Chapter - 2

Nick's p.o.v;

Finally, I completed my work and got out of the workplace successfully. When I attempted to book a cab as usual, I realised that my phone had been turned off. Now I'm looking for a bus station for a bus to head to my place. Anaheim is experiencing a frigid night it seems. The streets were illuminated with bright lights from billboards and shops, while others flickered with dim lights, causing me a headache.

It's been three weeks since that night, and I know that seeing her again is impossible, but I'm still hoping to see her. It's crazy, I know.

While I was walking to get to the bus terminal, I noticed a couple arguing on the street. I tried to dodge them, but he slapped her out of nowhere, and she fell to the ground. Since I was close to her, I assisted her in standing. I took a glance at the girl when I helped her. It was her. The one-night stand girl.

The slapper drew her closer to him and mumbled something to her as I remained motionless while looking at her.

"Why are you still here?" he asked, looking at me.

I fixed my gaze on her. Her lips were swollen and bleeding. She motioned for me to leave.

I walked away from them while he continued to shout at her. Who's he? I couldn't walk much further, so I took cover in the alley.

After a while, I noticed her walking past me. I drew her into the alley where I'm standing. She was surprised at first, but after looking at me, she stayed silent. She averted her gaze from mine when I looked at her. I took her by the chin and lifted her face to have a look. Her cheeks were flushed from the slap, and her lips were bleeding. I applied a bandage to the wound to halt the bleeding.

"Did you have dinner?" I inquired.

She shakes her head as a 'no'

"All right, then, let's have one."

I took her hand in mine and walked to the nearest restaurant without asking if she wanted to eat or come with me.

At the restaurant, The food we ordered arrived at the table but she didn't eat it and was staring at it.

"It won't taste nice if it gets cold," I said.

She nodded and began eating, twitching as she did so. I took the noodles away from her and offered her the soup I had ordered in return, saying, "This won't be a pain."

She nods and begins to eat it.

"I thought you'd ask me who he is?" she said while eating.

"Prior to that. I'd like to know why you told me to go."

"I don't want to drag you into it. You already witnessed how enraged he was."

"And why did he slap you?" I questioned, nodding.

"He found out via a friend that I went to a hotel with a guy."

"And what's the deal with him?"

"His name is Matthew. The one who ended my relationship with."

"Are you guys back together now?"

"He said that breaking up with me was a mistake."

"Went to a hotel with a guy? Is that when we…"

"Yes."

"Didn't you say we hadn't done it?"

"No. He never asked me about it. He became enraged as soon as I agreed to his doubt and hit me. More to the point, he never asked if I did it or not. Despite the fact that he..."

I cracked a smile.

She asked, "Why are you smiling? Is this some sort of joke?"

"I'm not sure why, but you look cute when you're angry. I'm sorry."

My stupid tongue. I continued to eat.

She began, "You mentioned she's your high school, so you'd have gone to school early every day to meet her, right?"

"We attended different schools."

"Really? I assumed you two went to the same high. So, how did you come across her if you studied in different schools?"

"Do you want to hear it now?"

"Please let me hear it."

I agreed by nodding after seeing her pleasing eyes.

"I met her while attending an event in her school."

"What occasion?"

"There's a music festival going on.".

She appeared to be fascinated and asked eagerly, "Okay. What is the occasion?"

"I-I went to a singing event," I said, avoiding her eyes.

She got closer. Her pupils dilated. "Singing? What do you mean by that? you can sing?"

"Back in school. Not now."

"But you already know how. Am I correct?"

"Only a little."

"Are you able to sing now?"

"Here?"

"Yes." She hurriedly nodded.

"It's been a long time. I may sound horrible right now, and there are people nearby. I don't want to damage anyone's eardrums."

She drew her arms together, "You weren't afraid to ask me to sleep with you. Then, why are you afraid to sing?"

"That's a club," I shushed her.

She made an earnest expression by shrinking both of her eyes. I motioned for her to approach. When She leaned in close to me, I said, "I was referring to your ear."

"OK," I whispered into her ears as I moved in closer. "Definitely, I'll sing for you. But not here Please. It'll be embarrassing."

"I like it when you're like this," she said, laughing. "Okay. Okay. We'll get back to the story now. How did you first meet her?"

"I went to participate in the singing competition which was held in her school. My friends and I registered at the counter, and they told me it would begin in two hours, so I went around the campus with my buddies. People were practising for the event here and there. I noticed her among the females who were practising their dance moves. It was so… how do you tell it? yeah. Elegant. I was referring to her dance."

She laughed. I told my story even though I hate it to the core, because it made her smile.

"My friends and I were standing nearby, observing them. She and her pals noticed us and quickly departed."

"How did you approach her then?"

"Now it's your turn."

My arms are folded.

"It's late," she said, looking at her wristwatch.

"There's still time," I said as I showed her the time on my phone.

Due to the discomfort, she pouted her lips and flinched once more to the pain in her lips.

"So... I guess I'll have to..."

"Yes," I said.

"Ok. After completing my degree, I applied for numerous firms since I always wanted to manage my life on my own with my own money, therefore I continuously sent many proposals to different companies. I was finally admitted into one. I was overjoyed to learn that I had been admitted. I wore simple formal attire on the day I joined. That day is still fresh in my mind. (Smiles*) The receptionist gave me a friendly grin when I walked past her. Unfortunately, I was crammed into the elevator, and as I stepped out on the floor where I was scheduled to exit, my clothes looked like crumpled paper. However, this did not bother me.

I gathered my confidence more and entered the CEO's office. CEO appeared to be in his forties. He went over all of the procedures with me and called someone in between. Someone came in after knocking on the door. The CEO stated, "From now on, you will report to him." pointing to the guy who was standing behind me. When I turned to look at him, he was a man who stood with a solid professional appearance, a broad shoulder, and no creases in his attire. I didn't hear anything from the CEO after seeing him." Her facial expression changed. The smile she was wearing while narrating her story had gone.

"What is it? Are you alright?" I inquired.

"Yes," she answered, avoiding looking at my face.

"But your 'yes' sounds more like a 'no' to me."

"I just stated I wasn't going to meet him again a few minutes ago but now I'm talking about how I met him."

She gave a phoney smile, remained mute, and looked down, avoiding my gaze. I tapped her on the shoulder. She raised her head with her eyes welling up with tears.

"Why are you…"

She stood up from the table muttering, "I-I have to leave. I apologise." And walked out of the restaurant.

After paying the bill, I went after her, but she was nowhere to be found outside the restaurant. Where did she flee quickly? I completely forgot to ask her name again. Hmph!

When I was about to leave, a waitress approached me and handed me a tissue, saying, "She left this for you." And walked inside the restaurant.

I was given a half-folded tissue paper. It's as though there's something inside it. What could be inside? It is, nonetheless, modest in weight. I cautiously opened the fold. I laughed to myself when I saw what's inside the tissue paper. Because it had a name.

Elena.

Beautiful like her.