Hate that I love you

xii

Since y'all attacking me for updates (which I completely understand because I haven't updated for so long 😅).. here it isss.

Also, I wrote this around the time Shawn released his album or maybe even before that so yeah 🤷‍♀️

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The city was predominantly asleep, but Camila finds herself quietly padding along the sidewalk.

The area was dimly lit up by the streetlights and the houses loomed ahead of her eerily, with the additional gush of the wind grazing her skin and the rustling of the leaves from the trees.

Occasionally, she'd look up, could feel this sense of comfort by the friendly face of the moon above her, and could mentally count several shimmering stars littered on the sky with how little they were in terms of numbers. Though it wasn't much, it's more than she could take living in this city.

There was something about this moment that She feels at peace, no matter how ephemeral she knew the feeling was.

(The voices in her head were still there prodding, but it wasn't as overwhelming as it usually is. Right now, She had control over it and for her to say something such as that, is quite rare. So, she savors it.)

Camila tilted her head so she faced the road, squinting her eyes at the sudden blinding bright lights.

She lived in a gated community, so she'd infrequently see headlights from the security guard's motorcycles drive past her for the nightly inspection of the neighborhood to ensure their safety. Fortunately, curfew hasn't been executed and are free to go out whenever, so long as nobody was causing any sort of disturbance.

The rumbling of the motor cuts through the silence and Camila paused on her tracks, pursing her lips.

A bearded man with his wavy dark brown locks peeking out of the cap he wore, and clad up in their community's uniform, had slowed down to a stop to take a good look of her with narrowed eyes. Though, he might have had a slight idea as to who this young girl could be, as this wasn't a new occurrence.

He faces the light towards her to get a clearer look, in any case it could've been someone else, since, he must admit that he's getting quite old and his eyesight isn't exactly the best especially this late at night. Camila raised her hand over her eyes, nose crinkling in response.

When clear recognition passes over the exhaustion written all over his face, he offers her a polite nod in acknowledgment.

"Good evening, Ma'am." He hummed, tipping his hat humorously. There was a crease on the corner of his eyes when he smiled, showing signs of old age. He's been working in their subdivision for years now and having seen him through the tinted windows of her car whenever she enters and exits the gates, he was a familiar face. He, too, was a good friend of her former driver, so that's a plus.

Camila gave him a tight lipped smile in return, muttering a greeting as well before dropping it as soon as he makes a turn by the corner of the street, the rumbling of his bike fading out into the night.

Somehow, they knew of her, was aware she lived here almost the entirety of her life. It might also have to do with the fact that they'd stumbled onto her too many times in the midst of her nightly walk and must've deemed her completely harmless.

She could say they were pretty much amiable, respectable group of men she could trust- sort of. At least, enough for her not to be paranoid and squirming about. Otherwise, she would've been more reluctant going out this late and alone with them lurking somewhere around the corners.