Ethan was already in the kitchen when Raymond sent the results of the assignnt the latter gave him.
"Yates Funeral Ho," was the ssage he sent to Ethan.
Not having an idea what Shikera might be doing in a funeral ho, a frown ca to settle on Ethan’s face as he dialled Raymond’s number to hear the complete details.
"What business does she have in a funeral ho?" he asked, as soon as the call connected.
"She has visited two parlors now. But she didn’t do anything other than to simply stare at the picture of the...person who died and then leave," Raymond answered.
"Anything you can deduce from the way she acts? Like grief and sadness?" Ethan couldn’t conclude that the person who died was soone Shikera knew as it could also be a professional assignnt, if he took the nature of her job into consideration. Why else would she wear a pink dress to a funeral?
"Miss Anderson does not look sad but she’s also not her usual cheerful self so I decided to inquire from the managent of the funeral ho here."
"And what did you find?"
"The two won who died are her friends, and they once shared a ward together in the hospital for a year. One of them died early yesterday morning and the other died last night, after a crisis," Raymond inford.
"Is it a simple coincidence that they died on the sa day or do you sense any foul play?" Ethan’s tone was professional and emotionless, showing that he didn’t hold any sentint for those that died as long as he didn’t know them.
"I’m on that now."
"And where’s she now?"
"She just got into her car. She should be on her way ho."
(Music Rec: Close your eyes By PagalWorld)
An hour later, Shikera trudged up the stairs absentmindedly without seeing the person standing at the top of the stairs. It was until her eyes t a human wall, did she look up to notice Ethan was before her. The latter was quick to notice her listlessness as he didn’t budge from the way.
"Why do you look downcast?" Ethan asked, pretending not to know the reason. He noticed how her clothes and hair was just as she left in the morning, with nothing out of place. Was it right to believe she was mourning her friends with the way she looked now?
"I lost two friends last night...to SCD. We used to be hospitalized at the sa ti that I thought we were going to die together too, but then...they both left without ."
At her despondent tone, Ethan suddenly felt a deep hole in his chest as if he just realized sothing. This woman in front of him was going to die soday too and she seed ready for that but how about him? Even though he had rely admired her when he saw her four years ago, he knew that was the beginning of sothing more interesting. Was he going to lost the chance for this too?
Sothing snapped in his head and he suddenly grabbed her hand, his eyes a steely dark pit.
"You were ready to leave with them?" he growled, maintaining a firm grip on her hand.
"Of course..." Shikera trailed off at the murderous look in Ethan’s eyes, making him almost unrecognizable at this mont.
"Ethan..."
"I asked you a question. Were you ready to die with them, not minding those who are going to be hurt when you leave?" He repeated, his eyes not leaving hers.
Even though Shikera couldn’t understand why he seed to be losing his temper, she answered him anyway.
"I only have five people who will be hurt when I die and they are prepared enough to know I can leave them anyti—"
"Who are they?" Ethan asked, praying inwardly that she would at least ntion his na to calm the beast which was raging in him now.
Shikera frowned, wondering why the man was suddenly like this. The Ethan she knew was calm and minded his business at most tis; he simply didn’t care about her so why?
"My dad, Noah, Krystal, Cyprian and Leonard. Those are the people I know who would be sad at my death," she replied.
Ethan released her hand slowly, as if his hands lost the strength it was using to grip Shikera. Leaving her standing at the top of the stairs, he walked into his room and ca out with his facemask covering half of his face.
Without saying anything, he bypassed her and walked down the stairs and out the door. Shocked at his sudden outburst, Shikera ran down the stairs after Ethan. Why was he suddenly angry when she had done nothing to him?
"Ethan?!"
Outside, she was not able to stop him as he was already in a car which was driving away now. Staring at the retreating back of the car for a few minutes, she turned to go back into the villa when her ear caught bit and fragnts of so people arguing.
"...know you won’t be getting anything out of this, right?" The angry voice sounded like Ruthlyn’s, which was very unusual.
As Shikera didn’t want to eavesdrop, she proceeded to enter the villa when she heard another voice.
"You simply used , didn’t you? You knew I was useless yet you made fall for you and then...you want to break it up between us?"
This ti around, the angry voice was Enoch’s. Shikera wondered if everyone in the house was in angry mode but wait...why would Enoch and Ruthlyn be arguing with each other? She has never seen them argue in any way before so why?
She got her answer soon enough as a loud yell drifted into her ears.
"I don’t fucking care! I’m just gonna annul the engagent and find my way..."
The voice grew louder and louder making Shikera realize that the speaker was nearing her. She was not able to escape before Ruthlyn appeared from the corner leading to the back of the villa. The sudden quietness which erged as she spotted Shikera spurred the latter to say sothing.
"Hi...Ruth?"
"Shikera..." Ruthlyn called, her eyes glinting in determination."Can you spare a few minutes of your ti?"
Perplexed, Shikera could only nod her head as she led the way inside the Villa with Ruthlyn following closely behind her. They took their seats opposite each other making it look like they were having an interview.
Ruthlyn began,"Did you know Enoch and I are engaged?"
"It’s the first ti I’m hearing this, you two don’t really look like uhm..."
"A couple in love? Yeah, I’m the only one in love with him. I bet that sounds pretentious in your ears but it’s true."
Shikera sighed, raising her brows in confusion."I don’t think it sounds pretentious, Ruth, and I also don’t think you’re the only one in love considering what I just heard outside, except you tell why I should think so."
Ruthlyn frowned, as if she didn’t expect Shikera to say what she said. "There are many reasons you should think so; his family status compared to mine, our age gap, and even my family stared at in a strange way when i briefly ntioned I was attracted to Enoch," she said, waiting for Shikera to realize things from her own point of view.
Shikera smiled, nodding her head as if she just realized sothing, "I would do the sa and I bet anyone who knows you and Enoch would do that too." she said.
"You find it strange too?"
"Why won’t I? I find it strange that you like him because you are older and more experienced that he is in so many aspects. In short, you have a wide range of suitors to choose from but you are only staring at his worthless ass. Why would I not find it strange?" Shikera asked, throwing furtive glances at the door to see if Enoch was coming in yet. She wouldn’t dare to call him a worthless ass to his face.
"But he’s also has a wide range of girls to choose from...and his family’s status is far higher than mine," Ruthlyn argued.
Shikera sighed out loud,"My point exactly! He has a wide range of girls to choose from but he begs you not to annul your engagent; You have a wide range of n to choose from but you still love him so much. Why do you keep creating difficulties for yourself? So people are ant to have a seamless love life so if you’re one of them, don’t waste the opportunity. You don’t know how lucky you are to have soone who loves you this much."
After deliberating silently for a few seconds, Ruthlyn spoke out her mind, "You speak like you don’t have anyone who loves you in that way."
"I don’t. They all shy away when they know I have limited ti left to live, since they don’t want to hurt themselves or have to burden themselves with a sick girlfriend," Shikera corrected, a bitter smile on her face.
"But..."
"They don’t want to take the risk with and see if I’ll really survive it. It makes feel really alone even if I have people around who love so much."
"I think you’re just looking in the wrong direction, Shikera. Just like , you ignore the smooth way before you and want to take the difficult one instead." Closing the distance between them, Ruthlyn stood up to sit beside Shikera.
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