Chapter 27

                                    

                                          
When we reached home, the TV was on. The newscaster was casting another crime report. Mom was at home.
"Hey you two.
 How was the school?" Mom said to me and Victor.
"Exciting." I replied.
"I agree." Victor agreed with me.
"Appreciate school while you're in it, having a full time job is worse." Mom said.
"Yeah, I'm not so convinced of that." I said.
"Are you hungry?
 I cooked for us." Mom asked us.
"I'm not that hungry to be honest. And I wanted to go out tonight. Liz?" Victor insisted.
"Whatcha got in mind?" I asked Victor.
"Let's just walk and see." Victor said.
"Okay." I agreed.
"Is that okay, mom?" I asked mom.
"Sure!" Mom said.
"No 'don't be late' ?" I said.
"You're with Victor, Liz." Mom said.
"Seriously?" I said.
"C'mon, Liz." Victor said.
                          
Victor took me to a dark shady place in the woods. I got scared. The place looked pretty scary after all.
"What's wrong?" Victor asked me.
"It's kinda scary here…" I answered.
"Don't worry, I'm gonna protect you." Victor assured me.
"Where are we, V." I asked.
"Yeah?" Victor said.
"Why are we here?" I asked.
"It's beautiful, right?" Victor said.
"I'm not sure." I replied.
"C'mon relax." Victor said.
Suddenly I heard a noise.
"What was that?" I asked Victor.
"I'll go look real quick." Victor said and left.
Victor left me alone in that dark scary place. 
"Don't leave me here!
 VICTOR!" I called him but he didn't listen.
I calmed myself down but suddenly I saw some movement near me. It was a very fast movement, so I didn't see properly what it was. A shadow like something. My heart started to beat faster and faster. I didn't know what it was. But that's when Ian came and protected me.
"Ian!" I said surprisingly.
"Are you okay?" Ian asked me.
"I'm … are you?" I said.
"Yes." Ian replied.
"What was that?" I asked Ian.
"Some wild animal." Ian answered.
"There are wild animals here!?" I said.
"Apparently." Ian said.
That's when Victor came back.
"What are you doing here?" Victor asked Ian angrily.
"Saving her." Ian replied.
"What happened?
 Liz, are you okay?" Victor asked.
"She is, now.
 Aren't you supposed to take care of her." Ian replied angrily to Victor.
"I am." Victor said.
"I can see that." Ian said.
"Shut your mouth." Victor said angrily to Ian.
"YOU shut your mouth!
 You can't fucking leave her alone in the woods! Are you that stupid?" Ian asked angrily to Victor.
"I was looking for something." Victor replied.
"Then look when she's not around. Why are you even taking her to some dark forest huh?" Ian said.
"I don't have to answer you.
 Liz, let's go home." Victor said.
"She's coming with me." Ian said.
"Are you serious?" Victor asked.
"Dead serious." Ian replied.
"Liz, c'mon." Victor said.
"I'll go with Ian." I replied.
"Don't be stupid, Liz!" Victor said.
"I'm not Victor. I told you not to leave me, but you did." I said.
"Liz, I…" Victor said.
"Not now." I said to Victor.
"Let's go." Ian said.
Ian and I went from there. Ian drove me home.
"Thank you, Ian." I thanked.
"Be more careful, okay?" Ian said.
His voice was unusually gentle.
"I'm sorry you always have to save me…" I said.
"I don't mind. Sweet dreams, Liz." Ian said and went.
And I went to my room. After a few minutes Victor came to my room.
"Liz, I'm sorry.
 I shouldn't have left you." Victor apologized.
"You shouldn't have." I said.
"I thought about this for sometime. But I really think you shouldn't be here any longer." Victor suggested.
"What?" I surprisingly asked.
"You're constantly in danger." Victor said.
"Today was somebody else's fault." I said.
"I know I was stupid. But since you're here only bad things have happened, right?" Victor said.
"I wouldn't say that…" I replied.
"You're not safe here." Victor said.
"Victor, I'm gonna stay here." I said.
"But why? Nothing holds you here." Victor asked.
"Yes, there are things." I replied.
"Ian?" Victor asked.
"Are you like this because of him?" I asked.
"I'm not. He's just a factor I don't like." Victor said.
"Ian is the person who protected me the most. If it weren't for him… I don't know what would have happened." I replied.
"I'm thankful he helped you, it's just…" Victor said.
"What Victor?" I asked.
"Liz, I still have to tell you something. And please don't freak out." Victor said.
"You're scaring me." I said.
"There's a reason I didn't like him. I… I'm in love with you, Liz. I've always been. It irritates me that you spend so much time with another guy. I wanna be the one who protects you and be with you. It hurts me when you are with him. I can't suppress my feelings any longer. I tried. But now… I love you.
And I wanna be with you. Like officially. I love you, Liz." Victor expressed his feelings towards me.
"Oh my god." I was surprised.
"I know this may come as a surprise." Victor said.
"It does." I replied.
"How do you feel about me, Liz?" Victor asked me.
Victor was the person I basically have a crush on since… like always. I never in my lifetime would've thought you'd ever return those feelings. What am I supposed to do now? Nobody prepared me for this.
"I hope you don't despise me now… I know we're childhood friends and this might be weird and..." Victor said in his low voice.
"Victor, I could never despise you! I…" I replied.
Why wasn't I happy? I should be jumping out of joy, but I was not. This is what I have always dreamed of. But why… I was not. I knew why. Although I hated the thought. I couldn't ignore it. I can't believe I had to do that.
"I'm sorry, Victor.
 But I don't think I feel the same." I replied.
"It's okay." Victor said.
"It is?" I asked.
"Yes. I can't expect from you to just return my feelings out of nowhere. I was hoping you would… but… " Victor said.
"I'm sorry." I said.
"Don't apologise, Liz.
 Besides this doesn't mean I give up. I will wait till you feel the same." Victor said.
"V…" I said.
"I'll make you fall for me, Liz." Victor said.
It was really an awkward situation where you feel this weirdest things.
                          
- To Be Continued -