"You?" Her hand froze mid air. Her gaze flew on the hooded masked guy, this time he was wearing a different shade of hooded sweatshirt. A blue Pikachu sweatshirt matching the blue mask covering his nose and mouth, making only his eyes visible. Jane locked eyes with him, staring at him as his marble gray eyes stared back at her.
His thick right brow was pulled up and his eyes held that hint of surprise in them. She bet he must be wondering why she said you. She gaped at him, debating within her why he has the exact eyes of Toro Wilson and why he goes around wearing a face mask, wasn't he feeling hot under that sweatshirt shirt?
How was that related to her? Why does she care if he did feel hot or not? But the thing was that she didn't want to accuse or find him suspicious but she saw herself in that state after they bumped into each other that night. Could he have drugged her that night? To create a story? Was he some troll or reporter, looking for spicy stories?
But his eyes—-- his eyes looked like that of that man from her dream.
"Can I have my..." She snapped back to the present when his gentle deep voice came and weirdly enough, it does sound like that of Toro Wilson. If only she could reach out and take off that mask from his face to confirm her suspicion.
He reached out to grab his stuff from her hand and whirled away. Just like he did that night.
"Wait!" The word rushed out of her mouth but he was already out of sight. He was a quick one.
"Do you know him?" Ivy's voice came through, causing her to tear off her gaze from the hooded mask guy's broad back to her.
She saw the curiosity in Ivy's eyes. Knowing she was expecting her to answer. She parted her lips to respond but the pain she felt earlier returned. She clutched her stomach and winced, walking up to the attendant, the nurse behind the counter.
"I have been feeling pains in my abdomen, is there a pill that can help relieve it?"
"When did it start?"
"Today," Jane responded to every question the attendant asked her.
"Did you perhaps eat anything that wasn't good for your belly?"
"Nope," she shook her head. "I only ate my favorite dish prepared by my..." She wanted to say stepmother but she bit her lower lip.
"I only ate the food prepared by our mother." She added.
She looked over her shoulders to Ivy and noticed a smile was plastered over her face. She couldn't tell why she had that smile but she decided to brush it aside, she returned her focus to the nurse attendant.
"Hold on a moment."
Soon, they were done in the pharmacy. They walked out and returned to the clothes section of the mall. She took the pill she bought, gulping it down with the water she bought from the pharmacy.
"So mind telling me who that guy was? You sounded like you knew him?"
Jane plopped down on the seat adjacent to the changing room. Drawing in a deep breath. "It was the hooded guy I told you about, the one who I bumped into in the bar…."
"The one you think might be the one? The one who might be responsible for what happened to you that night? Then why didn't you go after him?"
"I'm not some crazy girl you know. I can't just accuse someone just because of some hunch I have no backing with."
"You are right though," Ivy said, gnawing on her lower lip. Jane swift her head to look at her. A brow lifted in question. "I mean you asked me if I noticed a weird vibe from him. Yes, he does look a bit strange, I mean who would dress like that in public?"
"I get that Vegas is a cold country but we aren't in the monsoon season, right now."
Jane chuckled and pulled her gaze from her. Dozens of thoughts rattled her mind. Since she had an argument with Hugo, he never called or texted to apologize for his words. Was he so upset with her and did she take it too far by slapping him? It wasn't intentional, she was led by impulse.
Should she text and apologize? She queried inwardly. Debating.
"Sis, since the Wonder Prism Studio hasn't called off the offer, you are good to go." Ivy interrupted her train of thoughts.
"Hmm," she nodded. "I'm glad they haven't called to cancel the offer because it would really shatter me. Because this particular drama is gonna skyrock me to the limelight, I would also get to act alongside Toro Wilson."
"You really do like him," Ivy casted her a mischievous smile, her eyes twinkling to match the smile on her lips.
Jane nodded again. "I fangirled him the day I started seeing him on screens—- truth be told, for some reason his movies and dramas inspired me and made me believe I can attain greater heights in HOFL. He's my role model."
Her lips spread in a smile when her thoughts transported back to her dream, his eyes, his smile, his touch, his cologne…... .everything felt real. Even though it was just a dream, she still could feel the aftermath of his lips, his touch. The warmth of his touch, and it was very daring of her to want that dream to be true. It was just a dream and would only be a dream, even if they act together, it wouldn't mean her dream might come true.
Goodnews is that she would still act alongside him.
"Why are you smiling and touching your lips?" Jane narrowed her gaze to her lips and how she grazed them with her fingers when Ivy asked. What's wrong with her? She scolded herself.
His kiss still lingered on her lips even though it wasn't real. It felt nice. She quickly pulled her fingers away from her mouth, glancing quickly at Ivy.
Ivy was throwing her a suspicious look, her eyes were squinted as she wore a skeptical look across her face. "Is there something you aren't telling me? You suddenly started daydreaming."
She shook her head, letting out a nervous chuckle. She couldn't possibly tell Ivy she had a steamy dream which involved Toro Wilson. The squeal she may let out might deafen her ears or more like alarm every single being in the mall.
"Did Hugo finally let you take up the role?" Ivy lifted a brow, harboring a naughty smile on her face. "And did it lead to something else?" She nudged her arm.
At least having her guess that was okay.
He indirectly called me a slut and I ended up slapping him.
She was compelled to spew that out but she bit her tongue. Swallowing back the words. She nipped on her lower lip, harboring a little wry smile across her face as she met Ivy's gaze.
"I knew it was a matter of time," Ivy continued, totally unaware of the battle going on inside her. "I bet he was startled or more like worried you'd not have time for him anymore ...…" She gasped and clapped her hands. A shocked look replaced her face like she remembered something important.
"Isn't tomorrow his birthday?" Ivy's eyes still retained that surprised look. "Surprise him, take him to fancy dinner and make him feel he's the best man you would want to only have, no one else and no matter how busy you might be. You'll continue to prioritize him."
Honestly, if Ivy didn't remind her of his birthday, she wouldn't have remembered tomorrow was his 30th birthday. She's been caught up in this whole mess of having a one night stand with some guy she didn't know and also having it go viral all over social media.
But Ivy was right, she could make it up to him by showing him he mattered to her and also apologize for slapping him.
"I will do that." She smiled. "Also we are done here, right? I need to drop off somewhere alone."
"Alright. I will take the cab...." Ivy said, smiling before winking at her which surprised and got her curious as to why she was winking at her.
"I made the right choice by bringing you here and getting you that dress." She pointed at the dress lying on the couch beside them. "He won't take his eyes off you once he sees you in this dress."
●●●●●●●●●●
She killed the engine, halting in front of a flower store downtown. She alighted from the car and strolled her way inside the flower store. Staring in admiration, the different colors and shades of flowers. Her hands grazed a white daisy flower that looked similar to a sunflower as a pale sad smile appeared on her face when she remembered this was her mom's favorite flower.
She sucked in the tears in her eyes as that flower reminded her of her mother. She walked over to the desk of the florist. "Umm, I want some good flowers to give to a dead person."
"Ohh.. who ... .if I may ask?"
It took her a minute to answer. "My mother."
"Ohh sorry for the loss," the florist gave her a sympathetic look. "Hold on a sec." She walked out from behind the desk and marched toward the flowers and flower pots.
"Peace lilies, white carnations, hibiscus and white roses are good to give to a dead person."
"Can you mix them? Also can you add that too..." Jane pointed at the daisy flowers.
"Sure." The florist beamed at her.
●●●●●●●●●
Some minutes later, she arrived at the cemetery. Took the banquet of flowers with her as she stepped down from the car. She approached her mom's grave, tiny bits of tears were beginning to form in her eyes. She neared her mom's grave and dropped the banquet of flowers and was ready to bawl her eyes out and emptied her heart to her mother when she caught sight of a figure beside her from the corners of her eyes.
The figure dropped some flowers on the grave beside her mother's but she wondered if it was coincidence that she kept running into the same guy. Beside her was that guy, always in a hoodie, he was putting a black hooded sweatshirt and pants plus his nose mask.
Why was he everywhere she was? Was it all a coincidence or something? But when she slightly tilted her head to see the name written on the grave…..He must've lost a loved one too.
Her breath choked and she almost lost a foot when she saw her name inscripted on the grave.
Jane Anderson ....