Chapter 3: Chapter Two
Chapter 2: Stay a night with a stranger
Selena's POV
She had a nice shape, thin waist and Ivory skin, which looked glossy. She crouched down beside me, placing her arms around my shoulders and pulling me closer to her chest like a mother would do to protect her child. Her strawberry scent didn't escape my nose.
I got a bit relieved with her actions and it was hard to hide the fact that I was thankful when her glittering brown eyes locked with mine for less than a second. She smiled at me, her heart shaped lips almost forming a perfect arc.
She wore an elegant gown which perfectly matched her white jacket that used to be spotless, but was now stained with my sweaty palms.
"Hello, 911… What's your emergency?" She didn't sound scared one bit. It was firm. What if she gets mixed up in this?
She stretched her phone towards the thugs and they looked at each other but none said a word or moved a step.
"911… Your emergency please."
"I'm at the…" the lady spoke and the men backed out slowly.
"Can you speak louder, miss?"
"I'm at the … the green city alley and a bunch of men are harassing my friend." She spoke fast but sounded strained and scared. One would almost think she was my friend.
I looked up when I heard footsteps. The men hurried off.
"The police are on their way. What's the situation now, miss? Are you well hidden. Don't make them sense your presence"
"It's okay. They've fled, Cole." Her voice was now emotionless. She hung up.
My brows furrowed.
What just happened? Did she just pull a prank on those men? What if they saw through it?
"Are you alright?" She asked as stretched her right hand towards me.
I avoided eye contact and brushed her off with a smile.
"I'm… I'm fine. Thank you " I said getting up and taking some steps backwards.
"Careful!" Her voice was soft.
"Sorry about your jacket and thank you for saving me." I made sure I sounded as sincere as sunlight.
"Don't mention it. I'm glad I helped." Her voice was really soft. Why can't I stop commenting on it?
If it was an item, it would have been cotton candy. Sweet and Lovable.
Still not looking her way, I bit my lower lips as I distracted myself with the objects I found in the road. The uncomfortable silence was slowly sucking sanity away from me. I was thankful but why hadn't she left?
I should probably create some distance between us. Who knew if she would be worse than those men? These few days have been nothing but bad luck.
I scanned her while she was scrolling down her phone and I tried hard to remember if we've ever met.
It's not in this century you'd see nice people much.
She caught me with a smile.
I prayed for the floors to open up or the skies to tear up so I could use the rain as a ticket out if this.
"You don't know me. I'm Alexis Krystal." She introduced herself.
"I just checked… There wouldn't be any bus or taxi plying this road for tonight. What are you going to do?" She sighed and massaged her temple, glancing back at the road.
Was she worried about me?
I blinked multiple times and scanned her properly again, bottom to top. Her shoes looked very expensive, so were her clothes. They looked like the same set of clothes I saw in the magazine when I passed by the mall earlier today. She simply looked breathtaking. How would a nobody , like myself know someone like her?
"I'm … I'm so- sorry but yu … You don't have to worry about me. " I stammered because of uncertainty. What does she want from me? Why did she save me?
"Do you live close by? How about I give you a ride or are you going to the airport or train station? Feel free please." I looked up at her once again. Her smile hadn't relaxed a bit.
"Excuse me?" Almost yelling, I could feel my goose bumps creeping in. My hand turned cold as I tightened my grip to my box.
"Oh… No. I just want to help. I could show you my ID card or driver's license. I just noticed … Well, it's obvious." She spoke really fast, waving both hands In front of me and pointed to my box at the word "You are holding a box. You must either be leaving or entering town, right?" Talking too much caused her breathing to be unsteady as she placed her palm over her chest, staring at me with a twitching smile.
She could stop smiling and calm down first.
"Thank you so much for your help, but I think I can take it from here." I gave her a little smile with a curt head nod.
She was still trying to get herself back and gave her a short wave, "Take care."
I turned around, and walked away quickly.
"Wait." She popped up a me front causing me to jump back, my heart also almost escaping out of my chest. My body shook and I placed my hand over my chest. Now it was my turn to steady my breathing.
"I'm sorry." Miss Elegant quickly apologized.
"I don't want to sound rude or harsh. I'm also sorry I'm intruding but… Where exactly are you headed? I could really give you a ride."
Where exactly am I headed? Anywhere the night takes me. Her words tore open a cut and maybe deepened it. I closed my eyes and sighed.
"Hello…" She tapped lightly on my shoulders and I opened my eyes.
"I'll be fine. Don't worry."
"You could tag along with me?"
"Thank you for the offer but —"
"I can't abandon you here. For the rest of my life, I would feel guilty" She sounded like an Angel.
Stay out here in the cold or stay a night with a stranger. I weighed my options.
"Do you have wine?" I blurted out and closed my eyes. Knots forming in my stomach.
She smiled, placing her hand on my luggage.
"Even limited editions." She giggled and pulled my luggage away from my grip.
How can I go to a stranger's place because of wine. Selena! get a hold of yourself.
***
The room was dimly lit, the sofa was soft as the stuffed bear I sleep with back home. I held back the pleasure and excitement and continued to study the room.
"Cheers!" Alexis' face glowed under the chandeliers as she raised a glass of wine in front of me.
"You look beautiful." I quickly placed both hands over my mouth.
"I meant your house looks beautiful"
Stupid. Stupid. Stupid. I mentally scolded myself. My mouth hadn't be working well with my brain.
"Thank you." She giggled, removing the band that held her hair up and used her fingers to comb through it as she smiled sadly.
"You… are welcome." The ground should open up now please, thank you.
"Like I said earlier. Feel free please. Let's blame everything on the wine tonight, shall we?" She didn't wait for me to raise my glass and clicked hers with mine.
She laughed happily as she wiped her mouth after emptying the contents in a gulp.
Isn't this wine really alcoholic?
"Can I tell you a secret?" Her words were no longer pronounced right. She had low alcohol tolerance then.
"I don't think—"
"I suck at dating. I'm a single freak."
"Wait what?"
Am I supposed to know this?
Hell no!
"I don't think we are this familiar Miss Krystal." I coughed out.
"Dwop… de courtesy. Call me Alexis or Lexi ewen." She was definitely drunk now. "Let's stay in a hotel tonight. I also don't want to go home." She downed another full cup of wine. Her hands moved really fast. When did she pour herself a fresh cup?
Maybe I'm too distracted.
Wait…
Did she just say hotel? If this isn't her home, then where are we?
I scanned the building. It looked like a house, inside and out. I then looked at Alexis, puzzled, tilting my head quizzically. She was about to down another cup of wine, but I snatched it from her.
"Where are we?" I demanded.
"Don't you think that sounds too harsh? Ungrateful…" Alexis scoffed, rolling her eyes and turning away.
I sighed. "I'm sorry."
"Didn't you want to drink? Give me my cup if you don't want to." She stretched out her hand. "Your boyfriend left you for your best pal, and all my crushes never love me back. Let's drink to that and curse them loudly. Should I put some music on?" She ransacked her purse. I guess searching for her phone but, it was right in front of her.
"Forget about music. Let's drink." She threw her purse sideways. A grin slowly formed on to Alexis' face and she raised the bottle of wine close to her face. Caressing it and kissing it like it was a baby.
"I've drunk enough tonight."
"You suggested the wine, so you have to drink more than enough." Was she trying to throw a tantrum with me?
"I'm really sorry… I was all in my head then. I think I completely sobered up in the car on the way here. I'd like to leave now."
"Just have a drink with me." She sounded glum.
"You were at the bar earlier today."
"What?" She said raising her eyebrows and widening her eyes. Her lips also dropped to an 'O'.
"How else would you know I got dumped? Or you've been stalking me lately?" I sat up straight and studied her face closely. I had to be alert. What if she's actually a stalker?
She looked away from me, remaining silent and not moving an inch after turning away. I could feel the temperature of the room drop; I could even hear her breathing and mine. Maybe I'm just over thinking now. She doesn't seem like a bad person.
"Are you-"
"Don't think too much. I was there tonight. Well, then…" She smiled widely then suddenly burst into laughter. She picked up the bottle and topped my half-filled cup. She gently raised it up and smiled before quaffing the entire cup empty.
She's so creepy. Gosh!
I took a sip out of mine; the alcohol burning my throat, but the peachy sweetness was to die for. I understand now why she won't leave her cup empty. I could also drink this every day, that's if it wasn't a quick way to death.
"It's nice… isn't it? I told you. I've got leemiited edition wine. This is one of a kind." She placed her cup on the table and filled it up once again. "This is my co…cousin's place. Don't worry… I… I won't do anything bad with you." She giggles and I chuckle lightly.
This is getting weirder each second.
"I'm sorry but, why did you help me?"
"I'm a good person who doesn't stand bullies."She laughs out of nowhere again.
She's going to give me a heart attack at this rate.
"I'm sorry about that. I startled you and just so you know… I'm sweet as an angel. " She cups her face in her palms, smiling like a lucky bride on her wedding day. Foolishly!
"Well, now you are a drunken angel."
"At least I'm still an angel." She chuckles. "Cheers!" She raised her glass again.
"What are we toasting to?"
"Us."
"Us?"
"Yes… Us."
***
I had a mouth that felt like the Atacama. It also felt like my head was going to explode. My stomach had a painful burning sensation inside it as it gurgled continuously. My back aching, starting from my waist and went up to my neck. Beads of sweat were already on my forehead and a tear escaped from my eye. I moaned in pain, slowly opening my eyes, but they were too tired to obey and the tear drops poured in a steady flow.
"Lena! Lena! Wake up." It sounded neither soft nor loud, but it was enough to make my head hurt louder.
I groaned.
With my eyes half opened, I tried to move my pounded body, but it wasn't cooperating. Nothing was cooperating with me right now. My eye lids fell back.
"Don't move. I'd be right back."
The footsteps slowly faded away, and I sighed in relief.
Time to think what's going on here. I have never drank this much.
My eyes flew open, strength coming from nowhere as I pushed my body up sitting straight.
*Flashback starts*
"I paid for this month's house rent alone Selena." Daniel yelled
"You are right. I should leave instead."
"Selena that's not what I meant. Fucking calm down."
"Daniel. If one day…. One day. You see your best friend fucking with your girlfriend, tell yourself to calm down and not me."
* Flashback Ends*
"Shit!" I groaned massaging my neck and wondering where I was. I shouldn't have a place to stay but why doesn't it feel like I'm sleeping on the subway station bench. Why did I feel warm and cozy? Even the air didn't smell like dirt and people.
Where am I? Did I do something regrettable yesterday?
"You are fully up! Lay down back a bit."
It was like time stopped for a moment as I gazed at the owner of the voice. She was wearing a flower patterned shirt with Jean shorts and held a tray of food in her arms. Who is she?
Did I win a lottery yesterday?
"Who are you?"
"Think hard." She chuckled as she walked up to me.
I did as she said and pondered on it really hard.
"Have some of this. It'll make you think better." She stretched her hand holding out a couple if pills. Did she take me as a five year old? Why would I take drugs from a stranger?
"If I planned on doing anything to you, I would have long gotten away with it while you were asleep." She poured water into a cup and stretched it to my alongside the pills.
"You really don't trust people easily, I guess, I do have a charm or you wouldn't have gotten into my car easily."
She was unfortunately right but still, she should give me some hints. All I remember about yesterday is that, I spent my last cash with me in the late afternoon and walked into a bar and….
"She's the lady that saved me yesterday." I whispered to myself
"Miss Krystal. I'm so sorry. I can take things from here."
"Don't worry. Drink up."
"Really?"
"Take the medicine and eat up!".
"I can't repay you back."
"This is what friends are for?"
"Friends?"
"Of course…. I know all your secrets." She beamed mysteriously at me but, her honeyed voice caused it to sound funny instead of baffling
"Alexis? What's going on here?"
We both looked over to the door.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone