Chapter 32: Choices
1559 Words
Chapter 32: Choices
Alice's POV
"Mirror, mirror…" I spouted mindlessly, but then, Lennox's hand become stiff on my shoulder as his dilated pupils suddenly got shocked and sharper, looking at me as if I said something off.
"What?" I asked. And just right then, I saw how his handsome—intent seductive eyes and face turned pale and wary. And before I notice it, his smiling lips fell off, eyes fixed at my eyes, I c**k a brow when all of a sudden his mouth parted. Trying to speak out a word, in which I couldn't understand why he suddenly became this way. I tap off his hand on my shoulder, stepping back, I looked at him suspiciously.
"Hey? Why are you staring at me like that?" I asked, nonetheless he still keeps his eyes widen, fixated on me.
What's with him? Did he really just take a blow with my question? Does he already know I'm aware of him being my stalker for years, even before Clyde uses someone to keep an eye on me?
If that's the case, considering his psycho tendencies. I have to get my ass ready.
I thought, preparing and alarming myself for possible attacks he can do any moment. One thing I'm sure of this kind of situation because no matter how composed a person is, he'll go nuts once he's cornered.
Damn. I should've kept the stun gun with me.
Regretting leaving it on my bed, beneath my pillows in the room, I am left with no choice but to use my own body to defend just in case he charged at me.
But a moment passed, and tension began to mix in the air. Still, he just stood there. Stunned, and although it seems impossible, his eyes grew deeper and darker, staring at me with mouth parted, slightly letting off a gasp—the feeling of doubt on what on his mind struck my mind.
Having enough of the sudden pressure he's pouring on my mind, I let out a sigh and asked him.
"Damn it, just tell me what wrong?" Hearing me break the silence, he put his mouth together and gulp. Putting his fist formed hand on his lips, he looks down and immediately looked at me. As if he just come up with a thought he has been thinking.
"What?" I asked again. Sternly looking at his suspicious straight gaze, then shortly after, his seemingly emotionless face shows up a smile that just makes me quail.
Although, I still struggle to read what's running on his mind, especially with this smile, somehow getting used to this. I instantly understood that he wouldn't answer my questions as I please. Thinking this talk wouldn't go anywhere, seeing the face he's making whenever he doesn't wish to continue the conversation, I roll my eyes at this façade.
Just as I thought, what do I expect anyway?
I thought to myself, shaking my head from how stupid I could get.
"I see. It seems like admitting a crime isn't as easy as it seems, huh?" I said, sarcastically smirking. Right then, he blinked and pressed his lips together. Then, he claps his hands together, diverting the tension to what he's up to incoming in here at this time.
"Anyway, where were we?" Lennox said, excitedly trying to lift and catch my mood. Pulling out his phone from his pocket, he then shows again the images he took from aunt's house.
"Ah! About Mae! Here, look at what I found." He said enthusiastically. Nonetheless, I remain calm and collectedly looking at him.
"Hmm?" He uttered, curious as to why I'm not reacting on his bait.
But, instead of responding, I took a step closer and looked up at his eyes directly.
"Hmm, before that, shouldn't you have told me this earlier when we were there?" I asked, catching his alibi that he could pull off any moment.
After that day, I planned on getting clues about my aunt's whereabouts from her phone that was left charging in her room. But, unfortunately, its battery exploded before I can even retrieve any information from it. And so, back with any progress from that day aside from confirming aunt was also missing, I rely on Lennox's movements—when I mistakenly thought, I finally put a leash on him.
"Ah, Ha! Sorry, it just slipped my mind." As if a bulb lit upon his head, he said it vigorously. Knowing what he said is not half a life but more than it, I lift my face up and gazes at him.
Closing up the distance, I lean closer with only an inch left between our standing bodies, using what I've got in my advantage to get him for a little moment, I said—
"Hmm, I don't think so. Knowing your obsessive tendencies, you were probably going solo on investigating and tracking her before I do. Just like Clyde, you'll leave me a step behind to keep me close…" I said, stating the most possible reason behind this sudden appearance of the pictures he took.
"So, what I'm really curious about now is not about Mae or aunt." Seeing him in a daze, I continued.
"What I'm really curious about is what," I said, stepping aside and walking into the living room. "What the f*ck made you go and tell me all these, now of all times?" I said, looking at the wall clock hanging on the porch near his side.
Glancing back at him, standing beside the sofa near my room, I could quickly go in and get the gun just in case he tries anything funny. I watch him turn his cheeky face on me.
"Whoa, you're getting good in these mind games, huh? Just as when I thought everything's getting boring, you're always doing something to level everything up, ugh, my Alice." Lennox said, walking in the area, approaching the sofa across mine, sitting in. He looks up at me with a sneer on his face.
"Hmm, wait? Are we—in your mind playing chess again?" he said, jolting from his seat in exhilaration.
"I should've known. You know what? We should play sometimes." He added. He then leans forward from leaning his back on his arms, putting his elbows on top of his relaxed spread legs. Beaming with anticipation as if his main objective with the pictures he showed me slipped out his mind, he grins slyly, looking at me.
Not buying any shits he spouts, I sit on the sofa's hand rest. Staring, frowning at his pace.
I know, I'm used to this eccentric side of him, but I just couldn't help but—how do I put it? Get uncomfortable?
"Don't tell me bullshit; we're already playing, aren't we?" I said, seriously. Giggling at my response, he laid his back on the sofa and looked at the ceiling.
"Choose one."
He then said, not even looking at me.
"One? from?" I asked, confused on what he is talking about.
Now, now what are you up to? I thought to myself, observing his face facing up the ceiling, defined exposed jaws and adam's apple, with his arms stretched on top of the sofa's backrest. I sit here, watching in awe, and cringe at how I still can't shrug off the disappointment I always get whenever I think of him as an ideal man.
Damn it, up until now. I still ask why he does have to be a creep?! If only he's not a psycho—masochist, I already would have fallen damn hard on him—
"Choose one from what you want to know." He said as if someone was talking to himself, not sparing me a glance, while watching the chandelier hanging on top of the living area.
I crossed my arms and brushed my fingers through my hair in frustration. Looking at the time again, my blood boils at how audacious he could get to annoy me.
"Ugh, you're too early to be stressing out the s**t out of me. Just spit whatever you want—"
"Why am I obsessed with you, or what clue do I know about these pictures?" Lennox said, in a compelling, yet soft tone. Putting down his gaze from the ceiling to my direction, he looks at me, calm and composed. Putting down his arms, hands on his lap, fingers intertwined, right just then, his relaxed and carefree demeanor shifted. Into one he makes whenever he's talking with someone he wanted to make a deal—I usually see him do this behavior in a conference meeting. But, now, he's doing it here at my place, with me.
"Huh?" I uttered, confused on why do I have to choose. Why is he making me choose?
"A or B?" He asked, smiling calmly, reaching his eyes. Finding the situation, ironically funny for seeing offering me choices in a manner he only does in the office with clients, I scoffed at his face and glared in annoyance. I stood up.
Furious, clenching my jaw, words naturally came out of my mouth. "Damn. Can I just punch you in the face?" As the scenario from the HR office flashes in mind, I gritted my teeth. Recalling a feeling of déjà vu—
This was how I got lured in into signing that crap contract!
- Writer
