Chapter Forty-Seven
True to his words, from the next day on Nelson began teaching me how to make Japanese food and let me help him around the kitchen way more than he did before. He was a great teacher and chef, I must add. He taught me how to make Japanese cuisine step-by-step and asked me to repeat it alongside. Anytime I had a question, he answered them. No matter how many times I asked him. He always answered them. However, today was different.
Today, no matter how much I tried I just could not get myself to focus on the cooking. My mind was swirling around with the worry of me losing my studies. I did not know how to complete all of them. I did not want to lose this year of study. How will I cope up with everything? How will I ever complete my studies if I did not go to school? My exams, my internals, my lectures, I was going to be left behind in everything?
Seeing me distracted from his teaching, Nelson asked. "Where is your mind today? What are you thinking?"
I smiled and waved a hand in dismissal. "It's nothing. I just could not focus." I told him. I saw him assessing me but then he just shrugged and said, "Alright, then." And that was that. For the whole morning to late afternoon, after closing the restaurant, my mind continued to go back to school and everything and I did not even realise that I was getting restless thinking about it.
"Viri?" My head snapped in the direction where Nelson was standing. "There is someone here to see you." He said.
My brows furrowed in confusion because nobody knew that I was here. I took a step when Shirley's head poked inside the room. My heart slammed right into my chest. I didn't even realise I was moving until, when I was suddenly hugging Shirley and then I barely noticed that a very confused-looking Nelson was fading out of the view. Leaving me alone with Shirley.
After hugging each other for eternity, both of us pulled apart. I took all of her in and saw that she was well and unharmed. The belt marks on my face had faded but I was just glad to see no fresh wounds on her. So, hopefully, Ergor was staying away from her.
I smiled at her and we both talked nonsense about how we have been and so on until I forced both of us to sit down.
Holding her hands in mine, I asked her. "How did you find me?"
Shirley shook her head. "Forget about how I found you. How are you staying here and who was the guy who let me in? Fill me in." And so I did. I told her everything. About everything. How I knew this place, asked for help, got thrown out, helping the person guarding this place and everything. I even told her about the story or lie that I came up with to live here, to keep myself safe.
Shirley listened to me without interrupting and nodded her head appreciatively at the end of my story. "Good. Thank god you knew this place. I am glad you are safe and thank god for this guy." She commented.
I squeezed Shirley's hand and asked her, "What happened after I managed to run away from school?"
Shirley looked at me and then her shoulder sagged. "After you left, our teacher and other students almost had him but unfortunately, he managed to escape." Pulling her hand back Shirley stroked her shoulder, thinking.
"When I called you he was already on his way over to your dorm. That's when I called you. I knew that he would try to get past the security front desk by saying that he was your brother and wanted to meet you or something. So, after calling you, I called the front desk and informed them about the situation. They handled it from there." She told me.
"He did get to the dormitory but the security did not allow him to get through. They probably told him if he insisted then they would call the cops so he left. When I reached the place he was already gone. And so were you. Without my wallet or your phone." She said,
As Shirley described the situation, it was like the scenes were replaying in my head. Everything came back to me. Out of nowhere, a question struck me.
"Who told him? Who informed Ergor?" I asked.
Shirley stared at the ground. "Blake. Blake told him." She answered. Raising her head, she continued. "That day when we were talking about your condition and Blake was standing behind us, he heard everything. And so, he told him. Just for the sake of entertainment."
A sudden wave of anger rushed through me, hearing this. I wish Blake was present here at this moment. I would have punched him. Suddenly, his smirking face flashed inside my brain. That day when Ergor was coming my way, I had seen him. Blake. Smirking my way. That dog ...
"So, what about my brother? Did he leave? Is it safe enough for me to come back?" I asked. A little hope is growing in me.
"No." A hint of warning in Shirley's voice.
In a low voice, Shirley explained to me. "Your brother ... he pays unexpected visits to our dorm room and school. He shows up randomly. Since he is banned from the property and can't enter any of them, he stays away from it all. It is NOT safe for you. Even, I'm afraid sometimes. I saw him in the parking lot of our dormitory when I looked outside the window. It is not safe." She told me and my teeny-tiny hope shattered along with my dreams.
For a little while, both of us remained quiet. Lost of words. The situation was so much worse than I was expecting.
Sighing, Shirley turned to me. "Have you decided what are you going to do with this baby?" Shirley asked me. I tensed. I was left completely speechless because in the last few days I completely forgot that I was pregnant. I stroked my stomach and somehow came to a decision right away. I did not think about anything or analysed the consequences, I just knew somewhere in my gut.
"I will keep it." I answered her. A tone of finality in my words. I did not want to think back. Even if I want to, I can't get an abortion in this chaos. I have to deal with all of this first. Plus, without even realising it, I felt a sense of responsibility coming over me.
"Okay." Shirley said. She pulled a bag towards her. I didn't even realise that she was carrying a bag when she walked in. Shirley pulled out a few notebooks from her bag and handed them to me.
"Here." She said, "These are the notes from past lectures that you missed. Since I know you can't come to school to attend lectures, I thought about fetching all the notes for you instead." She said. I took the notes from her and felt overwhelmed. Shirley had done so much to help me that I can't even recount. I was so damn stupid to think that she would ever do something ...
I hugged Shirley. My emotions are bottling up in me.
"Thank you. Shirley. For everything you did for me and endured for me. You are the best person I have that I could ask for." I told her. Shirley hugged me back. After a few seconds, both of us pulled apart and stood up.
"I have to leave now. But I will see you soon." Shirley assured me. I nodded.
I led her to the door and we hugged again before we bid goodbye. Hoping to see each other again.