Louisa's p.o.v;
At cafe,
Ryan, "Why are you here early?"
I leaned on the table and said, "It's so boring being alone at my place. Do you know some cafes that are looking for a part timer?"
"There's a reason why they're giving you a holiday after an exam. You should make use of it by taking a rest for your mind and body."
"But I'm bored."
"What will you do when you're usually on holiday?"
"I watch movies and order some takeaways."
"Is that how you really spend your time?"
I nodded and asked, "How do you spend yours?"
"I'll go trekking with my friends, mountain climbing and camping stuff."
"Sounds fun."
"Why don't you try it and see if it's fun?"
"First, I should have friends to do those things. I don't have many friends like you. I totally have two friends. Bernardo and Diego. It became three when I got close to Bernardo's girlfriend, Everly."
"Why don't you pay a visit to your parents since you're free?"
I let out a sigh and said, "Won't you miss me if i go?"
"I won't."
"You're no fun." I stood up and said, "I'm going to continue watching movies, see ya later in the evening, boss."
After a while, I came to my apartment and dropped on the couch and turned on the television to watch some movies. While I was changing the channel, I came across a news article talking about the guy who I stabbed some weeks ago. They broadcasted that he escaped from his prison. I sat straight after seeing the news on the television. What a great way to start a day! How did they let him escape from the prison?
Because of this guy, I couldn't find Edgar that day. Since his address was a fake one, I dialled the number but it was not in service.
I got a call from Raphael, I answered.
He asked, "Have you watched the news?"
"Are you talking about that guy who escaped from prison?"
"Yeah, I don't know how it happened. I went there and checked it by myself. He attacked the guard and escaped from there. So be safe and if you hear or see something suspicious, don't hesitate to call me. Understand?"
"Yeah, I'll call you if anything goes wrong."
"And, don't try to kill him. I know you're capable of it." And ended the call.
I'm capable of committing a murder? Where did he get this thought from? Is it from the last time I stabbed him? It was just self-defence.
I heard knocks on the door. When I opened it, Bernardo was standing in front of me.
I asked, "Hey, I thought you're visiting your girlfriend's parents. What are you doing here?"
"I came here to pick you up."
"What!? No way!"
When I tried to close the door, he forced himself inside and said while walking towards my room, "You're coming along with us."
I walked after him and asked, "Why do you need me? If I come with you two, how will you two enjoy your trip? I'm not coming with you. Just go with her. Leave me here."
He took the travel bag and kept it on the bed while saying, "Then I'll pack for you." He started picking out the outfit from the wardrobe randomly.
I let out a sigh and said, "At Least give me some time to make a call." And walked out of the room and made a call to Raphael.
When he answered, I said, "Bernie asking me to accompany him on his trip. Should I go?"
"Yeah, at a time like this. You should definitely stay away from your place. In the meantime, I'll catch that guy. You should go with your friend."
"Okay."
"Where are you going?"
"I haven't asked him yet. Hold on."
I walked into the room and asked Bernie, "What's Everly's hometown again?"
"Sete lagoas, State of minas gerais."
I nodded and walked away from the room and told the place to Raphael.
"Okay, have a safe trip. I'll take care of that guy here."
I ended the call and told Bernie, "I'll go with you."
"Who's on the phone?"
"Some guy. Why do you want to know?"
"Is it the police officer on the line?"
"How did you find it?"
"Because he's the only guy you talk to on the phone a lot."
"I know what's going on in your mind. We're not like that. He's… he's more like a brother to me."
"What about him? Is it vice versa?"
"Do you still want me to come with you or not?"
"My mouth zipped." And he walked out of the room.
While I was packing my clothes, I thought about what Bernie said. What does Raphael think about me? I hope it's not more than a friend. I'm already regretting having feelings for a Mafia, I don't want a cop in line too.
After eleven hours of travel, Bernie, Everly and I landed in sete lagoas. Since it was the summer season, the sky was bright blue with no signs of clouds. It gave a look like all the clouds were wiped out of the sky.
I asked Everly, "Where are we going to stay here?"
Everly answered, "At my house, of course. I informed them that I'll be bringing two of my friends to stay with me."
Bernie, "Friend?"
"I meant a boyfriend and a friend."
I asked, "Hey, everly, Where's your house? Why did we get down in the middle of the road?"
"Because we have to take a little walk to my house from here. Follow me. And, don't get lost."
I looked around and said sarcastically, "Yeah, it'll be difficult to find if one person goes missing here."
Everly, "What did you say? I can't hear you."
Bernie said to her, "Don't mind her. Just less the way."
I said, "You should have left me in my apartment. You shouldn't have brought me here."
"Is this your normal talk or did you go back to being sarcastic?"
"What do you mean by gone back to? I was always like this."
"Nope, you were so nice in between."
"Maybe it's because you left me without a word to move in with your girlfriend."
"We talked about this."
"When did we talk about this? You didn't even tell me the reason and ran away whenever I appeared in front of you. Everly is the one who told me, not you. Remember that."
"Correction. I didn't run away. I just walked away from you."
"I don't want to have a useless argument with you."
While we're fighting, everly asked, "When will you stop fighting like a five year old? Do you think you're kids? You're grown ups so behave like one. Now, follow me in silence." And walked in front of us.
Bernie, "She got mad at me because of you."
"You're the one who started it. Keep your mouth shut and follow her."
"Did you forget when you cried for me?"
"What?"
"You cried like a crybaby in the hospital for me."
"I didn't cry. Whoever told you, they lied to you."
"Oh, really? Do you know who told me this? It's Everly. Are you saying that she told a lie to me?"
"Okay, I'll zip my mouth. Happy?"
"That's better."
When we stopped, we all stood in front of Everly's house.
Everly, "Welcome to my home."
Bernie, "It's beautiful and enormous."
Bernie nudged me to say something since it's his girlfriend's place, I said, "It's big. Looks like it has a lot of rooms. How many are living here?"
Everly said, "My parents are the only ones who live here now."
I said to Bernie, "Did you already know that she has a big house?"
Bernie said to Everly, "Let's go inside. Since it's sunny, I'm all sweaty."
After we came into the big house, it looked even bigger from inside. Wow. The walls looked ancient and very artistry.
Everly's parents greeted us and asked Everly to show us our rooms since we travelled so far.
Everly showed me a room and said, "You can stay here. If you don't like it, please inform me. I'll look for another room for you. Come down if you feel hungry, food will be served. Butlers and maids will be around here. If you want something, you can either call me or them."
I laughed and said, "You don't have to do that. And, I liked this room. I'll take shower and go to sleep if you don't mind."
She smiled and said, "Okay. Anytime." And she left.
After a shower, I bit the bed.
The next morning,
At the dining table,
Everyone was speaking to each other while I concentrated on the food on my plate.
Everly's mother asked me, "Do you like the food?"
"Yeah, it's a hit."
She smiled at me.
Bernie said to her, "She doesn't know how to speak with elders yet, mam."
She nodded and said, "If Everly had a sister, she'd be like this too."
I smiled at her and continued eating my food.
Once the breakfast was finished, I tried to go to my room but got stopped by Bernie.
I asked,"What are you doing? Let me go. It's my sleeping time."
"No, we're going out."
"Why?"
"Didn't you ask me to take you around? Let's go."
He signalled me to come with him.
"Yeah, I forgot. Let's go."
When we're leaving the house, Everly didn't come with us.
I asked Bernie, "Isn't she coming with us?"
"She's going to speak with her parents about me so she asked me to step out to make the environment more comfortable."
"Why did you take me out? You can leave me in the house and you could have strolled alone, right?"
"Because I wanted to look around the places along with you."
"Ewww. Don't talk like that to me. It brings shivers to my spine."
He laughed and asked, "Where do you want to go here?"
"It took me a year to know the streets in Sao Paulo. Do you think I know this alienated place? I mean, just take a look around. Do you see anything here other than the buildings?"
He held my hand and said, "There must be something. Let's ask someone on the way and find out what is fun here."
After a while, we came to a place which looked like a mountain peak.
"What are we doing here, Bernie?" I inquired.
He said excitedly, "After many places I heard from them, I chose this place. I bet you'll love it."
As I took the steps further, I saw people flying in the air. No! I know what this place is for now. I don't want to be here. I'm leaving.
When I tried to go back, Bernie held my hand and shouted to someone, "Next person is right here!"
"No, I'm going back. I'm not going to go on. I'll die if I ride in that thing."
"Don't whine like a kid."
He stood me up near the guy and said, "There's a person who's going to be stuck with you. What could possibly go wrong?"
"It's paragliding, idiot!!"
The guy tied me to him while I was whining with Bernie.
I Asked the guy, "What do you do?"
Suddenly, it took off and I was already in the air. I shouted out of my lungs in the air. I felt the air pressure through my ear and when I looked down, it was hell. But after some time, it felt good, flying in the air. I felt like I was floating in the air.
Bernie shouted while he was flying beside me, "Do ya like it?"
"I'm gonna kill you when we get down!" I shouted back at him.
I heard chuckles from the guy behind me. I asked the guy, "How long are you doing this?"
"Five."
"Aren't you afraid anymore?"
"No, but when we board people, I'll get afraid every time since there's someone's life on the line to look after."
"You're talking nice."
"Thank you. If you don't mind, can I concentrate on flying?"
"Yeah, yeah. I'm sorry."
"It's fine. I don't get to talk to a lot of people up in the air too."
After the paragliding was finished, Bernie and I were returning to Everly's house. On the way, I saw some familiar figures in the street. I shooed away my thoughts and continued walking. When the guy turned, I saw his face and was surprised.
I shouted without thinking that Bernie was beside me, "Edgar!"
Edgar turned his head and looked at me and waved at me.
I ran to him and asked, "What are you doing here?"
"I'm living here."
"Actually, I was looking for you. But got the wrong address and all. The phone number was out of service…"
"What address are you talking about?"
"Um, the house on Luke Avenue."
"How did you get the address?"
While we're talking, Bernie interrupted us and asked me, "Who's this? I didn't know you and a friend in Minas Gerais."
I said, "He lived in Sao Paulo before here."
"Won't you introduce him to me?"
"He's Edgar. We studied high school together. He transferred so we lost touch."
Edgar put his hand over my shoulder and said, "Yeah, we're high school buddies."
"Not that close."
Edgar took his hand off and said to Bernie, "Did you come for a vacation?"
I said to Bernie, "Hey, can you head back without me. Since I'm meeting him after a long time, we have a lot of stuff to catch up on."
"Do you remember the way?"
"You know that I won't forget."
After Bernie left, Edgar asked, "What was the act for?"
"What do you expect me to tell him? Should I say that when I was kidnapped by some mafia, I got saved by a person who actually came to spy on the mafia. Now, I'm friends with the spy. Do you think he'll believe that?"
"Okay, how did you get that address? I didn't give that address in any of the places."
"I hacked into the police department and dug into some old files. Anyways, it's fake. Why do you care?"
"That's my father's house. After my father married another woman, me and my mother came out and started living alone."
"Do you mean that Laura is your stepsister?"
"How do you know Laura? Did you talk to her?"
I nodded.
"How is she doing? How tall is she now? I bet she must be very beautiful."
"She's good. Yeah, she's a pretty young lady."
After a while, we sat on the bench near the lake.
Edgar asked, "Why were you looking for me?"
"To get to Paulo."
"Is this the revenge for kidnapping you?"
I shaked my head and said, "No, he made Bernie get into an accident. The guy who you saw with me a few minutes ago. And, I didn't come here for some vacation to have fun. I made an appointment with a dealer. I asked him to come here."
"What dealer?"
I told him the entire backstory of the red stone of what I did and what I found till now.
"I don't think this will end well. I think you should give up on these things."
I stood up in front of the bench and said, "No matter what, I'm going to get the red stone. Since the story started with the stone, I planned to end by using the same stone."
"You're taking a risk."
"I don't have any other choice. Can I run all my life and live in fear of getting hurt again? I decided what to do, will you be beside me? Even if you don't, I'm going to do it anyway."
"Okay, I'll help you."