Never Be Apart

CHAPTER 31

The next day, I woke up bright and early, ready to tackle whatever the day had in store. I slipped into this cute black and white off-shoulder dress that I'd been saving for a special occasion, and honestly, it felt pretty good. I threw on a bit of makeup, but let's be real—I'm not exactly a makeup guru. 

A little mascara and lip gloss were about as fancy as I got. Oh, and I grabbed Haruki's DSLR. It's a nice camera, and thankfully, it's not too bulky, so I could manage to carry it easily.

I took a few glances in the mirror, turning this way and that to see if the outfit worked for me. I pouted a bit because, sure, I was okay with the look, but deep down, I wished I had something fresher to wear. Time wasn't on my side, though—I hadn't had a chance to go shopping for new clothes in ages. With a sigh, I shook off those thoughts and headed out the door.

As I made my way to the gate, I was planning to catch a tricycle to the address I'd been given when suddenly, I heard a loud honk behind me. I nearly jumped out of my skin! I turned around, frowning, trying to figure out who was honking at me. The car looked unfamiliar, and the windshield was so tinted I couldn't make out who was inside.

I stared at the car for a moment, feeling a little uneasy. When no one got out, I shrugged it off and kept walking. But then, nerves kicked in. What if it was some creep trying to kidnap me? I mean, I have dreams too, you know! I quickened my pace as fast as my heart was racing.

As I walked faster, I couldn't shake the feeling that the car was following me. Panic started to bubble up inside me. I glanced around, hoping to see someone nearby, but the street was eerily empty. Seriously, why did the gate seem so far away today? So annoying!

Before I knew it, I was running. Of course, in my heels, because wearing sneakers with a dress would've looked totally off. and I think luck wasn't on my side today. I managed to twist my ankle! Ugh, just my luck! I closed my eyes in frustration and pain, thinking I might've sprained it.

Then, out of nowhere, the car zoomed in front of me, and the driver jumped out. My heart dropped and I was ready to freak out. But to my surprise, he looked genuinely worried. He hurried over and knelt down to check my foot. When he touched the sore spot, I screamed, completely startled by the sudden pain. Embarrassment washed over me as I quickly covered my mouth, wishing I could disappear. What a morning, right?

"I'll bring you to the hospital," he said, and he was about to carry me bridal style! I quickly dodged and put my hands up to stop him, making him frown at me.

"You know, this is your fault! Why are you following me? Who even are you? Ugh! I'm going to be late because of this! Do you know that this is my first day at work and I'm already late!" I was on the verge of tears out of frustration and tried to stand up, but the pain in my foot made me bite my lip. The guy sighed and, without any hesitation, lifted me up. I couldn't help but scream and call for help.