Unwanted Visitor

~

“Two cups of lime juice and one coconut water, please,” Zen ordered at the counter.

“Sorry, but we’re out of coconut water,” the lady apologized. “Can I suggest a replacement for your order?”

“No worries, I’ll just go with two cups of lime juice then,” Zen responded, not sounding very pleased. “What are you getting?” Zen asked, turning to Kai.

“Me? Oh, I’m not ordering anything. I just came to chat,” Kai explained.

“Really? That’s all?” Sean asked with a smirk, raising an eyebrow. “Seems like we have some competition,” he added playfully, looking at Raine.

“What are you saying?” Raine said, annoyed.

Zen, puzzled by their exchange looked up at Kai for some sort of clarification. “Just ignore them,” he told her instead, prompting her to shift her attention away from Raine.

“Zen, right?” Sean’s voice rang out a split second later. His lips curled into a smile as he continued, “Pleasure to meet you. I’m Sean.” He extended a hand towards her, an invitation to a handshake.

Zen hesitated for a moment before she reciprocated the gesture, her hand meeting Sean’s in a tentative shake. Sean’s name wasn’t new to her; she’d heard Raine and Kai mention him during their trip. Seeing him up close now, she could understand why they had reservations about him - not in a negative way. But Sean did exude an easy, carefree vibe - the party guy type that might not always be dependable.

“Why do you guys keep coming to this cafeteria when there’s one closer to your department?” Kai asked curiously.

Sean shrugged casually. “I’ve got no clue. You’d have to ask Raine about that.”

“We were just wandering, and somehow ended up here,” Raine’s answer came almost instantly. But Zen wasn’t convinced. Despite his seemingly straightforward explanation, Zen could sense an air of secrecy, a motive lurking beneath his words. But now wasn’t the time to play Sherlock Holmes. Whatever Raine was up to, she had no intention of getting involved.

“Liar,” Kai muttered quietly, a hint of suspicion lacing his words.

As Zen observed the trio in front of her, the old saying ‘birds of a feather flock together’ echoed in her mind. The way those three interacted and shared glances suggested a sense of camaraderie that transcended words. It was as if good-looking individuals naturally gravitated towards each other, forming their own exclusive circle. How lucky, she thought. I bet I look like a worn out rag hanging next to them.

Kai broke her chain of thoughts when he clicked his tongue in dissatisfaction after glancing at his phone screen. “Guys, I need to head out. Teacher’s calling me to the office,” he explained with a hint of regret. Waving to the group, he bid goodbye and made his way out.

“I also have a project to submit,” Sean said soon after.

“Since when?” Raine questioned.

“Now?”

“Sean, you disappeared before too. Where do you keep running off to these days?” Raine said, unpleased.

“To meet a friend. Chill, man. And yeah, I have a pending project that I must submit now. I’m not joking. So, you coming, or not?” Sean suggested. He then turned to give Zen a friendly heads-up smile.

Raine flickered his eyelids to the right - a silent prompt for Sean to move along.

When Sean slipped into the crowd and disappeared from view, Raine shifted his focus to Zen. She stood facing forward, her fingers rhythmically tapping on the counter as she waited for her drinks. An undercurrent of disappointment tugged at him. Why does Zen always seem so guarded around me? Raine questioned himself. Just moments ago, he had seen her engaged in a lively conversation with Kai, but now, she appeared to have closed herself off completely in his presence. She had even acted friendly towards Sean.

Raine couldn’t handle this treatment of indifference, this selective aloofment Zen had over him. What made him so different from the others? What must he do to make Zen bring out that bubbly side of hers? Hold that thought, Raine mentally slapped himself for entertaining such thoughts. Act like yourself, damn it!

It’s the guilt. The guuiillltttt! A voice within him surfaced, delivering a mental lecture on the current crisis.

Raine stared at the coconut water in his hand, a drink he’d purchased with Sean earlier. After taking a long, calculated look, he sighed deeply. “Sean, that idiot. He knows I don’t like coconut water but he still bought it,” Raine said, loud enough to catch Zen’s attention. Zen’s ears seemed to perk up at his words, but she still didn’t turn her head to face him.

“Hey,” Raine called out.

Zen instinctively tensed, her body preparing for any possible confrontation. However, her anticipation was met with an unexpected sight. Raine was extending a cup towards her. Filled with a cool, translucent liquid and a straw peeking out from the top, the cup looked too appetizing to ignore. “You can have this. I’m not a fan of coconut water.”

His words were simple and direct, but Zen struggled to process them. Raine was actually being generous. What in the world? Now she was definitely sure an alien had killed Raine off somewhere and taken over his body to carry out some hidden scheme.

Zen stared at him, awestruck, her gaze unwavering as she processed this unexpected side of him.

Raine swallowed hard, unable to make a move. With Zen’s gaze now fully upon him, he couldn’t help but feel entranced. It was as if a curtain had been lifted, revealing something he had never truly seen before. The details became vivid, like a scene unfolding in slow motion. He noticed Zen’s big round eyes staring up at him in confusion.

Bathed in the cafeteria’s sunlit ambience, her skin glowed flawlessly. His throat tightened as a potent yearning surged within him - the desire to reach out, to touch, and confirm the velvety texture he imagined her skin to possess. Fuck these thoughts! “It’s not poisoned,” Raine assured, his composure returning.

Zen noticed how his brow knit in mild irritation as she failed to reciprocate his gesture. But seriously, when was he ever not frowning in her presence?

“I didn’t touch it with my mouth yet. Just take it,” Raine instructed, his voice firm but not unkind. He set the drink onto the counter, a perfectly timed move synchronising with the arrival of the lady bearing Zen’s ordered drinks.

“Thank you,” Zen replied with hesitance, finally accepting Raine’s drink.

Fingers gingerly wrapping around the glassware, she attempted to balance all three glasses, but Raine intervened, stepping in to shoo her from the counter.

“It’s fine. I can carry them,” Zen protested, but Raine didn’t heed her words. Swiftly, he scooped up the drinks, his slender fingers deftly encircling the cups, and turned.

“Guide me to your table,” Raine directed, taking the lead as Zen followed, slightly flustered.

Zen couldn’t help but let her gaze wander, almost involuntarily, over Raine’s figure as he confidently strode ahead, leading the way through the bustling cafeteria. Lost in her thoughts, she followed him quietly, until an unexpected collision jolted her back to reality. Her heart raced as she watched the liquid from the other person’s overturned cup splatter onto her own blouse. She looked up a second later and found herself face-to-face with Cassandra.

Everything seemed to slow down as she took in Cassandra’s flowing chestnut hair and graceful features.

“Watch where you’re going!” Cassandra snapped, her tone cutting through the air like ice, hands fiddling with her shirt that had been stained by the accident. Her eyes bore into Zen’s, fiery accusation flashing as she hurled blame in every direction. A protective circle of friends swirled around her, firmly defending her.

What was up with her the past few days? Can’t I catch a break? Zen thought irritatedly. She took a deep breath and let out a regretful sigh. “I’m sorry, that was my fault,” she replied calmly, her lips forming an apology that held more sincerity than the rage she deserved.

At the side, Raine observed the scene unfold, his hands carefully setting down the drinks he had been holding on a nearby table. He frowned slightly, uncertain of his role in this unexpected drama.

“You did this on purpose!” Cassandra accused Zen, her voice rising to a dramatic pitch.

Zen locked eyes with Cassandra, peeling back the layers of her facade, knowing clearly well her fury wasn’t entirely about the spilt drink.

As the situation unfolded, her peripheral vision caught a glimpse of Raine. His familiar face held a mixture of curiosity and uncertainty, which wasn’t surprising, considering she was dealing with a literal mad woman here. She’d known Cassandra for years. Their shared history very well proved the woman would stop at nothing to humiliate her at any chance she got. Wait, what was she doing here in the first place? Didn’t they have a cafeteria near their department? First Raine, now her. Why am I getting tangled up with so many unnecessary people in my life?

“Look. I said I’m sorry. For your shirt. It was all an accident. I’ll get you a new drink,” Zen tried to reason with Cassandra.

“What? After ruining my shirt, we can’t just settle it with a drink. Do you know how much this shirt costs?” Cassandra shot back.

Frustration wasn’t the right word, but Zen couldn’t deny she was affected by the bizarre turn of events. She saw it clearly. Rather than opting for a clean reconciliation, Cassandra was trying to aggravate the situation.

“If I remember correctly, Zen was just behind me.” Raine’s voice sliced through the tension. “It might be worth considering that if someone hadn’t cut in line between us, none of this would’ve unfolded.” He turned towards Cassandra, before calmly saying, “So, the question is: Did you pay attention to where you were headed?”

Cassandra’s face reddened, her lips pursing with indignation. “Hmph! I don’t believe this,” she grumbled, stomping her foot on the ground. “Fine. I’ll let it slide, just this time,” she said.

With a final, agitated shove against Zen’s shoulders, she moved past, making her way forward. As Zen observed quietly, suspicion gnawing in her eyes, she didn’t miss the way Cassandra’s lips curved into a cunning smirk just before she seemingly stumbled, as if her foot had caught on her shoe.

Cassandra executed her fall with calculated grace, and Zen was suddenly overwhelmed by the urge to help her up and slap her across the face, but she refrained from taking any action.

“Ah!” Cassandra screamed, accused eyes burning as she looked up at Zen.

“You tripped me. What have I ever done to you?” she cried.

“I didn’t. What are you saying? You did that to yourself,” Zen stuttered.

“Huh!” Cassandra scoffed. “Everybody saw it. Why’re you trying to embarrass me in front of everyone?”

Whispers spread like wildfire, drawing a crowd as people craned their necks to catch a glimpse of the spectacle. Zen could almost feel the weight of the crowd’s judgmental stares, their assumptions and condemnations crashing over her like relentless waves.

Many had been quick to side with Cassandra, assuming she was at fault.

In that instant, when all hope felt lost, Zen heard two familiar voices from among the crowd, calling out for her. “What’s going on? Zen? Are you okay?” Madilyn and Nadia emerged, their supportive voices offering a lifeline amidst the chaos. They quickly took their position beside her and stood in support.

Zen turned and looked up at Raine who had been standing there mute the whole time. He saw, didn’t he? Cassandra’s dirty play. He must know I’m innocent. Zen’s hopeful eyes twinkled as she watched him step forward, but that hope dwindled as Cassandra’s scream shattered the moment.

Cassandra clutched her ankle, her face contorting in agony as if a grievous injury had befallen her. “I can’t move. My leg. It hurts!” she cried out, fuelling the crowd’s anger towards Zen. “Raine, please. Help me. I can’t move,” she pleaded with tears running down her face, looking up at Raine expectantly.

Zen’s initial optimism about Raine crumbled as she saw him coming forth to aid Cassandra instead.

In a twist that shocked the room, Raine swept Cassandra up into his arms, causing Nadia and Madilyn to gawk in utmost mortification.

“I’ll take you to the infirmary,” Raine announced, and Zen's heart sank as she watched him carry Cassandra away.

With their departure, the crowd’s attention shifted. And as if left abandoned like a ship lost in a storm, Zen found herself standing miserably, her shocked eyes dumbly glued to the entrance of the cafeteria where Raine had just walked out of, with Cassandra cradled in his arms.

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The author has also been left dumbfounded just like everybody else. But is this really what happened? Or is there something more? Do I hate Raine? Yes (for now) What will the next chapter reveal to us?

We all know Raine's an asshole but will he continue to be one in the chapters ahead? The only way to find out: Stay tuned for the next update.

Your feedback, comments, and opinions matter to me. If you loved this story and this chapter made you boil, do vote, comment and share to find out more.

See ya, guys🥰