We Meet Again

Today is Sunday and Blaire decided to go to the nearest bookstore to look for books. Aside from cleaning, she loves to read books especially those under the category of murders & mystery. She doesn’t follow specific author and their book under the said category since she always choose and read books that sparked her interest depending on the book’s details at the back of the cover.

She used to buy books to read from one of the cheapest bookstore where used books were being sold at a much cheaper price, mostly much less than a dollar. But since she doesn’t know any cheap bookstore in the place, she just went to the bookstore to scan the books and their prices.

However, upon entering the bookstore, she saw a bulky presence standing at the corner of the first section of the bookshelves.

Blaire was stuck on her place, not able to move a single muscle. Even with the back facing her, she remembered that same presence that made her heart flutter before.

But now, it’s not beating out of admiration.

Her heart’s wildly beating out of fear.

The presence she’s getting from the man on the corner of the book section, is the man she used to follow everywhere he goes.

He’s the same man she used to look up and admire.

But because of what he did to her for the past year, all she ever felt today is… fear.

She fears that when the man saw her standing on the same place as he was, he might do something terrible to her again.

So instead of proceeding to look further for books inside the bookstore, Blaire turned her body away and swiftly made her way to the exit of the store.

It doesn’t matter if she wasn’t able to look for a good book to read, what’s important is that she’s able to get outside the premise without being noticed by the man she fears the most.

Making a sharp turn on the corner of the street, Blaire didn’t notice the woman that was about to make her turn, resulting to them stumbling at each other.

“I’m… I’m so sorry!” Blaire blurted while bowing her head. She’s too afraid to look at the face of the person she bumped.

“Hey, are you okay?” The woman asked her.

“I’m deeply sorry for bumping you, I didn’t mean to do that,”

“B-Blaire? Blaire is that you?”

Blaire looked up at the person and immediately recognized it.

“Brenda!”

Without giving any second thoughts, she hugged Brenda to which the latter was surprised. It was the first time that she saw Blaire having such actions. The former realized that she did something without thinking thoroughly so she let go of Brenda and shyly smiled at her.

“I’m sorry, I wasn’t thinking when I did that,” Blaire said. Brenda smiled and hugged her to which the latter responded after being in shock for a few seconds.

“I was just astounded because you act human once again, Blaire. I’m so happy to see you once again.” Brenda said.

This is the only time that Blaire felt so alive again. To be able to receive a hug from someone who helped her move forward, from someone who gave her hope.

“There, there, are you free today, Blaire? I would like to invite you for a cup of coffee, or tea, or a drink? Whichever you prefer, I wanted to catch up with you because I hadn’t had any news from you ever since your release.”

“Yes, yes, I would love to. How about you? Aren’t you on an errand, or something?”

“Well not really. I just wanted to freshen up my mind so I’m taking a walk around the town. So let’s go? Would you prefer a coffee, then?”

“I really am not into coffee, but wherever you wanted to go to, I’d come with you”

“Okay, if you say so. I know a nearby café where they offer delicious pastries so let’s go there. Shall we?”

Blaire smiled. It was the first smile she showed for the past year. Both Blaire and Brenda were actually astonished with the smile, but both of them shrugged it off.

Meanwhile, on the bookstore, several staffs and incoming customers were left speechless after witnessing a lady who just went in became stuck on her place before running back to exit the store. Even the guards were shocked to see what just happened.

“She’s weird,” says one of the staff who witnessed Blaire’s action.

“Bet she’s running away after seeing someone here in the store,” the guard added before laughing.

From the far corner of the bookshelves, the man who was scanning the books under the fantasy category have heard the little commotion that happened. As he peaked on the glass door of the store, there was nothing but all the busy people entering and exiting the store. But he could still hear the murmurs of the staffs and other customers.

As other people went past him, only few would be able to recognize that he is Rainier Coleman, a young successful businessman who managed to maintain their family business in the top businesses of the country after inheriting it at such a young age. He came from a family of entrepreneurs who became well-known top businessmen in the industry where every rich companies would want to invest in.

His presence would emanate a powerful aura that would make people hesitate in approaching him.

As he glanced into his watch, his phone began ringing. His butler was calling him.

“Jake.” He said as he answered the call.

“Mr. Rainier, I was notified by the court that Ms. Blaire Andoreal had been released from the prison after her first parole.”

“What do you mean?” Rainier clenched his fist upon hearing the news.

‘How dare her to be easily freed just like that’. Rainier muttered to himself.

“The judged assigned to her was actually relieved from his seat after reports and footages leaked that he accepted bribes to imprison an innocent woman”

“You fucking knew she wasn’t innocent”

“But the new court judge insisted that they lacked evidences to imprison her furthermore presented by the plaintiff.”

Rainier checked out the books he mindlessly purchased while listening to the call.

“Have you contacted the Andoreal family?”

“Yes sir. They haven’t met Ms. Blaire yet and they seemed to just know about the case as well because they looked relieved upon hearing the news when we went to their residence.”

Rainier is now going towards his car. He opened the car door and put the bag of books on the passenger seat before entering the car.

“Continue to monitor the family. Any suspected actions must be reported to me immediately. And look for Blaire. She must not get near to her family and must not get away. If the court won’t do justice to Leila, then I will be the one to let her pay for it.”

“Noted, sir”

As he ended the call, he then started his engine and began driving.