6: A Friend Indeed
1621 Words
Messy honey-blonde hair fell over Sage's face in long fringes and across her slender shoulders, totally shielding her like a lunatic.
She was still in last night's skimpy dress. There was no way she would let the public see her real face. Plus, she couldn't go home without her ID card. Even though she had the card with her, she wasn't in her male form.
The murmuring around her intensified. People retreated as she got closer; irritation and terror were written on their faces as they watched the scary lady.
The cool breeze made Sage slightly shiver. She slipped into a cafe, causing her head to whip around in her direction. The once quiet place buzzed, some went as far as pulling out their phones to record.
Tears streamed down her cheeks, and she sobbed silently. She dangled her hair forward, properly covering her face, and rushed towards the restroom.
“A minute.” A lady shouted from the other side.
Confused, she hurried towards an empty table by the extreme and plunged in.
“Oh, god.” She murmured, head pinned to the glass as she watched the road, hoping Mike would pass by. The cafe was a few blocks from their street.
Footsteps neared her. She carefully looked upward to see that it was an advanced lady dressed in corporate attire.
“Hello, ma'am.” The lady started once she got to Sage's table. “I'm Emma, the manager.”
Sage sniffled and nodded.
She knew that it was only a matter of time before they called the cops on her, and then her identity would be busted.
“I apologize, but your appearance is causing a fuss, and we'd love to know if something is wrong.”
“Uh…” Sage stuttered. “I'm sorry… I… Uh… I'm having a terrible allergic reaction on my face… uh, I forgot my shot.”
“Oh,” the manager mumbled. Her tone had softened to show pity. “I'm sorry, we had no idea. You must be in so much pain.”
Again, Sage nodded. Tears dripped on the coffee table.
“Is there anything we can do? Anything at all?” She offered. “We could call the hospital emergency line…”
“No.” Sage hastily cut her off. “Uhm… Can I use your phone?” She slightly raised her head. “My friend... he has my drugs and he's just a few blocks down.”
“Sure.” She pulls out her phone. “Here.”
Sage's shaky fingers punched digits on the dial. Her knuckles were pale white. Mike picked up on the first ring.
“I'm scared, I can't come home like this.” She sobbed. “The cafe close by.” She brushed tears off her cheeks. “Hurry, please.”
Done, she slipped the phone back to the manager. “Thank you.”
“You're welcome.” She took her phone. “I apologize on behalf of everyone whose reactions have made you uncomfortable.”
Sage nodded. “It's no one’s fault.”
“Do you want coffee, soda, or anything while you wait for your friend?” She offered. “We have butter pies and cheesecakes.”
“Nah, thank you,” Sage mumbled and pressed her head to the window once more.
For what seemed like fifteen minutes, Sage kept watching until she saw a familiar van pull over. It was the school's bus, and they had access to it as the top Art student.
Sage stood up and hurried out, half running. Right now, she wasn't conscious of people's eyes. When Mike stepped out, she threw herself at him in a big hug.
“I'm here now,” he wrapped her in his arms and stroked the length of her hair. “I'm so sorry, Sae.”
Sage sobbed in his arms. She unexpectedly pulled back and slapped his face, then his chest, and anywhere her hands could touch.
“I hate you,” she fought harder. “I told you I didn't want to go.”
“Sae, I'm sorry.” He didn't stop her. Instead, he only looked away to shield his face while he kept stroking her back.
“You left me!”
“I didn't see you when I returned. I was drunk… I'm sorry.” He pressed her to himself.
She melted in his arms and broke down. He patted her to his chest and continued whispering in her ears.
“You're safe now, Sae. No one saw you.” He pecked her forehead. “I brought your costumes.”
She chuckled and pulled away. “Let’s go.” Quite stable, she hopped in the van, and they started the ride.
“So, what happened last night?” He stole glances at her while his hands grabbed the wheel tightly.
“Nothing.”
Sage looked outside the window.
“Hiding, huh?” He grinned. “Your makeup is shifted. It seemed like you had so much fun without me.”
Still, Sage remained silent.
The ride home was silent. Mike understood her wish to be left alone and kept his curiosity in check. He played soft music in the background.
A few minutes from the main gate to their estate, Sage slipped into the back seat and opened the bag with her costume. She hastily knotted her hair, wore her wig, and pressed her mustache in place. The cloth was a simple black kaftan.
“Almost done?” Mike asked and slowed down the van.
Sage padded her shoulders, threw on the kaftan, and joined him in the front seat right on time when the car pulled over at the security checkpoint.
“Dr. Sage.” One of the men teased. “Hello.” He waved at Mike. “Can I see your pass?”
Sage nodded. Her voice was too frail to mimic her usual male tone. She handed him hers. He barely checked and passed it back, then checked Mike's.
“Have a great day.”
“You too.”
Sage recoiled in her seat, still demanding to be left alone.
*** ***
They finally got home. While Mike arranged her items, Sage went for a cold shower. The event of last night replayed in her head, and it made her cringe.
She had shamelessly given her virginity to a stranger, breaking her vows of never getting intimate with a man. It was more traumatizing that she was all over him, obeying his nasty commands.
Tears poured down her cheeks. Feeling filthy, she scrubbed her skin until it was red and sore, then she burst into tears, inhaling a dose of cold water.
She slapped the shower shut and coughed nonstop as she tried to free her lungs. Still broken, she collapsed on the bare floor and sucked.
After a while, she picked herself up and walked into her room, naked. Her hair was still dripping wet, but she slipped into bed without a care. She pulled the sheets over her body to stop the slight shivering.
His piercing green eyes taunted her whenever she shut her eyes.
“Leave me alone!” She whimpered, frustrated.
In defense, she pulled the sheets over her head and tried to distract her mind. She turned and cursed out when it still haunted her.
Slowly, she drifted off to sleep.
‘I'm saving you from more hurt… My father's dying wish is a child. How could I possibly ask that of you without breaking you?...
… Is this the thank you I get for trying to save your barren ass?...
I, Alpha Cooper Ridgewood of Ridgewood Pack, reject you…”
Sage jerked up from her vivid dream, soaked in sweat. Goosebumps pricked her skin,, and the hairs on the nape of her neck stood in spikes. The bad dreams usually surfaced whenever she was stressed.
She palmed her face in her hands and sobbed. The betrayal still felt fresh. Her eyes were already swollen and red.
“Sae, you have a package.” Mike's voice broke through her thoughts. “It's from your department.”
“I'm coming.” She lazily crawled out of bed and went into the bathroom to splash water on her face.
She slipped into a simple robe and sluggishly walked to the living room to join him.
“Coffee?” He mumbled and set the brewing pot down, then filtered the brown liquid into two mugs. “Your package is on the couch.”
Sage picked it up and carefully opened it.
“I think they finally accepted your internship,” he said excitedly. “Extra cream for that,” she added more milk to her cup and carried it off the counter.
“What?!” Sage gasped. “How?!”
Startled, the coffee spilled on Mike. He paused to look at her. “What's wrong? Did it get declined?”
“Worse,” she winced. “I got posted to the city's specialist hospital… hell, I didn't even apply there.”
Mike shrugged. “Wow… I guess they wanted you in the best facility.” He picked up the coffee mug and handed it to her. “Look at it from the bright side, they pay the highest.”
“And I don't care.” She sighed. “I want a place where I can make a difference and impact the community.” She read her name for the umpteenth time, still in doubt. “Not an already established hospital.”
He paused. “Well, since your department already signed it, I guess you should accept your fate.”
“No.” She shook her head and returned the appointment letter to the envelope. “I'll terminate it.”
- Writer
