"Ugh! I feel sick!"
"Do you need to throw up?" Ronan asked.
Rhea looked out the window and tried to breathe some fresh air. But it did not help. She felt way too sick.
Ronan was driving, so Hugo was the one to hand her a plastic. He also patted her on the back. Ronan looked pretty surprised. He had never seen someone actually touching Rhea in their right mind. From their childhood, Rhea was always feared wherever she went, so kids did not try to get close to her. She was an outcast.
Since they were in kindergarten, she had a bad reputation because of her lack of social relationships and some other incidents. Ronan tried to get people to be friends with her, but it never worked.
It was Rhea's fault as well that people could not get close to her. She always pushed people away. If someone touched her, she would act like it was a virus.
Rhea hated physical contact, even if they were her family. Her mother was the one who respected Rhea's personal space the most and most of the time, she did not do anything that made Rhea uncomfortable. It was only Ronan, who always tried to get close to his sister, but would fail immediately.
"Are you alright?" Hugo asked after Rhea was done.
"No. But don't touch me," Rhea said, gritting her teeth.
"How will I pat your back then?"
"You don't need to pat my back! I didn't ask you to do it."
"It helps with the process. Just do your thing."
Even her own brother never dared to dismiss her. It would be no surprise if Hugo's dead body was found the next morning.
Rhea glared at Hugo, who did not even flinch. "I'm done. So, get your hand off me!" Rhea articulated. "I don't like being touched. So, keep your distance."
"Alright," Hugo said. "Wash your mouth and better not eat that pack of chips now. Or, you will feel bad again."
Rhea could only stare. That guy was getting on her nerves. Ronan had to hold his laugh back.
Hugo's place came before Rhea's. "Alright, see you then," Hugo said.
"You might die within tomorrow morning," Rhea said. Her brown eyes were very serious.
Hugo let out a laugh. "Why? For touching you?"
"You two look close," Ronan smiled. "It's a good thing you made a friend, Riri."
"We are not friends," Rhea quickly said.
"Right, we are not friends," Hugo said with a sigh. "Well, see you later if I don't get killed tonight."
"Hmm…"
Ronan started the car again. "So, do you like him?"
Rhea looked at him in a way that no more words were needed. "He likes you," Ronan said.
"I know. But those feelings of his are nothing but an exercise of floccinaucinihilipilification. My question is- why?"
"A person doesn't need a reason to like someone, Riri."
"But I do. And I see none."
"Well, some people don't feel anything romantic towards anyone."
Rhea did not bother to correct him. She had to talk more than she did in seven days in just one day, so she was exhausted.
Rhea knew a long time ago that Hugo had romantic feelings for her. He would always look at her and sometimes even smile unknowingly. She probably realized his feelings for her even before he did. But she could not understand why. What did he see in her to like her? And even if he saw something in her that made him like her, it was none of Rhea's business. The more important thing was- she did not like him; he was not her type.
Rhea was more curious about why Hugo became the target and who tried to kill him. Having a journalist mother who tried to uncover the corruption in the security field, she knew very well that their complaints would do nothing in their favor. If the person was someone wealthy, they would never even know the identity of that person. Moreover, Rhea's suspicion was that the person stole the keys, or maybe the keys were there in the first place. The truck belonged to a construction company that carried bricks. It was an orange truck with no sign. She saw some red powder along with two small brick parts.
But she did not know a place near their school, which was a construction site, mostly because she hated going out and did not go anywhere other than her school, nor did she talk to anyone who could tell her about it.
"Ronan, is there any construction site nearby?"
"Construction site?"
"Near our school? Is there any?"
"Hm… There are two actually. Not near exactly. One is for a supermarket and another one is for a small amusement park."
"Which one is nearer?"
"None of them actually. It takes half an hour to reach the construction site of the supermarket and then another twenty minutes to reach the amusement park. If you say too near, none of them are."
"By what?"
"What do you mean?"
"By which vehicle does it take half an hour?" Rhea asked.
"A car," he said. "Why?"
"Then, if we think about a truck, it's kind of the same," Rhea mumbled, thinking deeply.
"Why do you ask this?"
"The truck that tried to kill Hugh is from either of the two," she said. "I need to know who and why."
"The police will let you know. There is no need to risk your life. You already have a stalker. I fear for your safety."
"It's not like I will look for the person myself. I am too lazy to do so anyway," Rhea shrugged. "Besides, my stalker is dead."
That night, as the clock hit twelve, she got out through her window. She had to open it using some tools because her brother had locked it.
Ronan was in the living room, so she needed to be careful. Her brother refused to sleep in his room because he feared he would not hear anything if Rhea was in trouble.
Rhea gave Hugo a text. He had not texted her once, which Rhea found very peaceful.
{Meet me outside your place in twenty minutes.}
Hugo kept her on unread which Rhea figured would happen because he was someone who looked like they studied all day and had little to no addiction to his phone. So, she did which she despised; she had to call him.
Hugo picked it up immediately. "Hello?"
"It's me. I am texting you, so check your message," she said and cut the line.
In thirty seconds, Hugo replied to her text.
Sorry, I was not checking my texts. - Hugo
Can you meet me outside your house? - Rhea
Right now? Do you know what time is it? – Hugo
It's seven past twelve. – Rhea
Why? – Hugo
Let's be friends. – Rhea
Wait… You want me to come and meet you right now so we can be friends? – Hugo
No. We are going to be friends via text right now. – Rhea
Rhea, it's midnight. We cannot meet right now. – Hugo
Alright, bye then. – Rhea
No, no, wait! – Hugo
I don't have too much time in hand. Say it within a minute. – Rhea
Alright, let's be friends. – Hugo
Then, meet me outside your place. Your dad is not home, so it's safe. – Rhea
How do you know my dad is not home? – Hugo
He is with my mom. Ronan told me. – Rhea
But will you be able to come here alone? - Hugo
Yes. Or, I wouldn't have told you to meet me there. - Rhea
No. You better wait. I will come to your place. – Hugo
Hugo was worried something might happen to her if she walked alone at midnight. Besides, she had a stalker even just a few days ago.
I'm already here, though. I think I can see you. – Rhea
"What the fuck?" Hugo cursed under his breath and jumped out of his bed to look out of his window. He saw a relatively small figure looking straight at him. It was a bit creepy seeing someone looking at him in the darkest hoodie he had ever seen, a pair of black ripped jeans, and a black baseball hat. She had brought a purple scooter which did not match her sense of style.
He quickly changed into a white shirt and black jeans before heading out. He had no idea what to do with the girl who had no sense of security. He was wondering why he liked that kind of girl in the first place.