Louisa's p.o.v;
Bernie asked me while I was preparing to eat dinner, "Where did you go?"
"I went to return the books back to the library."
He nodded and started eating his food. He's been silent since I came back from the library. Weird.
"How was the movie?" I asked.
"Yeah, good."
I nodded and continued eating. Definitely, something's wrong.
After we finished eating, we went to our rooms quitely which is new. He always talks a lot about his day and about his girlfriend but it didn't happen today.
I came to my room and dropped on the bed. Is something wrong between them? But they didn't look like they had a dispute with each other. Or did Bernie find out about Ace? Whatever, Let's wait till he speaks so I'll ask him tomorrow if this continues.
Suddenly, Bernardo knocked on my door like hell. What is wrong with him?
I opened the door and asked, "What is it?"
"I'm moving out." He said while ignoring my eyes.
That was a different answer which I didn't expect from him.
"Why?"
"No other reason. I just want to move out."
Did staying with me become a problem for Everly? Or is he thinking I'm feeling uncomfortable?
"Bernie…"
"I'm feeling uncomfortable with you."
"With me? What do you mean by that? What happened? Can't you tell me why?"
"I already packed everything. I'm moving out tomorrow. I just wanted to inform you. Have a good night." And he walked to his room.
I closed the door behind and sat on the bed. Maybe I meant to be alone all along. Because I was upset, I couldn't think of the reasons for him moving out.
The next morning,
I saw him dragging his luggages out of the apartment by himself. When I tried to help him, he stopped me and said that he could take care of it. I stood away and watched him carrying his things out of the apartment. What made him take this kind of decision? And, what does he mean by feeling uncomfortable with me? What did I do to make him feel uncomfortable?
After he left, half of the apartment looked empty. I realised that his things were the ones which occupied most of my apartment. When I entered Bernie's room, it was empty too. Like how I saw it when I bought this apartment. Empty and scared. I closed the door and walked to my room to get ready for college.
At college,
In my class,
Jules, one of my classmates who sits next to me and to whom I don't talk often asked me, "I heard that Mr Nicolas is going to give out the test papers today. Is that true?"
"Didn't we take it yesterday? I don't think he'll be done with his work already."
"Really?"
"Yeah."
She prayed in the air saying, "I hope he gives it tomorrow. Today, I have a date with my boyfriend. I can't go with him in a spoiled mood after seeing my test paper. Please, make my prayer come true."
Her chanting made me smile a little but disappeared when I saw Bernie entering the class.
When I raised my hand to greet him, he ignored me and walked to the back and took his seat.
Even though Bernie and I go to different faculties, we share the language skills class together. What's wrong with greeting me back? Let's talk to him after the class.
Nicolas entered the class and began taking attendance.
After a while, when class got over, I tried to leave to talk to Bernie but got stopped by Nicolas.
"I'm in a hurry, Sir." I said to him, "I have to go."
Nicolas, "Everyone is in a hurry. I know that. Stay. I want to talk to you."
"What is it?"
"It's personal. So let's talk once everyone leaves."
I let out a sigh and waited in the class.
After seeing the last person to walk out of the classroom, I asked him, "Be quick."
"Did you go to the casino again?"
"It was long ago."
"So you did go there."
"I'm sorry that I didn't listen but I can get my punishment later. I have to meet someone."
"Where are you hurrying to? Listen to me and go. I heard that someone got shot there. That place has become more dirty. Don't go there, understand?"
"I don't have any purpose to go there anyway. Is that all? Can I go?"
He nodded and said before I was leaving, "Don't forget what I said!"
When I came out of the classroom, I couldn't see Bernie in either of the hallways. I ran to his faculty to find him.
While I was running beside the main building, I saw Bernie walking in front of me. I found him.
I tapped on his shoulder and got hold of my breath and said, "Bernie… wh-why didn't you wait for me when the class got over? Are you going to the cafeteria? I would have come with you, right?"
"I have a class."
"When did you have class during lunch time?"
"I have to go."
I stood in front of him and asked, "What happened? Why does it feel like you're distancing yourself from me?"
I ignored me and tried to walk away.
I stood in front of him and asked, "You don't talk to me? Why? Is it because you moved out? Hey, we can still be friends even if we weren't living together."
"If you're here for half of the rent that I agreed to pay, okay. I'll pay you at the end of this month. Now, don't get in my way."
"Do you think I came to talk with you for the rent? How could you think like that? I thought we're friends." I wiped my tears off my face and said to him, "I found a job. I can pay the rent by myself." And walked away from him.
I ran to the restroom and locked myself in it and washed my face again and again since I hate my crying face. It's been a long time since I cried so it felt weird to me.
Why did he say it like that? Yesterday, he said he was feeling uncomfortable with me and today he says that he doesn't want to be friends with me. He knows that he's the only friend I've got. Didn't he? Why did he do that to me?
I saw my eyes bleeding with tears, which looked pathetic. I asked myself while looking in the mirror, "Do you think you finally got a friend?" I let out a fake laugh and continued, "You're not worthy to have anyone beside you! Idiot!"
After a week,
When classes got over, I finished my library work and headed to the cafe.
Ryan, "What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be here next month?"
"I finished my exams. So I happen to have some free time. Can't I join this week?"
"You are welcome to join. By the way, your work clothes will be in the changing room." He came closer to me and whispered, "The password is ****** " and backed away.
I nodded and walked to the changing room.
After changing into work clothes, I started to deliver the food from the kitchen counter to the tables. It's been a long time since I worked in a busy environment, so I felt tired already. Running to the counter and the tables made me sweat a lot. I took breaks in between and got back to delivering the food.
When I took a break, Nathaniel, a front house manager, called me while placing bags in front of me, "Can you deliver these to these addresses?" And pointed to a piece of paper on them.
"Okay, but I don't have a bike."
He asked around the kitchen and took something out of his pocket and placed keys on my hand saying, "Take mine. It's parked outside the cafe"
"Okay."
I took the keys from him and came out of the restaurant while holding delivery bags in my hand. After living in Sao Paulo for a year, I got to know the streets around here well.
After delivering the bags, I came back to the cafe and gave those keys to Nathaniel and continued delivering food inside the cafe.
When the time striked 10, Ryan closed the cafe and asked us to take a break.
Every employee took seats in the centre of the cafe. When I took a look around, I couldn't see Danielle.
Ryan, "I was surprised when you came today but turned out it was helpful since we got extra orders today."
I nodded and said, "It is who I have to thank, sir for taking me in today."
Nathaniel, "I was afraid of giving my bike in the beginning too." And laughed and continued, "Thank you for bringing it in one piece." And continued laughing.
While I was confused, Lily, one of the cooks, said, "His bike got in an accident during one of the deliveries."
"Oh."
Nathaniel, "Yeah. That's why I hesitated in the beginning but Ryan told me to trust you. That's why I handed over the keys. Now, I can feel rest assured."
While everyone was laughing, I asked, "It looks like someone's missing in this crew. I remembered seeing four waitresses when I came here last time."
Lily said, "Yeah, Danielle didn't come today."
"Danielle?"
"Yeah, she's the youngest one here. She said she's not feeling well today. She'll come tomorrow. We'll make an introduction again with her." And drank her coffee.
"Yeah."
Danielle.
It may be a coincidence but the curiosity inside me wants to know why I got into this coincidence now.
When I got to my apartment, it was already 11. I'm just going to hit the bed since I'm tired of getting a shower.
The next morning, in the college,
Diego, "Louisa, how are you? It's been days since i saw you."
"I'm good. What about you? How are you doing?"
"Good."
"I have a class. Will talk later."
He held my hand and asked, "What's wrong? Is something bothering you?"
"No, why?"
"You sound different."
"Do I? I'm always like this. I'm getting late to my class. Can I leave?"
I headed to my class after I parted with him.
When I entered the class, Mr Hall was already attending. I walked to my desk and got seated. My phone vibrated.
When I checked it under the table, I noticed that I got a message from Ace. Didn't I block his number earlier? When did I unblock him? Must have been a mistake.
I opened his chat and saw the message, "I broke up with my girlfriend. Can we meet?"
What kind of sick game is he playing with me? I blocked his number after sending a reply, "Fuck off!"
I put aside my phone and listened to Mr Hall's class.
Mr Hall said, "With your exams finished, I don't want anyone to be sitting in your homes and waiting for the next year to come. So, let me give you an assignment for summer break. When you come back, I hope all ten assignments will be on my table." And walked out of the classroom.
Jules whined, "Who give assignment in summer break? Are we in middle school? Why are they doing this to us?"
I took my bag and tried to walk out of the room and headed to the cafeteria.
While i was on my way, Jules caught me while asking, "Hey, can we team up for the assignment? We can finish it quickly if we done together."
"I'm afraid i can't. I always do assignments alone." And walked away from her.
Using other people's hardwork, I've seen a lot of leeches like her. Since i got used to it in the past, I can get rid of them easily.
I got bumped into someone while i was walking, when i looked up, it's Lucas. I ignored him and walked away from him but he grabbed my hand and said, "Come with me."
I took my hand off and said, "Fuck you!"
He whispered, "The guy who came with you that day, his name is Ace, right?"
The name which he uttered into my ears made my hair strands stood in the air. I stared at him with utter shock. How did he know his name?