Chapter 5: Cellphone
Zein's Point of View....
I tightly closed my lips as I felt nauseous. I leaned back in my chair to somehow alleviate the dizziness enveloping my head.
"You only came here to drink?" Vanessa asked disbelief, her eyebrows furrowed. "You could have done this at your home... You are messing my apartment." She lectured, observing the mess I made.
I didn't know whether to laugh or what. I felt ridiculous. "I am really a mess. You don't have to remind me." I replied bitterly.
I heard her soft sigh before she glanced out the window, which was already enveloped in darkness.
"Does he know you are here?"
I shook my head because I ran away. "Van, he almost got hurt again because of me." My voice nearly cracked as I threw those words out.
Am I really stupid? A magnet for accidents? Am I really a dangerous person? Is his life always in danger when he is with me?
"He chose to be in danger to save you. It's not your fault, Zein."
I laughed bitterly. I knew that, but I just couldn't accept that even he almost got hurt. I know Ace is like that. I know he can do everything for me and I feel the same way.
My eyes widened when I remembered that guy's smirk. I didn't know him, and I didn't even see his face because his eyes were covered by a hat, but every time I remembered his smirk... all the hairs on my body stood up.
"Are you okay?" Vanessa asked when she noticed my mind wandering again. "Did anything else happen?" She asked worriedly.
I swallowed before shaking my head. I poured alcohol again and gulped down the contents. My mouth parted as I felt the bitterness.
"Why is it so hot in here?"
"ZEIN! Don't undress!" She stopped me when she saw I was taking off my blouse. "The aircon is on full blast, you're just drunk." She added.
I laughed. "The aircon is on full blast and I'm still heating up... I just want to ask, Van. Am I that hot?" I asked.
That's it! I've been hit! I'm drunk and I can no longer control the words coming out of my mouth and where I'm getting them from.
I stood up and ripped my blouse.
"What the hell?!" Vanessa exclaimed, turning down the aircon. "Put on some clothes! You might get sick, oh my! Ace will scold me for this." She pouted.
I felt somewhat relieved by what I did. I was just in jeans and a bra. I fixed my hair behind my ear before pouring another drink, and before I could bring it to my mouth, a hand immediately stopped me.
I pouted and watched him snatch the glass from me and give it to Vanessa, who just scratched her head.
"Let's go home..." Ace invited me, not even looking at me.
This guy? He still has something against me. I almost fainted trying to seduce him earlier, but it was nothing to him.
"Ace..."
"Z-Zein... I'm taking you home."
I grabbed my hand that was holding his and pulled his neck. I claimed his lips, which he reciprocated.
I closed my eyes, feeling how lucky I was to have an ace come into my life. Can I still let go of my ace? Probably not anymore.
I felt something cover my body before I realized he had put his black blazer on me.
He held my chin and faced my face towards him. I swallowed as I stared into his hazy eyes. It felt like they were sucking all my strength and releasing my excitement throughout my body.
"Let's go home... We'll talk at home."
In an instant, I was in his car. He turned off the aircon and opened the window.
I pouted. What are we going to talk about again? Hays. About my drinking. He'll probably lecture me about that again.
"You didn't even say goodbye." I heard him say. I knew there was annoyance in every word he spoke.
"Damn." He muttered a curse before hitting the car horn with his palm, which created noise.
"Why are you honking?!" I shouted.
There was no car in front of us, and the road was clear. This jerk is acting up again.
When we arrived at the condo, he pushed me onto the sofa and crossed his arms in front of me.
Shit! Here it comes, Daddy Ace is going to lecture me.
"Zein, you shouldn't-"
"I shouldn't be going out at night, especially without telling you. What if something bad happened to me? You would die of worry. I won't do it again because I'll be in big trouble with you. This is an order from the Highest Supreme Student Government and I can't do anything about it."
He furrowed his eyebrows before smirking. Shaking his head, he sat beside me and faced me towards him.
"Zein, you shouldn't drink alcohol without me because I know you get possessed when you're drunk. This is an order from your boyfriend..." He said before laughing softly. "I love you." My pout got even longer when he gave me a fleeting kiss on the lips.
After taking a bath, I dried my hair. I felt sober somehow. Maybe it was because of his kiss and hug. My kind of drugs.
I hugged myself as the cold air came in from the outside of the open window. The white curtain was even flying in the wind.
I closed and locked it. I paused when I remembered I hadn't opened the window. I had left it locked this morning.
I just shrugged. Maybe Ace came in here and opened the window. But why would he open it? UGH!.
My forehead creased when I saw something resting on the table. I unplugged the blower before heading there.
I nearly jumped for joy when I saw my cell phone. It still had the Dora casing.
But how did it end up here? Maybe it was returned to Ace and because I wasn't around, he just left it here.
I moved it away from me when I smelled a foul odor, as if it came from the trash. I wiped it with alcohol and charged it.
I flopped onto my bed and looked at the ceiling.
He saved me again. Because of Ace, I wasn't hurt. Thank you, Ace.
Someday, I will make it up to you for everything. I'll make sure it's worth more than all you've done.
I woke up feeling great. My body felt alive. I was also active in my subjects.
"Whoa! Who is that for?" Vanessa asked me when she saw what I had baked.
"You already know. I don't need to answer."
"Whoa! You're so grumpy, hes."
I just walked past her and put the cake in the oven. I removed my apron because it was hot.
"Please watch it, Van. I'm just going to buy something. I'm hungry."
"Buy me something too."
"Money?" I held out my hand for money but she didn't move.
She raised an eyebrow before pointing to the cake I asked her to watch so it wouldn't burn. She held out her hand too. "Money?" she said.
I just shook my head before leaving. That girl's mind is something else.
"Zein!"
I stopped when Cedric, who was smiling, blocked my way. What does this guy want again?
"What?"
I asked, showing my lack of interest in whatever he was going to say.
"I just wanted to apologize." He said shyly. "I shouldn't have lied to you about the meeting."
He added.
He looked restless in front of me, as if he wasn't used to this. Maybe he really isn't used to apologizing, that's why he's like this.
"Okay"
"Wait..." He stopped me. "Did you get your cellphone?" He asked further.
I took my phone from my pocket and showed it to him.
"Thanks." I said.
"Thanks? Wai-"
I didn't listen to him and just continued walking. I bought a burger and soft drinks for both me and Vanessa.
"Who is that for?"
"Putik!" I yelled when someone suddenly appeared in front of me—Ace and Matt. "Why do you surprise me?" I asked Ace irritably, who just smirked at me.
Matt laughed softly.
"Is all that just for you?" He asked me with a frown.
I shook my head.
"For the two of us n-"
"And since when did you become a servant?" He cut me off, making me shut up. "I treat you like a queen, and you're going to be a slave for someone else?" He asked in disbelief.
I just shook my head before kissing him on the cheek and leaving.
That guy is the king of overreactions. He's the most oa guy I've ever met; Vanessa is only second to him.
When I arrived at the lab, my cake was already in a
container. Vanessa snatched the things I was carrying. She didn't even say thank you.
I put the cake in a box and Vanessa and I went to our next classes. That afternoon, I went back to the lab for the cake.
I was going to give it to Ace and I knew he was probably off from school by then.
I called his cellphone and, surprisingly, it rang a few times before he answered. Usually, he answers on the second ring. He must be busy, and maybe I was bothering him.
My forehead creased even more when no one answered on the other line. I glanced at my cellphone screen and I was still connected to him.
"Hello?"
I noticed something strange but just ignored it. I wasn't sure if it was really strange anyway.
I put the cellphone back to my ear but the call was immediately ended.
Weird.
My cellphone beeped and I received a message from Ace.
I almost jumped for joy when he said we should meet at a cafe.
I just took a taxi there. I carried the cake box as I entered.
No one was here?
"Excuse me." A guy in a waiter's uniform blocked me.
"Are you Zein Shion?" He asked me.
"Yes." I replied and he led me to the single table in the middle.
"Why don't you have any customers?"
I asked.
"This whole cafe is reserved for you ma'am." Were the last words he said before leaving me.
I felt giddy. What surprise is this again, Ace?
I scanned my eyes across the whole cafe. It was creepy that I was the only person here, but why did it feel like someone was watching me?
My cellphone rang so I took it out. An unknown number was flashing on the screen and because I don't talk to anyone I know with an unknown number, I hung up.
But why did it feel like it was a huge mistake not answering that call?
_____
Cedric's Point of View.....
It's strange. Why did Zein thank me? I wasn't the one who returned that cellphone.
I was about to chase Zein when she left her cellphone on the chair when we were at the cafe, but a guy in a cap blocked me.
"I'll be the one to give it to her."
"Who are you?" I asked.
"I'm Zein's friend.... I am Hell."