Raven

Chapter 6

Raven's POV

For the next nights, I had another bout of sleepless sessions. Lilibeth's lullaby only worked for a few hours before I woke up trembling again. She only noticed it a few days later, when the dark circles under my eyes became more obvious.

She volunteered to sleep in my room but as much as I wanted her to accompany me, I refused her offer. I do trust her. Blame it on my ability for making me paranoid.

Just like any close people I know, I once saw Lilibeth in one of my dreams. In there, she was someone with wings. I knew it was her, though it was a little blurry, but it was definitely her. There was this smokey thing coming out from her back but the outline was messy and I couldn't figure out what type of wings was it.

I wanted to tell her about it but I hesitated. There was this time that I had a different dream about her and told her about it, but she only made fun of me.

After that, whenever she appears on my dream, unless if it is something like a bad omen, I just keep it to myself.

What? Do you really think asking her would make me feel any better? C'mon! My dreams were all cryptic. I have to figure out first the hidden meaning before confirming if it was the real deal. It would be bad idea if I just go up straight to her and ask 'Are you a bird? An angel perhaps? Or maybe a demon?'

"One iced black coffee for Raven!" The barista called, waking me up from being dazed. I was so startled that I immediately shot up from my seat and raised my hand. "Here!"

The other customers looked at me as I awkwardly lowered my hand down and mouthed 'sorry' to everyone.

I quickly picked up my stuff and kept everything inside my bag, went to the counter, took the coffee from the barista, and zoomed out of the shop.

All happened in a minute. Don't want to embarrass myself again. The coffee's already paid, so yeah.

I was relieved when I'm finally out of the shop. I took a deep breath, inhaling the air mixed with different types of smells. It's Monday and at the peak of the hour— when commuters were battling for their lives in going to work, so I decided to just walk down the busy streets of Shaw District Square.

I was just minding my own business, as usual, enjoying my coffee when someone caught my eye. She was waving her hands at me, probably getting my attention.

At first, I'm not sure if I was the one she was waving at, and I'm still recalling inside my head if I knew someone with a brunette hair.

Her gaze kept switching between me and the stoplight, waiting for it to go red while gesturing at me to wait for her. She was saying something but I couldn't clearly figure it out due to the distance.

Wait. This scene feels awfully familiar.

That dream I had with that red-cloaked girl. It also happened at Shaw District Square.

When the stoplight finally turned red, she strode towards me, grinning. That's when I remembered. That grin.

"Raven!" She called out.

"Miss Harley?" I asked dumbly, wearing the same dumbstruck expression I had when I first saw her.

She looked different today. She was only wearing jeans, a sweater, and sneakers. Under her black baseball cap, her brunette hair was in a braid. I dunno if she changed her hair color or she's wearing a wig. She had glasses on but that didn't remove the fact that she's still stunning, with her brown eyes. I'm getting confused now about what her real eye color is. People were also looking in her direction, getting mesmerized by her beauty.

"Wow! We meet again. Didn't expect to bump to you so soon." She said while clinging to my arm. It's kinda awkward though. Can you imagine, a tall girl clinging on someone shorter than her?

"What do you mean?" I asked, stuttering.

"Nevermind that. How are you?" She said as she pulled me giddily inside a pastry shop.

I didn't expect to see this side of her, acting so bubbly and easy-going. Maybe because my first impression of her was intimidating. I mean, she's charming, but there's something in her that makes you cower in respectful fear, for no apparent reason.

"Uh, I'm good. Y-You?" I don't know why am I so nervous.

"I'm doing great! In fact, I'm glad that I saw you 'cause I'm bored from work and I need to have some fun. Are you busy?" She said excitedly.

"I don't have anything to do today."

"That's great!" She said, her eyes full of happiness. She pulled me towards the counter and started ordering like she's a regular at this shop.

She ordered so many kinds of cake that I thought she also ordered one for me, not until she looked at me and asked "How about you, what do you like?" innocently.

My internal self was in chaos. How could she look innocent at the same time mature?!?

"A strawberry cheesecake would do." I said, voice decreasing. Glad she heard it though.

After she paid for everything, we looked for a vacant spot and waited for our orders. I wanted to sit outside but the cars were very noisy and it was still bustling with crowds. She also doesn't want to sit near the window so we opted for a spot on the corner of the shop.

The pastry shop that we went into was called Sweet Tooth's Haven. I was right when I said Miss Harley was a regular here. She knew the owner so basically, the staff also knew her.

The interior was a mixture of steel, black, and gray, very manly, in contrast to the shop's name. You wouldn't know that it's a pastry shop and the owner was a woman if you don't ask.

"So, um, what's with the disguise? You an undercover or something?" I asked when we finally settled down. She burst out laughing the moment I asked her that.

Even her laugh looks beautiful. Sigh.

"Sorry." She said, gasping for air while wiping the tear that fell from her eyes. "Haven't laughed like that for a while."

I waited for her to finish laughing. She did stop and cleared her throat. "Well, I always wear this when I go outside or to escape from him."

"Escape what?" I asked 'cause I didn't quite heard the last part.

"This escaping thing, I always do this when Hyperion gets really annoying. Always nagging me to death like a mama hen." She answered.

"Uh, your boyfriend?" I asked again.

The waitress came, bringing our orders, so she only grinned at me as an answer. She immediately started eating when the waitress left. I could only eat in silence while she kept handing a piece of cake to me to taste.

I already drank all my coffee when she finished all of the cakes she ordered, which surprised me, 'cause mine was still half-eaten. I wonder where did all the food go with that slim body of hers.

She picked up the table napkin and reservedly wiped her mouth. "That was scrumptious." She stood up, fixed her hat, and grinned at me. "Let's go."

Why does she like to grin so much? Anyways, she then said goodbye to the staff and pulled me out of the shop. She hailed a taxi and shove me inside excitedly.

"Sorry~!" She apologized when she heard a thump. My head bumped onto the door of the other side of the car. I had no idea where we'll be going. I'll just went along wherever she wants to bring me.

"Where do you want to go, ma'am?" The driver asked.

"Sin City Mall please." Miss Harley answered.

She then turned to me and started talking about how stressed she was from work. She wanted to relax, go on a shopping spree. She's been looking for someone to accompany her (except for the people she's closely acquainted with). She was so glad that she bumped into me. She won't be shopping alone plus she'll get to know me more.

"But, I-I don't have money," I told her.

"Don't worry. I'll treat you for accompanying me." She said grinning.

When we're almost at the mall, I asked her a question I've been meaning to ask. "Why do you want to know me that much?"

She giggled and patted my head. "A friend of Lilibeth is a friend of mine."

"..." Figures.