Chapter 17: The Gift and the Mystery

He was dressed in a standard delivery uniform, holding a large rectangular box with a big, white ribbon around it

"Delivery for Ms. Cecilia," the man said, his voice professional but impersonal.

Cecilia's eyes narrowed as she looked at the delivery. Her thoughts moving from one place to the other. The question arose: who might that be? Her stomach twisted, and she moved ahead, her gaze fixed on the box. 

"I haven't ordered anything," she stated, her tone wary. "What is this all about?" 

The delivery man gave her a polite smile. "It's a gift for you, from Ethan, Ms.Cecilia. It came through this morning, and we were asked to deliver it directly to you."

"Ethan?" Her voice quivered, and she nearly suffocated on his name. It had been days since she last heard from him. In reality, she did not expect of heariing from him. 

 Why now? What was this about?

She looked at Annie, who was also baffled of hearing Ethan's name, her forehead creasing in puzzlement. Cecilia inhaled deeply, attempting to calm herself prior to receiving the package from the delivery person. The atmosphere was thick with tension, making it seem like the walls were closing in on her. 

"I wasn't aware that  he still remember my address," Cecilia whispered softly, her fingers gliding along the rim of the box. She sensed the heaviness of it in her hands, yet the reason behind Ethan sending her something at this moment troubled her thoughts. 

Annie stepped closer, peering at the box. "What do you think he wants?"

Cecilia didn't know what to think. Ethan's role in her life had consistently been erratic, and each meeting added to her confusion more than the previous one. She never sought his attention, but it appeared he consistently discovered a means to disrupt her mind, stirring chaos in her life which is already in a mess.. 

The delivery person stepped back, patiently waiting for her to receive the present. 

"I'll sign for it," Cecilia stated, her tone firm even though a whirlwind of emotions was about to engulf her. She wrote her name on the paperboard and returned it to the man. The box now felt weightier in her arms, as if it contained more than merely an item; it carried the burden of an unresolved question. 

"Thanks," the delivery man replied, turning to depart without saying anything else. 

As he vanished down the corridor, Cecilia paused for a brief moment, gazing at the present. The quietness of the apartment was overwhelming.  Annie was watching her intently, her expression filled with curiosity.

"Well?" Annie asked, breaking the silence.

Cecilia didn't answer right away. She was too lost in thought, too caught up in the sudden storm of emotions Ethan's unexpected gesture had caused.

"I don't know what to think," Cecilia admitted finally. "Why would he send me something? After everything that happened between us... I didn't expect this."

Her voice was low, almost uncertain. Ethan's behavior had consistently been erratic. She had never completely grasped his motives, and now she found herself here with a present in her hands that she had never requested. 

Annie lowered her head, a contemplative look appearing on her face. "Perhaps he's attempting to reconcile?" Or perhaps it's something different, as he might be attempting to maintain your presence in his life in some way. He seems like the type to send mixed signals."

Cecilia shook her head, her heart tightening. "I don't want to overanalyze it, but it seems like he's evaluating me in some way." "Testing to find out if I'll take the bait." She gazed at the box once more. "I'm unsure how to handle this." 

Annie moved in closer, resting a hand on Cecilia's shoulder. "You aren't required to do anything if you prefer not to." "I think this is merely an innocent present from someone who admires you." 

Cecilia nodded, with a little touch of smile on her face . But as much as she appreciated Annie's words, there was still something inside her that couldn't let go of the reason why Ethan brought her a gift. Ethan had always been the kind of person who doesn't give up easily. 

Her fingers lingered above the ribbon, pausing for a fleeting moment. Taking a deep breath, she gently untied it, removing the layers of the wrapping. Her pulse quickened as the box gradually opened, disclosing its contents. 

Inside lay a fragile crystal sculpture-a stunning, detailed representation of a wolf howling at the moon. Cecilia's breath was halted in her throat. She extended her hand, her fingertips gliding over the sleek surface of the crystal. The artwork was breathtaking, graceful in its straightforwardness, yet the meaning behind it was obvious. 

A wolf. The very symbol of power, independence, and strength. And yet, it also carried with it a deep connection to the pack, to the loyalty and the bond between them. Ethan knew exactly what he was doing.

"This is...," Cecilia began, her voice barely a whisper, "This is too much."

She placed the figurine carefully on the counter, taking a step back as if it could snap at her. The burden of it. It's importance was overpowering.  She had no idea what Ethan was trying to say by sending it to her. Was he trying to reach out?

Before she had the chance to think further, her phone vibrated on the coffee table, its display illuminating with a notification. She looked at it swiftly, her heart racing when she noticed the caller ID displayed on the screen. 

Ethan. 

Without hesitation, she grabbed the phone and picked up the call. 

"Cecilia," Ethan's voice emerged from the speaker, soft and calming, as though he had been waiting for her to answer. "I guess you've received the gift." 

Cecilia's heartbeat ceased. How did he got my phone number? She hardly had a moment to reflect on the question before he went on. 

"I believe it's time we had a conversation." "Don't you think so?" 

Her stomach twisted, and the room abruptly seemed colder. She was unsure how to reply, her thoughts racing with countless ideas. Was he for real? What was it that he desired from her? 

"I-I'm unsure of what you're up to, Ethan," she replied, her voice trembling. But I'm not eager to know about whatever this might be." 

Yet beneath the surface, she had her doubts. A portion of her was anxious about what could happen next.