Alluring Mask - ENGLISH VERSION

CHAPTER 23

CHAPTER 23

I just stared blankly at the dark sea while leaning on the railings of my room's balcony. I didn't know that the back of Atlas' house was near a cliff, and below it was the sea. It was probably a good decision of his to choose this as my room because I can meditate here.

I can still rest tomorrow before my actual training with Oceanus.

Should I drink Enervon tomorrow night? So I'll be more energetic on the day of my practice? Should I take an alaxan now so my body won't ache?

I just shook my head at my thoughts. I couldn't think of anything else to do tomorrow besides rest because I still feel tired. It's already late at night. and I should be resting, but I can't sleep. My body feels strange.

I sat down on the empty chair, my gaze fixed on the dark sea. I opened my phone and took a picture of the dark ocean. On the left side, there was the beach and small, glowing lights. I could also see other people who seemed to be enjoying themselves. There must be a party happening on the beach.

I went back to my seat to look at the photo. A smile crept onto my lips when I saw that the picture turned out well. I opened iMessage, where Raf and I used to talk. I knew I must look crazy doing this because sometimes I would send him texts even though I knew he wouldn't reply.

I paused mid-typing when I remembered something. My shoulders slumped as I realized that I was already dead in the Philippines.

"How can I text you now?" I said sadly.

My last text to him was on the last day before it was announced that I was gone. As usual, there was no reply. He became like my personal diary. I sighed and went inside my room. I made sure to lock the sliding glass door and pull the black curtains before lying down on the bed to rest.

My eyelids were getting heavy. I really needed to sleep. I looked at our conversation for the last time until I finally closed my eyes due to exhaustion. But I couldn't help but notice that my last text to him suddenly moved.

Read.

-ˋˏ ༻❁༺ ˎˊ-

"Are you okay, Sarah?"

I blinked when I heard Oceanus' voice. We stood in the front yard, observing him as he tilled the soil around Atlas' plants. If I didn't know Oceanus, I wouldn't think he was working for Atlas. He was just simply dressed, or maybe that's just how they are? He was transferring the large flowers to bigger containers so they could grow there.

"Y-yeah, why?" I asked, stuttering. Until now, I couldn't get out of my mind what I saw last night. He still had it on read.

Maybe someone opened his phone? But it's still questionable because I know his phone probably broke when the accident happened.

I stood there like a statue beside him, watching what he was doing. Atlas hasn't been in his villa since morning, so it was just Oceanus and me.

"Are you sure? It looks like you're not okay," he replied while tilling the soil.

"I'm just missing someone," I lied. But I immediately stopped myself. It seemed like I wasn't lying because I really am missing someone.

I heard his soft laugh, and he shook his head. Silence filled the air once more before he finally spoke.

"I know you're looking for Atlas. He's just downtown because he needs to see Ismael there."

"Why?" I asked and approached him.

He stood up and took off his garden gloves and gave me a small smile. "Ismael is asking for an update on the drugs he sent last month. He can't be at ease if he only reads it in his email, he wants it to come directly from Ismael."