Song recommendation: WHO by BTS & Lauv

GRACE

NERVE WRECK

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I ensconced myself on the divan, crossing my legs one above the other. A soft breath left my nostril as I groomed my brain to calm so as to save it from jumping off the brink of equanimity.

Finally, I said, "So you're saying that you asked her not to turn up before you again."

Bhrea hummed while resting her eyesight on the imported carpet flooring.

I groaned lightly, "Aah. I told you to talk it out calmly. Now what? You really…"

"Tae, it's pretty much known to us that she's hella weird and-"

For god's sake, I didn't even know a single thing about the so-called stalker and there she was talking like I was her stalker's girlfriend.

"Known to you, not me, I haven't even seen her in person for once."

"You wouldn't feel like doing so if you would meet her someday, trust me. She creeps me out. Her words, her stares, everything about her is so eerie. On top of that, she's so blunt! And you won't believe me, she knows about Ace too!" Bhrea explained in a rage of annoyance by recalling the bitter convo a few hours back.

My mandible sank a foot below. "Sick! She's so pathetic! I mean, how far is she going to push herself, just to claim her so-called love for you?"

"I have no idea, Tae. And now, it somehow makes me feel more guilt-ridden than I already am for rejecting her every time." Bhrea's face dropped as her fingers shuffled in repulsion.

I rubbed her back, keeping an eye on her sentimental river. "Sis, I know this bothers you a lot. But, what can you possibly do, now that she doesn't wanna back off? Just ignore her. Don't respond even if she waits for you outside. Simply shake it off and hopefully, she'll lose it soon."

Everyone has a rock bottom, right?

Bhrea respired heavily, showing her agreement with the outspoken judgement.

"Hmm, by the way, how does she look? I mean, is she pretty?"

An instant reflex made Bhrea shoot her orbs at me. "Why do you ask?"

I licked my edges before revealing, "I'm just curious."

"You already know that I don't judge anybody by their looks. And for your answer, she's pretty," Bhrea ended shortly.

"Wooah, a pretty stalker? That's quite interesting…" I teased.

"Shut up, will you?"

I grinned openly, "Jokes apart, shall we go on an ice cream date tonight?"

Bhrea clenched her eyebrows but I still hoped for a positive response. She couldn't deny me, could she?

"The audacity…sounds good though, I'm in. The treat is on me then."

I chuckled, "Sure! Let's go."

* * *

Evening streets lit up with the luminescence of the bright lamps hanging above them. The population on the roads were adored in their winter attire. The weather was considerably cold yet not too concerning. Twilight showed off its dark heavens full of bright twinkling stars and ghostly clouds.

Bhrea pulled the gear in front of a restaurant. She stepped out of the vehicle and I accompanied her as we both made our way inside.

Settling at a two-seater table, I blurted out, "Can I get a double scoop today?" I tried shooting invisible sparkles through my eyes.

And I cringed at my own behaviour. Eww...

"Certainly kiddo. I wanna try the cranberry one and guess you're going to stick with your raspberry scoops. Am I right?"

I nodded playfully when a giggle bubbled on my lips. A soft leer lingered on Bhrea's cheeks.

It looked like she could squish my cheeks right away. But she refrained.

She looked better, though not completely tension free. I could feel her concerns but I couldn't figure out what to do yet. It's like I'm being asked to shoot a partridge with blindfolded eyes.

* * *

Clock hands ticked forward, completing thirty more minutes. I clanked my silver-plated spoon on the empty ice cream bowl, waiting for Bhrea to finish.

I tried to read her mood and broke the silence, "Sis, you've never introduced me to your girlfriend. So I was wondering…can we meet someday? I really have the urge to see her. Pretty please?"

Bhrea sneered at my quest. "Sure, why do you make it sound so formal? I'll ask her when she can make it. You can expect it by next week."

"Yes! I can't wait!"

Bhrea shoved another spoonful of ice cream into her mouth and smiled lightly until something unexpected occurred.

"Fuck off assholes!" a haughty comment breezed in the atmosphere in response to which, a harsh chill crawled down Bhrea's spine.

Cold fogs of terror started circulating in Bhrea's brain as her nerves began to collect responses from the motor center.

Her pupils dilated as if she saw a ghost. Beads of sweat twirled down her temples and she gulped the molten ice cream in her mouth severely.

I cast a bemused look while noticing the ridiculously tense state of Bhrea. Her heebie-jeebies were no joke. Atleast, it felt more alarming.

"Sis? Are you okay?" I asked, being highly concerned with a flabbergasted face.

Bhrea rotated her skull behind her and I followed her gaze to peer over her shoulders. Both of our glances paused at a squad of five young men and women throwing their antagonistic hollers at each other. Their table got transformed into a hotbed of their loud yet slightly hostile activities.

"They look like seniors. Do you know them? Are they from your college?" I raised.

Ignoring my words inattentively, Bhrea said, "Tae, you're done, right? Let's get out of here."

"Huh? Why?" I expressed being all clueless.

I knew it was something relatable but I couldn't quite join the dots.

Before I could clarify, Bhrea pushed her chair away and grabbed my palm to drag me along.

Okay, we were moving for real.

The creaking noises due to the friction sought the attention of the howling team of young adults.

One of them scrutinized us prior to crying out at the peak of her vocal cord, "Bhrea, is that you?"

Bhrea could not help but let her feet get rooted to the ground.

Her breathing rate increased rapidly as she squeezed my hand. Her hands were shaking. No, her feet too. What the hell?

Soon, an idea occurred to her.

She tilted on her side and whispered into my ear, "Tae, take the keys and go sit in the car. I'll be there in a while."

She shovelled the car keys into my fist and drove me away. I scooted outwards in long strides, not knowing the exact reason behind her sudden decision and within a few seconds, the villain of Bhrea's peace appeared right in front of her nose tip.

"Hey? What a pleasant surprise! I never thought of meeting you here, like now. Are you still mad at me?"

"Stop it, Ray," Bhrea huffed through clenched teeth.

"Ah? Why?"

I tried to look back but almost bumped into a bartender. I apologized as he gave me a pissed look like I broke his Rolex watch by chance.

Embarrassment took all over me and I moved as fast as my legs would allow.

I wondered what could possibly go wrong. It felt alright until that girl hoisted her voice over Bhrea.

I stood behind a pillar and tried to read the tension between the two. The tension was so thick, one could cut it with a knife.

My conscience told me that this could somehow be the one troubling Bhrea ever since. But it couldn't as well…I was baffled at the out-of-the-blue act.

The other girl stood at least an inch or two above me. She wasn't of the same height as Bhrea either…that's when I actually realized that she was tall. She had long dark wavy hair and almond eyes. I noticed something on her left wrist. Was that a tattoo? Damn…

Soon, my still small voice told me to meet her eyes. The eyes that rolled over to the glass doors.

I sucked in a breath and hid behind the support. My heart was pulsating at her sharp stare. She saw me. Wasn't that the reason why Bhrea asked me to leave in the first place? Fuck!

I wasted not another second. My feet took me to the white Chevrolet that Bhrea put to sleep almost an hour ago and I crashed inside. My palpitations calmed me bit by bit. I had no idea what was going on in there. I silently hoped for Bhrea to be okay.

It's not like she encountered some criminal but who knew…that girl seemed way too carefree. Was she always that way?

***

Author POV

"Who was that? She was with you I guess. Why did she leave you alone? I could barely see her face."

Bhrea snapped, "That's none of your business. I'm getting late. Move out of my way right now."

"Okay…" The other girl shrugged and shifted to one side, providing space.

Bhrea hauled herself away as soon as her path was cleared. The only thought that ruled her mind at that moment was to get out of there safely instead of any more word exchanges.

"We'll meet again, babygirl," thought the girl, a bizarre smirk stretched to the corner of her naturally red full lips.

* * *

A few minutes later, I saw Bhrea coming. She seemed exhausted by the time she approached the car.

Did she fight? Well…she wasn't the type to fight though.

I tried to maintain a cool picture. I didn't want her to guess that I'd somehow managed to sneak peek at her stalker. Or that I was caught red-handed by her either. That would be my death.

As soon as she crumbled upon the steering wheel, I started. "Who was that girl, sis?"

Bhrea sluggishly lifted her head and said, "She's the one, my stalker."

I flinched at the reply as if I hadn't figured that out already. "What? She- oh my god! I really can't believe this. I mean, look at her. She looks so cute!"

I didn't know if I really meant the last sentence though…because those eyes made my heart bounce instantly.

"Never judge a book by its cover, Tae. You don't know her, what a villain she is beneath that pretty mask of hers."

I nodded. "Her name is Ray… right? I heard you call her that." And I bit my lip as it totally slipped, I openly told her that I heard them talking! I cursed myself internally.

Yet, she didn't seem to notice it.

"Yeah, but I don't think it's her real name, so probably a sobriquet. Everything about her seems to be undercover."

As in 'The Fast and the Furious'?

"So… what did you decide?"

Bhrea stared to her left, observing my inquisitiveness regarding the whole drama.

"This won't do. I need to pick another route to get her to the right place. Don't worry, Tae. I got this, let's go home now. I'll drop you off."

She shovelled the car keys into the hole and ignited the engine, leaving me to wonder the rest by myself.

* * *

Bhrea halted her car in front of a four-storeyed apartment and I galloped out of it. I gathered my backpack and bent to my hips till I could see the elder's physiognomy.

"Good night, sis! Grab your dinner and sleep well, okay? Don't think about Ray too much, you shall be alright. See ya!"

Giving a soft beam, Bhrea greeted, "Good night, my Taetae. Hope to see you soon!"

I waved in the air and trotted inside the building entrance. Then I heard her roll away on her wheels. I turned around for one last time to spot the blank dark space just outside the entrance. A heavy sigh left my mouth.

* * *

Morning light peeped through the creeks and corners of the plain white silk curtains. The appetizing aroma of hot mushroom coffee eluded from the cuisine. It diffused with the freezing atmosphere and approached a slight cavity at the greeting portal of a cozy bedroom. Inside, the bed was centered with a lump of duvet beneath which I respired naturally.

To disturb the serene aura, a flat electronic device chanted its 'not so soothing' melody to which my constant heap squirmed on the mattress.

"Wake up, bish!" as if the gadget frowned once I unveiled my somnolent face from below the thick blanket. Drowsiness skidded down my form starting from the messy dark strands of hair growing on my scalp to the crumbled night suit embracing my body.

I stretched out my limbs and dropped one of them upon the nightstand to shut the crooked alarm. Parting the paper-thin eyelids, I read the wall clock as a wide yawn bloated on my lips.

"Mmm...mushroom coffee…" I slurred torpidly, still half asleep. "Let's get to work." I picked up my partially active body on my feet and slid across the floor to the restroom.

* * *

"Grace, come down for your lunch!" a loud voice trailed up the staircase.

"Coming, Mumma!" I screeched in response that appeared as a muffled reply from below the bath towel which I was using to wipe my dampened hair after a shower.

My moisturized skin gave off its shiny charm as I exchanged my bathrobe with a floral knee-high dress. I wouldn't be lying if I said that I loved my new raspberry body wash.

The dining table was loaded with some dishes that were prepared by Mom. She served them on lavish plates till the moment I joined her.

"Mumma, I might be a little late tonight. So, you need not worry about my dinner. I'll see some of my seniors." I uttered while dragging a chair under my butt.

"Hmm, just don't forget about your studies. Your exams are in a few couple of months, remember that," Mom reminded.

"Sure…"

And I knew before late that the next few months were going to be the death of me.

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Ayoo guys! The next part is up! Let me know how you like it!

Thank you so much for reading! ❤️✨