“AM I HALLUCINATING?”

ISABELLA'S POV

'Hmm," I sighed as I lay on my bed with my eyes staring at the pop ceiling. I imagined what my life would have been if Nate hadn't disappeared. Perhaps we would have been in a resort in Sandals Royals Caribbean in Montego bays, in Jamaica, probably sipping some lemonade or red wine.

Trying out new foods would have been my favorite, I've always wanted to visit Jamaica . Grandma used to tell me sweet stories about the place when I was a kid. Her and grandpa had met each there.

"Knock ! Knock!" I heard a knock from the door.

'Who might that be ?' I wondered and quickly rushed to see who it was.

"Hello…!" I searched around the house wondering who that might have been. But I didn't find anyone. I walked back into the house angrily, who dares interrupt me in my solitude.

"Ahhh," I groaned as my stomach roared with hunger. "I know you're hungry, okay? You don't have to be aggressive." I patted my stomach trying to calm it down. I walked tiredly to the kitchen and tried to fix myself something to eat.

"Knock knock!" 

I heard again, this time louder than before. "Am I hallucinating?" I asked myself, wondering if I was only imagining things, or maybe it was that side of me who's still expecting to hear his knock on the door.

'Better be you this time Nate, I don't want to go crazy.' I held my head trying to compose my thoughts. "Is that you Nate," I asked whoever it was at the door hoping that it would be him.

"Who's in?" The person asked. 

"Hi!" He Said as I opened the door.

"Hi," I replied with curiosity and surprise . "Colin…? What the hell is he doing here?" I muttered.

"Heyyy," he smiled," it's…been a while ." He almost stuttered.

"Yes..yeah it…has.." I stuttered with a shaky voice.

"May I step in?"

"Yeah..sure." 

"How's life been, Bell?" He asked me pitifully. By this time I could sense he was already feeling nervous.

"Shouldn't I be the one asking you that question, Colin. You're sweating profusely, and I'm certain you didn't just come to ask about me. What do you want Colin?" I folded my arms staring daggers at him.

"Really…" He made a small laugh ." I'm feeling nervous that's all, and for the second part…I did really come to check up on you."

"You came to check up on me..! Am I dead?" I slapped my face trying to wake up from my imagination. "You're still here.." a sudden realization hit me like an iceberg. "Did he send you? Did he send you to come…" I hadn't finished my statement when He interrupted me with a subtle smile .

"Babe…no one sent me, I am here on my own. I've gone past that stage of being told what and what not to do already Bell, and I guess you too have." He stared at me. I couldn't tell if I was imagining things. Was he staring softly at me or was it a subtle look? I felt some wetness in my eyes and quickly looked away from him. Perhaps it was a pity.

"Then…I guess you're here on your own, what do you want? You've seen me right? I'm still alive okay…" I said stubbornly.

"Of course you're still alive! No one's expecting you to die." He said sarcastically.

"Then why are you here? Why are you here?"

"I..I saw the news." He bowed his head and that made me wonder ' What reality dawned on him?' 

"Hmm," I sighed. "So..you came to feed your eyes and see if it's true right? Well I'm going to tell you one thing. I know my father's hands are behind Nate's sudden disappearance, and if I find out you're also a culprit…you all are going to regret ever hurting me."

For the second time Colin, for the second time! If Nate gets hurt or even a scratch…" I noticed my eyelashes were already wet. I couldn't finish my statement.

"Your father did nothing, no one's trying to hurt you intentionally, that's the one reason I don't like you. You're always thinking that the world's against you whereas you're wrong." He suddenly said drawing back to reality. I could sense annoyance in his tone. 

'Well, I don't like you either!' I said in my head.

"Isn't the world against me?! I have never found true happiness, but just once in my life I think I can finally be truly happy, the world strikes!" I felt a surge of crushed excitement in my heart.

"Hmm," he sighed, taking her hands into his, he said, "you are really going to be okay huh."

"Don't touch me! Don't you dare, you're a part of my problems. You have my inheritance now, so why don't you just leave me alone! Just go, go away from my house, go away from my life, just go!" I cried,hitting and pushing him away as if I was actually pushing my problems away.

"It's okay Bell, I will but, I promise I will be back, you're not in the right mind now and there are things we need to talk about, especially concerning your inheritance."

"You can take it all, I need nothing from you, just go, that's all I need."

"Bye for now." I could sense weariness in his tone although he had a smile on his face.

"Bye forever ." I muttered sadly.

"Arrrgh!," I cursed as I shut the door. 'Imagine I can just shut the door against every enemy of mine.

I inhaled some smell of burning food coming from the kitchen. "God!!!" I rushed to behold my nicely cooked rice turning black. "Colin…Colin…" I laid on the kitchen floor sobbing, I couldn't bring myself to do anything at this moment. I just wanted my Nathy, that's all.

"Isabella dear" I heard a voice say.

"Jesus! " I exclaimed tiredly, getting up from the kitchen floor. "Am I dead?" I raised my head to see who it might be.

"You might eventually die if you continue like this."

He stood at the kitchen door with a smile plastered on his face.