I found myself in my room when I opened my eyes. I don’t know how I ended up here, I was in my college’s library. I don’t remember what had happened. All I remember is that Zane had took the paper from my hand and then I passed out.
Knock… Knock…
No one in the family knocks at the door before entering my room then who can it be?
“Come in” I said. I wonder if I was audible to the person standing out because my voice came out too low.
“How are you feeling now Blaire?” I’m perplexed to see Zane in my room. My sister stood next to him, looking at him with those flirty eyes.
“I’ll get you something” she bit her lips as she said that to Zane. Zane was tall, fair and looked extraordinarily handsome with those sharp jawline. He had a good physique. He had looks of some Greek God. Any girl would easily fall for him and this was Ethie who falls for every guy next door.
Zane sat on the edge of my bed.
“You look feeble” he stated with a smile showing concern. I had nothing to say so I remained quite.
“The news in the paper, that was the thing that bothered you right?” and suddenly all the words in the paper ran in my mind again. I still remember that excruciating scream. I covered my ears with my hands, I didn’t want to hear that anymore.
“Blaire, are you alright?” he asked studying my actions and face.
“I… I was there when that happened” he looked stunned and his brows frowned. His pale face turned even more pale. He was looking at me as if I had offended him.
“Zane, I heard him scream”
“What were you doing there?” he asked looking at the floor. He had a different look on his face now. The paleness was now replaced by a complete blank look.
“I was sitting on the bench outside the forest. I heard him scream but I was petrified to go inside. I thought that the scream belonged to the criminals. But somehow, keeping aside my fears, I managed to go but didn’t find anyone”
“Forest isn’t a safe place for you, that too at night. You shouldn’t go there again Blaire”
“I could have saved him Zane. I wish I was brave enough to enter the forest as soon as I heard him scream. I was there and I could have saved him” the guilt within is soon going to eat me.
“There’s nothing you could have done. You couldn’t have saved him. There was no way” he said those words so easily and confidently.
“And how can you say that? With such confidence” it was now when he shifted his gaze from the floor to me. That blank look was gone. It was as if he wasn’t there when I narrated everything to him. It seemed like he was not present here, he was somewhere else, somewhere in his own world and my question brought him back to the world of real. He is acting like a ghost.
“I mean… Just think Blaire, how could have you saved him? They say that the man was attacked by some wild animal. If that animal can harm a forty year old man then harming you wasn’t a big deal for him. That was detrimental Blaire. Maybe you are alive because you didn’t went inside the forest following the scream” his behaviour was now different from that of two minutes ago, it was normal now. He is opaque. He changes his behaviour and mood within fraction of seconds.
Ethie returned with a tray containing a glass of water, orange juice and some chips.
“Here you go” she said looking at Zane and sat next to him but Zane was on his feet.
“Thanks but I think I better leave now” he cupped my cheeks as he said that.
“How can you leave without having anything Zane? I won’t let you go like this” Ethie said making him sit again.
“Okay but I’ll only have a glass of water” Zane replied.
“Come on Zane, I spent so much time in the kitchen making this juice for you and if you don’t have it then it’ll hurt me” Ethie was trying hard on Zane but it didn’t work on him because he said “I don’t mean to hurt you but I really dislike juices.” I was struggling hard to control my chuckle but inside I was laughing so damn hard. Ethie’s cheesy lines ain’t working on Zane. Her face is worth watching right now.
“Thanks Ethie and take care Blaire” he left after placing empty glass on the tray.
“How come this hawty is your friend?” Ethie said, her hands on her waist. She stressed more on ‘Your’ than any other word. I ignored her and layed on my bed.
“Hello! I expect an answer!” she pulled off the blanket.
“How can a hot guy like Zane be friends with a boring and an ugly girl like you?” I looked right through her eyes.
“Leave me alone. I’m in no mood to talk”
“Stupid” she muttered before closing the door behind her.
I admit that I’m boring and an introvert and I don’t have many friends. I’m not popular in the college, I don’t talk much and love to spend most of my time in solitude but I don’t think that I’m ugly. I pay good attention to my looks. I have good height and long brown hair whereas Ethie is short and that’s the reason why she wasn’t selected for the fashion show of her college. I slightly admit that she has better dressing style but overall I’m much prettier but unlike Ethie, I don’t like to brag about my looks.
Next few hours I spent my time thinking about yesterday’s incident more like gruesome tragedy. The man, his scream, the animal, the forest.
Will I be able to go near that forest again?