Exposé

Smile

Pauline's Point of View

"AAAAH!" I shouted loudly when I woke up because of a bad dream, I was also sweating so I first took the blanket that covered me. When I took a deep breath I thought about what I had dreamed.

I can not see who am I with in my dream because his face is blurred but I can say that we are so close to each other because I am comfortable with him, we just wandered around until he was stabbed by someone I also did not know and then after that, I woke up.

I shouldn't be nervous but because, I just looked at him while he is being stabbed there, I feel like I am the bad person in my dream.

"Just don't think about it Pau, you have a work tomorrow so go to sleep." I calmed myself down and inhaled and exhaled before going to sleep again.

The next day I woke up at seven so I acted quickly, it was hard to be late for work because might be fired. I didn't eat anymore and just left the house straight away, it's a good thing I got a taxi right away so I didn't worry too much. When I arrived at the mall where I worked, the people there were whispering.

"Did you hear the news that a house was blown up by a bomb last night?"

"Of course! I was so shock! How are the people there? Are they fine? The fire was so huge!"

"I heard that they were taken to the hospital. It's impossible for them to be okay but I hope they're in great hands."

I left immediately before I heard their whole rumor, I just went to my office and rested for a while. While half-asleep, I suddenly felt my cellphone vibrating. I immediately took it and looked at who was texting and it was Xariya.

Xariya the Witch: Pau, I have a bad news.

And because I am feeling nervous again, I tip my reply to her while shaking.

Cutie Pauline: What is that? You're making me nervous now! Is it really that bad? Coz I don't want to work thinking about that news of yours.

After a while she also replied and while I am reading her reply I am so stunned and cannot move.

Xariya the Witch: The house where the bomb exploded last night is the house where Dainty lives. I'm really nervous now too.

I don't know what to reply, I am still stunned, all that I can do now is to hope that Dainty is fine.

Lunch came and here I am, still thinking why Dainty got into a trouble like that. I already met her and I can conclude that she's a good person, so why would her life be at risk?

At the end, I didn't finish my lunch because my mind is so pre-occupied. What I did was work and work until I forgot about it. But I didn't, it still haunts me.

***

Xariya's Point of View

I took a deep breath after drinking water and my brain is still processing what was announced on the TV earlier, I couldn't believe what I saw and even more, I couldn't believe that Dainty was living in the house that was blown up.

"You received a rose, my dear cousin." Suddenly my cousin Nate appeared in front of me so I came back to my senses.

"Huh? Just put it there." I just said and wiped my hands on my face.

"Are you all right, Xari? You seem to be restless." He inquired and sat down next to me.

"Of course, I just don't have enough sleep. You know what, just fix your things up there so that you can be useful." I crack up a joke so he won't ask me anymore.

He just scratched his neck and climbed up to really clean their things upstairs.

Nate and his parents just arrived here yesterday, Mom also said that they will live here, because Nate's dad and mine are the owners of this house.

It would also be better for them to be here so if I not home, my parents would be with someone at home. I don't know but I think I became paranoid when I start receiving roses, I have been restless, especially since I sometimes receive black roses.

What I still wonder is how he puts the flower outside the house without me even realizing it.

Is he a ninja or just really crazy?

I was stunned for a few more minutes at the table when my cellphone rang, I immediately picked it up and saw Adrian is the caller.

"Hello Adrian?" I said when I noticed that the other line is so quiet.

[Xari, have you heard what happened?] He finally speak and asked on the other line.

"Yes, do you know where they are now?"

[They are at the hospital where we took Dainty before, I'm going there now.]

"Uh, can I go with you?" I asked coz I'm really worried about Dainty, even though we've only known each other for a few weeks, I feel comfortable with her.

[All right, I'll just pick you up there.] He said and turned off the call.

Some time later I went upstairs to Nate and found him lying on his bed and dozing off. "Take a bath, we will be going somewhere." I said so he got up.

"Woah! Are we going on the site?" He asked and I shook my head so he frowned.

"Just take a bath." and then I left him there in his room to go to mine so he can take a bath and I can fix myself too.

An hour passed when Adrian came here and he's shock to see Nate, who wouldn't? They have been friends for years now and they didn't see each other for long.

"Adrian, my man!" Nate excitedly greeted him and they fist bump. Though, Adrian looks weak and weary and I know the reason behind it.

"Yo! How's life?" Adrian managed to asked my cousin.

"More than fine and I'm still so handsome." My crazy cousin answered and both Adrian and I shook our head and started walking towards his car.

Nate on the other hand is behind us and is laughing so loud.

I looked at Adrian who's now so quiet so I didn't disturbed him anymore, I also told Nate not to disturb him and my cousin looked confused but he still followed what I told him.

While on a car ride, Adrian and I are staying silent while Nate is full of stories. As much as I want to tell him to keep his mouth shut, I can't, because he lightens up the mood now and hey! I forgot about my problem for a while because of him.

Adrian also started talking so they started catching up together.

My cousin is of a help sometimes, huh?

"I suddenly remembered those days when I fetched you in your classroom and cut classes just to play at the computer shop near our school." Nate started reminiscing their past.

"Yeah, that was hella fun. And Xari here is always worn out because of scolding us." Adrian then laughed.

"Coz both of you are pain in the head!" I said.

"But Adrian became a responsible student, that's why he got accelerated, right?" Then Nate smirked at Adrian who just laughed at what he said.

"My father threatened me that he would take me in another country if I continued being like that."

"You were so scared of his threat that you became a dean's lister, huh?" I teased him and he groaned.

"Of course! Come on, you guys know that my father means what he says. Bluffing does not exist in his vocabulary. Same goes to my mother." Adrian said and I sighed heavily.

We had already met his parents and they really are so intimidating. They even lectured me once because they thought that I am their son's girlfriend, I can't blame them for thinking like that because Adrian is my only dear friend back in high school. But I tell you, his parents scolding me was one of the most embarrassing moments that ever happened in my life.

We are almost at the hospital so Adrian fell silent again. Nate noticed it so he asked his friend.

"Who are we meeting and you look so nervous, man? Is it your Dad or Mom? Or is it your woman?" He asked ridiculously. Adrian didn't answered him so he looked at me.

I sighed before speaking. "Remember the news earlier?" I asked and he nodded.

"Uh-huh, what's with that?"

"Both of his co-worker lives there so he'll be visiting them now." I answered and his jaw dropped.

"What the actual f----" He stopped midway because he saw me frowning at him. "I almost cursed, sorry for that. But the hell? Are they fine now?" He asked again.

"I don't know, Nate. We'll know it once we got there. For now, chill." I said and he nodded.

After a while, we arrived at the hospital and I felt nervous again.

"I was expecting that you two will take me to the mall not in the hospital but oh well, safety really matters." Nate said while we were entering the hospital.

I did not get to answer him because I bumped at Dr. Luke Matteo who's walking very fast. I greeted him and he just nodded at me because he's busy talking to someone on the phone.

I can't help but notice how pissed he looks but I did not think about it now because I do not even know him, I just know his name and profession and he is not the person whom I want to see right now.

_____

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