Strings Of Time

XI

(Elise's POV)

"Miss Summerhall...? Miss Summerhall, wake up."

I felt a gentle tap on my shoulder and it woke me up in my deep slumber. I gently opened my eyes and saw Mr. Bello's concerned and apologetic face. I lazily sat up straight as I rub my eyes. "Ugh... What time is it?" I asked, while blinking my eyes from a sudden awakening. I suddenly remember that I was still in the lighthouse. My eyes widen as I looked to my left to see if Alex was still sleeping.

"Miss Summerhall, Alex have already gone through the mansion. She wanted me to give you this." Mr. Bello handed me my things with a smile. "I'm very sorry for what happened, Miss. I didn't mean to lock the two of you. I just thought that you guys have already left the lighthouse... so I locked it up."

I smiled as I took my things from his hands. I quickly searched my bag to look for my cell phone because for sure Cindy and Olly were looking for me and was probably worried of my whereabouts. "Oh Gosh... A lot of missed calls, voice messages and text messages. I gotta get home." I stood up and suddenly Mr. Bello halted me. I looked back at him and wondered. "What is it, Mr. Bello?"

"Umm... I believe a young man is waiting for you in your studio."

It's Oliver. I know for sure he rushed in here to check if I spent the night here. I hurriedly ran to the mansion to meet Oliver.

I saw him inside my studio, flipping through the pages of music sheets. I didn't come in yet, I just stared at him, I was afraid of what he will say. I know I made them worried... I was just guilty, I guess.

He suddenly looked up and saw me standing at the doorway. He put the music sheets down by the table and walked towards me. He didn't looked angry, instead he looked fearful. He grabbed me closer to him and embraced me, "My God, Elise. What happened to you? Why didn't you answer our calls? Grandma and I were so worried about you."

I smiled a little and rubbed his back, "I'm so sorry, Olly. I was just—"

Olly gave a sigh of relief and hugged me tighter, "It doesn't matter, okay? As long as you're safe."

"They were stuck in the lighthouse. Tsk Tsk Tsk! It is a disgusting place to spend the night with!" Olly and I broke free from our embraced and saw the Russian Housekeeper coming out of Alex's room. She looks really pissed. She shook her head and scowled at me. "This is not the proper way for a young lady to behave." She then made another tsk sound and then went on to do something else.

Olly frowned and looked at me eye to eye, "What is she talking about?"

I then looked away and shrugged my shoulders. He then sighed heavily and rubbed his nape, "You mentioned earlier it doesn't matter, right? Does that still apply?" Olly didn't answer, he just looked at me like I did something wrong to hurt him. I then walked towards the exit of the mansion and Olly followed. He was quiet for a second but then he broke his own silence.

"Who were you with at the lighthouse? Is it Mr. Mathews?"

I then stopped walking and looked at him with disgust, "Why would you think that, Olly? Mr. Mathews is my employer!"

We're not that far away from the mansion when I caught sight of Alex sitting on a marbled bench, with her headphones on. She was just sitting still, she looked like one of those real-life wax figures. I know she couldn't see but it seems she's enjoying the view of the town and its greenery. Without a second thought, I walked towards her and sat beside her. She immediately knew someone joined her.

Alex took off one of her headphone and handed it to me, she slightly turned her head in my direction and gave half a smile "I don't want you to speak," she said in a gentle voice, "or greet me in a cheerful way. Just sit there and put this on your ear." I took the headphone and placed it on my ear. "Now close your eyes, see the world in my perspective." I closed my eyes and just listened to the music being played. It was a Scottish festive music. It was so jolly that I forgot where I was. I suddenly imagined a different world of joyful atmosphere and everyone was dancing. Clapping and laughing town's men, all together in a single event.