CHAPTER 16...
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Mabel's eyes fixed on Charlotte.
"You and Raphael... Yes, what happened at the hotel? Did anything happen between the two of you? How about your night at the hospital? Did Raphael say anything to you?" Charlotte asked curiously leaning closer anxiously.
Mabel's gaze still blurry, her almost falling off her shoulder. It was becoming more unbearable to hold on without spilling everything.
"Em... That.." Mabel stuttered.
Charlotte clenched her fist, she was getting even more impatient.
"Raphael and I... Nothing happened!" Mabel lied through her teeth shutting her eyes, her willpower resisted the drug partially making her weak.
Charlotte slammed the table disappointingly.
She glared at Mabel. How could she have this much will power to resist lucidrane?
A call came in through Mabel's phone. It was a call from Raphael.
"Look who's calling!" She uttered with a smirk.
Mabel was completely out of it. She didn't hear a single word Charlotte said.
Charlotte took the call.
"Oppa, you called?" She questioned faking a cute tone.
"Sorry to disturb you Charlotte but are you with Mabel? I would love to ask her some questions regarding the deal we talked about days back... Is she with you?" Raphael asked holding back his anxiety behind his calm voice.
Charlotte glanced at Mabel and wore a blank expression.
"Mabel's not here with me. I went back to work, I left her at the restaurant, we both had lunch. If it's urgent I believe you can still catch-up with her at the restaurant" Charlotte suggested with a vicious smile.
Raphael, you can only be mine. I don't mind playing the good girl till I get what I want. She uttered in her mind as she kept her smile.
"I'll text you the address of the restaurant,"
"Thanks a lot, Charlotte!"
"Oppa, let's have lunch one of these days!" She chipped in a tone, Raphael can never decline.
"Sure!"
Now that's how you play the game. Charlotte smirked.
"What am I becoming? Is this the price of love?" She mumbled to herself after ending the call with Raphael.
~ VIOLET'S APARTMENT ~
Violet rolled on the floor with her arms folded on her belly.
She winced in pain as she rolled from one end to the other.
"Someone, anyone help me... This isn't how I thought of my end to be!" She whispered with tears rolling down her eyes.
She wallowed in pain just thinking about how much pains she was feeling at the moment.
Her phone began to ring, she looked at her side but unable to reach out to her phone.
The phone kept on ringing, Violet gave up reaching out to it. She couldn't move from where she was laying helpless.
The doorbell rang twice.
Is this my end? I can't even reach my own door... I'm finished! She cried shutting her eyes as she waited for her doom.
She gave up fighting the pain she was feeling.
Suddenly someone punched in the password of the door and rushed in.
It was Simone, he had a very worried and scared look on his face.
He rushed in like a novice thief. Only for him to see Violet laying on the floor looking so pale and thin.
He ran to her and helped her up.
"Violet! What happened to you?" He asked worriedly.
Violet opened her eyes slowly and a tired smile appeared on her lips.
"Thank goodness, I allowed you to have my password" she uttered faintly.
Simone quickly placed palm on her forehead.
"Goodness me! Violet you're burning up... Let's go to the hospital" He insisted trying to help her up but Violet used the little strength she had in her and pushed him away.
Simone looked at her confused.
"I'll be fine... Just get me my drugs from the second drawer in the cupboard next to my dressing mirror" She instructed slowly.
Simone quickly ran into the room, he almost lost his sight cos of how anxious he was. The cupboard was right in front of him but he couldn't see it. He panicked.
"Ahhh!" Violet winced in pain holding up her knees on her chest.
Simone finally saw the cupboard, grabbed the medicines and rushed out of the room.
He grabbed a glass of water on the dinning table then run up to Violet.
"I don't want to die just yet... Sim, please tell me I'll be okay!" She cried staring at him.
Simone sniffed and helped her up. He handed the medicine to her.
"Don't say rubbish! It's just a fever! You'll be fine..." He forced the words out of his mouth as his heart broke in a thousand pieces seeing Violet cry in pain.
He could hear the shattering sounds of his heart, followed up by a sharp pain of helplessness.
"Violet, let's go to the hospital if you feel better. It might be something serious" He cut in worriedly.
Violet gulped down the drugs in silence then she stood up from the floor and staggered but Simone held her.
He helped her to the couch.
Simone fixed his eyes on her, trying to observe every effect of the drug on her.
"I know it's silly of me to ask this but I'm still going to ask... How are you feeling now? Is the drug taking any effect already?" He asked with so much concern.
Violet leaned back on the couch, resting her head while looking at him.
"Silly! It hasn't been up to a minute since I took the medicine. Give it some time, it will take effect" She muttered slowly.
Simone nodded convinced. His gaze fell on the drug Violet just took and it had an unusual name written on it. He secretly took a picture of it without Violet's knowledge.
He exhaled sharply then turned back to her. Violet fell asleep already.
"You could've just called when you noticed you weren't feeling well. What am I even doing with my time if I can't give it to you?" He mumbled and carried her up on his arms like a baby.
Simone headed to Violet's room. He got in and lay her down gently on the bed then covered her up with a duvet.
He took down the curtains which made the room too bright and flashy.
He walked back to Violet and caressed her hair gently.
Simone left the room to the kitchen to prepare some chicken soup for his patient. He pulled up his sleeves excitedly.
★★★★
Raphael drove down to the restaurant but he couldn't find Mabel. She left already.
He rushed back to his car to look around the street for her cos one of the waiters informed him, it hasn't been long Mabel left the restaurant.
Raphael was driving down the street when he saw Mabel holding on to the wall. She had her nose mask and sun glasses on but her hardcore fan was going to recognize if she was seen.
Raphael jumped out of his car and ran to her.
Mabel was breathing heavily, her chin were drained with tears. She was so out of energy, the drug Charlotte gave her was giving her a tough time.
"Mabel, what happened to you? Did she give you any drink?" Raphael asked curiously as he held Mabel's hand.
She jerked his hands off.
She knew Raphael was right, she knew that before even accepting to drink with Charlotte.
The dreadful sights of Charlotte's evil deeds never stopped replaying in Mabel's mind.
There was no suppose way she saw Charlotte's future... These might just be one of those silly dreams she usually has at night...
"Let's get into the car!" Raphael grabbed her hand and forced her with him to the car.
They both got into the car. Mabel was sweating heavily, she avoided eye contact. Her hands were sweaty and shaky.
I'm not insane! My best friend would never get her hands dirty! Mabel stated in her mind still battling with her vision.
Raphael noticed how sweaty she was so he turned on the AC.
The cool breeze dried off her sweats, getting Mabel back to her senses.
"What did you say to Charlotte?" Raphael asked in a cold tone without even staring.
The lucidrane was still having effects on Mabel, she doesn't want to only spill her lunch dates with Charlotte but her feelings also.
What's stopping her from telling Raphael about everything she's being held back from?
"I said nothing to her about our night at the hotel" Mabel uttered.
Raphael nodded with relief.
"But it doesn't mean I don't want to talk about it! A lot happened that night in that room, we had steaming emotions blowing off the roof of that room... It shouldn't just be me, I had the best night of my life! I've never had a one night stand with a guy before, you were my first Raphael! Whenever I look at you, all I can think of is that night... You might feel different cos you were under the influence and coupled with the saying of guys not getting attached to the women they've slept with if it's outside love!"
"It drives me nuts that I'm the only one thinking about it and I can't blame you for it cos it's not like we were a thing or anything..." Mabel blurted getting it all out of her chest.
Raphael turned to her in surprise.
Mabel noticed he wasn't giving her any reactions or expressions then she stopped talking.
"Mabel, you know we can never be a thing. I don't want to regret having that night with you cos it helped me a lot in the journey of me moving past Rein's death but it's all in the past now... You have to stop thinking about it!" He stated honestly.
Mabel bit her lower lips heartbroken.
"I never said any of that cos I want to be a thing with you. I only said it so you would share your thoughts with me. Are you also looking out for me cos you can't forget that night or you're only doing this cos of my past relationship with Rein?" Mabel questioned boldly.
Raphael wiped off the sweats on his forehead with his palm before turning to Mabel.
"I told you, I can foresee your future! I've seen it all and I don't want you ending your life like it means nothing to you!" Raphael responded and just that moment he watched Mabel's eyes turn from brown to red.
His eyes widened in shock.
Mabel covered her mouth in shock as she foresees a grim future where Raphael is harmed because of his association with her. She sees: Raphael lying in a pool of blood, whispering her name.
This vision intensifies her internal conflict and fear of endangering those she cares about.
Tears flow down her cheeks like a river. She looked away immediately.
Raphael blinked nervously pulling himself together.
"Mabel... What happened to you just now? You're a seer also? Tell me, what did you see?" He asked curiously and worriedly.
He saw the tears dropping from her eyes. He isn't dumb to know , she saw something horrible.
Mabel shook her head negatively still covering her mouth. She turned her face to the window wiping off her tears which refused to stop falling.
"Just take me home! I'm tired, I don't feel like talking..." She uttered in a cracked tone.
Raphael started the car engine and drove off.
He drove down to Mabel's apartment using the instructions on the navigator.
The drive was a quiet one, Mabel kept sniffing in the car but Raphael was considerate enough to place a box of tissues on her laps.
Mabel opened the car door gently.
Raphael got out of the car before she could go inside.
He grabbed her palms gently.
"Mabel, I'm not going to force you to say anything to me but if it gets too hard don't fail to reach out to me... You can share it with me! If this is your first time and I'm telling you... Look at me!" Raphael instructed warmly.
Mabel looked up at him, her eyes were all red and puffy from the crying.
"It's nothing... You can handle it! Don't think about it too much... If it gets too hard, I'm just a call away"
His calm and focused voice just melted her away and Mabel had no idea when she ran into his arms, sobbing for the last time before she went in.
Raphael patted her hair gently.
"You'll be fine!"
There's a part of you that keeps pulling me towards you... If I end up falling completely for you then you've got yourself to blame. Never be kind to a lady who's vulnerable but not at the expense of your life Raph. Mabel said in her head then broke the hug.
She walked into the building without looking back.
★★★★
~ VIOLET'S APARTMENT ~
Simone was done making the chicken soup. He sat down in the sitting room to wait until Violet woke up then he browsed on the medicine Violet was taking.
He dropped his phone in shock when he saw what they were for.
Violet came out of the room, stretching her arms tiredly. The delicious aroma of the chicken soup woke her up.
She wore a smile as she saw Simone.
Simone stood up from the couch tiredly with his eyes fixed on her.
"Violet... What are these drugs for?" He asked almost in tears pointing at the drugs on the table.
Violet blinked nervously, she knew Simone knows already with the expression on his face.
"They're for..." She stuttered.
"Violet, when did it happen? Why didn't you tell me about it?" Simone asked in tears already.
Violet looked away frustratedly, her eyes were getting teary already.
"Sim,"I may be sick, but I'm not giving up. Not now, not ever. This is nothing... I can handle it!" She forced a smile on and the tears in her eyes dropped.
Simone walked to her with tears in his eyes.
"Violet, it is stomach cancer we're talking about here... How can this be nothing?" He uttered in tears.
Violet broke out in tears also.