Dandelion

Chapter 9

                                                                           Discovering More

Despite how much I wanted to close back that door and surround me in loneliness, I knew well that such an action was not to bring me any safety. To not mention that even if I had tried, Ren's hold on the door seemed firm, even though he was not pulling it open nor closing it. 

It was evident that he was expecting me to listen to his demand and under that fearful stare of his, I found myself obeying. I softly pushed the door open and stepped outside of the closer, my eyes on the floor as my heart started speeding up. 

When did I turn so fearful? Why am I just so scared of everything. Was that stabbing that painful? Ridiculous. It's making me mad only thinking about it but I really don't want to experience that ever again.

"Sorry. I will drink the juice." I managed to speak and tried to take some steps away from him, but he held my wrist just in time, making me halt my steps.

"You know I don't like it when you close me out of your problems. I didn't mean to sound harsh but...it hurts me to see you suffering, you know." His words had me surprised as I surely was not expecting to hear anything along these lines. Under that piercing gaze of his, I for those minutes thought of him as someone whom I need to run away from yet here he is, changing that thought of mine in mere seconds.

Maybe I am going crazy overthinking and being over conscious about everyone and everything just because I don't know them. Why am I trying to find faults in everyone's behavior so badly? No one behaves exceptionally 24/7. My assumptions for each and every one of them are probably unfair towards them but I can't help it. I am just not the one they think I am. I am not the one that knows them and possibly trusts them nor I am the one that they love and care about. I just have her body now, that's all. But of course, that's not something I can say.

"It's okay, I am not mad at you. I am sorry to worry you. I am just tired really. That's all...and maybe..." I halted my tongue as I recalled the unknown number that texted me. That stalker guy that seems to be after Zein. Should I tell him about it after all?

"Maybe what?"He looked at my eyes awaiting for me to continue and as I looked at him, for that instant I felt brave enough to take that leap of faith.

"I have been getting some messages from an unknown number..." I admitted as I observed his eyes grow wide in surprise. 

"What? What kind of messages? Why didn't you told me sooner? Let me see." Ren bombarded me with some questions as he left his hand travel through his hair, looking a bit distress then he reached his hand out to me, waiting for me to hand him my phone, which I was still holding in my right hand.

I did so after a brief moment of hesitation and he placed the password and opened it, making me realize that he knew of it. I still didn't, I just opened it with the fingerprint option. I felt a bit pressured as he went through it, however, despite the fact that it was not my phone and as such he was not taking a look at my privacy, but since he knew the password I suppose Zein must have not had anything to keep from him either.

Wait! What about the messages with Tian?! What if he sees those?What if he has already seen them? Zein has more than enough things to hide, she has a whole secret lover, why the heck would she let him know of her password? The thought made my eyes grow wide and my hands reflexively grab my phone away from his hold while taking some safety steps distance from him.

Ren gave me a confused look till I actually dared to gather my courage and question him. " How did you know my password?" And from the way he froze, I could tell that I had got him cornered. He was probably caught up in his rush to read the messages of whoever was texting me out of worry and had ended up betraying himself.

"No, wait let me explain. It's not anything weird I swear. I have never looked at your phone behind your back. You know I would never do such a thing. Come on Zein."

"Then how did you know my password?"

"I saw you one day dialing it, and it got stuck in my brain as in information. You know I have a good memory especially when it comes to numbers. But I never used it, I swear. Why would I even do such a thing, to begin with?" He argued, and I left my suspicious gaze calm down a bit as I trying to convince myself to believe him for the moment. If I was him and was to know about Tian, after all, there was no way I would be calling him still a baby and caring so much, so probably he is saying the truth.

"Okay, I believe you. I am sorry I reacted like that. It's just that I am being a bit paranoid I guess." I unlocked the phone and opened the texts of the unknown number, before reaching it out again to him. I didn't want him to have any suspicion that I had anything to hide after all. That wouldn't benefit me however I definitely plan on changing that password after this.

"You have been receiving these messages for so long. Why didn't you say anything?" Ren questioned, not taking the phone back as it seemed like he had scrolled through some of the messages enough to get a taste.

"I didn't want to worry anyone, plus he seemed like just another annoying and persistent fan at the beginning. But with time he started getting it too far and now...I am a bit scared, I admit." I averted my eyes on the floor as I spoke, saying partially the truth cause I may not have been Zein but I definitely was not fond of the idea that someone like that existed and was after me. I just started this new life, isn't it unfair to be under the pressure of protecting it?

He stepped closer and engulfed me in his embrace, his hand softly patting my back reassuringly right before he spoke of similar words. ' It's okay. I won't let anything happen to you. You have no reason to be scared. I will take care of this." His voice sounded confident as he spoke and for a brief moment I had the feeling that I could depend on him, but that was as brief of thought as any other because as always, warning ones flooded my mind.

I sure had a mind that was overthinking, but that was a good point because that had kept me safe from many things and now that I think of it, there was only one thing I did not over analyze and thought about in my life and that was visiting that villa. One more reason to trust my overthinking apparently. 

"Thank you. I am counting on you." I replied, not daring to bring myself to hug him back for the life of me even though I knew that he must have probably liked such a response.

"I will find out who it is soon enough. You just take your rest, my love." He pulled away and left a quick peck on my forehead then he proceeded to take my phone and keep a note of the number that was messaging me before he handed it back. He didn't even seem tempted to look at any other contact with which Zein had texted despite the fact that a man's name was on the contact and was literally second on the list, right below that unknown number.

Did he trust her that much? Or did he just chose to not do anything suspicious while I was just some steps away?

"How about you tell Tian to stay with you tonight? Just so you can feel safer. Unfortunately, I can't stay tonight and Elia is a bit too busy with rearranging your schedule." He proposed an idea which I was not expecting, to not say that the fact that he mentioned Tian, to begin with, had been feeling as if someone had grabbed me by the throat. How did he know about him?

"T-Tian?"

"Yes, I am sure he wouldn't mind. Or you can go over to his house too. He may live just next door, but I don't believe that if anyone were to come for you would go looking for you there. It sounds safer." Ren added blowing my mind one more time. Tian apparently lived next door! Well, that explains how the heck he came over so quickly when I texted him, but still telling his girlfriend to go stay at another man's place was a bit too risky. Did Ren had that much trust in Tian? Okay, now I feel even worse for him. Poor guy.

"I will ask him. I hope he won't be busy and will say yes." I gave him a small smile, speaking as if I didn't already know that he surely was not busy. All he was doing since he woke up was hiding in the bathroom after all. Or to be more specific, my bathroom.

Ren smiled back at me, finding something funny with what I said then he placed his hand on my head and ruffled my hair slightly as he spoke." As if he would ever say no to you. You are his best friend after all."

And here I thought I could not feel more guilty towards him for everything that is going on behind his back. Tian is Zein's best friend huh? They definitely seem to have a beneficial friendship. So beneficial that makes me wonder if she felt guilty as much as I am right this instant for no reason as I was not the one who had made this mess.

Was it me who created it or not though, it didn't matter cause one thing was certain and that was that I had to be the one to solve this tangled mess. It's a pity really that from what I have seen so far from both, I don't see any of them getting out of this unharmed. The only one that won't be heartbroken will be me. Oh wow, if that isn't refreshing.