"Find me?" Damien asked, arcing his brows. "Why are you making it seem like I gave you a task to do?" he asked.
"What?" Scarlet blinked, raising her brows. "You told me to find you again. Is that not why you are here now?"
"I was only worried about someone not liking my talent," he said plainly. "And when I told you to find me again, I said that because you have been looking for me."
"So, you mean you never really meant it the way I took it?" Scarlet asked, feeling used. "I mean, it's not like I even want to be here in the first place. I just—"
"You have been stalking me lately," he said. "I need to ask you why."
Scarlet was confused now and did not know what to do. Barely an hour ago, all she could think of was what he wanted to say to her and now that she has heard what he had to say, she felt like everything had worked against her and she was the mystery here. Maybe he is not who she thinks he is after all, she thought.
"The tube," she said and quickly added, "why did you give me the tube?" she asked him. "If I was stalking you, which I wasn't, would you have offered me something like that, or even your jacket?" she asked in a defensive tone.
"I was only helping you," he said.
"Right, but then, how did you know something was wrong with me?" she asked and even reasoned with what she said. "You must have been the one stalking me," she said, pointing her finger at him and turning the tables around.
Scarlet hated the situation she was in and it felt like all what she had thought about this Damien guy was something formed in her head and they were not real. He was not that mysterious guy she was going to uncover, instead, he is a sneaky brat whom Melanie is right to have been obsessed with. They are both fit for each other and she could not wait to see them fight all the time if they eventually end up together.
Folding her arms across her chest, she asked him, "Why did you help me when you don't even know me?"
"Because you needed help," he simply replied, still looking at her and Scarlet wonder if he ever blink.
It was true that she needed help during that time, but would anyone have known in that kind of crowded area?
Scarlet started to feel uncomfortable when he would not stop staring and she does not know what is left for her to say but she does not want to go. She feels like she needed to stay here, with him, together. It was a feeling she cannot quite explain.
"I know you were not stalking me," he finally said, "I wasn't either."
This made Scarlet widen her eyes in disbelief and she placed her hands on either of her waist. "Then if you know, why did you say that I was in the first place?" she asked and for the first time, she saw him smile. It was not too wide or very obvious but Scarlet had taken note of it before it disappeared immediately.
"You have grown so much. I wonder if you are okay."
"What did you say?" Scarlet asked, knowing he said something but she did not hear it.
"I have to leave now," he said and made to start walking away.
"No wait, wait," Scarlet stopped him immediately and she blinked several times, trying to think of something. She knows that even if she wants to spend some more time with him, she cannot stop him from leaving or force him to stay. Raising her eyes, she asked, "Can you give me something? Something I can be sure I would find you again? Like this jacket?" she brought out the black jacket he had draped around her shoulder at school earlier.
Damien looked down at it before raising his eyes back to look at her and he said, "I gave you something long ago."
Did he know her from somewhere? She thought and frown her brows a bit, looking confused.
"Don't worry," he said, "you will find me again, very soon."
And Scarlet was about to say something when she heard her name being called. Turning swiftly to the sound of the voice, she saw that it was Adam, who was approaching her and she moved her eyes back to look at Damien but he was already gone and she almost could not believe it. It was as if he had vanished yet again.
"Hey, what's up?" Adam asked when he got to her and Scarlet could almost blame him for scaring Damien away.
"Hey," she responded. "I'm good."
Adam pointed his eyes at her and he said, "Yeah, I didn't see you when the performance ended and I thought you left already."
Scarlet moved her eyes and she could see that the people already started leaving in few numbers. The performance must really have ended, she thought as she moved her eyes back to look at his.
"What of Melanie?" she asked, noticing that she was nowhere to be seen.
"Melanie? I saw her leaving earlier. I thought you both left together."
Scarlet felt it to be odd. Melanie would not just leave without seeing her and also because she was the one who convinced her mother to let her come. It made her wonder if something had gone wrong and so, she brought out her phone and dialed her number.
The phone rang until the end with no answer from Melanie and Scarlet dialed again but this time, it was off. Scarlet looked worried now and she was not sure if Melanie was doing okay before she left as Adam said. It was unusual for her to not pick her call and to turn her phone off the next second.
Not sure of what to think, she decided to ask Adam if Melanie had said something before leaving and she raised her eyes from her phone only to see him playing with his fingers and she could sense straightaway that he was nervous about something.
"Adam?" she called and she saw him quickly put his hands behind his back before pretending to look at her with a cool face.
"Yes, Scarlet?" he answered.
"Uhm…" Scarlet hesitated at first, but then she asked, "did Melanie say something before leaving? Did she like, leave a message?"
Adam shook his head. "No," he replied, "what's wrong?" he asked.
"She didn't pick her phone and the next second, it was off."
"Hey relax, I'm sure she is not even bothered about someone worrying over her like this. She is probably having a good time, you never can tell," he said in an assuring way that it cooled her down.
Scarlet knew Melanie too well. She had said she would talk to Damien this evening. Did she talk to him already before he came to meet her? Or did she get turned down?
Releasing a sigh from her lips, she said, "I'll see you on Monday, then."
As she made to start leaving, Adam grabbed her hand, stopping her and she turned to look at him, puzzled.
"Scarlet," he called gently. "I uhm…" he hesitated.
"Do you have something to say to me?" she asked, knowing that there was something on his mind which he wants to say but just looking for the perfect time.
Adam smiled, making him close his eyes slightly and he finally gave in.
"Go out with me."
It was not even a question that needs an answer and Scarlet was taken aback at the manner in which he suddenly asked her. It was definitely not what she was expecting and she was not ready for it.
"You want me to go out with you?" she asked, confirming what he said.
"Yes," he said.
It is not as if Scarlet is not aware of the way he looks at her in a different way or the manner in which he seems to care more about her, but she has never thought that way about him and she is not ready to get into another relationship. Scarlet did not want him to feel rejected, but even at that, she said to him, "I'm sorry, but no."
It was as if Adam was expecting that response from her because the next second, he said, "Come on, you know me already so don't give the excuse of 'I barely even know you'. If Melanie was here, I know she would ship us right away."
"Ugh, Adam no," Scarlet said immediately, looking uninterested. "I like you and I want this friendship to last. I'm really not interested in dating just anyone as of right now."
"Just anyone?" Adam asked, quoting her and he looks offended. "You mean I am just like every other person?"
Scarlet did not like how it was going now and she tried to explain, "That is not what I me—"
"Is it because you are not over him yet?" he asked before she could complete what she was saying.
"What?" Scarlet asked, a frown coming to settle on her forehead.
"Yeah, you know, I am talking about Johan."
Scarlet shook her head at him, not expecting that from him and she said, "I have to go."
She figured out that it would be best to leave before things get worse. It turns out that Adam is just like Johan and he had just disappointed her.
As she made to leave, she heard him say, "I bet you don't really know much about Johan, or how you were used by him."
Scarlet spun immediately and she retorted, "I know what this is. You are trying to make Johan look bad. Well, he already did the same by talking about you. I don't need to hear more about that, especially from you. And it's not like he used me or something."
"So, did you think he really is who you think he is? Even after the bet?"
Bet? What bet? Scarlet thought.
"What are you talking about?" she asked.
Adam scoffed lightly. "I guess he hasn't told you that one yet," he said.
Scarlet was confused. Was there a secret that Johan and Adam shared? Was it something related to her? She could not help but think that it is something that has to do with her and dread started to creep up her skin as she awaits to hear what it is about.
"Johan made a bet that he would make you fall in love with him, and it is quite unfortunate that you fell for it."
The words dropped on Scarlet like a bombshell and she did not want to believe at first but Adam went ahead to show her proofs, a chat they had together, discussing how she, Scarlet, would be the bet.
She felt an ache in her chest and her expression suddenly changed into that of hurt. She wanted to deny it, but the words won't come out of her mouth. Instead, her eyes held shock and hurt and betrayal and her lips trembled.
It was a bet, she said in her head. I was a bet. Scarlet almost could not believe it. Johan is not that kind of person to play a girl. If he is, why then would he still stick with her even after it was over?
But as she thought about it, she suddenly started to realize and the realization struck her like a stab on a wound. It was all too much for her to take in and she cannot be here for another second.
"Scarlet, wait!" Adam called out.
But she couldn't. Scarlet was already running away, as fast as she can, away from the possible lie that Adam might be feeding her, away from what seems to be the reality, the reality she could not take in.
Was she really a bet to him? She thought as tears started to blur her vision.