Chapter 13: Chapter 13

The timer on my monitor blinked, reminding me to take my lunch break. I changed my status on the system to ‘On-Break’, locked the drawer, and grabbed my keys. Good thing it had so far been a slow day, or else I wouldn’t have made it this far. My body had not yet fully recovered from lack of sleep, leaving my brain at less than full capacity. I was on my way to the cafeteria when I heard someone call out my name.

“Hey, Mira, wait up!”

I glanced back to see Kris running after me, a mischievous smile gracing her ruby-red lips. A groan formed in my throat when I realized that I’d forgotten to call her after I disappeared on them last Saturday morning.

“Hey, sorry about leaving without saying goodbye to you guys,” I said when Kris caught up with me.

“Oh, don’t worry about that. We had a great time. And without spending a single cent, too. Marcel paid for everything.” Kris giggled and winked at me.

“Really? Well, that’s mighty generous of him. But I’m glad things didn’t turn out to be a total disaster for you and the girls.”

“So am I! Marcel’s really sweet. He barely left my side the whole time. I’m gonna see him again tomorrow, after our shift. Wanna come with?”

“Uhm, no, thanks. I don’t really enjoy going out on a work night,” I said. Kris gave me a sideways glance and shook her head.

“Goody-two-shoes,” she said, throwing me a raspberry. Then she moved closer and linked arms with me. “So, you and Nick, huh? When did this happen, you sneaky slut?”

“None of your business, biatch,” I drawled, smirking at Kris.

Kris laughed and playfully pushed me away. “You’re such a spoilsport. Well, you can keep him. I’ve already got Marcel wrapped around my little finger.”

“Well, I’m happy for you. Just be careful, okay? You hardly know the guy.”

“Since he’s Nick’s best friend, perhaps I should say the same to you. As the old geezers say, birds of a feather flock together.”

Not really, I thought. Marcel was as different from Nick as night was from day. Nick was more of the silent, brooding type, while Marcel was gregarious and a real ladies’ man. I didn’t want to make Kris think I was sour graping, though, so I didn’t say exactly what I thought.

“Let’s both be careful,” I said instead.

Kris giggled and linked arms with me again. “We’re both so lucky, girl. Imagine, snagging two stallions on our first outing. Who would’ve thought?”

I didn’t really snag Nick, and Marcel wanted to be snagged. But I didn’t say it out loud. I didn’t want to offend the only friend I had in this place.

"Wait, what about your other boyfriend? The one you kept meeting up with after work?"

Kris made a face and said, "that was nothing. He wasn't really my boyfriend. We were just f-buddies."

"F-buddies?"

"Don't tell me you've never had a fuck buddy before," Kris said, giggling.

"Well, er, no," I admitted, my face flaming from embarrassment. I didn't like discussing my lack of a sex life with anyone. Not even with Jan or Mel.

"Oh, my gosh! Mira, don't tell me you're still a virgin!" Kris squealed.

"Keep it down, you jerk. It's not something I often advertise to the world," I said, pulling away from Kris. Thankfully, there was no one else around.

Kris smirked and pulled me back to her side. "Don't worry, girl. Your secret's safe with me. And with Nick in your life, I doubt if you'll stay pure before the year is through. Foreign men need sex as much as they need water."

"Well, I'm not in a hurry to lose it, you know."

Kris laughed again. "Don't keep Nick hanging for too long, girl. Men tire easily of a cock-tease."

We separated when we reached the cafeteria. I went to the coffee station for a quick caffeine fix and some pastries while Kris sauntered off to get her usual meal of burgers and fries. We met up at the table near the door with our food. As usual, Kris’s tray was overflowing. I wasn’t in the mood to spend the rest of my thirty-minute lunch break talking about Marcel or Nick. Good thing our conversation turned to work. Well, Kris talked, or more like ranted, while I listened. By the time we finished eating, I already knew everything Kris hated about our other teammates.

The rest of my workday turned out to be even more uneventful. Greg didn’t even give me a ticket for the one call that didn’t end so well. Obviously, he was very much familiar with Dr. Aaron A. Smith and his never-ending complaints. Practically everyone in our team already had the unenviable pleasure of serving the good doctor. It was just my turn today. No big deal. At least it helped me get my mind off of Nick.

Nick had always been enigmatic, if strange, but he was on a different level of weird this morning. I took a quick shower after he left and was just dozing off when I felt cool lips touching my forehead. It didn’t register at once, mainly because I was dreaming about him and our outstanding date. But when he whispered my name, I jolted awake. It was not his presence that truly shocked me, but the haggard look on his face. He looked exhausted and on the brink of passing out. His face was pale and drawn, wrinkles forming at the sides of his mouth and eyes. It was as if he had aged ten years from the moment we parted. His lips were so dry they were cracking. Yet, his eyes were especially bright, as if burning from within.

What made our encounter really strange, though, were his questions. Never in a million years would I have imagined my boyfriend asking me what my blood type was and if I ever registered as a blood donor. At first, I thought he was joking, but when the intensity in his eyes remained, I realized he wasn’t. He was dead serious. So, I indulged him and told him I was AB negative, and yes; I registered at a blood bank when I turned eighteen. I told him that was how I met Jan and Mel. They were also blood donors at the Red Cross. He then asked me what their blood types were, which would’ve creeped me out, if not for the pessimistic thoughts that popped inside my brain. Was he ill? Did he need an organ transplant or something? Was he looking for people of his particular blood type?

I reined in my fatalistic imagination and told him they were both O negative. We kept in touch because we were all negative and could donate blood to each other. We did it in good humor, a morbid running joke that somehow paved the way to a great friendship. Jan and Mel took me in like I was one of their own. They were the sisters I’d always wanted but never had. After telling Nick all that, his pensive look changed to that of worried, possibly even afraid. His face became paler, the wrinkles on his forehead more pronounced. Was he aging right before my eyes? Of course not, stupid, I scolded myself. No one aged that fast. Concluding that it was just because of the poor lighting in my room, I brushed off all silly thoughts and refocused on Nick. He said he needed to rest, and by his looks, he truly did. Why did he come back so soon, then? What about the subject of my blood was so urgent?

Before I could question him, though, Nick gave me a soft peck on the lips and left, promising to return later to walk me to my office. It was only then that I wondered how he got inside our unit. Jan had already left for work. Mel hadn’t returned from hers. And Jan, being mildly OC, would’ve checked the door three times to make sure she locked it before she left. Did Nick pick the lock? Why didn’t he just knock? Or rang the bell? It would have woken me even if I was slumbering like the dead. I guess I should just ask him later. Jan wouldn’t like it if she learned she had left the door unlocked. Our building was safe enough, but one couldn’t be too careful.

When he returned later in the afternoon to walk me to my office, he was still in his silent, brooding mood. He hardly said a word and I couldn’t bring myself to question him about how he got into our flat. It didn’t matter, anyway. He wouldn’t have done anything to harm me or my friends. I noticed, though, that he seemed more alert than usual. He wasn’t jumpy. God knows if there ever was anything that could make Nick jump. But he appeared more watchful, for lack of a better word. He pecked me on the cheek when we reached my office building and didn’t leave until I was well inside it. Even then, he stood there, watching me walk up the stairs. I saw a few girls checking him out as they walked past him, but he didn’t even give them a cursory glance. My heart soared, flattered that he apparently had eyes only for me. I just hoped it would stay there for a long time.

“Team meeting in 5,” Greg announced.

I heard loud groans from the cubicles. No one looked forward to these team meetings. Not because Greg was an a-hole who enjoyed tearing us new ones. He was actually a laid-back leader. People just didn’t appreciate staying in the office for longer than necessary. After our shift, we were more often than not out the door in a flash. Well, except for someone like me, who didn't mind rendering double shifts from time to time. Neither did I mind staying for a few minutes more. Now, however, I joined the collective groan. Nick would pick me up after my shift, and I didn’t want to keep him waiting.

But, of course, we couldn't get out of this. After we all logged out of the system, we trooped to the conference room and sat around the long table wearing various expressions of bored annoyance. Kris was the most vocal in expressing her displeasure, of course. She had no trouble communicating her feelings. For the next thirty minutes, we listened to Greg drone on about team stats, metrics, projections, etc., etc. I wasn’t really listening. I was more interested in getting out of there than being enlightened about my performance metrics. As soon as Greg finished his report, I jumped out of my seat and dashed out the door, not waiting for the others. Making a beeline for the lockers, I was thankful that Jenny wasn’t the one on duty. I didn’t think I was up to making light conversation this morning.

The first thing I did was take out my phone to call Nick. Seeing three missed calls and a text message from him was a surprise.

The message simply read: “Tried calling, but you must still be at work. I’m sorry I can’t walk you home tonight. Something came up. Will see you tomorrow.”

I felt disappointed, but not too much. Nick was a busy business owner. He couldn’t always be at my beck and call. Still, I was a little sad. Had I known I wouldn’t be able to kiss him goodnight, I wouldn’t have let him just peck me on the cheek earlier.

Slut, my annoying little conscience said.

Prude, I countered, wondering why I was talking to myself.

After putting the phone back inside my bag, I followed protocol and swiped my card. I exited the building with only loneliness to greet me. It would’ve been nice to walk under the moonlight holding hands with Nick. Even if those hands were always cold. I also loved having him around. He made me feel safe, knowing he had his watchful eyes on me. I would miss those eyes tonight. Yet, as I walked down my usual route home, I had the uncanny feeling that someone was still watching me.

And though I wished it was Nick, my gut told me it wasn't.