~~Ashley's POV~~
"Babe, I'd kike to use the restroom,"
"Sure." I excused myself to find the restroom.
More than needing a quick bathroom break, I needed some fresh air. I wasn't used to large gatherings such as this. The dance, the music, the annoying chatters; I needed a breather from them all.
I went over to the restroom and when I was done, instead of heading back, I made my way to the poolside. The bluey and calm atmosphere was just what I needed to break free from the disturbance inside. Besides, my heart was already drumming in my ears and that made me very uncomfortable.
I sat on one of the benches by the pool and tried to borrow its calmness by just watching it.
"You said you weren't gonna be here." My heartbeat accelerated once more when I heard the voice from behind me but I managed to mask up by not fidgeting. Recognizing it to be Archer's also helped me remain calm.
He went around and sat beside me.
"I'm glad you came. But with him?"
I sensed misgivings in the way he spoke but chose to neglect it.
"You look breathtaking tonight by the way," he complimented eventually, probably feeling weirded out by my silence.
"Thanks." He didn't deserve the cold shoulder I was giving. I felt sorry but what else could I have done or said? An explanation for my sudden show-up wasn't planned, and right now, I wasn't thinking straight either. I was still struggling to believe that I got donned in a dress and dolled up so beautifully well for the same guy I would never have imagined having anything to do with. It was most definitely not a pleasant experience and yet I could not open up to anyone about it. I had to pretend like I was okay and zip it up for the rest of the evening. 'Hopefully, I get to spend it here undisturbed.'
"Did he maybe force you to do this?" he questioned all of a sudden.
My fluttering eyelids stopped moving and I just stared blankly. To be honest, that threw me off balance for a second there but I was also amazed at how well I concealed the act. I straightened up, crossing my hands over my thighs.
"It was my decision, Archer. I chose to be here," I lied expressly. "I just felt stuffed up back there. I needed some space and that's why I came over here. You know my condition, right? I can't bear with all the noise," I added to spice up my story. I knew my lie would be nearly impossible to buy considering all the ill encounters he witnessed between me and Daniil. So since he knew about my palpitations nearly 24 hours a day, I figured getting his sympathy was the easiest way to buy him over.
"If you no longer want to be here, you could leave. You mustn't stay till the end of the event," he advised, innocently showing concern.
"I would. But I thought to enjoy some alone time here before that." I lowered my head and just fiddled with my fingers, unable to look at him when I spewed that. I was effectively telling him to leave but could not muster the courage to say it outrightly. I could only hope he'd get the message and wouldn't take it the wrong way.
"Alright then." He stood up but moved no inch further. Instinctively, I raised my head to see him smiling reassuringly at me. The corners of my lips twitched when I tried to force a smile but failed woefully. 'Oh well.'
He chuckled, gave me a tender pat on my shoulder before leaving me alone again. I heaved a deep sigh following his exit and just plunged into the silence that returned.
A few moments on, I stood up and walked closer to the pool. I thought to take my shoes off, sit by it, and dip my legs in but opted to look at it from a closer range instead. Footfalls from behind me soon encroached on the calmness, making me feel it was Archer who returned to say something else. But that wasn't the case. Turning around to confirm who, I found Sakura sneering at me with folded arms across her chest.
"Wha…"
"Your impertinence ends here." She unfolded her arms before continuing: "Goodbye, Ashley."
"Huh?..." I moped, not understanding what she meant until she extended her hands and hit them hard against my shoulders.
'Huh? Huuuh??? What's going on?' My feet were off the ground and I was falling. Into the pool!!
"Sakura!" I yelled before…
*Splash* The dark waters covered me.
~~"Ouuuu…" I groaned in response to the sharp pain behind my head. It prevented me from going further when I tried rummaging my head for last night's memories. Then, I was in the pool and now, I was in my bed. How??? I thought that was going to be the end of me. I already concluded I was doomed for rejecting swimming lessons when I had the chance.
"Daniil," I whispered impulsively as if my brain had given me the answer at once. I furrowed my brows thoughtfully…
'Daniil Smirnov,' I had heard him say.
That's right, Daniil! That was his name. Did he help me out? How did he find me? I raised my hands to my head and was already scattering my hair like that was gonna hasten things up and give me the memory piece I wanted.
"You're up?" The creaking sound of my door followed by my mom's tender voice dragged me out of trance. I raised my eyes to see her coming in with a tray of food as usual. My eyes lit up at the sight of the misty glass of carrot juice but dimmed again when I saw the pills lying beside it.
"It's a pain relief. I assumed you'd be having a headache by now," she clarified, probably noticing that. And yeah I was having a serious headache already. I never suffered any head injuries; so why was it always a hassle to remember crucial details after an accident like this one?
She placed the tray on my reading table and walked to sit by me.
"Is everything okay? You look worn out," she inquired with concern.
I said nothing.
"I called the doctor." The doctor? Why? "You were brought home drenched lady night…" yeah I almost drowned, "I had to relate everything to her. She told me not to worry and call her first thing today if something goes awry," she paused her narration and just stared intently at me. Her keen gaze was a bit disturbing so mine wandered instead. "What happened last night?"
*Sigh* I knew all of the storytelling was gonna end in this. While she told me everything, I did some thinking as well but right now, I was stuck. I didn't want to let her in on the truth, neither did I want to give her a story different from what whoever brought me home said. My head was in shambles as I tried to scurry my way out. Her patiently waiting for my reply didn't make things any easier either; it was almost as if she was waiting for me to slip.
"I don't remember," I finally said.
"Luke said you all were having fun by the pool side when you slipped and fell." The crease that stormed in between my brows from the moment she mentioned 'Luke' deepened after she said that. 'Who the hell is Luke?'
"'Luke'?" I reechoed ignorantly.
"Your date last night." Oh! I slammed my palm against my forehead. I almost forgot I gave her a false name. My memories, my emotions, my feelings, all of them worked against me. See how I almost blew my cover.
"Yeah, Luke!" I exclaimed to ward off any doubt. My mom was witty, I didn't want her to sense something was off. "I fell. That's correct."
"You fell?" She stared at me questioningly as though she could not buy it yet.
I nodded.
She stared for a while in silence. "Alright." She at last smiled, patting my head. "Mom is going to be away for a while. In the meantime, you get freshened up, have breakfast, and take the medicine I left for you. I'll also go on to get dressed for I have a long day today."
"You're leaving me?" I asked faintly, following her with my meek gaze as she stood up.
"I'm not leaving you, honey." Bending over, she cupped my cheeks. "I'll only be gone for a while. And then I'd be back," she assured.
"Alright." I nodded nicely.
Walking out, she reminded: "Don't forget your Miss Antonia will be coming later today." I almost did. "I'll call Carson over to stay with you while I'm away." Carson? What for?
"Why would you call him over?"
"Because I'd only feel at peace if he's around."
"But I'm not a child, Mom!" I whined, hitting my hands against the sheets and flapping my legs to protest.
*Slams* She walked out my room and slammed the door; she wouldn't even pause to listen or spare me another glance.
I heaved a sigh of yielding and just delved back into my thoughts. So Daniil was the one who came to my rescue again after all. 'How much longer do I have to remain in his debt? Why could Archer not be the one who saved me again? That way, I'd feel at peace with myself!' "Son of a gun!" I mused aloud, clenching my hair tightly in my fists, feeling the most frustrated right now.
But I felt relieved be didn't tell my mom the whole truth. How would I explain a girl in my major trying to kill me? I paused on realization.
Sakura did try to kill me. She tried to kill me??!!! Or did she think I knew how to swim? Wait, she actually tried to kill me???????!!!!!!
This wasn't helping. I jumped out of bed instead, freshened up, slipped into yoga pants and a loose shirt, had my breakfast and meds, and placed my headphones around my neck before heading downstairs.
I met my mom already dressed and about to leave.
"I instructed the girls on what to prepare for lunch and dinner," she relayed when her eyes met me only halfway down the stairs. "Stay well, my love," she concluded and walked out the door.
I let out a shallow sigh with a dampened spirit and lowered shoulders. It wasn't the first time being away from my mom but it was gonna be the first in a long while she'd be away for that long. I mean, she even instructed the maids on what I'd be having for dinner. That meant, in the worst-case scenario, she wasn't coming home today.
Since Makayla's incident, I mostly spent time with her and it had gotten to the point where I only felt comfortable eating meals singlehandedly prepared by her and would never choose to eat out. Moreover, I became someone who loved to remain indoors. The emptiness I was feeling now made me realize how much my mom grew on me over the past few months; my emotions played no tricks on me this time.
Oh well. Cheers to loneliness today!
I turned around to head to my bedroom when I heard the doorbell ring. Was Carson already here? It would not be a surprise if he was but seriously? Not even a moment to myself?
Before I realized it, I was already going back down.
"Leave it. I'll get it," I dismissed the blonde lady who was trying to get the door. Instead of just turning around and leaving, she stopped midway to mope at me, probably surprised at my actions. Brushing past her gawking self, I went to get the door.
"Carson?" He didn't disappoint at all. 'Good riddance.'
Well, it was my mom's orders after all. 'What else can I say?' I also lacked the strength to fight it so I thought to just let him in but was soon struck with confusion when he remained glued to a spot and would not say anything. I furrowed my brows now getting concerned as well. His facial expression was nothing like it used to be. Did something happen?
He neither smiled nor greeted as he usually did this time. He was rather staring at me with so many emotions swirling in his eyes.
Anger.
Jealousy.
Betrayal.
Anxiety and fear.
Where did all that come from?????