CHAPTER 3
As the day wore on, the sun began to set earlier than expected, casting a warm orange glow over the city. Lucinda, however, didn't seem to notice. She was too busy being her usual energetic self, bouncing from one task to another as she worked from home.
Despite her productivity, Lucinda's mind began to wander. She couldn't shake off the feeling of restlessness that had been plaguing her for weeks. It was a harsh reminder of her current jobless state, a reality she was struggling to come to terms with.
Just as Lucinda was starting to feel overwhelmed, her phone rang, shrill and insistent. She hesitated for a moment before answering, hoping against hope that it wasn't another rejection call from a potential employer.
But it wasn't a job opportunity on the other end of the line. It was her aunt, her voice dripping with condescension.
"Lucinda, I'm surprised you're not working yet," her aunt said, her tone biting. "You're not getting any younger, you know."
Lucinda felt a surge of anger, but she tried to keep her cool. "Aunt, I'm trying my best. It's not easy out there."
But her aunt wouldn't let up. "Your parents would be disappointed if they knew you were still jobless," she said, her voice dripping with malice.
Lucinda felt a stinging sensation in her eyes as tears began to well up. She couldn't believe her aunt's heartlessness. Didn't she know that Lucinda was still grieving the loss of her parents?
"Aunt, that's not fair," Lucinda said, her voice shaking. "You have no right to bring them up like that."
But her aunt just laughed. "Oh, come on, Lucinda. Don't be so sensitive."
Lucinda felt a dam break inside her, and she began to sob uncontrollably. How could her aunt be so cruel? Didn't she know that Lucinda was still trying to come to terms with her loss?
As she cried, Lucinda felt a deep sense of pain and sadness. She realized that she was not only grieving the loss of her parents but also the lack of support and understanding from her own family.
Just as Lucinda was about to break down completely, a commotion outside distracted her. She wiped her tears and walked over to the window, looking out into the street.
To her surprise, she saw two men arguing heatedly. One of them was a stranger, but the other... Lucinda's eyes widened as she realized it was Chris, the same man she had bumped into earlier.
Despite the anger on his face, Chris looked... different. His features seemed more defined, his eyes more piercing. Lucinda felt a shiver run down her spine as she gazed at him, taking in his well-defined physique.
For a moment, Lucinda forgot about her tears, forgot about her aunt's cruel words. All she could think about was Chris, standing there, his chest heaving with anger.
She felt a strange sense of familiarity, as if she had known him before. It was a ridiculous thought, but Lucinda couldn't shake it off.
As she stood there, frozen in admiration, Chris looked up, his eyes locking onto hers. For a moment, they just stared at each other, the world around them melting away.
Then, Chris's gaze dropped, and he turned back to the stranger, his anger reigniting. Lucinda watched, mesmerized, as the two men continued to argue, her heart pounding in her chest.Here's the continuation of the story:
As Lucinda watched, Chris's anger seemed to grow, his face reddening with each passing moment. The stranger, however, seemed unfazed, his expression calm and collected.
Despite the tension between them, Lucinda found herself drawn to Chris's passion, his energy. She felt a thrill run through her veins as she watched him, her heart pounding in her chest.
Just as it seemed like things were about to escalate, Chris suddenly turned and walked away, leaving the stranger standing alone on the sidewalk. Lucinda watched as Chris disappeared into the crowd, feeling a pang of disappointment.
As she turned away from the window, Lucinda couldn't shake the feeling that she had just witnessed something important, something that had left her feeling breathless and excited. She felt a sense of anticipation building inside her, a sense that her life was about to change in ways she couldn't yet imagine.
NOON OF THE NEXT DAY.
Lucinda and Ody sat sipping their lattes at the cozy coffee shop, discussing Lucinda's joblessness. Ody was being her usual supportive self, offering words of encouragement and advice.
"I'm telling you, Lucy, you'll find something soon," Ody said, her voice filled with conviction. "You're talented and smart. It's just a matter of time."
Lucinda smiled, feeling grateful for her friend's support. "I hope so, Ody. I'm starting to feel like I'll never find a job."
Just as Ody was about to respond, Lucinda's eyes landed on a familiar figure walking into the coffee shop. Her heart skipped a beat as she realized it was Chris, the same man she had bumped into twice before.
Lucinda's eyes widened as Chris walked into the coffee shop, his gaze scanning the room until it landed on her. She felt a shiver run down her spine as their eyes met, but instead of approaching her, Chris simply nodded to himself and walked over to the counter.
Lucinda exchanged a confused glance with Ody. "What's going on?" Ody whispered. "Is he stalking you or something?"
Lucinda shook her head, feeling a sense of unease. "I have no idea, but this is getting creepy."
Chris ordered his coffee and waited for it in silence, his eyes fixed on some point across the room. When his coffee was ready, he took it and left the shop without so much as a glance in Lucinda's direction.
Lucinda let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding. "What just happened?" she asked Ody.
Ody shrugged. "I have no idea, but I think we should get out of here. This guy is seriously giving me the creeps."
Lucinda nodded in agreement, gathering her things and following Ody out of the coffee shop. As they walked away, Lucinda couldn't shake the feeling that Chris was still watching her, his eyes boring into her skin.
WHAT WAS HE UP TO THIS TIME 😲😲😲😲😕