The Path Leads To You

Chap 9

I was staring at the wall without blinking. My head is full of curses and everything.

"Hey, calm down the wall didn't do anything." I just came back to my senses when Sir Ash spoke beside me. I almost forgot he was with me.

The party just ended and I was waiting for my brother only to find out he left already. I can not contact him and I am angry, he promised to take me home but what is this?

*Bzzztt!!* *Bzzt

I picked up the call when I saw it was not in my contacts.

"Yes hello?"

"Rae, I'm sorry I forgot to tell you I am currently on my way to Anthony's place."

"You- what time is it? You promised to take me home!" I complained and I can imagine him scratching his head.

"Well, sorry. But you can go home alone, I know you can do it. You lived alone for five years." He said. Like he doesn't know me well.

"You know I can't. Desvon Roe Simon, I hate you!" I shouted surprising the other people walking. I really can't go home alone at night he knows that.

"Ahm. Miss Simon, are you alright? I can take you home if it's okay with you?" I look at Sir Ash while biting my lips to keep myself from crying.

"I'm sorry to bother you, sir." The only thing I could say. I really don't want to bother him, but what can I do, I can not go home alone. Also, Laureen is with Jess tonight as they are planning to go home.

"It's fine Clay can wait." He said and smiled at me easing my mood.

While walking our way home, Sir Ash just kept on talking, I learned many things about him. Like, being a teacher was not his dream before, he wanted to be a painter but he somehow found passion in teaching.

"How about you?" He looked at me expecting to talk.

"Me? I wanted to be an actor. At first, I thought taking up Mass Communication was my first step toward achieving that dream. It was okay in the beginning until something changed along the way. I don't know what happened wrong but I started to question myself. Did I take the right path? I just realized dreams don't stay long with you." I looked at the sky and hugged myself as I felt goosebumps all over me.

"My dreams didn't matter anymore as days went on. I took up Civil Service Exam when I was still in my third year." I winced when a memory came back.

"Really? Did you pass?"

"I did, and after graduating I started working at a government agency. But, it's just really not for me. Now, I just work as a tutor enough to sustain my needs in the meantime." I said.

"Hmm, maybe-" *Raff* *Raff*

"Ahhhhh!" A dog suddenly barks just behind me and all my nerves get so frighted.

"Shoo!"

"Bart! I'm sorry about that. Bart broke off his tie. Sorry, I scared your girlfriend."

I didn't pay attention to what was happening around me. All I know is I'm trembling from fear. One of my worst memories came back and ate up my system. I can't breathe properly. All I could see were those glaring red eyes, with a pool of blood all over.

"Rae, Rae?" I feel someone shake me. "Shhh! Calm down now! They're gone. Shh, you're fine."

I feel so warm despite the cool weather. This feeling is so good, I've never felt peacefulness and comfortable in my life. My breathing came normal again.

"Rae?"

With that, like a string was pulled on me I suddenly opened my eyes and moved my head to look at him. "Sir Ash."

He's looking at me intently and the worry on his face is visible. "Are you okay?"

There I just realised our position. He is sitting on a bench while he's hugging and carrying me on his lap. I am also holding onto his nape. Now I just remember I jumped on him out of surprise and fear when that dog suddenly barked.

"I-I" I instantly stood up and I almost fell as my body was still weak luckily he caught me again. "I'm sorry 'bout that," I said as I fixed myself again. He just sighed, smiled at me and patted my head.

"It's okay as long as you're fine. Now come I'll take you home. Can you still walk?" He said and took my hand. I look at the hand that he was holding, his hand is so warm. This was the first time I was held by a man aside from Desvon.

"This is the reason why." For the first time, I started a conversation.

"Hmm?" He raised his eyebrows in question.

"Back when I was in grade school, it was also dark and midnight. I saw how my elder brother got bitten by a dog. His leg's flesh was almost torn apart and blood was all over." I started telling the story, he rubbed my hand when I trembled a little.

"I was traumatized by what happened and had a phobia of dogs before. However, as time went on, I started to get better because we also had a dog at home however seeing a dog at night triggers it. That's why I never go out at night without a companion."

I don't fear people, I'm afraid of dogs, especially those stray dogs. Though it's fine if it's day because there are people and I can see the dog clearly. I just don't know why it triggers when it's dark.

"I understand. Your brother really needs a good lesson. How could he leave you alone, what if I'm not around?" He said.

"Tsk, that brother of mine." Next time I will not entertain his favours.

Reaching the apartment, Sir Ash took me until we are in front of the door.

"I'm fine here Sir. Thank you again." I said gratefully. I just realize it's already an hour past midnight.

"Okay, I'll leave. Now go inside." He said and still watched me unlock my door.

"Good night" I waved my hand before turning to enter.

"Good night."

"Hyaa!" I lay on the bed after changing and washing. I embrace myself and think of what happened today. Somehow, it's not as lonely as usual. Covering myself with the blanket I sleep peacefully and smiling.

....

*tok *tok *tok

I turn to the door when I heard a knock. Upon opening my head boiled.

"I'm-" I didn't let him finish and punch him in the face.

"Aw, I think I deserved that." He said and hold his cheek.

"You deserve more than that. Come here you ungrateful, shameless fool!" I'm really annoyed, big time.

"Ahh! Ahh! I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" He keeps on saying sorry as I pinch his ears. My neighbours are looking at us and laughing when they realize it's my brother. They all know my brother here because he always comes here for a fill.

"Hey, Rae!" I look at the person who called us.

"Claire! Save me!"

"Desvon?" Desvon runs behind her holding her shoulders as a shield.

"Claire yo-you are just in time. Save me from my monster sister!" He said while pointing at me.

"You- you! Pull that rascal here Claire!"

"Wa-wait." she removes the hands holding her. "What happened? Did you do something again Desvon?" He ask and Desvon could only pout and scratch his head.

"Tsk." I just turn around and walk inside with them following me.

"That damn fool, how could you leave me outside in the middle of the night. Do you know I almost died there?" Of course, I was just exaggerating but I rolled my eyes at him.

"So it's your fault. You know your sister can not walk alone at night. Especially here in our country, several stray dogs are roaming around at night." Claire said and I nodded in agreement.

"Sorry. Really, I'm sorry. I won't do it again. It's just that Anthony got very drunk and I can only bring him home first." He said and I just "Hmmph!" At him making him smile. He knows I forgive him. Come on, I'm not angry, I'm just annoyed. Besides, I still came home safely.

"But how did you come home?" Claire ask while fixing the fruits she brought and the vegetables I assume from our home town.

"Oh I- I" I suddenly fell hot and embarrassed when I remembered last night. What the heck! Why I am feeling like this? I didn't even think about it before I sleep.

"Hey, why are you blushing?" Claire.

"Ahem, did someone take you home? Let me guess, a man?" Desvon.

"I- That's nothing I just feel hot because I'm cooking," I said and drink some water.

"Weehh? Come on tell us is there someone?"

"Is my sister finally seeing someone?" They both are smiling and looking at me.

"It's nothing, okay. There's no man or anything, I came home alone." I said and turn my back to them. I feel my phone vibrate so I took it out.

*Good Morning, Miss Simon. I just wanna check if you're fine.* Oh, it's sir Ash.

*I'm fine sir, thank you!" I replied to him.

I can feel the two people staring at me. I instantly put on my cold face when I realize I was smiling.

"What?" I even raised my eyebrows at them.

"Ahem! Desvon, look at that smile. She sure is hiding something."

"Yeah right! I'm very sure it's a man." They even look at each other and nod. I just shook my head and brought the food to the table

We started eating and the topic was dismissed just like that.

"How are you and your husband Claire?" I asked.

"Well, we're always together and I got tired of his face so I left him at home." She said and we both laugh.

"Haha, your bad."

"Haha, we're good. This time we want to have a child so we are trying our best."

"Oh, that's good, good luck. If ever I'll be a godmother." I said excitedly. How good it could be to have someone call you godmother.

"Yeah, yeah. I'll remember that. But by the way, most of our high school batch is asking about you. Did you not join the group chat?"

"Oh, yeah. Just that I don't open my social media so I don't know what's happening." That's the truth, I don't usually open my social media since the day I graduated. I stranged myself from everything else because it doesn't matter anymore.

"Tsk. But you should come to our reunion. You must have missed some of your friends there." She said and I just smiled. Claire and I were friends but when we were in middle school, we have a different group of friends.

Missed me? Do they? Since we parted in high school and went to different universities, they never contact me on their own. I always start the conversation and as time goes I got tired. Sometimes I think of them, especially when I was abroad. I waited for at least one of them to contact me but nothing. I just got to see on social media that one of them got married, and the other had a child. They all had their own life and it was like they had forgotten about me. But, maybe that was just my assumption. Maybe just like me, they are also waiting for me to contact them.

"I'll try. I also want to see how much they've changed." I could only say.

"Good. By the way, I heard Liam is single now. Maybe if you see each other, you might realize you were both destined to each other." She said while biting the bacon.

"Phhss! Haha, come on that's absurd. You know it's been a long time. Many things change and when we broke up, I managed to move on."

Liam is my ex-boyfriend, and that was when I was still in middle school. It's too long since I almost forgot I had a relationship before. After our break up I learned many things, and I learn how to accept and forgive people. It was actually the best thing, to be able to forgive and think rationally.

"Yeah, I know that. But, I'm kinda worried for you. Are you planning on being an old maiden?" She said again. Which only made me laugh more.

"That's also what I think." Desvon.

"Guys, don't worry I'm still young, mind you I'm just 26. Also even if I became an old maiden I will still live." Come on who said I need a man to live? I've managed to be alone for how many years and having a man has never crossed my mind. But of course, if I find the right one why not.

After breakfast, Claire and I decided to go to the mall and Desvon has no other things to do so he followed us.

"You guys, are you not tired already?" Desvon.

"Yep but we haven't seen this place yet," Claire said and we both laugh. Since we entered the mall we've been roaming around different stores non-stop.

"Tsk, you will not buy there anyway why go there?" He keeps complaining but we didn't listen. Well, at least we're not like those other girls who buy too much. If we saw something we like we don't just get it. We just really love looking around. Finally, we entered the male clothing section. Because Claire decided to buy new clothes for her husband.

"Come here Desvon," I called him when he is just pouting while carrying the two paper bags we bought earlier. I took them and put in his arms the clothes I just pick.

"What-?"

"Just try them off," I said and his face lit up. He excitedly went to the fitting room and I just smile.

"He's really happy eh." Claire.

"Yeah, he surely likes those clothes he keeps on looking at them a while ago but I know he's keeping himself from buying them," I said and smiled while looking around.

"Hmmph, you're such a good sister. " I just chuckled at it. I just like buying things for him. When I buy clothes for myself I always get one for him too.

Out of all my siblings, it's Desvon who I'm close to. When other people look at us they might think he is my boyfriend because of his height ht, but there are also sides to me he's the only person who can see it. Like being childish, acting cute and other things.

After we roam around we finally get to find something to eat. This time it is Desvon who picks the place.