Do not turn my way, Raphael.

Chapter One: Watterville

"Don't the people still hate you over there?"

"I know, but, I have a reason for you to go back there." 

"You are not making any sense, mom." I groaned in frustration as I stashed my beige shirt in my luggage. Looking down, I could see my necessities were neatly placed in every pocket, but the folds of my clothes' edges were a bit crinkled due to the limited space. 

I felt mom poking my shoulder with my favorite teddy bear. She did this little flick to tell me to pack it up with me. I sighed and received it carefully. 

"I know you loved that place, Raine. I think it would be good for you, to you know, stay out from the limelight for a bit." Mom chuckled a bit, but I could hear faint nervousness. 

"I do, but the limelight is because of you and your occupation. Not that I do mind--" I stood from the kneeling down and grabbed whatever I could see from my shelf, "--but this? abruptly without any explanation."

She just gave me a smile and it made me confused even more, "just listen to me, it's for the best."

"Huh.." I gave her the kind of glare where I wanted to believe her, but a long breathy confirmation came out. However, my heart did not really protest with her decision. A part of me knows I also wanted to. 

I got a job as a Human Resource specialist at this finance company for a year and a half. It was pretty fun, but not for long. I resigned a week ago. I somehow got into a dispute with an employee and client. Struck me down pretty hard as I had to appease the latter, but the whole department silently resented me for lowering my head down and not defending one of its colleagues. 

I did try to give a solution, but compromising was out of the question. It was a double-edged situation. I am not even quite sure if what I did was wrong or right.

However, I resigned because I was simply.. Not happy with my previous occupation at all. To add, my background as the daughter of the famous Clairvoyant, Tris, did not help at all as soon as I was exposed. They either bug me for a reading or just straight up hate me because they do not believe in such paranormal activity. Honestly! I'm not the one with that prowess!

"Here is for your bus fee.. Oh, and some pocket change." 

"Thanks, mom." I held my hand out to receive the money. We could have asked our driver to take me to Waterville, but it would alarm the locals. Not that because they have not seen a car, but it is an unfamiliar car. I remember back when I was still there, me and my old friends would instantly spot a new vehicle from a mile away. 

"Oh, look at your hair. You need to comb it out." Mom gave me that solemn smile while she grabbed my hairbrush from my dresser. She made me sit down on the stool as she worked the bristles through my jet-black hair.

It was not even that unruly, let alone frizzy. 

I silently watched myself and my mom just staring into the 2 foot mirror. Our eyes focused on every dimension-- every stroke of the brush, every blink, and every heave. 

"Mom.. Do you think I'll meet him there?" I broke the silence. My hands started fidgeting. 

"Raphael." And she was sure I was thinking about him. 

My childhood best friend turned to lover. Somehow my mind recalls the time when he confessed to me by the local bonfire festival. I was super ecstatic. I was elated beyond words. My heart hummed for him like gravity and I knew I was going to be on the same grounds at him-- physically and mentally. 

But my mom angered the people of Waterville. Raphael and his family took the brunt of it all. Why? The town was technically named after their family and ancestry. Because of the latter, I am ashamed to face him. 

I am secretly hoping he is still in that town, but then I hope he does not turn my way when we meet. As much as I try to forget him, I still very much.. Love him.

----

How many hours has it been? Why did I even agree to go back?

I think I just missed Waterville. I was technically born and raised in that place. Come to think of it, I am not sure what mom had done to make the town despise her. 

The bus rumbled and my heart silently made a few nervous thumps. I was not scared of this semi-old metal vehicle. I was more scared to see how Waterville has been doing. It pains my heart to think I'm coming back with longing when my mom and I left with such fear. 

The glass window was a bit fogged up by little debris and dirt, but I could clearly see the outlines of familiar stores and ancestral houses passing by. My sleepiness was waved off upon realizing I had already arrived after eight hours of land travel. 

It has been five years. Holy shit, I cannot believe it. 

I was about to look away from the window when all of a sudden I felt like someone had his eyes on me outside the bus. My eyes landed on a pair of ashen orbs, but I could not see his face clearly because it was getting late noon. I just also think because the bus was moving a bit faster now and the outside flickered like watercolor. 

The bus came to a stop and a few people started hopping off. I put my earphones and cellphone in my bag quickly, look around my seat to see if I had missed something, scooch off from my seat to get into the aisle, and reach for my luggage. 

"Careful out there, missy, wolves have been rampant in this town." The bus driver spoke and I almost dropped my bag.

"And so I've heard." I responded with a polite smile before getting of the bus.

I was greeted with such cold. I only had an outer jacket on me. I quickly rubbed my hands together to create some heat and then placed them on my cheeks. 

I forgot it was colder here because we are, geographically, in the mountains.