I checked my wristwatch and twenty minutes have passed since we started walking. There was no trail in the woods, easy for anyone to get lost. Though Clark knew where we’re supposed to go, which was strange unless he’s been here before.

Now that I’m getting to know him more, it’s getting clear that this guy’s hiding something. And I’m not sure if I wanted to know what his secrets were.

The was becoming colder and colder as we approached the mansion. The shoes I was wearing were covered in mud and my feet were sore already. I rubbed my hands together, shivering.

I’m exhausted, hungry and cold.

But I didn’t want to tell Clark that I was tired. Whatever his reason was to come here, I could tell it was important. And the thought of Clark choosing me to come here with him was overwhelming. I liked to think that I’m special to him.

Even though I’m really not.

We finally got past the forest. The mansion was far more bigger than it was when we first stepped in the island. Hundreds of broken windows, corroded brick walls covered with dry vines.

This was a really scary place.

“Let’s go inside,” Clark said.

“What?”

Clark found a way in, through one of the doors at the left side of the mansion. The metal gates were tall, making it obvious that this was once a highly-secured place.

Once we got inside, I could hear the howl of the wind going through the corridor. I made a face, not even bothered that my teeth were chattering from the cold and the fear I was feeling.

“I don’t really like this place,” I mumbled to myself.

Clark looked like he doesn’t mind that we’re in an old, abandoned place in the middle of the ocean. We climbed up the rickety stairs but he abruptly stopped, eyes turning sharp.

“Did you hear that?”

I stopped walking as well and looked at him.

“H-huh? Heard what?”

Clark smirked.

“They’re here.”

I paled after hearing what he said.

“Who’s here?!”

Clark shushed me, took my hand to pull me close to him.

“This place, it’s being occupied by someone.”

“Huh? Who?” I inquired.

Who in their right minds would stay in a creepy place like this?

Clark closed his eyes and said, “seems like there’s people here. In the third floor,” he added.

I stared at him in disbelief.

“How the hell did you know that?”

“I could hear footsteps.”

“I don’t hear it.”

Clark turned to look at me.

“Now, stay here.”

I gaped at him.

“What?! Where are you going?! Don’t leave me here!”

Clark ruffled my hair.

“You’ll be fine, trust me.”

“But where are you going?!”

He smirked at me.

“I have to take care of something.”

--

Just like what Clark instructed, I stayed from where we were a while ago, leaning against the wall. I was feeling anxious because of this place. What if I saw something really scary?! There’s no where to run in here?

Summary, I’m trapped.

I checked the time and it’s been ten minutes since Clark was gone.

My ears perked after hearing a tapping sound from somewhere.

The hair in my back stood as I realized what those tapping sounds were.

Footsteps.

I looked around in panic, checking both left and right of the corridor to see if someone was coming.

But there was no one.

The howling of the wind intensified outside and the windows began to clatter. By now, I was so close to pissing myself.

The footsteps were getting closer and closer.

No, no, no, no, no! I need to get out of here!

I frantically searched for an open room to get out of the corridor. I don’t think those footsteps belonged to a human. It sounded like a heavy boot being scraped on the wood.

When I found an open door, I stumbled to get inside. I leaned my back against the wall, hands covering my mouth to stop myself from screaming. My heart was beating out of my chest.

The footsteps were gone and that made me sigh in relief.

I took my phone out to call Clark but there was no signal.

Of course.

My head dropped in disappointment.

I’m gonna die here.

Now that the footsteps were gone and my heartbeat returned back to normal, I finally looked where the hell I stumbled in.

It was a huge room with only a few furniture. A bed in the middle, an old dresser and another door right across from where the bed was. The windows were broken and there were marks of the floor being burned.

I walked closer to the bed and observed the night table from the right.

Why does this room feel…strange?

I know this whole place was creepy but this particular room was different.

“So you found it.”

I swear my heart dropped when Clark suddenly spoke behind me. I turned around and watched him approach me.

Clark eyed the bed and smiled.

“This place holds a lot of memories.”

“Memories?”

A sad smile appeared on his face.

“You really never know who you’ll fall in love in this world, don’t you?”

I didn’t understand what he meant by that.

“That’s just how life works. It’s all about irony.”

“What’re you talking about?”

“Can you imagine two people, who lived their whole life tormented by each other, but still chose to be together until the very end?” Clark said.

He finally looked at me and smirked.

“Have you loved someone so much that you’ll follow him even in death?”

I thought for a second.

“If that person means the whole world to me,” I started, lifting my head to look at Clark with a smile, “I will.”

Clark smiled back as well.

“Me too.”

--

Clark and I were silently walking away from the dark mansion. I wasn’t sure why he suddenly asked me that kind of question but somehow, I managed to answer him truthfully.

I couldn’t help but wonder if Clark’s in love with someone.

If only I could ask him that.

“So…did you finish whatever it is you need to do in the mansion?” I asked the other question circling my mind.

Clark put his hands inside his pants pockets.

“Yes but it doesn’t mean the person I’m guarding is safe now,” he answered.

I stopped walking and he did as well. We both stared at each other and it was him who asked what was wrong.

I wanted to ask him who the person he’s guarding. I was feeling pretty jealous of whoever she was. I wanted Clark all to myself. I’m so into him, I wanted to confess, to tell him how attracted I am to him but there’s no way he would date me, that’s just impossible.

No matter how kind he was to someone like me, I’m sure Clark’s straight. He doesn’t seemed to be a man who’s gonna go out with a gay person.

What I thought made a painful pang in my chest.

If only I was a girl.

“Drew?” Clark called, snapping me out of my thoughts.

“S-sorry…I’m just feeling tired from this random trip,” I joked.

Clark gave me an apologetic smile.

“Sorry I dragged you into this. Don’t worry, I’ll treat you when we come back.”

I brightened at what he said.

“Treat me? What kind of treat?”

Clark laughed, amused from my reaction.

“Dinner with me?”

I clapped my hands and grinned.

“Awesome!”

--

True to his words, when we got back to the city, Clark had brought me to Nomer’s Diner. The place was full of people but we managed to get a vacant table.

“Thanks again for coming with me,” Clark said after we sat down on our table.

I flushed.

I came because I wanted to be with him.

But let’s keep that to myself. I didn’t want to sabotage my blooming friendship with Clark.

“No worries. It’s actually fun though…just a little bit.”

Clark laughed.

“Yeah, it is for me too.”

The waitress approached us and as usual, she was shamelessly flirting with Clark. I was giving her a nasty look to tell her that she should get her filthy claws off of my man but she was too busy flaunting her chest to him.

Good thing Clark wasn’t giving her attention. The waitress finally left us with a scowl and our order.

I watched Clark take his phone out to answer a call. In the middle of talking to the other person in line, his calm expression changed to annoyance.

“Damn it, fine. I’ll pick her up later.”

He put his phone down on the table with a sigh.

“You okay?” I asked.

“Yeah,” Clark shortly answered.

I narrowed my eyes at him. I wasn’t convinced with his answer, basing from the tone of his voice but it’s not my place to meddle with his personal life.

My attention was taken away from Clark when I noticed a group of guys sitting on the next table beside ours. After I recognized who they were, I quickly hid my face so they wouldn’t see me.

“What is it?” Clark asked.

I kept my face hid away from them.

“...t-they’re someone I know…and I don’t really get along with them.”

Because I’ve confessed to one of the guys in their group and I ended up getting beaten up. It was a long time ago, we don’t go to the same school anymore because of that but I’m still scared every time I see them.

I’m afraid they might make a scene if they see me here, especially when I’m with a guy. They might think I’m making my move on Clark and they might tell him that…and they’ll call me names and humiliate me and…

I’m scared of being hated by Clark.

I didn’t want that.

“You wanna go?”

I froze.

“What?”

“It’s obvious you’re not comfortable here. We can go somewhere else if you want,” Clark suggested.

I nodded. My face was pale and I could feel my body shuddering from anxiety.

“T-thanks,” I whispered.

I didn’t even hear my own voice but Clark managed to understand what I just said.

“It’s nothing.”

We both stood up and much to my surprise, Clark walked beside me and put his arm around my shoulder, as if he’s hiding me from the people who hurt me. He guided me out of the restaurant, briefly telling the waitress that we’re not gonna eat anymore.

I was relieved once we got back to his car.

“Sorry,” I mumbled.

Clark smiled at me.

“It’s nothing. Mind if I smoke?”

I shook my head and said, “go ahead.”

He rolled the windows open before lighting the cigarette stick tucked in between his fingers.

“I guess I’ll be the one to treat you, huh?” I said, forcing myself to laugh to ease the mood.

“It’s fine.”

I looked outside the window and stared at the restaurant filled with people eating and laughing and talking as if they’ve got no problems.

I leaned my head on the window, feeling sleepy all of a sudden.

Today’s been a long day and I was exhausted. I knew I shouldn’t sleep here in Clark’s car but my eyelids were getting heavy.

And before I knew, I have fallen asleep, listening to the soft music in the radio and the smell of the cigarette from Clark.

--

“ -- was the visit?”

I could hear voices from afar. It sounded like Isaac and…

“It was fine. I wiped their group. We won’t be having any problems with them.”

“Figures you’ll do something about it.”

Was that…?

I could feel something broad and hard pressing against my chest, a sweet smell coming from somewhere close to my nose.

“Mmmmhhm,” I hummed and something tightened around my waist.

“Take him. He’s waking up.”

Someone stood behind me, tearing me away from whoever was holding me a while ago.

“Gonna go home now?”

“I still have to pick her up.”

The person holding me close chuckled.

“She just missed you. It’s been a while since you settled here.”

“It’s only been weeks since I came here,” the other guy sarcastically said.

“They’re just keeping an eye on you. You know how paranoid your parents can be when it comes to you.”

“Yeah right. Anyway, I’ll go.”

Somewhere deep inside me that was still conscious began to protest when the other guy said that he was leaving. I was half-asleep and I tried so hard to open my eyes. When I did, I could see someone standing in front of me. Everything was blurry and I couldn’t focus my sight to recognize who he was.

“D-don’t…”

With my remaining strength, I reached up to stop the person from going.

Please, don’t leave me…

…don’t leave me…

--

I woke up to the sound of my alarm ringing. I struggled to get up, my body feeling heavy and numb for some reason I didn’t know.

What happened last night? I couldn’t remember.

I rubbed my head.

What time’s it anyway?

I checked the watch on the night table and my eyes widened after realizing that I was super late for class. I jumped out of my bed, dashing to the bathroom to wash my face and change clothes.

After my quick morning routine, I got out of my room, running down the stairs with my bag hanging on my shoulder. I saw Isaac exiting the living room and saw me rushing out of the house.

“You’re going to school today?” Isaac asked while following me outside.

“Of course I am! I already skipped yesterday!”

And besides, I wanted to see Clark again. Even though we spent the whole day together yesterday, it still wasn’t enough.

I wanted to be with him longer.

Isaac only raised a brow at me but didn’t say anything.

--