CHAPTER EIGHT [ O U T S E T ]

LISA’S TRAVEL lasted for several hours. The girl looked out the window of the vehicle. He then asked the driver if they are close to their destination. 

Lisa felt exhausted in that instant so she leaned back from the chair. The more Lisa thinks about Twelve, the more sure she is that he’s looking for her. She was so grateful that Twelve didn't even think about getting her number. He’ll surely to find her right away if that’s the case. 

"We are here," the driver told her. 

Lisa's eyes widened. She didn’t noticed she fell asleep because of thinking of Twelve. After getting off the car, he showed him the way in. 

As she enters the large mansion, she noticed that someone was waiting for her arrival. An old lady who she thinks is a butler in Mr. Yamade’s mansion . 

"Your name is Lisa right?" the old man said to Lisa. Joy was evident in the butler’s face. 

"Yes," she replied frantically then smiled. 

"I'm Mariko, the butler here. Come and I’ll take you to your room here in the mansion." 

Lisa alerted herself when the butler is about to get her things. "I’ll do it. Anyway, these are light," she said. 

The butler smiled at Lisa's response. 

They were climbing the stairs when Lisa noticed a girl. 

She thinks it's just her mother's age. It's placed upstairs, standing from the second floor of the mansion. The butler immediately noticed it. 

"Ah, that is Ma’am Yui, Lisa. She is Sir Mitsuko's only sibling," Introduced the butler to Lisa, who resumed walking and immediately followed by Lisa. 

Lisa's glance returned to the woman but she was gone. The butler immediately stopped walking to a door. Slowly, she slipped the key from the door and slowly opened it so that Lisa could enter and rest. 

"Oh, we’re here. You should rest first. I'll call you when it's time to eat. Feel at home, okay?" Mariko said, closing her door carefully. She even heard the old butler's farewell gesture after it closed. 

She again brought her gaze to her room. The room was all right for her. There is a single bed and next to it is a side table. On its left side is a large cabinet. She opened it and saw her things already in order. 

Again, she looked around and saw a door from the end. She immediately opened it and realized that it was the bathroom. The interior is completely clean. She was glad that she had her own bathroom for the first time. 

She lie down on the bed first since it was still a long time. She’ll later took a shower. From the bed, she suddenly felt empty. Maybe she just miss Twelve. 

She just shrugged as she let the tears that she had been trying stop fall. In a moment, Lisa fell asleep in the soft bed. 

LISA WAS astonished as she heard knocks on the door. She quickly got up and headed for the door. She saw a girl waiting outside. 

"Miss Lisa, come on downstairs. The dinner’s ready." 

"O-okay. . ." 

She followed her immediately. When she arrived. She chose the seat to the right of the table. Like the rich people she came to see in the movies, they also used long tables. Suddenly, she felt ashamed because she was the who everyone was waiting for. 

"Oh my, Lisa! You’re screwed!" Lisa secretly blamed herself. 

She was fast asleep because she’s too tired from the travel. She couldn't recover from what had happened between Twelve and her. Her body was still hurting. 

"Miss Lisa, have you been well?" Mitsuko asked. 

She was about to speak when the woman she had seen earlier spoke. "Obviously, she just woke up, right?" She laughed at everyone with eyes full of sarcasm. 

"Mom. . ." Haise warned the mother. 

"Yui, stop it. Let's eat," said the elder immediately. 

Lisa leaned forward as she began eating. She couldn't help but feel discomfort. 

The delicacies are delicious but Lisa feels she has difficulty swallowing. The people around her were too quiet. 

"This is how rich people are like at meal time?" she told herself full of wonder. 

They were in the middle of eating when the old man began to speak. 

"Miss Lisa, let's talk after dinner. I'll discuss what your work will be like," the old man caught Lisa's attention in her sudden silence. 

"O-okay, sir," she replied. 

A few more minutes later, Lisa was using the table napkin to clean up. She said goodbye to the diners. She immediately stood up and walked out of the dining area without looking back. Everyone just stared at her for a moment. 

"Yui, next time, don't say a word that can deceive someone else. I'm counting on you. Is that clear?" 

"Noted!" she replied, but it was only slightly forced. Mitsuko even noticed how his sister rolled her eyes. 

LISA WAS currently sitting at the side table when she heard the soft knock on the door. She opened it and she saw a maid, saying she was called by Mr. Yamade. She went straight to the study room. She nodded at her, quickly following her. 

As she walks in, Lisa can't help but notice the antique pieces on display. 

She stopped following Mr. Yamade’s maid when her eyes noticed something from the wall. A huge portrait. 

Portrait of a family. Happiness can be seen on everyone’s face. The woman in the picture was truly beautiful. Even the man next to her who she thinks is his husband shows a sense of masculinity and kindness. The boy is in the lap of the girl who she thinks is around four years old seems to be jolly by just looking at his cute face. 

She was smitten with the large portrait in front of her. She continued to watch it especially for the boy, feeling that she had seen him before. She couldn't just remember where and when. 

Suddenly, someone spoke from behind her. When she saw that it was Yui, she felt really anxious. 

"The girl in the picture is my brother's only child. . . Arisa. Her husband Jiro is the one next to her while the boy is their only child." 

Lisa just kept quiet, unable to think of anything to say to her. 

Her attention was caught when she speak again. 

". . .but they're gone." 

Lisa glanced at Yui's face. She could see the smile on her lips that she was surprised at. 

She’s curious as to why Yui had behaved that way. Lisa just shrugged her shoulders. Maybe she were imagining things. 

"Oh, alright! Goodnight, Lisa.” 

She can’t figure it out but she really felt weird with Mr. Yamade’s sister. 

She refocused on the family portrait on the wall. She immediately followed the maid to the study room after. 

She knocked on the door first before turning the knob. The old man was already there waiting for her. 

"Sit down first." He then pointed to the chair at the front of his desk. 

Lisa couldn't help but smile. From what she sees, it's not just a study room. Because there are also book shelves lined up at the end of the room. 

"Miss Lisa, you have an idea of what your job would be like, right? Every semi-monthly you’ll get a decent salary and if you do well. . . then you have a bonus to expect." 

Lisa nodded, noting that she understood everything Mr. Yamade had said. Lisa is sure that she can save up a lot, too. 

"You are allowed to go off once a month so you could visit your mother." 

It is not a surprise since he knew that her mother was ill in the hospital for those with depression. 

"So, it's a deal?" 

"Yes, sir, it's a deaI." She smiled. 

They shakes hands as a sign that she is finally accepting his job. 

"Okay, you can rest in your room again," the elder dismissed her. 

She got up and walked to the door. She was about to reach the door handle when it finally opened and Yui spat on it carrying a tray. Inside the tray was a glass containing only water and a few pieces of pill and a bottle of medicine syrup. 

"Hi, brother!" she greeted. “Take your medicine first.” She gave him a medicine cup. 

She just passed through her and just went straight to the old man. 

"It's okay, Yui. When will you learn to knock before coming in?" 

"Okay, whatever! Just take your medicine and so I can can sleep now!" 

Suddenly, Yui's eyes flew to her. 

"Oh, why are you still here? I thought you’re leaving?" 

The girl was in a panic. She forget about that. Right. 

"Ah, sorry. . . Excuse me," Lisa said, embarrassed, before going outside. 

When the girl got out, Mitsuko shakes his head looking at his sister. Yui just shrugged. 

Lying on the bed, Lisa wonders why Maam Yui is treating her that way. 

She thought that maybe, that was just how it was. She was also surprised because she and Haise were just like siblings. The more she kept on thinking. But at the very end of her mind was Twelve again. How is he going? Is he okay? He might be really angry at her. 

She couldn't help but worry and think. She fell asleep in deep thoughts. 

SHE WOKE up in the middle of the night. Darkness rose upon her and she gradually felt the chill of her feet spread in the cold marble. 

But that didn't stop her from walking. Unable to figure out where she was going, she looked for a way out of the mansion but couldn't find a door. 

She could feel someone watching her every move from the dark side of the mansion—a pair of eyes. 

As she looked up. she saw a human form approaching her. Its eyes was flickering at her. 

She wanted to run, but her feet didn't want to get on. She was surprised when someone grabbed her feet. 

She cried out in shock. She opened her mouth to scream, but no voice came from there. Suddenly the shadow spoke. 

"You can’t escape now, Lisa. You’re going to die here!” The voice seemed to come from the grave. 

Suddenly, she felt herself being dragged down to the ground, unable to do anything. Until the end, she still had twelve in her mind. 

Everything was getting blurred little by little and her breathing was almost out. Her eyes slowly closed until she had been totally swallowed up by the darkness. . . 

LISA GOT UP from that bad dream. When she finally calmed down, she continued to tremble in fear as she gasped for breath and sweat was dripping all over her body. 

“How are you, Lisa?” a familiar voice can be heard from the dark. 

Until she finally recognized it. She was surprised that it was Ma’am Yui. 

Lisa wondered how she got in, knowing she had locked the door before lying down. 

She seemed to read what she had in mind. 

"For your information, I knocked outside but no one answered. So, I used the spare key in this room," Yui told Lisa. "Why am I even explaining to you? You're just a guest!" Yui raised her eyebrows before leaving Lisa. 

Apparently, Lisa was embarrassed by what she had done to her boss' sister. She was going to ask for forgiveness but Yui was gone. 

After a while, she remembered the dream again. For the past few nights, she has continued to experience unpleasant dreams. She was filled with wonder because she had only the same dream each night. 

Suddenly she touched her feet, feeling that any moment the shadow would appear and she would be lifted. She was especially alarmed at the thought as her body keeps on shaking.