E/LENA

CHAPTER TEN

 After eating her cordon bleu, Leonel left when a group of men holding a tennis racket called him.

“My team calling me, I gotta go and thank you for the food.” Leonel said as he stand up. Elena just nod timidly as a response, making Leonel smiled while shaking his head.

“Captain!” One of the men in the group called Leonel in distance again, making Leonel turn to them while giving the men a wait signal.

“I’ll be going now,” Leonel  turning his back on Elena, but suddenly halted and turn again to Elena.

“Elena, “Leonel called to Elena as he turn to Elena again, “please be at ease next time.”

Leonel said giving Elena a smile before he turn his back again to Elena and started to take a step towards the group of men who called him a while ago.

--

After lunch was over, Elena’s day ended to be peaceful, for there is something that students seem interested as she saw them looking at their own phones like there is something interested in it.

As Elena was about to hop in on her car, a message tone notification of her phone from her bag stopped her.

Elena immediately took her phone from her bag and she saw a unknown cellphone number sent a message.

“Who is this might?” Elena thought curiously while opening the message icon on her phone.

Elena stilled in horror as she saw the message was a video of her, while watching Candice body hanging on the tree.

The message video that was sent to her, has only her back view, but Elena can still recognize herself.

“I know what you did…and I know who you are.” Elena read as a new message sent to her again by the same mobile number after she saw the video.

Elena’s body started to tremble and she can feel her legs wobble, making her fall to the ground with her phone, with wide eye.

Some of the students passed with curiousity, but didn’t even bother to get to near her, some are whispering to each other telling Elena was a creep and crazy and they laugh, and some are taking pictures of her like they saw something funny and passed through her like they see nothing.

But, Elena didn’t bothered by all of it, because the only was occupying her head was the video and the vivid memories of Candice while she choked her to death.

“Elena…?” Leonel said calling Elena, after he saw her at the side the car when he was passing by.

“Elena?” Leonel repeated after earning, no response from Elena, who just stayed on her position even when he called her.

“Elena!” Leonel repeated again, and this time  he made his voice louder, enough make Elena finally noticed him.

Leonel stilled when he saw a horror on Elena’s eyes as she looked at him, and by then. Leonel noticed Elena was trembling, and in a hurry he hold her.

“Your trembling, Elena…!” Leonel stated while looking at Elena.

“I-I’m o-okay… H-Hands off, p-please.” Elena said pleading, while trying to shove Leonel’s hand from holding her, and tried to open her bag to get her medicine, for her anxiety attack, but she can’t open it, as her hand keeps on trembling.

As Leonel saw Elena was having a hard time opening her bag, he volunteered to opened it, and saw that Elena took a white bottle hurriedly when he finally opened Elena’s bag and took pills from it with a trembling hands, and just shallow it with her eyes close.

“Ativan…” Leonel read on the on the bottle of pill that Elena took and look at her now slowly recovering from tremble.

Leonel knows the Ativan and also known as Lozepam, a drug for a anxiety attack that can effect 30 minutes to 1 hour after the person who has having an anxiety attack episode took it.

As the time goes by, and the sky is getting dark, but Leonel patiently waited Elena to be okay.

Leonel, didn’t know why, but he felt he must take care of Elena, that he find it strange. For he never easily got smitten, but after he saw Elena on the green house garden at the back of the high school department building, he find himself always looking at Elena from a far everytime he will see her, having her lunch alone to the green house garden.

Elena felt her relaxed after minutes, and her mind became clear, and remembered the day that she last saw Candice on the green house garden.

Because that also the day, that her memories crumbled and strange things happened to her and lastly the day she committed to take her life.

And the day that her, split personality named Lena killed Candice, but for what reason? Why would Lena kill Candice? Elena though.

Elena being in a deep thought, she notice Leonel was seating on the ground beside her, not until Leonel cleared his throat making Elena flinch in shock as she eyed him.

“Sorry to bother your thoughts, but your phone keeps on ringing.” Leonel said while pointing to Elena’s phone, who is currently vibrating, after Elena woke from the deep thought.

And by that Elena also realize that the sky was getting dark that why her Aunt Elle is now calling her, Elena thought as she picked up the phone on the ground and answered the phone.

“Hello…” Elena said as she swiped the answer button.

“Where are you Elena? I’ve reaching you many times, but your phone is just keep on ringing.” Ms. Estrella said on the line, with a worried tone.

“I-I’m sorry Aunt Elle, I didn’t noticed the time because of the book I’m reading in the library, that’s why…” Elena lied, for she didn’t want her Aunt Elle to be worried if she will tell her, what happened a while ago.

Elena heard Ms. Estrella release a relieve sigh after hearing what she said and told her to take care on her drive on the way home before their conversation ended.

“Are you now okay?” Elena heard Leonel asked after she the call ended.

“Yeah, t-thank you…” Elena replied, as she tried to ease herself from Leonel’s presence.

“Not a problem, I am happy that I am the one who come to your rescue.” Leonel jokingly said, making Elena smile while nodding as a response to what Leonel had said.

“So, Let’s go?” Leonel said again after a while, Elena just nod, and when Leonel was about to motioned her towards the exit of the parking. Elena stopped him.

“M-My car is here… he he! Elena said awkwardly to Leonel while pointing the car beside her.

“Oh! I’m sorry.” Leonel said sounds embarrass.

“You can hop in now.” Leonel said urging Elena to hop in her car that Elena heed.

But when she was about to closed her door, she realize that it so rude to left him alone and told Leonel to hop in also that he decline and point to the motor that was just parking beside her car.

“Take care on your way home Elena.” Leonel said as Elena started her car engine.

“Thank you, t-take care on your way as well.” Elena said shyly and started to maneuver her car. Elena even saw Leonel waving at her from her side mirror before he walks towards to his motor.

Days passed and the weekend ended in a swift for Elena, and the day on her appointment to Dr. Monte had come.

“How are you Elena?” Dr. Monte greeted Elena.

Elena came to Dr. Monte’s clinic for her fourth appointment alone, for Ms. Estrella has a very important meeting that she didn’t allowed to ditch even she wanted to because of Elena’s appointment to Dr. Monte, but she told Elena that she would come once the meeting ended.

“I’m good Doctor.” Elena replied to Dr. Monte as they both seated on the clinic’s sofa across to each other.

“Did anything happened to you? Like anxiety episodes, collapsing again, or is still got nightmares and sudden appearance of a memory.” Dr. Monte asked, to Elena.

Elena learn of being comfortable with Dr. Monte, from time to time the doctor will visit her on her house and check up on her. That made her able handle her anxiety attacks properly.

“I have few anxiety attacks but I was able to handle them, and my nightmares only just happened few times, unlike before that was happening almost everyday, thanks to the pills you gave to me.” Elena replied.

“That’s good to hear.” Dr. Monte said smiling.

“But Doctor,” Elena said hesitantly at first, “ I-I was wondering, if there is a way for me to speak to my split personality.”

Elena asked if it possible, for after the video of Candice and her, was sent to her. A lot of questions started to build up on her mind.

And what is the reason why her split personality is killing people, and she also have a hunch that Sanya’s death has something to do with her split personality, for like Candice, she was also haunted by Sanya’s death that is only happened two months ago.

“We can do it in a hypnosis procedure.” Dr. Monte replied.

“Hypnosis?” Elena curiously asked again. Making Dr. Monte nod as a sign of confirmation.

“Yes, It is a procedure that can help a dissociative patients  like the cases you have.” Dr. Monte stated.

“I heard from Eleanor that you love reading, specially psychology, so you might have an idea what hypnosis like right?” Dr. Monte said confirming the information that Ms. Estrella told him, that Elena immediately confirmed.

“Yeah… I read about it, though I didn’t know I will end up having the cases I only read on the books from the library.” Elena said adding a kidding tone in her voice as she confirmed what Dr. Monte asked.

“So when will we going to do hypnosis?” Elena asked.

“We will schedule it on your next appointment, Elena, for now as what I heard from you, it was a good sign.” Dr. Monte said happily and sound commended.

“But you still need to take a precautions on your medications for it can make you overdose, and if anything happened or you have concerns, don’t hesitate to call me, okay?” Dr. Monte ended, reminding Elena. Elena nod and gave Dr. Monte a smile.

“For now our appointment ended here.” Dr. Monte said and stand up that Elena did as well.

After Elena’s appointment, and was on her way home, when she decided to passed on the mall just along the way, she’s taking.

As she arrived at the parking, and is about to her car out, when Leonel suddenly appeared on the right side out of nowhere making Elena’s heart thump in surprise, making Leonel laugh.

“Hi!” Leonel greeted with a cheeky smile plastered on his face.

“Hey! Breath…Elena.” Leonel said as he notice Elena who looks like has been bitten by the snake.

“Y-You s-scared me…” Elena said stutter, while massaging her chest that she felt tighten for a bit because of Leonel’s sudden appearance.

“Sorry…” Leonel apologetically said, that Elena immediately acknowledge.

“I saw your car a while ago and decided to surprise you,” Leonel said “I didn’t mean to scare you.”

Leonel explained still look apologetic from what he did.

“J-Just don’t do something like that a-again.” Elena said, forgiving Leonel.”

“I will not do it again, I promise!” Leonel said raising his right hand, as a proof for his promise, that made Elena smile.

Elena can feel even that it is just their third time meeting each other, Elena felt that she is stating to feel comfortable to the man who was standing on the outside of her car, but at the same time she is starting to get scared that if this man learned her illness, this man will avoid her.

“So, where are you going?” Elena heard Leonel asked that cut her thoughts.

“Mall.” Elena said stating the obvious makimg Leonel laugh but this time, a loud one.

“W-What?” Elena asked with confusion while staring at Leonel whose still currently laughing, but stop when he notice Elena’s confused gaze.

“Sorry, again… so let’s go?” Leonel said after he stop laughing, and went on the driver seat side, making Elena more confused.

“Why?” Elena out of confusion.

“I’m going to the mall as well, so might as well accompanying you.” Leonel said straightforwardly.

“B-Bu—” Elena was about to said that its okay, if he can go by himself, but Leonel stopped her.

“No, buts for you Elena.” Leonel said with finality and urged Elena to come out of her car.

And leaving Elena without a choice she let Leonel to accompany her to the mall, and for the first time she felt happy and she feels like she had found a friend that she never had in the form Leonel Vargas.