Chapter 33: Chapter 33

PLEASE NOTE: Chapters 31 & 32 have the same content.

Terribly sorry for the mistake.

Chapter 33

ALICIA

Isn't a love declaration between a couple supposed to make them almost inseparable?

Unfortunately, that isn't happening in my case.

Ever since Ash declared his love for me, he's been doing the opposite.

Two weeks.

I haven't seen or heard a word from him in two whole weeks and I'm getting antsy. It's fucking killing me just thinking he could be with other women, laughing, or even doing something more physical with them.

I stop walking and stand in front of the student board, peering, but not really seeing anything on it.

They say men say all sorts of lovey-dovey stuff when their dick's inside a woman, but regret it the minute they're done spewing their sperm. Is that what Ash is doing with me? Is he sitting amongst his mafia friends this minute having a good laugh about the naive girl he just found and -

"The words won't change just by staring at them, you know."

The words are already out of my mouth as I whip around, a welcoming smile on my face. "Ash!"

"No, I'm sorry, it's just me." Stalker guy stands staring at me with a cocked brow and a wary expression on his face. "Although. . . " he moves close to me and lifts a finger to my face and caresses it. "I could be Ash, or whoever you want."

Anger swells inside of me, hot and virulent. Stalker guy steps back, and just in time too, because I would have bitch slapped his face so hard, I wouldn't mind if I'd hurt my hand in the process.

Instead, I close my eyes and swallow my anger before releasing a harsh breath.

"Whoa! Whoever is the recipient of that anger. . . " he shakes his head. "I feel sorry for him."

I look at him sharply, wondering why he hadn't mentioned a she instead.

He shrugs and points to the board. "What do you think of it?"

I close my eyes and turn to the board, only opening them after releasing a sigh, this time paying attention. What I see does nothing for me as I silently read the words.

INDUCTION CEREMONY FOR FIRST-YEAR STUDENTS.

The remaining words blur as I try to understand the meaning of what an induction ceremony is. Behind me, stalker guy moves closer.

"It's wild, I'm telling you, you're going to be in for a night of fun."

I turn around to look at him wondering what he means by a night of fun. Wanting to know more, I ask the obvious question. "Fun? Isn't the school arranging it?"

His eyebrows jump almost to his forehead as he looks at me unbelievably. "Fuck, no! These things are arranged by students. That's why it's on the student's board. You should totally go."

It's already on the tip of my tongue to say no when he continues speaking.

"DJ Reality is going to be there as well as some sick side attractions. Trust me, it's going to be so much fun, plus there's no dress code."

His eyes skim my body and I wonder what he's thinking. I have to take his attention away from me. "Am I supposed to know who this DJ Reality is?"

This time, he looks at me as if I've gone nuts right before he barks out a laugh. "Are you kidding me? He's the best DJ and the current rave. Don't tell me you've never heard of him. Have you been living under a rock?"

His question stings and I tense. It's not my fault I never have the time to enjoy myself like other people my age do. I turn away from him, already walking away when a hand lands on my shoulder.

"I'm sorry, that was a very flippant and unfeeling thing to say." He turns me around, and I let him.

I watch as he rakes his hand through his blonde wavy hair and lets out an exasperated breath. He looks at me and I can see the wariness and uncertainty on his face. Something inside of me warms towards him and I wish to put him at ease.

"Are you going to be at the induction?" I think it's a poor attempt, but when I see the animated light take over the wariness in his eyes, I know my plan worked. It's also enough sign for me to know he won't miss it for the world.

"Hell, yeah, I'm going to be there." He grins and I'm momentarily struck by how good-looking he is.

I let out a sigh and allow my gaze to wander, noticing the school isn't as busy as it was an hour ago. People are thinning out. It's evening after all, and lectures are over. They were over an hour ago but I'd stalled going home and instead, decided to walk around aimlessly and moon on my lot in life.

My gaze settles on stalker guy who's still smiling like it's going out of fashion.

"So when's this induction taking place?"

He gives me a look like he can't believe I just asked that question. "Today."

I shake my head, already losing interest as I begin walking away.

"Oh, don't be like that, what do you have to do today, anyway? Come with me, I'll take care of you, and I promise, no one's going to bother you. I'll be your knight in shining armor."

I fucking love you. The words Ash said to me in a moment of passion flit into my head and I shake my head. "No, you don't," I say quietly to myself. "If you did, there won't have been zero silence from your end."

I turn round to see Stalker guy giving me an odd look. He probably thinks I'm cuckoo.

Maybe I am.

"Alright, I'll go," I say quietly.

"Yeah?" His eyes are alight with joy.

I nod, and he whoops loudly and carries me up, surprising me into silence. We stare at each other - he with a stunned look on his face, and me, well, I'm staring down at him like I've seen a ghost.

After a few seconds of shocked silence, he releases me, but not in the way I expect. His hands are still around my waist when he puts me down on my feet, and he's still close to me. Too close. He has a weird expression on his face as his eyes drop to my lips.

I watch as his head descends low, but just before his lips touch mine, he shakes his head like he's just coming out from a trance. With great difficulty, he steps back, giving me the much-needed space I need to breathe.

"I better go before I do something stupid." He says, raking his hand through his hair.

He takes two more steps back and turns when I find my voice. "Aren't you going to give me your

number?"

He turns around slowly and I catch the look of surprise on his face before he masks it.

"Remember, I don't know where the induction is taking place." I shrug.

"Yeah, sure!" He gives it to me and we part with the promise that he'll pick me up in front of the school gate.

*

Once it's 9 pm, I get an Uber which takes me to the UCLA school of nursing. As soon as I come down, I see a wrangler jeep with the top down, idling in front of the closed school gate. Leaning against it is stalker guy. He pushes away from the car and walks to me with a wide smile on his face. He comes to a stand in front of me and appraises me from top to bottom, taking in my black jean pants, then raises a brow when he looks at the zipped-up jacket I have on.

The weather is nippy so I needed to wear something warm. Underneath it is a black crop camisole I plan on showcasing when we get to the induction because I know it'll be warm indoors.

"At least I'm wearing heels," I say with a smile.

He smiles and holds my hand. "You look beautiful."

I don't know if he said it to make me feel at ease or if he really means it. I don't have much time to dwell on the matter as he's already leading me to his car. He buckles me in before going around to his side and starting the car. I don't know if stalker guy is clueless, but by the time we're on the freeway, my hair, which I had taken time to straighten, is in total disarray as a result of the wind.

Whatever I do to put it in check doesn't work, so I give up. Not long after, we get to a gated estate that's guarded by security. One of them asks what it is we're going inside for and whom we're going to see. Stalker guy tells him we're here to see Hector. I cut him a sharp look but it's either he's ignoring me or doesn't notice.

The security guard moves a distance away from us to speak into a walkie-talkie. I watch as he looks at stalker guy before he nods and touches something that's out of sight beside the gate. They open up immediately and stalker guy gives him a thumbs-up as he drives inside. The houses are huge and spectacular to look at. They're surrounded by trees, and as a result, the atmosphere feels cooler here.

I hear it before I see it. Loud music echoes all around making the ground vibrate. That must be some very powerful speakers they've got. No doubt, I know it's from the induction ceremony. Stalker guy rounds a corner and all I'm able to see are cars upon cars. These aren't the run-of-the-mill type of cars - they're sports cars. Ferraris, Bugattis, Audi's, you name it, they crowded everywhere.

In the three weeks I've been going to UCLA school of nursing, I've never once seen any of these sports cars gracing the school compound. Few of the students even have cars, so how come these sports cars are here? I turn sharply to look at stalker guy, only to see him bobbing his head to the beat of the music and a smile curling his lips.

Even if I try to speak to him, the volume of the music won't allow him hear me. I decide to save my questions for later and see where this goes. As soon as he parks the car, I jump down and look around. The house where the induction is taking place is brightly lit, showcasing the floor-to-ceiling windows as well as the people - so many of them - gyrating to the beat of the song.

At a corner, a Dj with huge headphones concentrates on the turntable, intermittently spinning his hands on it. The more I stare, the more I think something seems off about the whole setup. I can't quite put a finger on it, but as stalker guy's hand lands on mine, the feeling recedes, and curiosity takes hold.

I follow his lead as we walk up the many steps that lead into the house. He swings the door open and I cringe as loud music pours out. The bass is so deep, I fear I'll be deaf for a few hours after I leave here. Everywhere I turn, men and women are coupled up, their bodies almost glued to each other.

I squint at them, trying to see if anyone looks familiar, but try as I might, there's no one I know. That's when it hits me - the men aren't students. It's clear in the protruding paunch in their stomachs as well as the lines on their faces. These are older men, well above the thirty years of age bracket. The women, who by the way, are skimpily dressed, are younger-looking, more my age, but they're happily curled up in the arms of the men, as if. . .they're love interests.

That's when it hits me the second time.

They're call girls.

I look at Stalker guy, at the same time he looks at me. I can see it in his eyes. The lies that are about to spring forth.

"These men are some of the lecturers from school."

He doesn't look at me when he says it, instead, he lets go of my hand and moves away, shouting over his shoulder. "I'm going to get us some drinks."

As soon as he leaves me alone, something starts to flutter in the pit of my stomach until it finds its way to my chest. I recognize it as panic. It flares wildly as if trying to claw its way out. I turn wide eyes around, looking around for an escape.

I can't stay.

I won't stay.

Even if I have to walk home, I just have to get out of here, but as I turn round, ready to high tail it, a hand lands on my shoulder and I immediately react. One of my hands which is balled into a fist connects with the person's jaw. Unfortunately for me, pain lances the whole length of my hand because the man's jaw is like granite. I look up to see a man scowling at me. His eyes are the darkest color I've seen. They're so piercing, I feel like he's seeing into my head.

What makes me recoil is the frown on his face.

"Come on!" He grabs my hand, none too gently. "We're getting out of here."

My mouth drops open on hearing his words.

What does he mean by we're getting out of here?

He rubs the side of his jaw as he regards me. "Mr. Ash sent me to get you out of here. I take my orders very seriously."

This time, I relax and allow him to lead me out of the house, but as he walks to a car, I can't take it anymore.

Why isn't Ash here himself?

Why would he send one of his lackeys to get me instead of him?

"Who are you? How do I know Ash even sent you? Why didn't he come get me himself?" I come to a stop in front of him.

The man rakes his hand through his buzz cut. His eyes are deep set, but assessing. "Let's see - you want to know if Mr. Ash sent me?"

Without waiting for my reply, he brings out a phone and dials a number, but instead of putting it to his ear, he puts it on speaker. After only a second, Ash's deep voice comes on. "Night eyes, do you have her?"

A part of me is relieved to hear Ash's voice but I'm also pissed he couldn't come pick me up himself. They talk for a bit before the man called Night eyes ends the call, but not before Ash tells him to take me to his house.

I want to kick up a storm and insist he takes me to my place instead, but I know when to sheath my claws. . . at least for now. As I step inside the car, I see Night eye's jaw has purpled. It makes me smile knowing I caused it.