CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
DERA'S POV
I watched triumphantly as he battled with the drugged drink's intoxicating power. His Junior stood strongly erect, threatening to burst out of his trousers.
"Get out!" He commanded weakly, not able to stand up like a man to send me packing.
"But why should I leave, when you desperately need me," I pointed to the nodding Junior.
To my surprise, he sprang up from his seat and disappeared into the hallway.
"Where was he going to?" I mused silently, not the least deterred by the unexpected spring.
He returned and it was now my turn to spring up in trepidation
"What are you doing? I asked fearfully, trying hard not to scream.
"What does it look like?" He returned the question, as he staggered forward.
Cold sweat broke through my brow. Surely, he wasn't going to shoot me at such a late hour
"Please drop the gun, I'll..... I'll leave at once," I said in a panic-filled voice.
"No. The gun drops when you slam the door behind you. I ain't joking with you," he muttered dangerously.
"Was it the effect of the drug in his drink that was making him misbehave? Or was there something else?" I thought, not yet making a move to leave.
He stood his ground and kept pointing the gun at me
"Do you want me to shoot? Coz right now you're worthless to me. You're just a pitiful whore. How could sex be the only thing on your mind when I was seriously in grief?" His eyes were now blood-shot.
I swallowed hard, taking slow backward steps, heading to the door. I should probably leave; for one of the effects of the drug was thoughtlessness and aggressiveness.
It could make anyone murder without having a second thought. It could make the most thoughtful person, act spontaneously.
"I'm sorry for my promiscuous behavior but if you could just lower the gun, I would be able to leave" I stammered fearfully. My legs were shaking epileptically; I was almost peeing my pant
"You think I'm joking? Wait until you wake up in hellfire," he took daring steps towards me.
I needed no soothsayer to tell me what to do, as I took out my heels and rushed out of the door, out the unlocked gate and into the empty night street.
It was when I reached the empty night street, that I released the held breath. I had narrowly escaped death.
I was now regretting the fact that I added more than a pinch into his drink. It was the overdose effect of the drugs that caused the aggressiveness; it could even lead to madness.
I walked barefoot on the tarred road, brooding about all my failed plans.
I checked my watch and realized that it was almost midnight. I quietly made a thankful prayer to God, as I boarded a cab that was to lead me to my peaceful abode.
AT THE LIBRARY
RICHARD'S POV
I walked into the library, thirsty for books to read. I was bored and down in mind and body. Dera's rejection had taken a great toll on me. I had difficulty sleeping and was having a splitting headache.
My head kept pounding furiously until I saw this very beautiful angel. Her skin was as radiant as the sun. Her brown hair was shimmering beautifully.
I had never seen such a beauty in my life. Was she real? She was skimming through a book. She could be described as a medicine for my headache, for I could feel no pain anymore.
I suddenly felt doubly ugly in my green polo and blue jeans. "Should I go back home and change to something appropriate before talking to her?"
But no, that'll take up to twenty minutes of my time and I didn't want this angel to disappear from my sight.
I finally summoned some amount of courage and walked up to her
"Hi! I love your dress," I whispered, in order not to distract the readers.
"Thank you," came the reply as she shelved the book she was with and picked a new one without sparing me a glance.
"I'm Richard, and you are?"
"Roxanne," she said, still not sparing a glance.
Why can't she just take a glance at my direction?
"What book are you searching for? I asked, scratching my head a little
"Any that's interesting," she dropped yet another book and picked the next.
"Can I help?" I asked, looking for a chance to spend more time with her. Even if it was just to breathe in the carbon dioxide she breathed out, I would be satisfied.
"Of course you can. But how would you know the novel that's to my taste?" She finally took a look at me. Jeez!! She had blue eyes.
I was already swimming in love in her blue eyes and when she turned to focus on the book she was holding, I began to suffocate.
"Are you okay? She asked in a concerned-filled voice
"I'm fine," I replied, finally able to breathe again with her gaze on me.
But when she looked away again, the shortness of breath started.
"I don't think you're fine. Let's go get some fresh air outside," she shelved the book she was holding, took hold of my hand and led me through the exit door.
I floated behind her, for her touch alone had turned me into flakes in the wind.
We found a quiet, free space on the balcony to sit. She placed her hands on my chest, trying to feel if my heart was beating in its normal way.
How could it beat normally when her hands were on it?
In addition to my heart, my head was swirling with gentle sweetness and my brain, nodding to the calm words of assurance she gave to me. Even my lips twitched hungrily.
SELENA'S POV
"Did you really try to seduce Mr. Edward," I asked Dera as we took a gentle stroll down Williams Street.
She sighed and replied calmly "Yes I did, and I even drugged him"
"You did what!! Are you serious?" I widened my eyes
"Yes, I am. Thankfully he had forgotten about the incident, as he hasn't made any reference to what happened that night at the workplace," she said in a calm voice that was unlike her
"Was he aware that you drugged him?" I asked
"No he wasn't. Just the fact that I was flirty and the rest," she replied while taking a wisp of her black hair away from her lips.
"Oh okay"
We walked quite a distance before I sighted Richard on the library's balcony.
"Ain't that Richard?" I asked the absent-minded Dera
"Where?"
"At the library" I replied
"I think he's the one. But who is he with?" She asked, squinting her eyes a bit to glimpse the person Richard was with
"Isn't that Roxanne?" I asked confusedly. The person whose hand was on Richard's chest was Roxanne. But why would Richard be with Roxanne? How did they get to know each other? Roxanne was certainly full of surprises
"What should we do about it?" I questioned, already furious with the whole affair. Richard was my crush, and just when Dera had given me the go-ahead to date him, Roxanne fixed herself in the picture.
"I think we need to confront her" Dera answered as she made the first move.