Chapter 40: Chapter 40
It was 5:00 a.m. when the drilling with the strict teacher, Asher, ended. I trudged to the hostel alone, sweat dripping down my skin, my hair sticking to my face, and my shirt extremely messy.
"Good morning, Maia." A sleepy Arya greeted me as soon as I stepped into the room. A towel was wrapped around her thin body as she sleepily made her way toward the skincare section in the room.
"Good morning, Arya," I replied with a yawn. I plopped on the couch tiredly and began to take off my shoes.
When we arrived at the gym, Asher made me do all types of stretching, and because I'm a beginner, it hurts since I've never done such intense exercise before.
Furthermore, he instructed me to soak in warm water once I arrived at the dormitory in order to soothe my muscles. Since I'm a beginner, I might experience pain in the first few days.
"Where have you been?" Arya asked me as soon as she sat down on the couch in front of the skincare section. Her small lips puckered in curiosity.
"At the gym." I simply replied and sighed in relief when I finally took off my shoes. I didn't realize they were bothering me until I took them off. I shut my eyes and inhaled a deep breath, wanting nothing more than to soak in the warm water and rest in bed after that.
I should've known that whenever Asher is serious, things with him will become intense.
Still, there was a strange energy that was currently coursing through my body; this energy is undecipherable to me, but what I felt was that I felt powerful currently, but I just didn't know how to make use of my powerful self.
Although I currently felt worn out by the amount of exercise we did, there was a sense of happiness radiating through my system. The thought of getting stronger made happiness course through me, and I broke into a foolish smile.
"You're breathing like you've been overtrained." Maia suddenly uttered, and accompanying her words were her footsteps. "There was news about the newbie Maia being a completely clueless newbie who got beaten by a few moves; I guess those rumors were true. Here is a chocolate milk drink. It's good after exercise." Arya said.
Hearing Arya's statement made me open my eyes. I saw Arya holding an unfamiliar chocolate drink bottle, and I stared at it before looking at Arya again.
"Take it." Arya stretched the bottle toward me, and that made me frown slightly. Is this safe to drink? Won't she…
But she's Wyatt's cousin; she won't hurt me, right?
Although I tried to convince myself to take it, the truth is that I wasn't able to push myself to take it.
Drinks, snacks, fruits, etc.—everything I never suspected and loved had once been used to poison me.
"Oh. Never mind." Arya suddenly said with a feigned happy laugh and took back her drink. "You can take one later if you want to drink; it's in the fridge. You haven't taken this brand before. It's a famous one." Completing Arya's words, Arya uncapped the bottle, but she only held it, having no intention to drink it.
I shook my head. "No. I haven't drunk it before." I replied honestly. I hardly ate a good meal; how can they bear to let me drink something like a chocolate milk drink?
"It's a great and famous brand; everyone likes it, which was the reason it was supplied to the fridge," Arya explained, and I nodded to her.
Watching Arya pause her lips downheartedly, I made a rethink. I guess it's not bad to know the motive of this person.
"Leave the drink next to my bed. I'll drink it after I take my bath." I conveyed this to Arya calmly.
Arya's face blossomed into a happy smile, her lips curving with joy. "Okay." Arya happily replied and skipped to my bed.
Arya's happiness at my words made me frown slightly.
All I did was to accept a drink. How did it make her happy? Was the drink poisoned already, and all she said about Lorelei were lies, which was the reason she looked so happy? My thoughts began to run chaotically.
I don't know if I'm being paranoid, but such little details always stir up my thoughts. Perhaps it's not bad to take a little; that'll let me know what stance to show her.
I'm not afraid that bad things will happen to me. After all, it's hard to be harmed by random poison.
"Maia?" As soon as Arya placed the drink next to my bed, she called, which interrupted my thoughts.
"Hm?"
"Still on the phone, setting stuff?" Arya asked me and began to apply an essence oil to her face. Smelling its beautiful and rich scent, I knew it must be expensive and of top-notch quality.
I nodded and replied, "I stink now. After taking my bath." Feeling self-conscious, I quickly stood up from the couch, a bit relaxed now.
"You stink now? Who said so? I can only smell the beautiful and refreshing flower scent emitting from you." Arya conveyed to me in her tiny voice, her black eyes twinkling sincerely.
I smacked my lips together, resisting the urge to roll my eyes at her words. I had just finished exercising, and sweat was running through my skin. How can I emit a flowery scent? Is that even possible?
However, I pretended to agree, casually nodded to her, and then continued to make my way toward the bathroom.
It was after a while that I came out of the bathroom. After applying my skincare products, including the ones Asher prescribed to me, I wore a low-waisted jean trousers, a crop top, and a jean jacket.
I picked up the books I brought to the hostel and neatly packed them into my backpack.
"How about we solve your phone setting now?" Arya, who was dressed in a unique black school uniform, as Lorelei asked me. She plopped onto the chair while using her fingers to brush her hair.
I nodded and picked up my phone, intending to sit next to Arya.
"You seem to have trust issues," Arya commented with a strange tone, and that made my eyes dart to the drink placed next to my bed.
Did it show so much that I trusted no one? But if she knew the amount of betrayal and humiliation I went through, would she understand?
"No." I simply lied and picked up the chocolate drink under Arya's disbelieving eyes. A surge of emotions overwhelmed my entire system at the thought of drinking the chocolate drink.
A sudden thought to reject the drink filled my head, but somehow the drink seemed to be enticing at that minute. It felt as if it were calling me to drink it. A part of me wanted to reject it so much, while the other wanted to drink it.
I ignored the feelings and uncapped the chocolate drink. Under Arya's comforting gaze, I took two gulps of it and then returned the drink to the table.
Arya's eyes lit up, and she grabbed my hand excitedly. "What do you think about the brand? It's pretty good, isn't it?" Arya asked me with shiny eyes.
I nodded and parted my lips to admit her words, but before I could...
A sudden, strange energy—completely opposite to mine—seemed to penetrate my whole being and turn my whole system upside down in an instant.
It felt as if I were watching a movie. I could see that the energy in my body was pure, while the energy that had just entered my body was the opposite.
The energies were extremely incompatible with each other, so they began to clash—my body wanted to reject this invader at all costs.
Due to the clash of the two powers, a searing pain suddenly gripped my stomach, making me hiss and break into sweat.
This bitch! I shouldn't have trusted anyone.
Arya stood up in concern and grabbed a hold of my arms. "Maia. What's wrong with you?" She cried out, her voice filled with panic. She's still pretending up to this stage.
Is Arya doing this all on her own, or was it with the addition of Lorelei?
Wait. She's Wyatt's sister, and they were cold to me when I greeted them this morning—was it all their handiwork? Is their coldness toward me in the morning a sign? Did they pretend to let me go last night only to do their worst this morning?
My heart was overtaken with hatred. I thought they'd all be different, but I shouldn't have trusted anyone. "Let me go, you liar," I yelled loudly, and without hesitation, I pushed Arya away from me.
"Ahhh!!!" Arya cried out, and immediately she did; her back hit the wall hard—caving the wall—and she fell on the floor heavily.
I froze immediately.