My Possessive Admirer

22. Changes

Bella's POV

By the time an ambulance came, it was already too late. The police asked me many questions. Few I could answer, few I couldn't...

I sat there frozen, lost in thoughts. Would Becky still be alive if I never talked to Ben?

Would things still be normal if my path never crossed with him?

What is wrong with me? How did I trust a stranger like him?

What should I call my foolishness…

Lust? Ignorance? Or is this what people call Love?

But how is this love! This is madness! Not knowing the consequences I kept blaming myself for everything that happened. I didn't realise at that time, how fatal it could become for me and my mental health.

Yet one thing was clear. I couldn't drag more people into this insanity. This curse is only mine to bear. After all 'Ignorance is bliss'.

I can't let anyone know about Ben. Especially my parents, I can't let him harm them ever. I'll do anything to keep them safe, even lie.

"I told the police that I was missing this tower where me and Becky used to meet so I decided to come here to visit and found her there," The officers obviously didn't believe my made-up story at first but to my surprise, they didn't look in too deep either. They let me go very easily after a few days of questioning. Because there was absolutely no clue against me. Even the CD I watched and the phone that I used magically vanished.

The news came out that there was a kidnapper after our academy's students. Parents were told to keep an eye on their kids.

The security of the institutions was also increased due to the incidents and that was it. Days passed after the incident and everyone almost forgot about it. Becky's mom went back to her hometown. Because the police couldn't find out where Josh went as if he just disappeared into thin air without anyone even knowing.

People moved on and I struggled to do that too. Yet the peace of my nights was gone. I used to feel that someone was watching me all the time, every moment. I started seeing nightmares where I'm running through the woods. But I would hear Becky's voice from behind the trees, and sometimes I could hear Ben calling me to stay with him. But both of them were gone from my life. A month passed since Becky died and Ben was gone too. However, unlike old times, I didn't want him to come back into my life again. But I knew it was wishful thinking, absurd even. He was going to come back sooner or later… Take his revenge...

Some nights I would just think that I should try to forget him, maybe then I'll have a better life but each day it only felt more difficult than lenient to me. In the end, I made up my mind to put everything behind and leave the country. Probably never come back here again. I wished to stay away from the tragic memories that were slowly eating my inner stability. I needed to start over furthermore. Maybe this time I'll find something again that I once lost, something precious, something very dear. It will come back to me...alive...a foolish hope but it was still something to look forward to.

I applied to a few universities overseas and apparently, my applications only got selected in England. It was kinda weird but I didn't look into it much. There was no need to. I had no bound to my happiness as long as I will be away from my hometown I knew I'll be good.

But when my parents got to know about England, they denied sending me there.

"Any place but England," Dad stated. Yet, after a series of requests, me being upset and mom's requests dad finally agreed to send me there.

At last, it was time to go to England. I held my tears back at the airport as I bid farewell to my parents. I was leaving my hometown where I grew up, made so many memories, putting behind all the tragic events and especially Ben. I won't have to worry about him anymore. As when the plane started taking off I couldn't grasp my emotions anymore. Was I was fleeing? I don't know but it was the only escape from the sufferings that my heart went through every day. I knew I needed a huge change and this was my first step to fulfil that.

A new life awaits for me~

A new chapter~

Changes~

London~

The moment I stepped outside from the London airport I was stunned. The place was just extraordinary.

It was winter so everyone was wearing warm clothes. I was wearing a red leather jacket, the one my mom packed for me. Even though red isn't my favourite colour

.

I called for a cab and decided to go to my rented house right away because the place was still unknown to me. But inside my head, I was desperate to take pictures of the old buildings and walk around the beautiful streets. Maybe eat some street foods too. However, the idea right now was to stay out of trouble so I held myself back.

The house dad rented for me, I was about to share it with a girl studying in the same university as me. She was one year senior to me. Though I believed in my heart that I'll get along with her just fine as I heard from my dad, she is genuinely a very nice person. I only talked to her once on a call before coming here. I saw a picture of her, she was very pretty. Her curly red hair, cute freckles on her cheeks and dark green eyes made me feel like she belonged in a magical world. She would probably be one of the prettiest elves there.

I paid the cab driver his fare after reaching the ally where my new flat was supposed to be. Everyone seemed really friendly around here.

The place appeared relatively ancient as I'm used to seeing these old buildings in Romania as well. I was feeling so delighted inside that I would have probably jumped up and down in excitement. But I had to act like an adult, after all I was out in the streets in a foreign country. No way I could let my guard down.

I began to look for the house where I was supposed to live but all of them looked the same. There wasn't anyone around in this part of the city. It seemed very quiet apparently. Good thing dad chose this area. I'm not fond of noisy places.

I couldn't find anyone to ask for the direction. All the houses in that ally had the same number but with different initials like sixty A, sixty B. I had no idea which one was mine because I only know that my house number not the alphabet with it.

Looking for help I came to the main street. Suddenly my gaze stopped on a guy who was sitting on the side of the street. He seemed from a decent family. His black leather jacket and hair combed as the 90s heroes went so well with his black-framed glasses and pale white skin. It was hard to look away from him. He was attentively looking at something on his phone.

Suddenly he looked up from his phone's screen and our eyes met with each other. I looked away feeling extremely shy that I was staring at him like that for a long time. To my surprise, he stood up and began to walk towards me with a big smile on his face. I was feeling so awkward because I hardly ever talked with boys my age before. I was always the silent type. Talking to a man like this was a completely new experience for me.

"Do you need help with anything? I saw you walking on the same street back and forth for some time now," He chuckled. Gosh, he has a nice smile.

"Um...yeah...." I laughed nervously.

"You are new here?" He asked, curious, "Student, right? University I suppose?"

"Yes, freshman! I just came here today."

"Well then, I think we both should pinch each other!"

"Excuse me!" I was startled by what he just said.

"Woah! Don't get me wrong. I was joking because we both are in the same situation. I came here today as well and I can't find my flat! "He said.

"Really! I see that's why you were sitting there on the roadside like that." I was said looking at his luggage which was kept behind near where he was sitting.

All of a sudden, I saw there was toilet paper stuck behind his pants. It was wriggling as if he had a tail. I couldn't hold myself from laughing after seeing that anymore. The confused look on his face made it more hilarious. It was hard to stop.

"Oh no! Now it's getting awkward!" He said being shy after noticing the toilet rolls hanging from the back of his pants. "I didn't have anything to sit down on and I didn't wanna sit on the dusty street...and...uh...I only had this with me," He said indicating his toilet tissue roll.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry I didn't mean to laugh. I'm sorry."I tried to cover my mouth with one my of hands so he doesn't feel like I was still laughing at him. He seemed so cute and innocent that it impossible not to notice how charming he was. The glasses suited him perfectly but it also hid his beautiful dark brown eyes and long eyelashes. I got a feeling that he was probably a diligent student too because I got the nerdy vibes from him. If the girls from my school saw him I'm sure they would have asked him for his number.

"So which university are you going to attend...." before he could finish I saw Helena coming towards me. She waved her hand at me as I called her by her name.

"Helena! Hey! Over here."

She came to me smiling while he peeking at him for a second. I smiled back at her. She was definitely more pretty in real life!

"So already made new friends here I see," Helena said looking at him.

"Hahaha, we just met," I said feeling uneasy. I hope she's not thinking something is going on between me and him.

Seeing my situation he took the lead, "Well! Hello there. Nice to meet you. I'm Jake. We just met a while ago and we are kinda lost. Can you help?"

Hearing his name I peeped at him. He flashed that beautiful smile again. I think my cheeks were getting red. I had to look down to save myself from the embarrassment.

"I'm Helena! Nice to meet you too. So never saw you around here! Are you new?" Helena said looking at the baggage in his hand.

"Yep! I just came here today and can't find my flat so I decided to live on the streets," He said laughing.

"Well then be sure to put a blanket on yourself at night because it gets very cold here after the sunsets," Helena snickered sarcastically.

Both of them looked so pretty together. I couldn't hold back myself from noticing. A perfect example of a perfect couple was right in front of me. I hoped it works out between them because he was way out of my league.

"Well! I'm really eager to know something though! I wish I get an answer," Jake said looking at me.

"Yes, what is it?" I asked being interested to know.

"Your name?" He said shyly.

"My name?" I couldn't help but smile at his eager face. He looked like a little kid with his eyes all open wide to know my name.

"It's...."I was about to say it until Helena stopped me and said,

"Let it be a mystery for now. You will get to know her eventually as you are gonna live in the same neighbourhood as us. May I look at your address?"

"Haha yeah! Sure." He handed down a note to Helena.

"It's just across the street 70B. That

house." Helena pointed out to him.

"Oh! I see! Thanks a lot Ele," He smiled that magical smile again.

"Ele! You gave me a nick name already huh! Nice," Helena chuckled.

"Btw what's your house number?" Jake asked as he was walked away looking back at me.

"Sixty nine" I realised I said it too loud than necessary so that he could hear.

"What? Say it again," He seemed surprised and let out a smirk.

"House number sixty-nine!" I shouted the number again.

"Oh my god shush already will ya! You don't know the meaning of sixty nine do you?" Helena said covering her eyes from him.

"Heck you Jake!" Helena yelled.

Jake said walking to his house, laughing his ass off. "My pleasure," He said, "So till we meet again, Miss Mystery. Take care," He winked.

I became red instantly. I replied back trying to hide my shyness."You too, Jake."

I guess my new university life won't be so boring as I thought!