I found myself sitting on the cold bathroom floor, my mind was consumed with frustration.

My arms instinctively wrapped around my knees as I tried to make sense of my emotions. Why was I overreacting like this? After all, Ray and I were not in a relationship, so it shouldn't matter. That was what I told myself, but my heart refused to listen. As I sat there lost in my thoughts, a knock on the bathroom door startled me. I quickly wiped away my tears and took deep breath.

“Enough, Tie.  I am not in the mood right now. Please, just go away!" I grumbled, clearly irritated. 

“Kichi.” 

I could feel my heart racing inside my chest. "Ray?” Clearly, Tie had informed her of my whereabouts. “Is there something you needed?" I asked, trying to sound unbothered.

“You have been inside for quite a while. Is everything okay?" Her voice sounded concerned, but maybe I imagined it.

"I am fine." I fibbed. "I will be out in just a moment."

“Alright  Well, I should probably get going," Ray informed me.

"You are leaving," I said with a sense of dread.

“I have an important matter I need to deal with, and there is a person that I must meet.” 

I stood in the bathroom, my fingers clutched the towel tightly around my body. The intensity of my racing heart made me feel light-headed and disoriented. The sound of my heart pounding in my ears was the only thing I could focus on, as I tried desperately to calm my nerves.

“Good-bye, Kichi.” 

The finality in her tone was unmistakable, leaving me with a sinking feeling in my chest. My heart sank as it dawned on me that this could potentially be our last encounter. Will I never see her again? Will my last memory of her be clouded by the pain in her eyes?

My mind was consumed with thoughts, unable to find peace. I continuously pondered if there was something, anything I could do or say to prolong Ray's stay in Chester. However, I knew deep down that she belonged in her own world. Besides, yesterday's events on the train left a lasting impression on me, even though my recollection of them may be somewhat blurred. Despite this, the mere presence of Ray by my side was enough to make the experience worthwhile. 

Sometime later, I slipped into my lace boy shorts underwear before fastening a padded bra to support my chest. As I gazed at my reflection in the mirror, I swept my bangs upwards to examine myself. My large eyes swept over the figure staring back at me, taking in every detail. As I suspected, there was nothing special about me. I didn't possess anything remarkable that could make Ray want to stay with me.

I let my hair loose and shifted my attention to the bed, where my outfit for the day lay. It consisted of a pair of shorts and a sunny, scoop neck crop top. As I extended my hand to pick up the top, the sound of a ringing cell phone caught my attention. I paused for a moment before throwing off my covers and reaching for the phone.

"Hello?" I answered.

"Who is this?" a furious woman's voice inquired. "Where is Ray?" 

“Ray?” 

“Where is the owner of this phone?” 

when I removed the phone from my ear, I noticed the name "Rias de Claire" displayed on the screen. It was Ray's manager, the woman who had previously shown such disdain towards me during my interview, making me feel unwelcome, like an uninvited guest at a dinner party.

I was baffled, wondering how her phone had made its way into my room. My morning just kept going downhill at an alarming rate. 

"Hello, Rias, it's Kichi.” My voice trembled with fear, as though I were a frightened child who had just been told a scary story about the bogeyman. 

"Only a few hours in your presence and the media is already spreading rumors." Her tone was seething as she spoke into the receiver.

I did not know what to say, I kept my silence.

“Where is she? Put her on the phone.” Rias demanded.

"Rias demanded to know, 'Where is she? Put her on the phone.'

I calmly relayed, “She's on her way to Bridgeport. She had some matters to attend to and someone to meet with.” 

”Ray is still in Chester,” Rias notified me. “Just find her."

"Is Ray still in Chester?" The mere thought sent my heart racing.

"Do not too happy. You are not the cause of her being there. Nevertheless, I need you to deliver Ray’s phone."

Sitting onto the mattress, I uttered, "I have no idea where she could be." 

“Ray's childhood friend, Arah, owns a popular liquor store in the heart of downtown Chester, bearing her own name. It's a well-known establishment and locating it is a breeze. I am confident she can be found there. I will reach out again in a couple of hours."

Feeling a sense of sadness, I ended the call. It appeared that my assumptions were completely unfounded as I realized that she had not come because of me. Feeling utterly frustrated and dismayed, I leaned forward and retrieved the newspaper that featured a picture of Ray and myself. Crumpling it into a tight ball, I aimlessly tossed it across the room.