Chapter 5

Skyla 

(Past)

I was staring at the hoddie guy continuously. Is he giving a death threat? Why is he doing this to me?  I was shivering in fear, thinking about what he would do to that boy. I just bumped into that guy as I was coming from that singing room. Did that person saw me with that guy in my school? I immediately ran inside my room and closed the door. What if he tries to harm my granny? I need to protect my granny. If I have to stay away from that boy, Mason, I am going to do it. I have nothing to do with that boy. So, why would I put his life at risk? At that moment, I heard a knock on my door, which made me startled. It isn't that person, is it? I asked myself. I was shaking uncomfortably, thinking, what if he breaks into my home.

I stood up with my shaky legs. I kept that note on my desk. I gulped in fear. If I could, I would prefer to lock myself in my room. But I needed to check if my granny was alright or not. I took a nearby lamp in my hand and went to unlocked my bedroom door. The person outside my room was constantly knocking on the door. Taking slow steps toward my door, I raised my hand to unlock the door. The cold sweat was forming over my forehead, and my palms became moist. I slowly unlock the door and saw granny was standing there with a frown. I sighed in relief. I looked over her and saw, she was alright. 

She asked, "I have been calling you for so long. Is there everything, alright?"

Clearing my throat, I said, "Uh- I was studying, granny. That's why I couldn't hear your voice."

She looked at me thoroughly. Then she asked, "Why are you sweating, Skyla? And you are holding a lamp in your hand. Your eyes are red as if you cried a few moments ago."

I smiled awkwardly at her. I could never tell her what I saw before she came here. I didn't want to lose her. She is my family. So, I decided to lie to her. "Actually, granny, I dozed off while studying. You know, I get nightmares. So, I got s-scared and-"

She cut me off. She embraced me immediately and said, "Oh, my poor child. I am here now. Don't worry. Do you want me to sleep with you tonight?"

I hugged her tightly and said, "Please, stay with me. Or, I would stay awake for the whole night." I knew I was lying to her. But that's not true. I got nightmares of my foster father's corpse over my body and I am lying on the pool of blood. And the threat of my stalker won't let me sleep tonight. So, I told her the half-truth. 

She told me, "Do you want to sleep here?" I shook my head in denial. I like to sleep in her room. 

"Okay. Let's go to my room." Saying, she took me to my room and made me sleep on her lap. She usually tells me the stories of her old early life. Like, about her parents, friends, how she met with her husband, then her daughter. These are all her set memories. She usually cries whenever she talks about her daughter, who was my age when she died in an incident which she doesn't want to tell. I never force her to tell me anything which she doesn't want to say. Listening to her perfect life earlier, made me sad thinking, she has no one to take care of her when she is this old. I am going to take care of her.

Slowly, I closed my eyes and drifted into a deep slumber. 

The next morning I woke up early. My granny was still sleeping. I immediately went to my room and freshened up. Then I went to make breakfast for both me and granny. I made the pancakes. I took a glass of orange juice and black tea for granny. She came and kissed me on my cheeks. We ate breakfast together. I ran to my room and packed my bag. I took a shower and wore my usual dress and hoodie. 

Taking my bag, I ran out of our home, not before saying bye to granny. I was near my bicycle when I heard her calling my name. I looked back and saw her coming toward me in a hurry. I told her, "Granny, slow down. You might trip and get injured." Then I heard a chuckle.

One of our neighbors said, "Your granny is strong, dear. I have been seeing her for over twenty years. She is stronger than us. I wish her to have a long life." She said with a smile on the face. 

I smiled back and said, "I want that too. She has to live. But she needs to be more careful. She isn't getting any younger." I said with a concerned lace tone.

I saw my granny coming in front of me and gave me a stern look. She said, "Young lady, did you forget me telling you to take a sweet box for your violin teacher? I know he is a senior student at that school, but he is still a teacher to you. So, take this." She gave me a sweet box from her bakery. "Give this to him and say to him, this is from you. Understand?" She added.

I frowned at her. I said, "Huh? Do you want me to lie to him? But- "

She cut me off and said, "No, it is not a lie. It is the same, you know. If you give this to him telling it from you or me. So, go now. Come early to home, Okay?"

I gave her a nod and said, "As you wish granny." I signed and left for my school. And again I felt someone was following me. I sped off to my school. 

I went to that music room again at the same time. I knocked on the door but didn't hear anything. Pushing the door a little, I saw the room was empty. Maybe he forgets about it. But I need to stay here for a bit. 

I entered that room and looked around the room carefully. Different types of the violin were there in that room. I was wondering if those instruments were that boy' or not. If those are his, then why did he keep them in this school? I don't know. I sighed.

Seeing that he didn't come yet, I decided to leave. I was about to turn around, I heard the loud sound of the door getting shut. Looking around, I saw bloodshot grey eyes. His gaze made my blood turned cold. Did I offend him? Before I could say anything, he marched toward me.