P. H. A. S. E

PHASE 5b: Nightmares

"Yes daddy. I will stay away from HIM. Right after my grilled chicken gets here. Are you eating or not?" I shoved the disturbing feeling  his tone caused me away.

"You don't take me serious, suit yourself then." He was annoyed. He was about to leave when drake came in with three packs of food and my meds.

"I love this school. The cafeteria and the pharmacy are just few moves away from the sick bay.  I got your twin brother something in case he was as hungry as I am. "

"I was just about to leave." Alvin scoffed pausing right in front of him. They stared awkwardly at each other for two moments before Alvin took the food bag. "Your being nice doesn't fit you." Alvin muttered before leaving us alone.

Drake's calm face didn't twitch at all.

"Did you get the salad?" I asked nicely as he sat beside me. I was actually nervous at that moment. Alvin wasn't joking when he said stay away but a part of me couldn't stand infatuation.

He served the food properly like a gentle man. I peeped at his pack. He bought a cola drink and lime soda. Orange juice and  chicken Burger.

"You drink that? All that?" I asked picking up my cutlery. "That's crazy. "

"No! I bought the lime soda for my painting time at home and the cola drink for my ride back from work. I won't be making any stops today. "

"You have a job?" I asked in awe. I am a bit of a spoilt brat making money from YouTube, X, TikTok, Instagram and ballet dancing. Almost everyone I meet are in that circle.

" Yeah, you should eat." He nodded with a smirk. "If I finish this burger before you, you won't be enjoying that salad alone."

I glared at him as I shoved a piece into my mouth after chopping it. How and why does he follow that rule? How did he even know the rule? I created that rule when I was five just to have fun eating together with  Alvin.

I could finish the salad in a flash but, I wasn't going to let that part of me show. I don't have to show him that I am a puff fish. I had to leave a good first time dining impression.

"Your twin brother doesn't like me... What's his name?" Jeez he has been in this school and he doesn't know the international school's rep. He is on every ad made for the school. Even on our school's books. The school pays this dude to run ads for them and Drake Murphy did not know him? He was so new

"You mean Alvin? He's not my twin brother biologically. We are best friends." I smiled feeling a little bit down.

" Really? I thought he was dating ceramic girl." He chuckled in disbelief.

I couldn't help my hysteric laughter. It was the most hilarious anyone had ever called Fi. "Fiona is his girlfriend."

" So her name is Fiona. Lanie said she was ceramic girl."

"Alvin would kill you if he heard what you just said."

" Really then why was he looking at you that way." He whispered before flicking his brows.

"That's the way he looks at me bro." I spoke with the chicken in my mouth.

"I knew you were a puff fish. You should see the way Lanie eats... Like a shark. She just gulps it up. You wonder if she chews it." He laughed. His laugh was beautiful so simple like "hahahaha". Like a royal prince. Yet bossy and dangerous like an anime villain.

I couldn't stop my self from staring at him, even when his eyes caught mine.

"My elder sister was a foodie beauty. She was so beautiful when she tried to talk with food in her mouth. She looked like a puff fish." He puffed his cheeks before chuckling. And the next moment, the charisma was gone. It dropped. The enthusiasm in his voice dropped. "Your meds , let's remember you still need them."

  I knew something was up. I quenched the urge to ask. It might be a very touchy subject and we just started talking.

After taking my medications, we watched a movie together to while away time. He said he would leave for the classes he had after lunch.

We didn't say much to each other after that. Just talk and comments on the movie.

But that moment was better than the silent walk I had when Alvin was walking me off to the truck. The only word he said was "Taki would drive you home. Melodie has returned to being president so meeting was called by Havillah."

" Thanks Alvin." It was normal to thank him with a hug but his body language fell my arms back to my cardigan.

" I will call you." He smiled after making sure my hair was not rough. " In the meantime, stay away from HIM. You have had your salad.

"Your girlfriend awaits you." Seth was in the driver's seat. It was my first time since the accident sitting riggt next to the driver. As soon as the car started my whole body tensed. I was scared for no reason in particular.

When he applied the breaks while steering his way out of the parking lot,  I almost jumped out of my body.  If it wasn't for the seat belt, my head would have slammed something .

"Are you okay?" He stopped the car. "What is the matter? Should I drive you to the hospital?"

"No! No! I'm fine." I was not fine he could see that. My palms were sweaty, goosebumps All over me and sweat trickled down my face.

He checked my temperature, nothing out of the ordinary. "Erika, you are freaking me out."

"I don't know what is wrong okay? I'm fine just headache. I'm just... Terrified. This is the first time I am sitting... " He realized before I could complete my statement.

He came down and helped me to the back seat. Taki just got his driver's license and he wasn't really great at driving. Initiating any conversation from the back seat might cause an accident. He turned up the volume of the radio.

We were enjoying the songs and singing along. I didn't know when I got home or when I was placed on the bed. I guess I slept off during the ride and precisely because of the meds.

All I remember is having a creepy nightmare. My mum, Lucille was performing at her funeral with blood dripping down her face and her bones were twisted like a zombie's.

I jolted up with a deafening scream. Taki rushed into the room with Mr Johnson. I broke down like a little baby. I always had stupid dreams of zombies growing up but it wasn't like that one. It felt so different

I felt so scared and insecure and terrified and feeble. Taki joined me on the bed. He wrapped his arms around me in a warm cuddle. My body was shaking and sweating but he cuddled me tightly and pecked my forehead.

We laid in that position for close to ten minutes before he received a video call from Alice.

Speaking to Alice and the excitement of hearing her voice relieved the feeling but moments after the 30mins video call, Taki went out to grab something to eat and I was left alone in my room,it came back. I felt the anxiety, the fear of being alone in my own room. I had been sleeping alone most of my life but I just became scared of having only me in my own personal space for no reason in particular.