Red Riding Hood (5)

"Thank you for your consideration." She said before leaving the HR office. 

Nida was on leave for a day and filed a sick leave with Randell.

She stayed at his unit until her body returned in visible form.

Although the two of them were together in one place and had close contact, they didn't talk much and spent the time together in awkward silence.

They are still not allowed to separate or, at the very least, must remain in the same room at all times.

Nida still needs Randell's life force so she can fully return to normal.

"Do you feel weird anywhere?" Randell asked, still being cautious about what he said. He works hard to earn her trust again, but still talks less to her. 

Although he doesn't want to lose this chance to get close to her again, he doesn't want to force his way too much, which may upset her.

"Nah. I feel healthier. " 

Nida closed and opened her palm. She could see small amounts of silver dust sorrounding her arms. Though she doesn't need to worry about having glittering dust around her because humans can not see it, she is still cautious of the other creatures who have the ability to see her new power.

After her body returns healthier, an unknown silver dust gathers around her. She can control it freely, but the main purpose of this dust is still unknown to her.

She asked Randell if he knew about it, but he didn't, and suggested to ask Daniel instead, since the priest would know for sure.

"Thank goodness that they did not question me about the company car and why I was absent."

"Sir Olitoquit arranged it for us. I guess there will be no problem."

She doesn't know how big the connection between Daniel and the company is, but he made the two of them work in one department.

"You're fine with this?" Nida asked out of the blue.

"Fine with what?" Randell asked while following her from behind.

The two of them are now walking in the middle of a hallway on their way to the trucking department.

Randell was transferred to the trucking department as an additional assistant, in order for them to work in one place.

Nida felt bad about Randell getting transferred to her department because it was like he was demoted.

Safety officer and logistics assistant are too different at some levels.

"I know you're not benefiting or getting anything from this set up, but please give me this favor." 

She doesn't like being indebted to the wolf who once wanted to kill her, but she doesn't have any choice.

She only thought of one possible way to pay back all his efforts so that she wouldn't owe him anything.

"You don't have to feel indebted. I am actually the one— I mean, I owe you a lot. I am much obliged to do you a favor."

"Just don't kill me."

Nida looked straight into his golden eyes and made sure that the wolf would imprint her words on his heart.

"Now that I have my second life. I don't want to die again. I also don't want to ever see your wolf form. Please don't involve me in whatever your pack does."

Randell looked back at her much lighter brown eyes, then swallowed his own saliva. He can feel chills from Nida's stern and serious gaze.

"I-I will never harm you again! I promise! I am fully in control of myself. I can also protect you with my streng–." He was about to offer his superhuman strength and monstrous capabilities, but Nida cut her off by raising her palm in front of him.

"Don't bother with anything else. Just don't try to kill me again."

Randell bit his lower lip as he clenched his fist.

"D-do you still hate me?" he straightforwardly asked.

Nida paused for a moment before responding with a frown. "You know the answer." 

She answered vaguely.

Randell actually doesn't know the answer.

On their first reunion, fear and trauma were what Randell saw in Nida's expression trying to get away from him. It was when Nida thought he would come and harm her once more.

Fear and trauma were what he saw, not a hint of hate or disgust. At that time, he wished to still have another chance.

In the following days, her memories were taken once more, but still showed signs of wariness, as he noticed her anxiety when they talked or when she obviously tried to avoid him inside the office. He's aware that Nida is avoiding him, but he is confused about the reason because he knew her memories were taken. 

They were just awkward around each other at the time and hoped to get closer again.

He plans to start new memories with her, making sure her new moments with him won't be traumatic.

However, last night when she visited him, naked. 

Trauma. Anxiety. Wary. Fear.

Nothing of those was seen on her face.

Randell feels foreign to what Nida showed to him that night.

Is it disgust?

Is it hatred?

Is that contempt?

He doesn't know that is why he asked, but with her vague answer, does this mean she is confirming that he hates him?

Unbeknownst to Nida, Randell's mind becomes chaotic as he wants to know what he really seems to be to her.

His mind was filled with different scenarios and a lot of What if to solve his complicated thoughts.

"Ms. Mildea!" a loud voice echoed in the hallway, bringing Randell back to reality.

"Ms. Sue!" Nida shouted back as she gestured her hands forward to stop her colleague from running down the hallway, worrying she might fall on her high heels.

"Why aren't you responding to my messages? I was so worried! Didn't you get home safely that night? Did I make you work so hard? It's my fault you got sick! I am really sorry! sorry!" She continuously apologized while shaking Nida's shoulder.

"I-I am sorry for not responding, I was not sick because of that, you don't have to worry. I wasn't that sick."

"Hmmn"

Ms. Sue squinted her eyes while holding one side of her eyeglasses. She looked at her from head to toe, then leant forward to whisper in Nida's ear.

"Did you fake your sickness so you could have paid leave?" 

Nida took a step back while nervously waving her hands, gesturing her refusal. 

"No. Why do you think so?"

"Well, for someone who's from sickness you look healthier. You look more beautiful. I mean, you are always beautiful, but you look glowing." She got close to her again and touched her cheeks. "Wow! You're not even wearing any make-up! Which clinic did you get your treatment from?"

Nida panicked about what she should say as an excuse.

How can she hide the fact that her skin returned like a new born baby's? It became soft, flawless, and glowing.

She also doesn't bother to wear makeup because it was ruined inside her bag, and of course, Randell doesn't have any makeup on his unit.

Ehem!

The two ladies stopped their conversation and looked up at the tall former safety officer who had made a fake cough to attract their attention. 

"Oh, Mr. Lobo, I am sorry for not greeting you. I was just worried about her." She awkwardly stated, then whispered to Nida again. "Why are you with our Mr. hottie?"

"I am getting transferred to her department." Randell responded instead.

"Trucking department? That's new. Does they need a safety officer there?"

"No maam, I'll be transferring as an assistant."

"What? You get demoted!" Ms. Sue shouted, then she covered her mouth with her hands.

"I wasn't ma'am, we're actually getting late. Can we go on our way now?"

"AH! ah! Okay! Okay, Sorry for bothering both of you. Nida, don't forget to chat with me later. okay?" She said goodbye while teasingly smiling at her, telling her to flirt with Randell.

Nida just nodded her head and then waved her hand as she started to walk away from her.

"See? Everyone might think you got demoted." she said while letting out a sigh.

"You don't have to worry about anything." He didn't say anything else after he made a short statement as he led the way to the trucking department.

"Oh well, Oh well, looks who's here." A taunting voice welcomed them as they entered the room.

Clap clap clap

The old fatty manager went out of his office and welcomed them by slow clapping and looking at her with disdain.

"It was my first time in my long service in this company to meet a very carefree assistant."

"Ah, I forgot about this shitty manager." She mumbled before she changed her expression into a brilliant professional smile.

"Did you say something?"

"I said, Good morning, sir. I am really sorry for having a day off without notice. I'll make sure to work my hardest today."

"Yes you should. Stop being lazy and do your job properly! You are the only probationary employee who is always ditching work shamelessly. How the hell do you even have a face to comeback here?" The fat and sweaty manager said it with such a loud voice that everyone in the office heard him.

Nida felt the gazes of her coworkers and wanted to punch her manager. She imagined slapping and stabbing her manager in his fatty belly.

tap tap tap

She snapped out of her thoughts when Randell gently tapped her shoulder and whispered. "Hey, don't kill him in front of everyone."

She was puzzled by what Randell had said, but she flinched when she looked back at her manager.

Her silver dust forms ten sharp knives floating around her manager, waiting for her command to stab.

"Ah! Ah! How to release this." She panicked while trying to sweep away the silver dust that she doesn't fully know how to control.

"What the fuck? you crazy!" the manager could not see the dust Nida was sweeping away and thought that she was crazily mocking him.

"You Disrespectful sh—." He was about to hit her when Randell caught his hands and looked down at him with a fake smile.

"Good morning, Sir. I am the new logistics assistant, Randell Lobo." He introduced himself while making Nida walk back to him.

"Relax. You can control them with your mind." he whispered to Nida before turning back to face his new manager.

"May I know, Sir, which is my area?"

"Oh!? Sir Lobo! I am sorry I didn't greet you first. I was so distracted with this neglectful assistant here. Come here, I'll show you around. I'll introduce you to our best truckers here." The annoying face of her manager became more annoying as he tried to look approachable and gentle toward Randell. 

She wanted to grumble about the difference in their treatment, but she focused on the floating knives in front of her.

'What is this? I can kill someone if I imagine things like that?' 

Nida's thinking of murdering and tutoring someone in her mind is something normal and her way of relieving stress, but it is not something she wanted to do in real life.

She starts to control her breathing and calm her nerves.

'Dust, please beahave' 

She chanted in her mind as she wished for the silver dust to calm down and come back to her.

"Sis, the belly fat manager is human. He won't be intimidated by that."

Her concentration was interrupted when a sudden voice popped into her mind, but no one she could see was talking.

She looked around to see where the voice came from.

"You can see my dust? Who are you? Where are you?"

Humans cannot see the dust, but other creatures can.

She panicked as she cautiously looked around, fearing the existence of a creature other than a human.

 Without revealing who he was, the voice said.

"Haha, it's still working hours. Let's chat on break time."