Love Is Hard - Karma X Reader

Chapter 20.2

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

(Y/N's POV - continued)

.
.
.
I can't do it...

Grrr~~

...Why did I not eat anything before jumping into things? Oh, that's right! Because I use my heart over my brain-that's why! Idiot!

It was a ridiculous idea to go to the hill. Utterly useless-and now my poor stomach was paying the price.

I didn't find anything. Nothing solid, at least.

All that pep talk, all that hype from last night and this morning-*for what?*

For nothing.

I let out a heavy sigh. *Back to square one.*

I stared at the needle in my palm. I found it stuck on a tree, near the spot I was hiding from karma and everyone that night. But what could it prove that they didn't know already.

The memory of me flailing around like an idiot with that giant fake spider stuck to my face in the dark...

Yeah. No wonder my ears were burning just thinking about it.

Ugh! Why the hell was luck never on my side.

I'd been searching for something-anything-to help me out for hours, but it all came up short.

Under the rocks, near the bushes-you name it. I even dove into that pool, hoping for a miracle, but...nothing.

Now, even though I had twisted and squeezed the water out, my hair was still damp, dripping occasionally onto my shoulders. At least my clothes were dry-I had the sense to take them off before diving in. I even had a small towel packed to dry off, but of course, I didn't think to pack anything to eat. How nice.

"Gosh, what am I gonna do now?" I groaned. "This sucks. Oh, this sucks so bad," I grumbled, pressing my hand against my face.

Why didn't I think to pack a bite to eat when I left? Now, my stomach was growling louder than my doubts.

Grrr~

"Yeah, yeah-I know, I'm such a mess," I muttered under my breath, half-chiding my own disheveled state. "I know you're hungry, you don't have to announce it every five steps."

I tried to quicken my pace, thinking I'd get back to the apartment complex before my stomach decided to self-destruct. But the thought of returning-of stepping back into that space with that creepy receptionist lurking around-made my steps falter. The idea of her being inside my apartment made my skin crawl.

If not the apartment, then where?

As much as I hated to admit it, aimlessly wandering around would probably just get me lost again... and, knowing my luck, I'd somehow run into Karma.

Like always.

It was almost comical at this point-the way we kept crossing paths, like the universe was having fun of its own.

My heart did that stupid little twist again.

Did I want to avoid him?

Or was I secretly hoping he'd show up?

I stopped walking and looked around, then as if a small light bulb went off in my head, I remembered something from yesterday. While walking to university with Karma and Nagisa, I'd paid close attention to a few landmarks-a quirky mural on a side wall, a crooked mailbox by the corner, even the shape of a peculiar tree. At least that meant I wouldn't get hopelessly lost today. I couldn't help but murmur under my breath, a mischievous smirk tugging at my lips: "Take that, Karma! I'm not that directionally challenged after all!"