39. THAT WON'T COST YOU AN HOUR
1534 Words
I ran back to the university as fast as I can. I need to get back to the dorm first since I left my stuff that might be needed later inside my room.
As I was running, I heard my phone rang.
Taking it out of my pocket, I saw Claude's name on the screen.
The moment I answered the call, he didn't gave me the opportunity to talk. "The organization knows what you did today, Alyanna."
I wanted to stop running but I couldn't be more late.
"How did they know?" I said in between my breaths.
"I don't know but you better be sure to pull it off tonight or you are saying good bye to Addilyn."
I kept on running.
It's not supposed to be this way. I shouldn't lose my concentration on this mission over some guy.
But he made me feel normal again. For a long while, he made me feel like I wasn't some sort of a robot, or someone who lives just to fulfill a task.
He made me feel like I have the right to live for myself.
I know this isn't the right timing and I don't know if that 'timing' will exist for us, but he became someone special and I can't just ignore some stuff whenever he's involved.
"Where are you?" Claude spoke again when he was just hearing me running out of breath on the other line.
"I am at least seven blocks away from the University."
I heard him sigh. "You better but me my favorite coffee at Glider's, Alyanna. Stay there, I'll pick you up, I'm riding a motorcycle."
He hung up.
It's always Claude who saves the day.
Just a couple of minutes and he was already in front of me.
"Let's get moving Cinderella, you don't have enough time."
I hopped on his ride. "This yours?"
"No, my classmate's. Borrowed it in guessing you'll be running your way back to Addilyn... And you are welcome.''
He roared the engine and I think we're hitting a hundred in speed but I didn't file a complaint.
The motorcycle were moving so fast that I started to get nervous because we're getting close to the university.
He dropped me off in front of my dorm.
When I took off my helmet, he did too. "Are you sure you can carry you task alone, later?"
I could hear the concern in his voice. Honestly, I don't want his help, I wanna pull it alone.
Because this is what I sign up for.
Aside from that, he has his own job, too, that I have yet to figure out.
"I owe you a coffee, see you around."
I passed to him the helmet and I ran towards the dorm entrance.
"See you later!" He waved his hands in the air and smiled at me.
He looks like he is not worried for later.
_________________________________________________________________________________________
I arrived at the Fashion Night.
Everyone looked so busy flexing their dresses, suits, shoes or any other luxurious things they are wearing. I moved to the corner of the hall to line up in the snack section.
As I roamed my eyes around, the area looked like a ballroom hall of a hotel. I should commend those who took part in the designing of the venue.
I saw some of my classmates across me, they are making sure they have the perfect poses to upload on their social media accounts.
They are having fun.
They are enjoying their youth.
While there is me, with a heart beating fast, searching for anything that might be suspicious.
I was getting a plate when someone hugged me from the back.
"Aly!" Elise was literally screaming in my ear. "I missed you!"
I turned around to face a blushing Elise. "You're drunk." I stated the obvious. "The night has just started and you already looked wasted."
"Don't be so mean." She pouted as she pointed the her fingers outside the halls. "There's a game outside, I lost so I need to chug down the beer."
"Are you sure you're okay?" She looked like she's going to sleep anywhere.
"I am but I have a question." Her face changed from enjoying the night to a sad orbs longing for some answers. "Have you seen Claude?"
I roamed my eyes around hoping to catch a glimpse of him but I found nothing. "No. Why? Is there a problem?"
She roamed her sleepy eyes, too. "Oh, nothing." She giggled as she chugged down the remaining beer in her bottle. "It's just that I know he's keeping a secret from me but I pretend not to see." She smiled at me. "I was saying to myself 'he's gonna open up to you soon', I've been very hopeful but the percentage of that happening is zero."
I moved closer to her, she was still smiling but tears are trying to escape her eyes. "I'm sure Claude has his reasons."
"I know." She replied. "I just feel like I am losing because this is starting to get real." She pointed at her chest. "Weakling piece of shit."
"Come, I'll take you to your seat." I held her hand and assisted her to the nearest table. "I'll make sure to tell Claude you were looking for him, okay?" She nodded with her eyes closed.
"By the way, Aly, you look so good in your black dress, you're waking up the man in me." She managed to open her eyes then wink which made me smile.
"At least I look good in someone's eyes tonight." I replied.
I was about to walk away when someone replied to me.
"Well, for the record, you look good in every color."
I turned around to see Daniel in a matte black suit.
"Hey." I said to him.
"Hey." Daniel replied. "I just heard my sister talked to you, I am so sorry, I didn't know she'll do that." His face looked worried.
"No, it's okay, I enjoy the conversation with her." I assured her.
He nodded in response. "The party is about to start, do you have a seat?"
"Oh yeah, no. Not yet. I was so busy talking to a drunk friend of mine I forgot I don't have a seat yet, but I'll manage."
He moved a little closer to me and leaned on my ears. "Come with me?"
"No I am okay."
"Please?" He said.
Is this the first time I heard him say that? His eyes were as deep as ever and he looked so good in his suit.
"I wonder why I can't say no to you."
He smirked as he gently held my arm and led the way.
"Just for the record again, you already said no to me."
Oh, the moment he confessed.
________________________________________________________________________________________
The night has already started. Everyone inside was having a blast. I am kind of jealous they don't have anything to worry about.
Roaming my eyes around, everyone looked so damn expensive, like they are all ready to walk in the runway in front of us. Even Daniel, with his height, the way his suit fits on his body so well, he can walk there effortlessly and I am sure women will fall on their knees.
My thoughts came running back to Claude, I still haven't seen him.
I started to get worried. If he's not here, then most likely he's already doing his mission.
"Oh please be fine." I murmured under my breath.
"What did you say?" Daniel leaned to me.
"Nothing."
The host made his way at the stage again.
"We will now start our next segment! The Addilyn Runway with the famous model Cleo Xiao!"
Everyone was yelling on their seats, either cheering their classmates, or just simply drunk and having fun.
"Hello love birds!" Demetry tapped both of our shoulders. Another drunk human. "I missed you!"
See? Same lines from Elise.
"I'm with my boyfriend, Grey." He pulled out Grey from beside him. I didn't see him there.
He was reluctant to greet us but he still managed to do so.
"Hey." He simply said.
I immediately moved my eyes away from him.
"It's starting! I'll see you guys later after The Runway! I'm hoping that I am still awake after that."
Grey assisted him out of our vision.
He looked at me one last time, checking if I'll talk to him.
No. Not now. I have stuff to do.
A staff from the event came to Daniel.
"Mr. Rowder, they are waiting for you at the backstage."
"You're walking there, too? Then why are you here?" I asked.
He sighed in response. "Can you just find a replacement, I don't feel like walking there."
"We need you there as the Sinclair's heir." The staff replied.
"That won't cost you an hour, go now ." I commanded him.
"You're alone here." His eyes were a mess. He's been looking everywhere.
"I've been alone almost my whole like. Fifteen minutes of more alone time won't change anything." I smiled at him.
"You kept on saying you're alone. That makes me wanna take care of you more so you won't feel that anymore."
How can he just casually say that?
- Writer
