The White Tulip (Symbolism Of My Feelings)

Terrifying Truth

Honey

"This is exactly what I'd hoped to avoid."

"What've you done?" I stared at all the limp bodies, a terrible understanding beginning to emerge. "Oh my god, you killed them! You killed everyone!" I shouted, my heart pounding so fast I was sure he could hear it.

But he just shook his head. "Come on, Honey. What do you take me for? Of course, I didn't kill them. They're just taking a ... nap, that's all."

I scooted to the edge of my seat, my eyes fixed on the door, plotting my escape.

"You can try, but you won't get very far. You see how I beat you to class even though you had a head start?" He crossed his legs and gazed at me, his face calm, voice steady as can be.

"What now? You can read my mind?" I chuckled.

"Usually." He shrugged. "Well, pretty much yes."

I widened my eyes like tennis balls. Silence fell upon us. A minute later, I furrowed my eyebrows. "For how long?" I stared at him, part of me wanting to take my chance on escape, while the other part wanted to get a few questions answered.

"Since the first day I saw you." L whispered, his gaze locked on mine, sending a flood of warmth through my body.

Stalker. I thought, wondering just how long he'd been stalking me. He was always around everywhere I went.

"I'm not stalking you." He laughed. "At least not in the way that you think."

"Why should I believe you?" I glared, knowing better than to trust him, no matter how trivial.

"Because I've never lied to you."

"You're lying now!"

''I've never lied to you about anything important." L said, averting his gaze.

I looked around at all of the slumped-over bodies. Hyuna with her mouth hanging open; the class president snoring so loud he's vibrating; the lecturer looking more happy and peaceful than I've ever seen her. "Is it the whole school? Or just this room?"

"I can't be sure, but I'm guessing it's the whole school." He nodded, smiling as he glanced around, clearly pleased with his handiwork.

And without another word, I sprung from my seat, raced out the door, sprinted down the hall, across the quad, and through the office. Fleeing past all the slumped-over secretaries and administrators sleeping at their desks, before bursting through the door and into the parking lot, where L was already waiting, my bag dangling from the very tips of his fingers.

"I told you." He shrugged, returning my backpack.

I stood before him, sweaty, frantic, completely freaked out.

All of those short-forgotten moments flashing before me, his scary house, the objects inside the box, those men in the picture, the woman. There was something behind all the items. He was hiding something from me. Was he a spy? Or worse... Was he the murderer who was chasing me to kill me? Were his friends also part of this chase? He may have planned to make me trust him and then...

"Honey!" He cried, reaching toward me, then letting his hand fall to his side. "You think I will kill you?" His eyes are full of anguish, frantically searching my face.

"Isn't that the plan?" I glared. "The only thing I don't get now is why you didn't just kill me while you had the chance? Why bother keeping me alive?"

"I would never hurt you." L said, his eyes pinched with pain.

I shook my head. "I still don't believe you."