"I can't do this!"
Narika gave up, untying the apron around her waist and tossing it at the staff room, after avoiding the coldful stares coming from her boss, and the few customers who were aware of what had gone on a few moments ago.
She should have known that trying to distract her mind off Adrik, the creature of the night that had fully succeeded in making others look at her crazily, by going to work today was not quite helpful.
She's losing it!
Now, there's a whole lot of eyes on her, after she had zoned out while tending to a customer, that had attracted the attention of everyone, and her manager while she blanked out at duty.
She loved her job, and neither had she on any occasion had she given Mr.Mckenna the room to think otherwise. The pay was good, and working as a well known Barista in the area, had earned her not just the respect, but the recognition from people who trooped in here just to have a taste of her coffee.
But not until today, she could literally feel the suspicious, and anxious stares she got from her fellow workers, the grin on Natalie's face was worse.
Figures! Who else would be more than just happy, just to see the well known Narika Singh feel stupid and humiliated in front of everyone.
The bitch thinks she's competition , whereas she sees her as nothing but a desperate bitch, who trips for any guy that walks into the restaurant.
"What's wrong with you Narika?" Zoe's concerned face popped out of the blues, as she closed her locker while taking her bag out.
She's leaving.
She needed a break, and she's getting it right now. Although, she knew she still owed Mr.Mckenna the explaination for what happened out there, but that would be for another day.
"I'm fine Zoe, you can go back to work," she shut her friend out. There's no need to tell Zoe that there's something going on in her head, because she's going to call her crazy, just like the rest of others would do once they know what's wrong with her.
But unfortunately, Zoe being the considerate one out of the two, had known her friend was never this antsy, witty and scared unless she's got things going on with her, that she doesn't want anyone to figure out.
"Well unfortunately, I'm not leaving here without you telling me what's wrong Narika, tell me?" She pleaded, out of concern for her friend. Although she knew that Narika can be quite stubborn, when she wants to be, she hoped that she wouldn't be this time.
It's been two years of their friendship, and there's a whole lot more she doesn't know about the infamous Narika Singh. But she had kept that aside, and considered her being conservative about her personal space and all that.
She doesn't let people in, but that's where she got herself a kind and understanding best friend, who is always there to listen to her, well that would be if she ever offered up a conversation.
"I'm fine Zoe. There's nothing wrong, and please you should get back to work before Mr. McKenna finds out you are here with me. He's more than angry at me, and i don't want that to be transferred to you"
She said, still not giving Zoe the answer she wanted and neither did she lift her head up to meet her eyes for once, for her to feel assured that she's fine.
"Narika, you know you can tell me anything…it's safe with me" Zoe added, and watched her take out her clothe before walking into the toilet.
She had hoped that by the time she's out, that Zoe would have gotten tired of waiting for her and left just like she requested.
There's no way she's telling her any shit about Adrik, not until she had told her mother about him so that she could help her out.
It would really be hard to find a medium around here, while it wouldn't be that hard in India if she goes to her mother's land.
But that would earn her father's suspicion about the whole matter, considering the fact that they were running away from her mother's hometown, and anywhere her grandfather could find them.
Although she doesn't know the full story behind that, she could care less about him finding out they are still alive, since after hearing that her grandfather disowned his very own child.
The little she knew about him from her father, had made her close her heart towards the man, like who in the world disowns their own child over a little argument?
She closed her eyes, while taking a deep breath before picking up her work clothes and walked out of the toilet.
With the firm hope that Zoe was long gone, only to work in on her holding the note she had taken along with her to work.
"What's this?" Zoe asked, holding the note up to her face, and looking straight ahead to her friend who looked like she just seen a ghost.
"What are you doing going through my things?" She rushed up, and snatched the paper from her hands, and took her bag from her while tossing every of her property back in.
"What is that all about, and who is he?" Zoe persisted, even when it's clear that it was time that she leaves since her company isn't welcomed.
But this was what Narika had been avoiding all long, a nosy Zoe who wouldn't rest until she had figured out what all these is all about.
"Can you please stop asking ridiculous questions, and stop being a perv? Why would you go through my things?"she says, annoyed.
"Well that hasn't been a problem until now, but i guess I'm the biggest fool of a friend who still sticks around, even while my services is not needed" Zoe said bitterly, and that made Narika eyes to open, and realize how stupid it was of her to treat her best friend this way.
She turned to leave, but she stopped by Narika holding her back,"I'm sorry Zoe, I didn't mean to hurt or insult you" She says, retreating her hand when Zoe turned to face her.
Confession time!
No, that's not happening.
She disappeared.
"Does this have to do about the sleepiness night?" Zoe asked, and that made Narika's eyes to look up at her.
She read her diary?
"No" She lied, again.
"Narik.." Zoe's nose flared up in anger, but Narika was in cue to cut her short of words.
"I can't tell you Zoe.."she trailed on, tiredly." Atleast, not now until i figure everything out"
"Until you figure out what exactly Narika? this is clear prove that someone is stalking you, and you know that"
"Exactly, which is why i can't do anything reckless.."
"Reckless doesn't apply to reporting this to the police, or telling your friend what is going on with you?"
Police?
This is something that has nothing to do with the police, but typical Zoe would want to be such an actress about this.
He's not even human!
That she knew of, and he only exist in her head until this morning she realized that he's real, so what does the police has to do to help?
"It's not that easy as you say it Zoe, he's.."
"It's easy if you want it to be, I don't want my friend to be kidnapped off the street and i get to live with the guilt having known about that," She said, reffering to the creepy note.
Aww, such a caring friend.
Narika was smitten by her concern for her, although she doesn't know the full story yet but showing her concern only meant that she wouldn't look at her differently if she knew.
"We have to get this to the cops Narika" Zoe took her hand into hers, while closing the space between them.
"No!" She refused.
"Why no?" Zoe brows quirked up in confusion.
"Because i dont think he's human!" She blurted out because of her refusal to handle things calmly.
She watched Zoe's countenance changed after her confession, she stepped back a little which didn't faze Narika.
But what she didn't see coming was the ridiculous question that followed after, "Have you been taking your medications?"
She felt her heart break down into thousand pieces, how could Zoe…
She shouldn't have seen that note given to her by Adrik, and she shouldn't have told her that he's not human, because just like she thought about people seeing her differently, Zoe did too.
She thought she had gone crazy!