CHAPTER 5

I woke up with a start, sweating profusely. The nightmares were becoming too frequent and it was making me sick. My migraines were back.

I leaned on the headboard and sighed heavily. The wall clock opposite my bed ticked 6 am. I stood up to go to the bathroom to ease myself. I brushed my teeth afterward and went back to the room.

My eyes fell on my phone and I picked it up to see if there was any message from Mason. I felt he owed me an apology for making me look like an idiot the night before. The night didn't end well because I was mad at him.

Well...I thought Mason was just an average American dude. I never thought the man I was beginning to like was the CEO of the famous Madison Restaurant. I couldn't help but feel a bit intimidated.

There was no message from Mason, I noticed but there were several missed calls from my mom, as usual.

"What the hell is wrong with this woman?" I frowned. I couldn't place the reason for the calls. It was enough evidence of how desperate she was. I didn't feel safe at all. I scrunched my face, trying to figure out why she would want me back home, without any tangible reason.

After some minutes, I gave up thinking as I immediately blocked her number from reaching me.

Her calls were pissing me off and discouraging me from even considering going back home. Her actions were quite suspicious and I decided it was best to stay in Boston, look for a job, get an apartment and start a new life by going to school.

I sighed again in frustration, thinking of where to start from.

I walked out of the room to the living room and my stomach rumbling at that instant. I turned to go to the kitchen to heat some water for tea. That was my usual breakfast and I was already addicted to taking tea every morning.

After making my tea, I took the mug and sauntered out, then bumped into Davis.

"Shit", I cursed as I moved back a little so the hot tea wouldn't spill on me.

"It sounds good coming from you. When did you start using the curse word?" Davis grinned widely and I felt like slapping the stupid grin off his face.

"You almost spilled my tea", I snapped at him angrily.

"We bumped into each other. It ain't my fault", he strolled into the kitchen as I hissed and went to the dining table.

He joined me a few minutes later with a cup of tea too. "Aren't you going to make sandwiches today? It's Saturday."

"No", I answered sharply.

When I was home, we had a menu for cooking. Saturday morning was for sandwich or hamburger, whenever mom was home.

"I've been meaning to talk to you, Zara", he interrupted my thoughts. "I know you heard the conversation between Amy and me. I saw you crying in the room. I didn't mean to hurt you. I was just angry."

I exhaled deeply and I stirred my tea. "It wasn't my fault, Davis. You should have locked the door if you needed some privacy. After all, you were the one who requested breakfast."

"I'm sorry", he apologized again with a smile.

"You don't need to be sorry. I'm moving out soon", I told him.

"What? No, don't do that."

"This is your house. You need your privacy. Besides, mom wants me to back home."

"It doesn't matter. I'm traveling. I will be away for 6 months, so you should stay."

"Oh!" I muttered.

"Yeah. I'm sorry once again", he apologized and stood up with his teacup.

"It's ok", I said with a smile.

****

"I'm sorry already", Mason pleaded with a cute smile I couldn't overlook. He was just too cute.

"You should have informed me beforehand. You caught me off-guard", I wasn't willing to let it go that easily.

"It was meant to be a surprise. I'm sorry."

I stared at his smiling face as I folded my arms. Before I knew it, I broke into a wide grin. I was happy he came back. And I was happy he apologized. I thought he wouldn't and I was damn scared of losing a fine face like him. I felt stupid all of a sudden to have walked out on him the way I did the previous night.

I had been waiting for his call since I woke up that morning. Immediately after my conversation with Davis, I slept all through that I didn't even know when Amy left for school and Davis too. I also skipped lunch. Around 5 pm, I took my bath intending to go to Nichole's cafe to ask if he would employ me when Mason called. I jumped up in excitement when he told me he was downstairs.

"Can we go out?" He demanded, jerking me out of my reverie.

I rolled my eyes, with my arms still folded. "To your restaurant again?"

"No. I have a surprise for you."

"Not again", I whined. I don't like surprises."

He laughed. "Don't worry. I'm sure you'd like this one."

"Really?"

"Yeah."

"Alright. Give me 20 minutes to go and get dressed."

"Take your time, dear. I'll wait in the car."

I nodded with a smile and took the staircase back up to our apartment. I bumped into Amy immediately after I entered the apartment. I forgot she was back from school.

"What the hell were you doing downstairs that took you so long?" She questioned like my mother.

I chuckled and raised my brows at her. "Sorry, mom. I went downstairs to see Mason.

She gasped, "Mason?" I nodded. "The guy we met the other day?" She asked and followed me behind as I entered my room.

"Yep."

"I knew it", she squealed. " I told you he likes you, didn't I?"

"Amy", I called, turning to face her. "You didn't?"

"I didn't?" She looked thoughtful for a while, probably trying to recall if she did or not. "Of course I did."

"You didn't?" I insisted.

"Ok. Fine", she gave up. "What's up with you two?"

"He wants to take me out", I responded and moved close to the closet, to look for a dress to wear. I was really bothered about what to wear since I didn't bring enough dresses from home.

"OMG! Are you serious?"

"Yes."

"Did you bring that red dress from New York?" She moved close to where I stood, looking at the few dresses I brought from home."

"This one?" I pointed to the only red dress in the closet.

"Yes."

"Why did you ask?"

"You should wear it", she said and turned to go out of the room. "I'll do your make-up."

"This dress is way too short, Amy. I'll wear it some other time, but definitely not today."

"Why not today?" She challenged, facing me with hands akimbo and looking at me squarely as if daring me to go against her words.

I shrugged. "It's not dark yet. I can only feel comfortable in this dress if it's dark."

She glared at me and shook her head. Then she turned and I followed.

When she got to the door, she muttered, "You are going to wear that dress and that's final", she slammed the door shut in my face with my mouth hanging open.