.
I nodded to Sebastian's words in agreement. It was kinda disturbing.
"But how did the lady know?" I suddenly blurted making them look at me.
"What lady?" Max asked, confused.
"The lady that told warned them about Death, Max," Vicky said hitting his shoulders in irritation. "Try to catch up."
"Maybe she noticed the signs whenever people ended up by the lake," Sebastian said shrugging his shoulders.
"Oh, that makes sense," Vicky said and I nodded in agreement.
"Interesting," I mumbled and then got distracted by my phone vibrating in my pocket.
I took out my phone and saw that it was my father calling.
"Um, excuse me guys," I said hurriedly as I ran past the crowd of people to answer his call.
I stood beside a pillar and pressed my index finger on my screen and swiped to the right.
"Hello," I said into the phone.
"Anna." My father's voice rang through my ears making my blood run cold.
"Yes, Father," I answered immediately, gripping my phone tight to prevent my fingers from shaking.
"Have you been ill?" He asked.
"No," I answered truthfully. Not even a single thought of lying crossed my mind.
"So you purposely ignored me. I am now forgotten." He said calmly and my eyes widened.
"No, absolutely not. I would never forget you, I was just busy with school." I rushed out.
"Mhmm." he hummed and I could already tell that he had something plotted in his head.
My father, Patrick Zackary Rhodes.
If the name sounds familiar it's because you've read it somewhere in the magazines or some cool tech review. My father is a 46-year-old man who owns several software companies and is the owner of so many businesses, he has been featured in the Rich Men Times magazine more than my neighbor's cat has given birth.
I've seen my father's face everywhere and I try to read every article written about him. The papers say that he is successful, smart, resourceful, and smart.
We all know that papers lie too sometimes.
The rumors say that he puts on an act for the press, that he lies. They say that he is ruthless and smart. They say that he gave out his only daughter for adoption to avoid distractions.
I will clarify though, that I am not adopted. And I will also clarify that my father is true, a monster.
"It's because I let you have a house of your own," He said and the tip of my fingers ran cold. "Is it because I let you out of my sight?" He said the last part in a warning tone making tears sting my eyes.
"Father, I swear, I swear on my life it's not like that. I've been very busy with school that's why." I said.
I messed up, I let vulnerability show in my voice and I know he heard it.
"Calm down, darling. I am not going to ask you to come back home." He said with a salty chuckle that made the hairs on my arms stand up.
I wasn't even given a chance to feel relieved when he opened his mouth again.
"I know I'm not the best father but it would be stressful to have you hop on the plane right now."
"What?" I said breathily, a thick bundle of sweat gliding down my spine.
"I want to have you at home before breakfast by the end of the week." He ignored me and went ahead with his message.
"Please don't do this to me, I beg you. I've barely even started Uni." I pleaded, feeling liquid trickling down my face steadily. "I beg you."
"The house will be sold out in two days, so you better start packing your stuff. Don't bother with unnecessary things, you'll have brand new ones after your marriage." He said making my whole body freeze in shock.
What was happening? Did I hear something wrong?
"What marriage? What are you saying?" I asked in a shuddered voice using the pillar beside me as support because my legs were about to give out.
"If you do not want to roam in the streets homeless, I suggest you come back home. Have a great week, Anastasia." He bid his farewell and hung up without a second thought.
That was it. I was hearing an endless noise in my ears, and it wouldn't go away. My heart had sunk like titanic, and I could already feel the void eating me up. My head felt light, and I could see dark spots clouding my vision.
My body was moving. I could feel myself drifting but I couldn't stop falling. Before I could go further, a strong pair of hands gripped my shoulders tightly.
They were saying something, but I couldn't hear them.
Hopefully, I'm dying.