Chapter 28: ²⁸: micasa

Athena’s POV

"I...I have to go," I said, not daring to look at him anymore.

But he still wasn’t done. He pulled me back by my hand and kissed me again quickly leaving me startled. I could literally taste myself on his lips as I absentmindedly kept looking at him, my mind completely blank.

"Don’t you have to go now?" Kael asked again, that irritating smirk still resting on his face.

His words finally pulled me out of my strange trance, and without giving him another second to do something more abnoxious I immediately turned around and sprinted away from him.

"Rose! I am here!" I called out as I stopped behind her, making her immediately turn around.

"Athena! Where were you?!" she shrieked, quickly lowering the phone she had been holding. She had probably been trying to call me again.

"Athena! Where were you?!" she shrieked, quickly lowering the phone she had been holding in her hand. Judging by the way she was clutching it, she had probably been trying to call me again.

"You left the hall after your dance with Louis, while he went straight to the drinks section and has been drinking like water is going out of fashion," she said, her eyes no longer carrying their usual gossipy sparkle. Instead, they were filled with genuine worry.

"I thought something happened between you two, and that’s why you came outside to clear your head. But then you didn’t come back, so I came looking for you." She paused, taking a deep breath before glaring at me.

"I even called you like a hundred times, but you never picked up even once!"

That was when I realized something.

My clutch.

"Oh no..." I muttered, quickly looking around.

"What happened?" Rose asked, immediately joining me in looking around, despite not even knowing what we were searching for.

"I couldn’t answer your calls because... I don’t know where my clutch is! My phone is inside it," I said, trying to remember where I could have dropped it.

I had got it back from Rose after leaving Louis in the hall because I had planned to go straight home.

Then...

"Oh... it might have fallen when he pulled me ba—"

I immediately stopped myself as I realised what I was about to say.

"Pulled you? Who pulled you?" Rose asked, looking at me with a confused expression.

"Uh... I... nobody." I laughed awkwardly. "I meant to say... it might have fallen when my anger toward Louis pulled me too deep into my thoughts. You wait here. I’ll find it in just a minute, and then we can go back together... unless you still want to stay for a while longer?"

I asked the last question because, unlike me, she had actually come here to enjoy the party. I couldn’t just drag her home because my evening had turned into complete chaos.

Rose gave me a sheepish grin. "I still want to stay," she admitted before grabbing my arm. "Why don’t you stay too? The friends-only party is starting in just a few minutes, and I’m telling you, it’s going to be lit!"

I smiled apologetically a little guilty that I am leaving her here alone. "No, Rose. I’m really not feeling well. You enjoy yourself, but I have to go."

Besides... If I went back inside, I might run into Louis Dreven again and that was the last thing I wanted tonight.

"Okay then, as you wish." Rose nodded. "I just wanted to make sure you were alright. Now that I know you’re fine, I can enjoy the party without worrying."

I nodded with a smile before she started going back towards the hall.

"Make sure to send me a text when you reach your room!" she shouted from halfway down the hallway.

I raised my thumb in response. "Will do!"

As soon as she disappeared into the hall, I let out a long sigh. What a day this was... Seriously.

Pushing all the embarrassing moments out of my head, I went back to look for my clutch. Just like I had guessed, it was lying on the floor exactly where Kael had pulled me earlier.

I quickly looked left and right to make sure nobody else was around this time before bending down and picking it up.

"There you are," I muttered in relief.

"Let’s book a cab now. There has been enough drama for one day."

I walked outside the mansion while opening the cab application on my phone.

As soon as I booked the ride, the screen showed a waiting time of fifteen minutes.

I sighed.

Standing right outside the mansion gate would only attract unnecessary attention as people might come and go from there, so I crossed the road and decided to wait on the opposite side, where it was much quieter.

"Hi, Micasa!"

The sudden voice startled me the moment I reached the other side of the road.

I jumped before glaring at the familiar figure standing there with an infuriating grin.

"Damian!" I exclaimed. "When will you stop making these dramatic entrances? I swear to Moon Goddes, one day I am going to kill you for this!"

He only smirked wider like he had just done something out of this world.

"Oh, come on, Ath! You’ve always liked the way I appear out of nowhere. Stop pretending otherwise." He said while he placed both hands on his hips in yet another overly dramatic pose.

I rolled my eyes. This entire day had been far too overstimulating for me already.

"Damian, you are honestly too dramatic for your own good," I said, pointing a finger at him.

Then I suddenly remembered what he had done just a day before.

"Also..." My expression became serious. "What did you do to Maria? People are saying she’s in critical condition."

I expected even for a second that he would show at least a little remorse.

But that certainly was not the case, instead the smirk on his face didn’t move even an inch.

"Who is Maria?" he asked casually. "I don’t remember anyone by that name." He shrugged. "And I certainly didn’t do anything to a person called Maria."