The four stayed at the restaurant for four hours. All the customers who had crowded the place had left, so Nova had moved from Orlyssa's table to an empty table at the back of the restaurant, feeling their chitchat morally corrupted her. Her remaining allowance wasn't enough to pay for bus fare, thus she drank a second cup of lighter roast coffee with it. Her rationale for this was that it'd give her energy to walk home.
She observed how the light fell on tables and walls, her eyes occasionally flicking at Orlyssa and her gang, whose muffled voices resonated in the empty restaurant. What were they discussing that they had all their teeth out? Surprisingly, they had been going at it for hours. Nova's behind had started feeling numb, as if disconnected from her body.
"Ow."
Sighing, she turned on the phone and confirmed it was 9:37 PM.
"I'm such a fool."
She was waiting for Orlyssa to finish chatting with her gang, yet there were signs from the beginning she had no intention of talking with her.
"That's it." She muttered, picking up her bag and standing up. Those three were seated far, so she spoke loudly, "I'm out of here."
They turned their heads towards her for a second, then went back to talking.
'Whatever.'
Nova walked out of the restaurant, stepped out of the restaurant's floodlights, and began walking down the street. The entertainment venues such as theatres and nightclubs were operating, their neon lights dancing on the sidewalks. On her left, people could be seen entering a commuter train. She wondered whether those who suffered financially felt the same way she did. A brisk walk, she knew, would get her home in thirteen minutes.
She twisted her face, blowing out a frustrated breath, "God, how did this happen?"
The cool breeze blew, fluttering her skirt. Immediately, her hand shot to hold the hem in place, preventing more than she intended to hide from being exposed.
As she was about to enter an alleyway, a black sedan glided past her and slowed to a silent stop a meter before her, causing her breath to catch in her throat as she ceased her steps. From the appearance, the car was definitely not a cab. Besides, the stores beside her were closed, so she knew they weren't stopping to make a purchase. Her heart hammered, wondering what else they might want. Were they planning to kidnap her? She held the strap of her bag tightly, but before she could turn right and flee into the alleyway, the rear door of the car flung open, and she heard Orlyssa's voice.
"Didn't I say I'd take you home?"
"Shit." Nova sighed heavily, stooping with hands on her knees. It wasn't a bunch of gangsters, huh? After catching her breath, she straightened up, replying, "When did you tell me that?"
Orlyssa ultimately showed herself by poking her head out of the car. "No? Well, you're hearing it now. I'm taking you home. You're broke, right?"
'Yeah, thanks to you.'
Nova wanted to snap back, but bit her tongue. She understood that snapping wouldn't pull her out of the strait, only make her feel good for a moment. Nevertheless, she unreservedly went over and got in the car, sitting beside Orlyssa. Blaze was seated at the far end of the back seat, and Pyro was in the front, still having sunglasses on even in darkness.
It seemed like they were waiting for Nova to shut the door, since immediately after, they began discussing something pointless again. Nova wondered whether their mouths weren't dry yet. The engine roared, and the car began moving. Two minutes later, Blaze diverted the conversation to vulgarity, prompting Nova to fish out her cellphone and start playing a mindless video game. From time to time, she glanced outside the window to confirm whether they had reached her neighborhood. Each second seemed to stretch endlessly.
Seven minutes later, the familiar lush environment appeared. A slow exhale escaped Nova's lips as she placed her phone on her lap. The three were still absorbed in gossip, but she deliberately interrupted them. "I'll walk from here."
Immediately, Orlyssa turned to her, replying, "Chill, we'll take you all the way." She then turned away and casually continued commenting to the gossip. Her disinterest embarrassed Nova, making her insist right away. "I need to grab something from the store."
Orlyssa dramatically dropped her shoulders and turned at her. Leaning towards her, she looked at her face, then stretched her arm across her and opened the door.
"Is your head okay?"
Since the car was still moving, Nova wondered what Orlyssa was trying to do. The night's cold wind mercilessly whipped her, compelling her to hug herself. While still glancing outside and at Orlyssa with mouth agape, she felt a hand on her waist. The very next second, all her body went numb, and the numbness was immediately replaced by burning sensations. It was only after five seconds that Nova realized she was lying on the dusty ground beside the road.
A silent, sharp shrill escaped her mouth, every tissue in her body throbbing with a deep searing pain. Clawing at the dust, she watched with tears-clouded eyes as the car disappeared into the distance. What had just happened?
Her field of vision gradually darkened making her wonder whether she was dying. Although there was nothing interesting in her life, she didn't want to die yet. Despite this, warm substance began cascading down her forehead from a point with a razor-cutting pain on her scalp. Blinking, hot tears scalded down along her temples, collecting in her hair.
Her head became lighter and lighter, as though she were falling asleep, and ultimately, her vision became totally dark.
Before she could completely sink into oblivion, however, someone gently hauled her upper body from the ground. In the frosty air, their hands were warm. They muttered something indistinct, like an apology, then brought her closer and hugged her. Their chest, also warm, rose and fell in an unhurried rhythm. The embrace was soothingly warm so she wished it didn't end. However, she ceased feeling herself after a second.
***
Muffled sounds of cicadas. Cold daggers of ice. Hard surface. Where was she? What happened to her? Nova's eyes fluttered open. The first thing she saw was the brightest star in the Leo constellation. Glancing around, she noticed she was on the street side.
'I see, so that's what that bitch did?'
Though the shove had left her in pain, her body now felt normal, except for the dizziness. Standing up groggily, she clenched her fists.
'You just wait. I'm coming for you, asshole.'
With that, she staggered down the street, heaving and cursing Orlyssa in her mind.
Reaching the vicinity of her house, her eyes flicked at her dark house, then across the window panes of the neighbouring houses, which warmly glowed yellow. She skulked as she marched forth and entered her compound, before moving and opening the door. In the darkness, the sofas and the bookshelf which stood against the prominent wall appeared like huge monsters glaring at her. Without turning on the light, she climbed the stairs to her room, clicking her tongue frequently.
Her room was messy. Pillows lay on the floor, blanket and bedsheets rumpled. She clicked her tongue once more, then beelined for the bathroom. Noticing the vanity mirror near the shower curtain, she drew close. "That witch. God, I hope my face isn't scratched."
Before she could move closer to the mirror, she realized that the voice that had just come out of her mouth wasn't hers. Breathing sharply, she glanced in the mirror, then jerked back, her eyes growing round.