13 Story of Nikki Lindsey

CHAPTER THIRTEEN: SHE PRESUMES?

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Nikki searched online for how to wash a suit stained with coffee. She found some hack videos about easy steps to make them impossible and turn them into miracle disappearances.

She studied the clothes. They were too big for her. Having a height of 5'4 feet, the long white sleeves could be her long dress.

Nikki shook her head. 'Wait a minute. What am I doing?

Suddenly, she felt embarrassed at this craziness she was doing.

Nikki placed Theo's clothes on a wooden hanger and hung the clothesline on their apartment's small veranda. She secured it first before she headed out; it might fall on the floor after the wind blew it away.

Nikki is on her way to the hospital when her phone receives a message again. She wanted to ignore it, then she opened her Instagram and blocked the account.

She can't believe that someone will make fun of her. Did she do something wrong to someone? She was sure that none.

Oh, shot!

Nikki realizes she has plans to get information if this person is bothering her. Now, it's too late. She has already blocked the user.

How stupid am I?

She scolds herself. But there is a reason for this: Theo Shang occupied her mind because of what happened this afternoon.

She is determined to report this to the police, whoever this person is bugging her. She honestly admitted that she would not treat herself respectfully, wearing skimpy short pants and a tank top, which showed her navel and belly.

She was confident wearing something like that as her apartment building was close to the store. But this experience gives her an idea, and she learns that someone is stalking her.

'And if it is so, who might that be?'

Who's someone who would lose his mind and is now trying to harass her? She can't think of any yet. But could it be possible that it was one of her suitors before? Those men whom she let down and rejected that she become his girlfriend?

It seems there is a considerable probability. Now she better be careful and mentions this to Chris soon.

If her stalker followed her around, perhaps Chris could help her search for this person in their neighborhood.

Might there be someone suspicious enough? They could easily recognize a stranger in their community, as they know all the residents.

"Nikki?"

"Humph!" she gasps when someone lightly pats her shoulders. "Theo?"

It truly surprised her to see him again, twice on the same day.

"Oh, I'm sorry about that. I called you at the parking lot, but you did not hear me."

"You are? Ah, I'm sorry. It occupied me with some thoughts, and I noticed nothing."

"You surely do," Theo said, widening his smile.

Nikki realized that Theo was still wearing the clothes they had bought a while ago. She is supposed to pay for it, but Theo refuses firmly and is kind to her instead.

"I'm glad I haven't carried any hot liquid right now." She intended for it to sound like a joke, and Theo laughed at it.

"Yeah, that's why I approached you because I knew I was safe this time," Theo returned the tease.

"I am really sorry about that. I hope you didn't get any burns."

Nikki is the one who laughs nervously while her face blushes upon recalling her stupid act. "Hm, don't worry about it. I used to swim in a hot lake, so it was more like it. Just something that smells."

"Ah, yeah... I felt too embarrassed."

"I could see that," Theo teases her.

"Oh—" she says, touching both of her burning cheeks. "Can you not mention it? I really felt bad until now."

"Ah, I didn't mean to, but I will collect my coffee soon." He has a playful smile on his mouth while saying this.

Remembering what she promised, her eyes sparkle. "Oh, thanks for reminding me!"

Nikki found herself comfortable around Theo Shang. She is usually picky about who she talks to and the men she hangs out with. Mainly, there are only those close to her, and she was only this easy to talk with... 

In Theo's case, probably because he is a friend of Lawrence's and Doctor Ben, they are the men she trusts.

Nikki and Theo halted before the elevator and waited for the lift. Once it arrives, they step aside to make way for those boarded, coming out of the box.

"Lady's first..." Theo gestured at the elevator once it emptied.

Nikki came back to her senses, hearing Theo speak out. "Ah, thank you!"

Startled, Nikki made a long step inside the elevator. At almost twenty-five, she can't believe that her chest is pounding this way. It was like having a crush for the first time.

"Which floor are you on?" Theo asked her after he pressed the 10th-floor button.

"Oh, I will go to the 10th floor..."

"Hm? Aren't you on the 7th floor?" Theo gave her a confusing look.

Did he figure out she was stopping on the other floor? Nikki thought. Hmm, how did he know that? Did they ever get to ride together before, by chance? She could not recall any.

She is wondering; Nikki just replied to Theo then. "I have something to give to Doctor Ben. So I will head to his clinic first before I go to my mother's room," she explains.

"I see. You and Ben seem close." Theo commented.

"Kind of... They were already dining at our noodle store during their Junior High and Senior High days. That's why I am very familiar with them. Until now, they never forgot to stop by the store.

"Hmm... that explains. But Ben is taking his medicine in the US."

"Yup. But I haven't seen you around before."

"Ah, yes. I have been living abroad my whole life, so I rarely come here."

"I see..."

Thus, there is silence between them until they reach the 10th floor. Nikki steps out first, but they are going in opposite directions.

They separate ways as she headed to Doctor Ben's clinic, and Nikki thinks Theo must be going to this patient named Jeremy, who is staying on this floor.

"Nikki, I'll go this way."

"Oh, okay. Thanks."

"Bye, Nik..."

"Bye, Theo!" she waves her left hand.

Her heart flutters upon hearing Theo call her this way. It sounded more like an endearment to her.

What are you thinking, Nikki? You now began assuming over nothing? She scolds herself.

After she dropped by to deliver the documents, Nikki returned to Lucy's room using the staircase; she found Chris and Mae visiting her mother. She suddenly felt panic. Pray that Chris mentions nothing to her mother this afternoon.

Chris thought Theo was her boyfriend, and she didn't want this to reach her mother's ear, and then she believed it was true.

She must have corrected this, as Chris gave her a meaningful gaze.