(Chapter - 36)

  [Before The Storm]

  Mehaki sleeps soundly as the curtains by her window flutter softly in the night breeze. A sudden chill of unease wakes her up. As her flutter eyes open, a shadowy figure with glowing red-orange eyes glares down at her. She gasps and bolts upright. There’s nothing there.

  Mehaki : *What was that just now?*

  She slowly gets off the bed when she hears a sound behind her bedroom door. Confused, she opens the door with caution and comes out of the room, looking around.

  Mehaki : *I heard a sound. Was it just my mind?*

  She comes near the stairs and peeks. It feels eerie though no one is to be seen. Asroy suddenly appears right behind her — his eyes glowing deep red with a faint trace of orange.

  Mehaki : *Maybe it was Minaki. Or I'm just hearing things since it's so late at night.*

  Before she turns around, Asroy pushes her with his wind powers. Mehaki gasps in shock, losing her balance and nearly tumbling down the staircase. Luckily, she catches the railing; her feet slip down a few steps before she regains control. Her heart pounds violently in her chest and she immediately looks back, only to find no one behind her.

  Mehaki : *What the-!? I'm sure I felt a push on my back. I almost fell down… But there's no one!*

  She goes back up the stairs and thinks while making herself calm.

  Mehaki : *Did I trip because I'm still half asleep?*

  She goes into her room and closes the door quietly, without making any noise. She glances at the window, where the wind slips in, making the curtains sway. Something feels off about it today, so she walks to the window, closes it and draws the curtains. Then she goes back to her bed, taking a deep breath.

  Mehaki : *I better fall asleep again.*

  She closes her eyes. Outside the closed window, hidden behind the drawn curtains, Asroy floats silently in the air. Dark red glimmers swirl around him, his expression annoyed. He winces and mutters in a low voice.

  Asroy : Tch. Darn it…

  Then he flies back home, falls asleep as if he had never woken at all. The next day, Mehaki gets ready quickly for her tuition class. Her outfit consists of a cute baby-blue shirt, a white and sky-blue plaid skirt that falls below her knees, blue Mary Jane shoes, and her hair neatly styled and pinned back. Her mother and father are going to an office meeting, and their time seems to match. They come to the door together.

  Stolen story; please report.

  Mrs. Jonaki : Are you going to go out now?

  Mehaki : Yes, mom.

  Mr. Arik : Then let's go together, sweetie. We'll drop you off at your tuition.

  Mehaki : Will it be okay?

  Mr. Arik : Of course. We'll be driving on the same road anyway.

  Mrs. Jonaki : That's right, Anami. Go get in the car.

  Mehaki : Okay!

  She happily rushes into the car, making her parents giggle. Her mother calls to her siblings.

  Mrs. Jonaki : Minaki! Mehrab! Don't do anything ridiculous and stay safe until your sister comes back.

  Minaki : Okay, mom!

  Mehrab : Ba-bye!

  Mehaki sits at the back, her mom at the front passenger seat and her father drives the car. She looks out the window — the sun seems to shine less today, partly hidden by white clouds. She feels a sense of relief.

  Mehaki : *Thankfully, I don’t have to face that creepy stalker Onol today. Is he standing there today as well?*

  As the car drives over the bridge, Mehaki scans the sidewalk and her face relaxes seeing Onol not being there.

  Mehaki : *Ah! He's not there today. Is it my lucky day?*

  A relieved smile curves on her lips. Her parents drop her off at the tuition and she waves them goodbye. After her classes end at noon, she walks down the street on her way home. Sighing sadly, she looks at the time “2:10 PM”.

  Mehaki : *Himika couldn’t come today since she caught a cold. I missed her.*

  While putting her phone into her bag, she reaches the bridge. It's still empty — free of any weird guys. Mehaki takes a look at the river below the bridge. It's reflecting the soft sunlight and the blue sky. Wind plays with her hair and she continues to walk on her path cheerfully. When she comes to an alley, A voice from behind makes her shiver. She realizes who it is right away — Onol.

  Onol : Hello, Mehaki ma'am.

  Mehaki immediately turns around with terror spreading all over her face. But the terror soon turns into anger.

  Mehaki : *Not again!* Why are you still after me!?

  Onol : Isn't it obvious? I already told you that I want to get to know you.

  Mehaki : I don’t want to let you know anything.

  Onol : Why not?

  Mehaki : Why should I?

  Onol : I guess I'll have to keep running after you until you become friends with me.

  Mehaki : Ugh! Please! Just leave me alone!

  Onol : You look even prettier when angry.

  Mehaki : You're really crossing the limit of my patience now!

  Onol : Oh…

  He starts to walk slowly towards Mehaki, cornering her to the concrete wall of the alley. Mehaki grows nervous, though she tries not to show it.

  Onol : Did I cross it yet?

  Mehaki : Why you—Ahh!

  Onol pushes her against the wall, trapping her between his arms with no escape. Mehaki gets startled and shouts.

  Mehaki : What are you doing, you creep!? Get away from me!

  Onol : Please just calm down and listen to me for once without yelling.

  Mehaki : Why would anyone want to listen to a pest like you?!

  Onol : Listen… Ever since you saved me that day, and treated me so kindly, I think I’ve fallen for you.

  Mehaki : !?!

  His words stun Mehaki, making her speechless, eyes narrowing from annoyance. She’s had enough of Onol’s nonsense behavior.

  Onol : And I really want to get close to you. And I don’t think I've ever felt this way before. It just started out of nowhere since then.

  Mehaki : *With this behavior!? Sure!* You're starting to make me feel that saving you back then was a mistake. Should I regret it?

  Onol : I know it's sudden — I do like you. So don't be so harsh on me.

  Mehaki : I don’t like you, Onol! Just get away from me!

  She pushes Onol away from her and steps away a bit. Her eyes blaze with fury at Onol's actions.

  Mehaki : Learn to respect people's opinions and boundaries! I have no interest in you! Stop disturbing me like this if you don’t want me to start despising you for real!

  Onol's curious gaze remains fixed on her.

  Onol : So, you don’t like me. Then… How about I get you to like me?

  He smiles unsettlingly. Mehaki's frustration comes out clear on her face. She begins to walk away again, but this time Onol doesn’t follow her. Instead, his tone turns oddly cheerful — almost encouraged.

  Mehaki : *This guy is unbearable!* Just get lost! And for the last time… Do. Not. Follow. Me!

  Onol : I won't follow you anymore, so don’t despise me, ok? Please start to like me!

  Mehaki : *Ahhhh!*

  Mehaki returns home, finally taking a breath of relief. She freshens up and gets changed into a more comfortable light-yellow frock, tying her hair into a low ponytail with a ribbon of the same color. She takes her pink notebook, which she hasn’t touched in days, and walks to the backyard garden — where the Ariya flower tree stands. The flowers glow as Mehaki steps closer and sits beneath the tree.

  Mehaki : I haven’t written in my notebook for a while. I've been really stressed these past few days. I just want peace…

  Her eyes droop, tired and emotionally drained. A glowing pink ray, carrying Ariya flower petals, slowly swirls around Mehaki, as if trying to embrace her. Her eyes gleam as she unknowingly talks to the tree.

  Mehaki : Are you… Are you trying to comfort me?

  She softly touches the petals around her face, as a thankful gesture.

  Mehaki : Thank you!

  She finally feels at peace — grateful for a quiet moment to herself. But she has no idea what awaits her when night falls again.

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