Chapter 12: Chapter 12
That night, Annie sat on her bed scrolling through her phone. Reading some of the employees’ comments, her face held a subtle smile and she’d shake her head now and then.
Although she was never interested in gossip, she found this funny. After all, she had suddenly become the trending topic in the whole of MystiArt Productions.
Ah, How cruel is the twist of fate.
She let out a soft laugh before logging out of the company’s forum. She dropped her phone on the bedside table and was ready to lie down, but noises came from the window behind her and she frowned.
If she was shocked or afraid, she didn’t show it. At this time of the night, not even the sound of a car could be heard from the neighborhood.
And while heavy footsteps sounded later from the window, Annie maintained her demeanor. In fact, she closed her eyes, pretending that she was sleeping.
The footsteps approached and stopped by the bed. The figure of a man towered over her. The guy lingered for a while as if to make sure she was really sleeping. In order to confirm, he even put forth his hand to touch her.
“Is this how you barge into your own room?” The girl said calmly, startling the guy.
“Ah! You weren’t sleeping?” He held his chest and exclaimed. “When will you stop acting like a ghost for heaven’s sake?”
The guy looked so panicked that he was literally shaking. He never expected to find her still awake. Moreover, he was fully convinced seconds ago that she was sleeping.
Annie sat up and gave him a cold look. “It’s obvious who’s acting like a ghost amongst us. Where have you been, Dylan?”
“You know where I always went to.” The guy put on a defeated look. “Sis, please don’t alert that woman. If you want me to go back, I will. But first, let me quietly sneak into my room and take something.”
He didn’t know why his room had to be the only room in the apartment without a window. And whenever he wanted to sneak into the house, he’d have to take her window, and every time, she caught him, and every time he’d had to beg on his knees.
“Sis, I’m serious. If that woman catches me, she might tie me to the kitchen door. Do you want to see your dear little Bro in a pitiful state?”
“You’re not even planning to stay home?” Annie chuckled.
“Of course, I’ve got so many fun things to do with my buddies. It’s depressing to live among women always. Let your Bro experience the spice of life.”
“You’re not going anywhere.” Before the guy could register it, the girl stood up and grabbed his arm. “Take yourself to Mum and explain yourself.”
“Argh! Can’t you be cooperative for once?” The girl looked as if he would cry. He wasn’t fragile and could easily slip from her hold. In fact, he was several inches taller. However, knowing his sister, he’d rather not play any funny games.
“Sis, this is important. I must leave this house immediately. My buddies are waiting for me, you have to hear me out.”
“What kind of friends are you hanging out with, Dylan? Don’t you know how worried Mum has been?”
“Urgh! Just let me go.” The guy looked desperate and Annie found it fishy.
Normally, Dylan would be absent from home, but not for many days. And whenever he returned, he’d avoid her instead of their mother. “Are you hanging out with bad people?” She asked.
The guy’s eyes widened a bit then he shook his head quickly. “O–Of course not. Your Brother is a saint. Why would he hang out with bad company? Sis, let me go already.”
“What is that commotion?” A loud voice came from the door. “Annie, is there someone in your room!?”
The voice belonged to their mother, and Dylan looked as if he’d dig up the ground and bury himself in it. Before Annie could even respond, the woman barged into the room.
“Well, look who we have here!” The woman did not look angry, however, the smile in her eyes was enough to make Dylan’s knees weak.
‘Damnit!’ the guy cursed inside.
“Isn’t this the little boy who now thinks he’s a grown man and can do whatever he wants?” She raised a brow and laughed, making the guy cringe. “Good job, Annie. Now, hand him over to me. Let’s see if a nightlong punishment can fix the screw in his head.”
“Argh! No, please don’t!” Dylan yelled as she grabbed him from Annie’s hand. “I’m a grownup man and need my freedom. Sis, won’t you do anything?” He yelled after Annie as the woman dragged him out by the ear.
After the commotion ended, Annie let out a tired sigh before closing the door. She returned to her bed and sat down, but sleep was far from her eyes at the moment.
And all of a sudden, her thoughts wired back to the conference and his eyes flashed in her vision. Annie shut her eyes to clear off the image, but it became clearer with each passing second.
She sighed again then reached for a box under the bed. Inside the box was a small book just the size of a diary. The book was dusty, an indication that it hadn’t been used for a long time.
Annie picked it up and used a tissue to wipe away the dust. Her actions were gentle, a contrast to the turmoil of emotions swirling in her heart. In the middle of the book was a pen. And that page happened to be blank.
Picking it up, she scribbled down some words, her mind getting lighter somehow.
[Suddenly, three years feel like yesterday. Will you not let go even if I ask? Clearly, your mind is troubled. But the heart you long for doesn’t seek compassion. It’ll never be a home to find solace. If only we can forever remain strangers, just like in the meeting today.]
…
‘We are but strangers, Mr. Lim.’
Her words kept him awake all night. He couldn’t sleep even if he wanted to. So, what was the use of staying in his bedroom?
Inside the media room of the Villa, a man was sitting across the large TV screen. On the small table in front of him were tablets of drugs. And the glass of water beside them was left untouched.
While the screen replayed the footage from the conference earlier, his eyes were fixed on the girl standing by the presentation board. Her voice floated into his ears and that careless smile awoke various kinds of emotions in his heart.
Irritation, anger, and some kind of ache he couldn’t explain. Why was Fate so cruel?