Ilaya got busy washing her body in the bathroom. Ivana's words really hurt and shamed her! She even remember the time when she homeless, walking the streets of Tokyo while thinking that "I don't want to became a walking teargas" But that's exactly what happened!
Ilaya teared up again as she scrubs her body repeatedly while sniffing herself from time to time. Then, she remembered something as she looked at her thighs to search for the stab wound that she inflicted to herself. But she didn't find any scars or something
As she thought about her wounds, she immediately checked all the places that she had been hit by the serial killer. She walked towards the mirror and studied her face
'Nope. No scars, no bruises, and that's a relief!'
She then checked her back where she was kicked repeatedly. She turned around from the mirror and turned her head to looked at her reflection
'Nope. No bruises again. That's great'
Then, she suddenly shivered as she remembers forcefully extracting her left hand from the cuff. She looked at her hand worriedly and still, no scars. She frowned for a moment before shaking her head
Then, she studied herself in the mirror. She looked like herself from tha past weeks, but there's something different to her now. Like… a presence? But also a gloomy one. She sighed and said to herself
"It seemed that all that's happened to me are showing their presence in a different, but subtle way"
Then, Ilaya hurriedly washed herself again, two times as the trauma of remembering the flat expression of Ivana calling her stinky. And the man's expression of pity to her
Ilaya's face reddened again as she decided to wash her body one more time. Then, after finishing her bath, she wipes her body with a towel as she immediately put on her clothes as she walked out of the bathroom
She headed to the window that facing the backyard and she opened it. A gentle breeze tickled her skin as she took a deep breath of the fresh air coming from the trees outside
As she relaxing. A knock sounded at the door
Knock! Knock!
Ilaya turned around and heads towards the door and opened it. She saw a man holding a tray of food as he said to her
"Miss, manager said that I deliver this food to you. Can I enter?"
Ilaya's mouth immediately watered as she gulp from smelling the fragrance of the food. She then gave way to the man
"You can enter. Thank you for delivering the food to me"
The man entered the room as he put the tray into the table. After putting it, the man said to her
"Your welcome Miss. Also, I heard that you'll be staying here temporarily so we'll going to see each other that often. I'm Haruki by the way"
Haruki stretched his hand for a handshake and Ilaya took his hand as she shook it
"It's nice to meet you Haruki, I'm Ilaya. I hope that I don't bother you all while I'm staying here"
The man then let go of her hand as he shook his head. He then said bashfully
"Oh no, you're not a bother here. If you want anything, don't hesitate to approach me or anyone else. They're all kind… sort of. But I've gotta go now, I have many more work to do. See you around Ilaya"
Ilaya accompanied him outside the door as she said to him
"Alright, I'll look for you when I need something. Thank you for your offer. Good luck with your work!"
The man waved at her and he walked away from her. Then, Ilaya was left all alone standing at the entrance of her room. She looked around, she wanted to explore this place, but…
'Maybe I can ask Ivana about it later when she returned'
She soon returns to her room and looked at the phone that Ivana gave to her. She hesitated for a moment, before picking up the phone as she took a picture inside the room. Then, she walked outside and headed to the backyard
"It's really like I see it earlier. It's peaceful"
She whispered as she sat the carpet while looking around. She suddenly felt that it's good if someone is keeping her company. But, it didn't mean that it's an actual person. Just enough conversation will do, so she immediately dialed Mars…
"I forgot to call her!"
Ilaya exclaimed as she had forgotten that she said in her last call that she'll call back later! Ilaya almost wanted to cut the call immediately to think of excuse that she can used, but the call was picked up instantly
She put her phone to her ear as she speak in somewhat nervous voice
"Hello Nee-chan… "
Mars voice then sounded at her phone
[Ilaya! You said that you'll call back after you abruptly ended your call the last day! I waited for you to call but you didn't call!]
Ilaya let out a nervous chuckle as she explained
"Well, I kind of dozed off after our conversation, so I slept…"
Ilaya slowly stopped her words as she decided to answer her truthfully
"I'm sorry, I kind of forgot to call. I have a friend in the hospital room that we ended up talking until night when I last called you"
Ilaya hesitated for a bit before asking
"Are you two okay by the way? I've heard about the fight that happened in the city the other day. How's you and owner?"
Mars on the other side said to her with relief
[It's good that you decided to tell the truth, I'll see through your lies anyway. Me and boss are also okay, the fight that night didn't managed to reach me or him]
Then, Mars worriedly asked about Ilaya
[Ilaya, where are you now? Are you still safe? Do you need any help?]
Ilaya became gloomy, she really did get through a lot and she missed Mars embrace. But she said cheerfully. Or at least she hoped that she sounded cheerful as to not worry the two
"I'm okay now nee-chan! I can even run around now and I have no scars left! Isn't that amazing!"
Ilaya then continued before Mars can speak
"I'm also out of the hospital now. I can probably get to work again there in after a few days I think. I'm currently here at the place of my friends. She was actually kind to me and helped me a lot. She's also going to train me to better protect myself"
Ilaya then turned her voice soft
"So I'm okay now nee-chan. You didn't need to worry about me so much. I'm going back there sooner or later"
Mars then happily said to her
[Ohh! So you're going back in a few days!? Then, we need to celebrate!]
Ilaya nodded and she happily said
"Yes! Celebrate it is!"
Then, the two of them continued to chat for 5 minutes before Ilaya ended the call. She felt relieved that they were not impacted by the fight that she unintentionally caused. If something happened to them in that fight. She will never be able to forgive herself
As she put her phone down, she noticed that Ivana is staring at her with her red eyes while leaning in the door that's headed to the backyard. Ilaya sighed as she stood up and walked towards her
'Our true conversation will finally begin'