His Presence

Anika POV

They're just staring at each other like cats and dogs about to fight. Then I just chose to go down from the back ride and felt the awkward atmosphere growing. "Uhm, I'll just walk," I said to cut the silence circling around us. "Of course, you're not a kid already to give a back ride." Dylan said as he walks past us "Hey Dylan, can I talk to you about something?" I don't know why I asked that it just came out of my mouth. "About what?" Dylan asked and something came out of my mind. "About..." I suddenly stopped and looked at Steve, I honestly don't what to involve him this time. I want him to focus on his situation first so that he can achieve his peace already. "I'll tell you later. Steve, you can go to Kath's first." I can see that Steve doesn't want to go and leave me, but I wanted to talk to Dylan this time. So he doesn't have a choice but to go to Kath's first. "Fine, I'll wait for you at Kath's" I was about to tell him not to wait for me but left and walked immediately after he said that.

Urgh! Whatever! These people are so hard to read, what's the matter with them. They're like fighting while they just look at each other. Did something happen to them while they were talking a few days ago?

So Dylan and I walked until we reach the parking lot. "So, what do you want to talk about?" Dylan asked me. I have this feeling and I don't know why I've been feeling this all day but I wanted to stay with Dylan. "Uhm…" and I don't even know what to say because I feel like I wanted to stay with him a little longer. "Just get in, let's talk about it at my apartment. I'm too tired to stay out late just to wait for you to talk." Dylan opens the door for me, and I thought of that as a sweet way.

After a few minutes, we just arrived at his apartment. He puts his things into his bedroom and sits on the sofa. I was just standing still while he stares at me. "So?" Dylan asked me. I raised my brows and widen my eyes like asking him what is he waiting for. "What do you want to talk about?" Then I realize what he meant. I remembered the vision that I saw a while ago, maybe I can talk about that to him.

"I saw a vision this morning. And I saw a boy, but I didn't saw his face just his back." I stopped just to see his reaction. "Why are you telling me this? Why don't you tell Steve? He's willing to help you." he said, then I remembered that he knows about the highschool that I went to before. "Because he has the same color of my uniform that I am wearing right now. I think I know him before when I am still alive." I said to him then he gave me a serious face and that made me kind of scared. I always think his serious face is scary. Like I don't know what is he thinking or what is he about to say to me.

"And?" he said. I took a deep breath because I don't understand him, I wanted to ask for help! Why can't he see that? "You might know him. And I wanted to ask for your help." I asked him but he's still in his serious face. "Not now. Okay? I already told you, I'll help you but for bow, I'll helo Steve first. So just wait okay?" Dylan said. Why does he want to help Steve first? Why not now? I really can't understand this person. What is he thinking? Is he planning something?

I stayed in his apartment for a while but I didn't expect that I would fall asleep here. Maybe I'm just too tired because I wandered all day. I am sleeping peacefully until I felt something that covered my freezing body. I opened my eyes and saw Dylan putting a blanket on me. We had eye contact and stared at each other for a while. "You looked cold." I heard him said, I know I'm not dreaming even though I'm half asleep but I could see and felt his care. He always shows two sides of him, his caring side and his serious or scary side. I know that deep inside of him, he has that soft-hearted person inside of him and I like it when he shows that side of him. I smiled at him and went back to sleep.

The next morning, I woke up and felt so energized right now. But I got surprised because of Dylan, he's just sitting on the sofa right in front of the sofa where I slept and he is just staring at me. I don't know what he is thinking because I can't read his expression, is he mad? or sad? or something? What is happening? "Are you okay?" I asked him. "I'm fine, just waiting and wondering what time will you wake up. I don't want to leave you here while I'm outside." he said, I looked at the time and it's not that late and I didn't sleep in. "Why? Are you late for work?" I asked. "No, I just need to buy something. So get ready to get out and go back to your friends." he said while he gets his car keys and phone. "You're not going to the university?" I asked. "No, it's Saturday. The school is closed every Saturday. Get up and go home." he said and I quickly stood up, followed him out of his apartment. "You know I don't have a home." I whispered and I saw he looked at me after I said that.

"Can I come?" I asked him, to be honest, I want to be with him today. His presence makes me feel safe and something that makes me happy inside. "No." he said with a cold tone. I knew he will say that but even if he said no, he doesn't have a choice. If I want to I will come. We started walking and I'm just at his back following him, but he suddenly stopped and looked at me. I make an expression on my face like asking about what's wrong and why is he looking at me. He just gave me his serious face and turns around, resuming his walk to the nearest grocery store.

Once we arrived at the grocery store, he stopped first and said "I told you, I don't want you to come." he said, he can't look at me because people might notice that he is talking to a ghost and it might keep them out. So I lean closer to him and said "I'll behave and follow you quietly. Promise." I said and smiled to him. I think he doesn't want me to come with him in this kind of situation because people might freak out. But since I will behave, he'll just act like I'm not there with him.

So I followed him picking some food for him, but when he went to the fruit section of the grocery store something caught my attention. Oranges, I love the smell of oranges. I lean closer to the oranges, since I can't touch them, and smell the sweet scent of the oranges. I just wish I could taste them again but that will never happen. As I smell the oranges, I got surprised because Dylan's hand is in front of me and reaching for the oranges. I thought he's already gone, but he came back just to get some oranges. I stood still and waited for him.

A few minutes later, he's done buying the things he needs and we are already walking back to his apartment. But as we walk side by side, something came to my mind. "May I ask something?" I asked and he stopped walking and just looked at me like he is waiting for me to say it. "Why are you not helping me? I mean, you're willing to help Steve first instead of me who asked you in the first place." I asked. He just looked at me for a while but when he's about to talk, someone showed up.

"Anika, why didn't you went back last night? I waited for you all night." Steve said. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes. Why does he suddenly show up whenever I needed to talk to Dylan. He's about to say something but... Urgh! Steve! It frustrates me. I had a great time with Dylan today but Steve suddenly shows up, I just want more time with Dylan this time.

But it keeps me wondering, what is his reason for helping Steve instead of helping me first?

To Be Continued...