CHAPTER 7

"Adela's Point of View:

"You're trying to steal Primo from me! You're a flirt too, right? You found out that Archer already has a girlfriend, so you went after his sister? Is your need for money so huge that you'd even go after his sibling?" Catherine said angrily, leaving me stunned.

What nonsense is she talking about?

"First of all, I don't care about money, I was just-" I couldn't finish my sentence as Quincy slapped me.

"A gold digger and a flirt!" Quincy remarked.

"What? What gold digger? As far as I know, our business is stable! Why would I need someone else's money?" I asked irritably.

"What kind of business is that? Is it illegal? Is that why you wore that expensive Yves Saint Laurent dress last night on my birthday?" Quincy asked, laughing with annoyance.

"I don't know about you guys! If you don't want me in the group, then leave, I can manage on my own. I don't care about the issues you're accusing me of," I calmly replied.

"The moment I find out your parents' job is illegal, I'll have them jailed," Catherine said sternly and angrily.

"You, on the other hand, look and act illegally, but I didn't have you arrested," I retorted, making her even angrier as she slapped me again, and I couldn't avoid it as they were holding my arms.

"Don't worry, when they get jailed, I'll take you with them," Quincy said with a wicked grin, and they both turned their backs on me.

Let them do their push, let's see who ends up getting jailed. They say my parents' job is illegal. Since when did farming and winemaking become illegal?

All talk and accusations without even bothering to ask and avoid embarrassing themselves!

I placed my palm on my cheek, which they both slapped. It hurts!

I took my phone and set a one-hour timer. I'm going to find the green banner myself.

I walked towards another part of the forest, and while walking, I noticed a warehouse with its door slightly open, so I went inside.

It was dark inside as the daylight wasn't penetrating much. It was getting dim. I turned on the flashlight on my phone, and the clean interior revealed itself.

There were two sofas and a divider with a small television. At the end, life vests were piled up. I was about to leave when I noticed something hanging on the wall.

I pointed my flashlight towards it, and my eyes widened when I saw a green banner.

They decided to hide the banner here?

It's a bit brilliant because who would dare enter this dark warehouse, and other participants wouldn't think of looking for a banner there.

I took the banner and noticed a sticky note attached to it.

"This banner lets you become Primo's member on the last round."

Primo? What's this? What kind of activity is that?

Just my luck...

I wonder if Quincy and Catherine will still be in my group after they left me?

But if you ask me, I'd rather be alone with Primo than have those two witch-like girls around.

As I left the warehouse, I noticed that the sky was darkening. Time flew so fast!

I pointed my flashlight at the path, but I rubbed my face as I remembered that I don't know the way back. Meaning, I can't just easily go back!

Damn it, how am I going to return from here?

I checked my phone, but there was no signal, so I couldn't call anyone just like that. What bad luck I have today!

Was this day cursed for me?

I tried walking on different paths, but after a few minutes, I found myself returning to this part of the forest in front of the warehouse.

I'm not afraid of ghosts, but it feels different when you're in the middle of the forest all alone! It's so dark here, and I might suddenly come across a headless apparition!

Calm down, Adela Savannah Melendez, you'll find your way back eventually...

I attempted to take other paths, but I failed to get away from the side of the warehouse. I left from here, and it seems like I'm destined to return here as well. There probably aren't any enchanted beings pursuing me, right?

I sat beside the warehouse and saw my phone ring because the timer had ended. I hope someone noticed that I'm missing...

I'm scared, and I'm getting anxious! I'm already getting chills just thinking about spending the night here! What if there isn't any malicious person coming after me, but instead, some scary animal attacking me?

Ugh, I hate my mind!

I tried entering the warehouse, but as soon as I took a step inside, something fell, and I ran out, tears streaming down my face.

Oh my gosh, this is so annoying! I'm crying out of fear, and I don't even know what exactly scares me anymore! It seems like everything I wasn't afraid of before is now what I fear!

Damn this imagination, thinking of all sorts of things!

I used my phone as a source of light and looked up at the sky, which was almost covered by leaves and branches.

I got even more frightened when I heard what seemed like footsteps!

Help, please, I don't want to be here!

I swallowed hard and wiped my cheeks where tears were flowing.

I hugged myself and covered my face with my hands as I leaned against a tree.

A loud scream escaped my lips when I felt someone touch my arm.

"Calm down, baby, it's me," a familiar voice said calmly.

I recognized whose voice it was, that damn kid! Without hesitation, I hugged him and cried on his shoulder.

"T-thank you," I stammered while my arms were still wrapped around him.

"I thought I'd be stuck here, I thought something bad might happen to me," I said, surprised when he also wrapped his arms around me.

"Relax, I'm here now, I won't let you get lost," he said calmly, and we let go of each other.

He picked up my phone and shone the flashlight on me, gently wiping away the tears from my cheeks with his thumb.

"Are you okay now?" I nodded like a child.

"That's good. So, your group left you, why didn't you just go back?" he asked.

I replied, "I forgot the paths I took. It slipped my mind that I don't know the way back."

"You sure?" he looked straight into my eyes as he adjusted my hair.

"They didn't threaten you? Quincy and Cath?" he asked, and I shook my head.

"They did something to you?"

I'm not good at lying, so I didn't answer.

"What did they say?" he asked, his tone indicating that I should answer truthfully.

"They got angry at me. They called me a gold digger. They also said that..." I stopped myself and looked at him with a raised eyebrow.

"They also said that I was flirting with you because I couldn't have your brother. None of those were true, but I didn't engage in their accusations," I admitted.

When he heard what I said, he ran his hand through his hair in frustration.

"They said what? Gold digger? Flirting? The heck? Maybe they think you're richer and flirtier, but you were flirting with me, according to them? I want that to happen, but it didn't because I know you don't like me!" he blurted out, causing a pang in my heart, and I felt a twinge of pain when he said I didn't like him.

"Is there more?" He raised his eyebrows, still looking at me intensely.

I wasn't sure if I should mention the slap, but I was afraid of Primo's anger, so I decided not to. I might become the reason for him and Cath breaking up, and the siblings might get even angrier with me!

"There's nothing more," I replied, not looking at him.

I was taken aback when he held my chin and made me meet his gaze. I felt my heart pounding again.

"Nothing more?" he asked, and I nodded, so he let go.

"What are you going to do now?" I asked.

"Break up with her?" I nervously asked, looking at him, and he turned to me.

"Do you want me to do that?" he asked sweetly, making my eyes widen, and I just shrugged.

Why is he considering what I might want him to do? Is he really serious about his feelings? Damn it!

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