CHAPTER 12: WHAT HAPPENED?

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Xia didn't talk the rest of the day. Even Ann couldn't brought up a topic to start a conversasion. The air is cold and eerie, so much that Ann can only follow her around. Ann noticed that Vincent kept smirking while looking at Xia.

'What happened? Something is not right here' While following Xia, Ann guarded her from Vincent. Because of Ann's efforts to guard Xia, Vincent couldn't get near. He can only smile while looking at her.

School ended, Ann still oblivious about what happened to Xia. After Xander picked her up, Ann head back in the campus and waited at the side.

"Well if it isn't Ann, I suppose that you sent Xia off already" Vincent's voice echoed from the end of the hallway.

"What did you do to her?" Ann narrowed her eyes as Vincent drew near.

"What would I do to her? It's not like I could just enter her house with her brother there" Vincent jokingly said.

Ann clenched her fists, she exhaled softly and said "I am going to ask again. What did you do to Xia?"

Vincent's face turned serious "Ann your suspicions of me are getting out of hand. Just because she behaved different today, that doesn't mean I'm the one to blame"

"Xander isn't the type that would upset her overnight. Her father usually isn't at home. She doesn't have any friends other than me"

"So what you're trying to say is I am the one who upset her because I am her friend? Is that it?"

"No, you are not her friend"

"That is contradicting what you said earlier"

"No!! What I mean is—"

"Shush...." Vincent interrupted Ann and walked away. Ann could only stare at his back hoping that it'll kill him. Ann went home and immediately shut the door of her room. Lina could only shake her head.

Ann dialed Xander, "Hello, how is Xia?"

"Still focusing on her book" Xander looked at Xia who is sitting on the couch reading.

"Does she say anything?"

"No, apparently not. I'm starting to get anxious about it"

"I see, did something happened last night?"

"She doesn't want to say anything and keeps on evading the question"

"Did you somehow know what happened?"

"No, she left last night for some mission with a partner that is appointed with her. She came back late that I am already sleeping. I don't know any details about what happened"

Ann was shocked, 'A mission with someone else, why did she accept that?"

"I don't understand, why did she accept a mission without me?"

"It must be because of the reward after the mission is complete. You know that she will do anything to get what she wants" Xander explained.

"Then who is her partner?"

"No one knows, Xia didn't talk to him that much and didn't bother ask his name. Besides I doubt he will say anything"

"Why is that?"

"Well Xia did told me that he refuse to show his face, so a mask was covering it"

"Then, could you get information from the agency?"

Xander rubbed his brows, "You know that they won't say anything about their people right?"

Ann didn't utter anything and just let Xander talk. After a few minutes, Xander hung up. Ann felt conflicted about Xia's mission last night.

Meanwhile, Xia is still reading her book. Xander placed a glass of warm milk at the coffe table in front of her.

"How is school?"

"Good, nothing much happened" Xia said wryly. Xander is completely loss for words. Xia refuses to talk the whole evening. If he starts a conversation, she ends it. This kept going on all day. Xander could only sigh in dis belief, Ann was right.

"Then, how did the mission go?" Xander asked hoping to at least this topic can make her open up.

"It went well"

Xander nod his head, Xia might be tired from last night.

"Surprisingly" Xia continued. Xander halted and listened.

"The guy whom I'm partnered with is competent, that I can say about his skills. However, I do not wish to be with him to another mission"

Stunned about what Xia said, Xander was left speechless yet again. Xia must've been offended or annoyed to be like that.

"What did he do? You seemed to be pissed about it"

Xia shut her book and pulled the quilt over her head.

"I'm going to sleep, good night"

Xander was left again with no chance to say anything. Scratching his head, he turned off the lights and left Xia's room. Dialing someone from the phone.

"Hello.... yes, it's me.... I need you to look up on someone.... Okay"

Xander hung up, looking at Xia's room, he felt troubled. Sighing, he head for his room to sleep. At school, Xia remained isolated from the world as she reads another book from her collection.

"Xia, pleasure to meet you" Vincent cheerfully greets.

"mhm" Xia didn't even lift her head. Vincent grew awkward with every step closer to their classroom.

"XIA!!" a pounce from behind made Xia lose her balance and stumble. Xia straightened herself and flicked Ann's forehead, she opened her book again and started reading. Ann pouted out of disappointment. Ann glared at Vincent who is holding back his laugh.

"I told you to stay away from her" Ann snarled.

"Then do a good job of keeping us apart" Chuckling Vincent followed Xia unaware of what's happening. Ann could only gnash her teeth in anger.

People inside the classroom isn't different from the people outside. Groups of people gather at their own spaces talking about what's new and trending. Xia sat in one corner reading her book. Ann is beside her silently sketching something while taking a few glances of their surroundings.

Vincent sat far from them to not cause any trouble with Ann who kept watching him like a hawk eyeing it's prey.

Nothing unusual happened, Ann and Vincent bickered with each other the whole time. Xia sighed with relief, seems like her mysterious partner from that night didn't bother to disturb her.

The bell rang, class is over. Xia packed her things and head out of the door with Ann when Vincent blocked their way. Ann kept quiet, waiting for Xia to speak but deep inside she is already cursing him silently.

"Would you ladies be nice to have me to take you guys home?" Vincent asked, he smiled gently waiting for an answer.

"Xia will be picked up by her brother so it's not necessary. Besides we don't want to trouble you" Ann straightforwardly said.

"Ann is right, we shouldn't bother you with such things. We can manage things on our own" Xia seconded.

"Aww... I thought I just had an opportunity to know more about you" Vincent laughed. Xia smiled a little but didn't say anything. Ann narrowed her eyes and turned away to leave, she held Xia's arm tightly and walked away.

Suddenly, Xia's phone rang. She excused herself from Vincent and Ann and took the call. Her face turned grim as she listens to the phone. Hanging up, Ann could see a slight disapppointment from her eyes.

"What hapened?" Ann asked.

"Xander called, apparently, he won't pick me up today and he is not coming home tonight. That goes for dad as well, something came ul and they need to take care of it" Xia briefly explained.

"So, you're alone tonight?" Ann grew anxious.

"Yes, that will be the case for me"

"Its not safe for a lady to walk back home alone... Please, allow me to accompany you" Vincent interrupted. What he said made Ann more anxious for Xia's safety.

"No, its okay.... It maybe inconvenient for you, besides it is out of your way home... No need to trouble yourself" Xia declined politely.

Vincent smiled and took her bag and held her hands leading her to the parking lot where his car is parked. Ann followed quickly, getting ready to beat him up. Vincent opened the car door and asked Xia to get in.

"It is really not necessary.... I can just take the cab back home" Xia smiled, Vincent shook his head and persisted.

"Don't be stubborn, its not safe to wander alone... Who knows what will hapen to you" Xia didn't say anything. Ann wrapped her arm around Xia's. Though she is against the idea of Vincent himself dropping Xia to her place, she found herself agreeing to the fact that it is dangerous to be alone.

"I'll be fine.... Ann and I will seperate ways at the intersection.... Surely, I can get a cab from there" Xia refused

Vincent sighed, he pushed Xia in the car and then opened the backseat for Ann. Ann didn't argue as Xia is already inside. He drove away not saying anything. Ann and Xia didn't utter a word, Xia stared out of the window lost in thought. Ann watched closely, afraid anything might happen.

After dropping Ann in front of her apartment. Xia is then alone with Vincent inside the car. Breaking the silence Vincent opened his mouth to speak.

"Why do you have to be stubborn? Do you have something to hide?"

Xia was startled. "My brother is sensitive when it comes to my friends who drops me at my house. He doesn't like it when a lot of people knows where I live. As much as possible, he wants fewer people to know. I can't blame him, I do not like people to know where I live either"

"Why is that?" Curious of such habit, Vincent couldn't help but ask.

"Well, how would you feel when people suddenly pop up in front of your house? Not to mean or anything but I don't like people to come by whenever they want to"

"Then, just refuse to let them in or simply say no"

"Its not easy to say no, people only cares about their own opinion"

"How can you be so sure?"

Xia looked at him, "That's how it is, I learned it from own experience"

"Then you must have got a lot of friends that time"

Xia sneered, "Sure, poeple who is there when they need something"

They arrived at Xia's residence, she thanked him and bid goodbye. Xia went upstairs to her room and changed. Xia opened her book and read until she is sleepy.

'Wonder when they will be home'