“Coffee,” I offered Ismael. He accepted it with a sweet smile. I returned him with the same fascinating beam. We are currently in the field, sitting at the table while watching the sunrise over the sea. Calming. I feel that all my worries are slowly fading away because of this certain moment.
“Professor Mondalla! Are you having coffee again? Didn’t you drink earlier already?” asked a teacher, with raised eyebrows and a laugh. I glanced at Ismael and took the coffee away from him immediately.
“Have you been drinking before? Why didn’t you tell me?” I inquired with my face now furrowed. I couldn’t believe that he would accept my offer of coffee earlier, even though he had already drunk it earlier.
“Because you made it for me, so give it back, honey.”
I was stunned even to move because of the new way he called me. I was caught off guard. He took the coffee from my hand again and drank it.
“You’re so silly!” I yelled at him in disgust.
“Well, revenge time.” He winked at me. I was amused and panicked that maybe someone saw what he did. Fortunately, even the professor earlier has already left. Today is our third day here. They said that we will not spend the night here because we have classes to enter tomorrow.
“Guys, I told you, there’s a ghost here. I don’t want to spend another night here.” I turned to the one who stated that. It was one of my classmates. She was with Savannah and our other classmates. “I woke up early this morning, so I decided to go for a walk, but it creeped me out to hear some noises. It’s still terrifying when I remember. There were cries, laughs, and some howling.”
My eyes immediately went to Ismael. I saw how he smirked, and that made me flush in embarrassment. Gosh. Was I that loud last night? I pressed my lips and averted my eyes, but the moment I looked away, I saw Raviel standing there, staring at us. I was nervous again, but I know Ismael will do something about our situation despite Raviel trying to hinder my relationship with our professor. I trust him and his words.
The day passed quickly, and we were back in Lourdez City. I admit I enjoyed it, even though I was only there for two days. I can say that I became close with my classmates, even though they couldn’t stop teasing me and nagging me about who my boyfriend was. Fortunately, Savannah was always there to defend me from our classmates. I felt like, because of that camping, I made a friend, but I also made an enemy-Raviel.
I was on my way to Marcus University when a lady blocked my way. She was familiar. She is looking at me with those striking eyes, ready to pull my hair.
“Are you that Miss Alvandra?” she asked me. I checked her appearance as well as her clothes. She must be in a lower year.
“Yeah,” I answered sparingly.
A playful grin graced her lips. “I’m Isa Mondalla. I’m your boyfriend’s sister.” She extended her hand, and I didn’t reach it immediately because I was surprised by her sudden introduction to me. Trembling surged through my chest. Ismael’s younger sister is in front of me, which was the reason for my jealousy last time. And she knows our relationship now?
I held her soft hand and forced a smile despite my nervousness. “It was nice meeting you,” she said while smiling. I can’t read her expression. Something inside me doesn’t agree with what’s happening, as if I’ve gotten myself into another mess.
“Great to meet you,” I replied while still holding her hand and catching the scrutinizing looks.
“I wanted to invite you to our family dinner this weekend. I hope to see you there, sister-in-law.”
She left me with my jaw dropped. I just followed her as she walked into Marcus University. What is this about?
I remained in that state until I absorbed what had happened. Someone invited me to a family dinner? What the hell?
I quickly entered the campus, praying constantly that what happened was not true. I hope Isa’s meeting is just my imagination. I can’t believe it. Did Ismael tell her about us? And what family dinner was she talking about?
I bit my lip in anxiety. I feel that every day that comes in my life is full of trials. It always makes me nervous.
I was about to go to Ismael’s office to ask him about the family dinner her sister was talking about, but I saw him enter our class. That was why I had no choice but to be in the class too. Savannah noticed the worry on my face, so she sat me down on the chair.
“Hey, Thea, are you okay? It’s like you saw a ghost,” she greeted.
“It’s not just a ghost, Sav. I feel like I met a grim reaper inviting me to a death ceremony.”
I looked at her, and it looks like I’m not the only one with a problem. Her face shows worry and sadness.
“What about you? Do you have a problem?” I asked. “Is your foot all right?” I remembered what happened to her at the camping.
“My foot is fine now, but… Raviel isn’t here.”
I looked at the chair where Raviel often sat. He is not there. I gulped when I remembered what he said to me last time. I really don’t understand why he seemed angry when he found out that Ismael and I are together. Unlike Sav, who even helps me keep everything a secret.
Ismael’s class ended quickly, so when my classmates left the room I had a chance to talk to him. I immediately closed the door.
“Why did you close it?” he inquiried. I looked at him and met his eyes that were trying to avoid me. I frowned.
“We need to talk.”
“I have class to attend.”
I blink when he says that. It was as if I had been stabbed by words that meant nothing that was not good but caused a lot of thought and trouble in me.
He was about to leave when I spoke. “I met your sister. She was inviting me to your family dinner.”
“You don’t have to go there.”
I gasped when he finally came out of the room. Fuck? What is that? What’s with his sudden change of attitude? Is he trying to ignore me?
I was about to chase after him when I saw that he was no longer in the corridor. My breathing became heavy. What the hell happened? Why does he seem to have changed?
I tried to compose myself and even understand him. He told me before to endure and just trust him, so that’s what I’m going to do, even though I feel like I’ve been ignored earlier.
No, his classes are way more important than attending to my needs. I am just his girlfriend, in secret.
The day passed quickly, and Ismael continued to do the same to me. I feel like he’s distancing himself from me, and even when I try to ask, he refuses to talk about it. Why did it suddenly become like this? We had a good conversation at the campsite. We’re still fine, but after we returned to Lourdez City, he lost his care for me. I feel bad because of how he treats me these days.
I went home to prepare to go to the casino when I noticed that the doorknob of my house was open. As far as I remember, I checked it earlier, and it was closed. I was greeted by a messy room and furniture in my house. Did a thief break in?
I immediately went to my vault hidden in the closet. I was depressed when I saw that it was empty. I just fell to my knees because even my knees were weak from what I witnessed.
I picked up my phone to call Ismael, but I remembered that it would only hurt me more if I heard from him that he was busy with his company, so he wouldn’t be able to come or help me. I dialed the police number instead. While crying, I told the story of what happened.
A few moments later, the police came to investigate what happened at my house. They said that someone saw a man enter my house on Monday as well as this morning.
“Can you think of someone who can do this to you?” asked a policeman. I shook my head.
“Someone who hates you, no?”
I think for a moment. Besides my family, I can only think of Raviel, but it’s impossible for him to enter my house because, first of all, he doesn’t know my house. And to get my money? He is richer than me. It doesn’t make sense.
“If there really isn’t, it’s possible that an ordinary thief entered your house. The only thing that’s surprising is why your house was visited twice.”
“Meow meow.”
I looked down when I saw Mael. I felt even sadder. Good thing he’s here for me. I took Mael to my arms. I noticed that the policeman was looking at that cat.
“Wait a minute, Miss.” He stretched out his hand to touch my cat. He took something from my cat’s neck. It was a small necklace that I just noticed because it was hidden in the fur.
“Kindly check what this is. It looks like a hidden camera,” the police said to another of his companions. I gasped. Is there such thing as a small camera? Smaller than a button?
“I wish for you to remain calm, Miss, but I believe you are being followed by a stalker. That someone put a camera on your pet,” he explained, causing the hairs on my body to stand up.
A little while later, the police officer I was talking to approached us again. The man whispered to him. I became more and more nervous while standing near the living room.
“We’ve checked the CCTV in the parameters, and they found out. There are two different guys who went to this house. And it is confirmed that the necklace attached to your pet is a hidden camera.”
My breathing became heavy. Who will do this to me?
“It would be better if you stay with your friend tonight until it is identified who those two men are.”