DANGEROUS OBSESSION

16

LAUREN MOSS

“Lauren...” I mutter to myself. I’m so out of control, with an overwhelming surge of hormones taking over my body, that I know I won’t be able to sleep again.

It’s already past five, which, in a way, works in my favor. I decide to hop in the shower and take a cold shower to give myself a reality check, to get some sense into me, and to ease this ridiculous heat I’m feeling.

And that’s exactly what I did.

I took my cold shower. It didn’t solve much, of course—this beloved creature of the Lord won’t leave my mind for anything—but I decided to get out before freezing to death in the shower stall.

I do my oral hygiene.

Now I have cramps. Most likely, my period will start today, to my disappointment.

So, I put on my body lotion, wore my underwear with my pad just in case, and put on the uniform the schedule required.

I spritzed a little perfume, did my skincare, tied my hair into a ponytail, and that was it. I made the bed and went to the laundry area.

I put the clothes that were supposed to be in the washing machine inside it, took the ones left drying on the ironing table, and started ironing everything at once.

I remembered Miriam, grabbed my phone, and set it on the table while continuing to iron.

“Oh, you remembered I exist,” she immediately says.

“You know very well I did,” I reply. “How are you?” I ask.

“Sleepy, but happy because, apparently, you haven’t forgotten about me yet,” she says, yawning.

“I wanted to call you yesterday, but I couldn’t,” I say.

“What happened?” she asks, curious. “And your dad, yesterday?” she questions, and I sigh.

“Nothing major,” I say. “I got slapped because I didn’t tell him about the possible secret project I’m working on,” I say, hearing her exclaim indignantly.

“What?!” she exclaims. “Oh no, Lau!” she says, outraged. “I’ve already told you, at your age, no father hits his daughter, much less over something so stupid,” she says, and I sigh.

“My dad does, Miriam,” I say. “And you know very well he wouldn’t have gone just to see me,” I tell her.

“Of course not. To want to know about the project, he certainly had his eyes on the company, especially since it’s indirectly his competitor,” she says, and I nod, sighing.

“Exactly,” I say. “I refused and got slapped,” I say.

“This is insane, Lau,” she says, outraged. “And who did you go with? Didn’t anyone notice? You’re in the FBI, you should take advantage and report it,” she says.

“No one. I hid it,” I reply.

“But why, Lauren? You’ve already left here and you’re there,” she says, and I sigh.

“Miriam, understand…” I say. “My dad has connections everywhere, and here, no one cares about 'oh, my dad hit me,'“ I say.

“I know, but, man...” she says, worried.

“He would’ve claimed it was a lie, and it wouldn’t have cost a thing for me not to end up on the streets, and if this doesn’t work out, I’ll end up in prison,” I say.

“And you think they’ll still want to tolerate me, inside or outside the house? No. And it wouldn’t stop there. If I’m already the ungrateful daughter, then I’d be the devil on Earth; if I appear in public, it’ll be a riot,” I speak the pure truth, and it even seems like I’m exaggerating, but I’m not.

“Ai, Lau...” she laments, and I sigh.

“Anyway, let’s hope I don’t get kicked out and can stay away from this hell,” I say. “Less of me,” she says, and I smile.

“Less of you,” I say. “And another thing, you won’t believe who I dreamed about and what I dreamed…” I say, my hormones going crazy just remembering.

“How could I not? Obviously,” she replies. “And I think you better stop acting so difficult and find a way to cool that heat once and for all,” she says, suggestively, and I blush.

“Miriam, do you think someone like him has eyes for me? He doesn’t even look at me properly, he picks on me indirectly… And stop giving me absurd ideas, Miriam!” I exclaim, turning off the iron, grabbing the clothes and my phone, and heading to my room.

“What do you mean, absurd, Lauren?” she asks. “Have you seen the man you now have the pleasure of looking at and breathing the same air as every day?” she asks, and I blush, putting everything away properly.

“I saw it, and that’s exactly why I’m telling you not to give me any more ideas,” I say. “You’re going to get me into even more trouble.” She’s not helping me one bit.

“If I were in your place, I’d have completely lost track of what it feels like to sit still,” for God’s sake…

“Miriam!” I exclaim, incredulous.

“What? You have no idea the commotion he caused by making that appearance. You’ve got him right there and, wow, I wish I were you right now,” mercy.

“Miriam, please, help me and don’t make things worse,” I say.

“Impossible!” she replies, and I sigh, feeling an insane heat rise inside me.

“He’s my tutor. There are already rumors about me just because he took me to the infirmary. I’d better stay distant, the further away, the better. This man has only made me mess up so far,” I tell her.

Did she stop talking about him?

No, not for even a second.

And I’m like this, in a deplorable state.

Still, I kept talking with her as she updated me on what’s going on over there. And now here I am, chatting about trivial things with her while sipping tea. The alarm goes off, and my heart races.

I don’t know if it’s because of the elimination or because I have to face Blake. “I have to go,” I say.

“All right, I love you, and stop being silly and do what I know you want,” she says, and I roll my eyes.

“Stop it, Miriam! I love you too. Bye!” I say goodbye. “Bye!” she says, laughing, and I hang up.

God help me…

I leave my phone in the room, wash my cup. I took some medicine for cramps, I don’t want to suffer and head out.

“Good morning!” I say, seeing Apia leaving her little house too.

“Good morning!” she says, yawning. “I’m exhausted. How did you wake up like this? What time did you get back from the library?” she asks.

“Four-something,” I reply.

“You need to rest,” she says. “You’ve been sleeping so little, and that’s not good at all.”

“I know, but now I’ll be a little calmer,” I say. “I’m a bit more caught up with things here.”

“You were an angel,” she says, and I smile.

“Since it’s basically a competition to stay here, everyone thinks no one will help anyone, and yesterday you cleared up so many doubts I had.” I smile.

“And you helped me a lot too, but I’m sure they won’t just make a single agent,” I say.

“Of course not, but it’s not just us. There are the other classes too, the number is quite small for that title,” she says. “No one wants anyone to achieve that, as you’ve probably noticed,” she adds, and I sigh, glancing at Jennifer, who gave me a mean look before walking into the dining hall.

“It’s going to be fine,” I say, ending the topic. And we go serve ourselves.