The Flower You Didn't See | Mystery

Chapter 32

Such normal simple words but Ruby felt her skin crawl. She swung open the door of her car in time, and vomited onto the side of the road.

As she sunk herself back into her seat, she noticed on her phone screen that it was Sunday. She had been asleep for a day.

Normally, Ruby dreaded Monday mornings. But the dread she felt on that particular Monday was something entirely new.

As she walked past the other students in the university, she felt like they were watching her. She felt like all of their eyes were upon her, watching her every move. Did they know something? Because she, sure as hell, had no idea.

When Thompson walked into their class, it was normal. He taught as usual. Asked questions like always. He had always looked like Santa Claus without the beard. But Ruby felt like slapping him everytime he opened his mouth.

When Ruby was walking out of the lecture hall, she heard someone shout her name.

"Ms. Rose?"

She didn't need to turn around to know who it was. "Can I have a word please?" Ruby walked to him, not taking her eyes off his face.

The students he was talking with soon left, and it was her alone with him.

"How are you today?" He asked, his devilishly simple smile on his lips. Ruby simply stared at him.

He continued as if this was expected, "I just wanted to tell you that you can still use the vacation house any time you want. I hope you had a good sleep the other day."

"What did you do to me?" Ruby asked through gritted teeth. "Nothing," he smiled.

"I know you did something," she said again.

"We had a good weekend. I had a good time and so did you," he said, showing his smile again. Ruby wanted to slap that smile off his face.

"I'll send you the assignment details tonight by mail. Submit them on time and keep me happy."

His voice suddenly became more serious and he said knowingly, "If you keep me happy, the scholarship is surely yours."

He grabbed his bag and was about to walk away, when he turned around and said in a low voice, "I liked the pictures we clicked. I'll keep them safe if you behave."

**

Ruby didnt know who to go to for help. Multiple times, she thought of calling John and telling him everything. But even she wasn't sure what pictures Thompson had, though she could imagine. And she didnt want to.

The rumours about her were going around strongly. Though she knew that her friendship with Sara and Laksh won't last after the break up with Lee, Thompson suggesting her name for scholarship had sealed the deal. Now they hated her.

She used to get constant emails from Thompson regarding assignments and deadlines. At the end of every email he'd write, If you need any help, you know where to find me.

She tried her best not to think, see, hear or read about Thompson.

That's when she decided to distract herself with music. She met Alex, the boy who could play soulful music. The boy who got lost in the strings of his guitar. The only person she had felt comfortable around in a long time. The one whom she thought would understand her, around whom she wouldnt have to act. The one who would see her for who she really was.

She had once almost told him about Thompson. Almost. But what could she say? That she 'thinks' something has happened? That she 'thinks' he has her photographs? All she has is a bunch of emails from him with assignment details in them. She had no proof.