CHAPTER 43

Twisting and turning in her bed, Anna sighed out loud.

Ugh, I can't sleep.

She glanced up at the wall clock. 1:30am.

Seriously?

Pulling the blanket over her head, she groaned under it, as not a bit of sleep brushed her eyes. She turned to the other side and peeked at the night sky gleaming through the window. It was so peaceful outside yet she was restless inside.

The calm and quiet night just made her feel more uneasy. What's wrong Anna?

She flipped to the other side of the bed and her eyes instantly locked at the small red cover book that was staring at her from the table for the last whole week.

It was terrible of her to just pick someone else's belongings and get it home. But she hadn't checked it, yet.

Should I?

No. I shall return it back to Raven this weekend.

But what if there are things in there that Raven hasn't told me? Or maybe he didn't know?

She sat up on the bed, still staring at the little book. I can get some or maybe all the answers to my questions that I was never able to ask Raven.

It was just more than obvious that the diary belonged to Areum. The images of her eyes from the painting came unbidden to her. No doubt, she was unbelievably beautiful. Raven must have been madly in love. Anna thought. But Raven never told her how Areum...

Reluctantly, she hopped out of the bed and reached for the diary, bringing it back with her to the bed. She stared at the little book down in her lap and ran her fingers across it's edges, still unsure of what she would find inside it.

It was hidden behind that painting. How weird. Anna herself hid her diary under her bed but this seemed suspicious. Something wasn't right. Why was that painting so dusty, whereas the rest of the room was clean? It didn't make sense to get.

Anna closed her eyes briefly and took a deep breath. That's it, just a few pages. If she don't find anything related to her questions, she would stop reading.

That's it yeah? Okay.

She unclasped the clip that was binding the book close and it flipped open.

*Kim Areum

The name was beautifully inscribed on the first page it self. She had a beautiful handwriting. Although Anna remembered Mrs. Lorraine telling that she was originally from Korea.

She flipped a page, then a few more blank pages before the similar handwriting caught her eyes again.

"My Father is dead...."

Anna's eyes widened slightly at the very first entry that she read. Gulping, her eyes travelled down the page but could hardly understand what it was. It was some other language. Korean?

She turned the page and the unknown language was scribbled all over again. There were only a few lines that she could understand that were in english somewhere in between.

"I don't want to do this...."

"I have never seen him...."

"He said I would get enough money to pay the Students Loan...."

"I have to do this....."

Anna frowned, pinching the bridge of her nose. What is this all about? Somehow she was not able to connect the dots between these phrases. Students Loan? But Raven said she was working as an employee in some company.

Anna shook her head and flipped the page again, then again. Everything was Greek to her. She couldn't understand anything. The book was of no use to her, when she couldn't even read what was written. She went on turning the pages before her eyes caught a word. A word she could probably recognize anywhere.

"His name is Raven."

She saw the name and her heart suddenly started thumping hard against her chest. His name could definitely affect her but it wasn't quite right at the moment. Her stomach coiled, an odd feeling rising inside her.

She scanned the page and for her luck, there was more English than 'Greek'.

"I moved to New York. It's beautiful here but I miss home.

I have to meet Raven today...."

Anna flipped the page, her eyebrows knitting together.

2 January: "He is umm...very humble, nothing like that person said. I acted out in the elevator, just like he told me to and Raven actually helped me. I left my name badge near him. Everything is going according to the plan."

Eyes stuck to that last word, she read the whole sentence again. Did I read it wrong? Plan? So her name badge, meeting in the elevator was a ....plan?

3 January: "Yesterday night, he found me at the hotel. I don't know what got into him, he pounced onto me and kissed the air out of my lungs but it was....good."

Anna felt the bile rising in her throat. Her fingers clutched the hardcover. She didn't want to read, but she wanted to read. It was confusing.

7 January: "I got paid today. My first earning after moving to New York. It's much more than what I used to earn in Korea. This is sooooo much more."

What exactly was that job? Anna thought. There was no way she was working in that hotel. It seemed everything was pre-planned.

13 January: "Raven came to meet me at the hotel reception. He asked me out to a date. He seems really, genuinely interested in me. Raven is a good guy. I feel bad for him."

Anna shut the book. What the heck? Was she some kind of criminal?

Nibbling down on her lip, Anna flipped open the book again.

20 January:- "He asked me to be his girlfriend. I said yes. I mean, I had to. We kissed again and this time it felt different."

4 February:- "I think I like him. Raven is so caring and affectionate and intimidating. But he can't keep his eyes off me. For the first time in my life, I feel like I'm....loved."

Loved. It wasn't just Anna. Raven made everyone around him feel loved. She gulped a lump forming in her throat.

20 February:- "I can't get him out of my head. Raven is just, everywhere. We spent the night together yesterday. He made me feel like no one ever did and no one would probably ever do. Every inch of my body was on fire and asking for more. And he did it so good. It didn't feel like sex.

He made love to me."

Her throat went dry. Anna zoned out, feeling her fingers going numb. The little sting in her heart went unnoticed by her as she flipped the page.

16 March:- "I paid off the students loan with the money I got. I lied to Raven that I am going to a college reunion. I don't like doing this, I wish I could just tell him everything."

4 April:- "I have fallen for him. What have I done? This shouldn't have happened. That man threatened me to quickly finish the work. I don't know what to do next. Should I tell Raven everything? Will he hate me?"

Things were just getting more and more confusing. Who was she talking about? Why will Raven hate her? Anna flipped to the next page.

19 April:- "Someone is following me. Everywhere I go, I feel a shadow wandering around me. Someone is keeping an eye on me, watching my every move. I asked that man but he said he has nothing to do with it. I am scared. I want Raven to know this. I have to tell him about this."

So someone was actually following her.

27 April:- "He was chasing me. That man in black jacket. He is everywhere I go and today he almost got me when Mark suddenly showed up. He took me home. I don't know what would have happened if Mark didn't come in time. I told Raven about someone following me and he was worried.

I am scared."

Chills ran down Anna's spine. She felt like she was reading a horror story and the end was dangerously close.

12 May:- "Raven confessed today. I can still hear him saying 'I love you'. He is the one. I love him too. I love him and I am never letting him go. I will tell him everything...soon. But I am afraid, he won't leave me right? He said I am his first girlfriend. He never did girlfriend thing in college, haha. That's hard to believe though."

He never had a girlfriend before her? Anna brows ceased together again. What else was he hiding from her?

23 July:- "I thought I lost this diary but I found it under the rug. I have soo much to tell but whom should I open up to? Raven is just so loving and affectionate. I can't loose him at this point. I met that man and told him that I don't want to continue this. He threatened me that he will make my sister suffer. I don't know what to do?"

Anna gasped. Areum had a sister? Raven didn't quite mention that before. He probably didn't know about it. This girl was so mysterious.

20 August:- "I almost got hit by a car. Raven it out of state for his business trip. I am so scared to be alone. Very odd things are happening around.

Suah is coming from Korea to meet me. I haven't met her in months. My little sister is growing up so soon and what a pity I cannot be with her."

6 September:- "Raven... Proposed. I am shaking, cannot believe my ears. I am going crazy. I want to say Yes and I will ..... tomorrow."

Unknowingly, a smile tugged her lips up as she turned the page. Wait what?!

The page was torn. She turned to others and they were all ripped. What the hell?

Anna ran through the half of the book, shredded and stopped at the last page. Thankfully there was something written on it.

Anna read the last line, and the book slipped out of her hand, onto the floor. A single tear rolled down her motionless eyes as she tried to slow down her racing heart. Areum... Raven...

Anna hugged her knees. Trying to make herself as small as possible. She bit onto her lips, but finally let out her tears, as she sobbed into her hands.