Chapter 6

Serin's eyes widened. She is at a loss for words. She is completely clueless why Gail's necklace is in her clutch bag.

Eyes filled with accusations are looking at her. Serin feels wronged.

"Should I call the police now?" Gail asked while mockingly stroking Serin's hair.

Jeremy looked at Serin and lowered his displeased voice. "Get out of here."

What Serin heard from Jeremy almost crippled her. She has been trying so hard not to appear weak in front of everyone. She has been fighting back her tears, boldly. 

Jeremy avoided her eyes and spoke once again, almost whispering. "I told you to get out of here. Now."

Not wanting her eyes to drip even a single tear, Serin swallowed her pride and walked out.

Chris bent down to get the cluttered things and put them in Serin's bag. He did not get Gail's gold necklace. It is left on the ground.

As soon as Chris stood up, Gail confronted him. "Theft is a serious crime. You think she can easily get away with it??" 

"You just turned 19. Grow up!" Chris said, seriously disappointed. 

Ken handed Gail her necklace and whispered. "Your attitude is disgusting."

Jeremy unnoticeably grabbed Gail by her wrist. "Just to remind you what you did to me is a lot worse than a serious crime."

He pierced Gail's eyes and continued. "Here. In the same exact garden, two months ago. You haven't forgotten that, have you?"

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In her hands are the high heels that Jeremy had bought for her for Gail's party. Serin has been walking aimlessly. 

Horizon Town, an exclusive residence in a countryside part of Marionne City. It is a two-hour drive from bustling Hopkins Districts. Mansions all over the place show off immense wealth and beautiful elegance.

No sign of a busy life here. Big trees breathe cold wind, especially at night. The forest-like beauty of the place is consoling Serin.

All she has ever wanted is to be alone. She hustled outside the mansion to avoid having another heated confrontation with Jeremy. She has to keep her promise.

While she is walking aimlessly, her anger-filled mind has unknowingly led her to the farther side of the place. 

"Noooooo!!!!"

Someone's loud scream suddenly disturbed the peaceful night in Horizon Town.

Serin's steps slowed down. Sudden nervousness consumed her. 

"Miss??"

The trembling voice that just called her stopped Serin from walking. Rushing fear is making her heart shiver but she just can't ignore the voice that sounded terrified.

Taking her courage, Serin bravely turned her back.

A sobbing girl is panting right before her eyes. Someone must be chasing after her.

"P..Please.. help--"

"It is cold here. Let's get inside." A man suddenly spoke. His voice filled the eerie atmosphere.

Serin moved her head sidewards. Through the wide fence, she can see a tall man standing in a spacious garden. A beautiful European-styled mansion is behind him. Only the big fountain with the golden lights on it is illuminating the entire mansion.

Greatly worried, she looked at the crying girl again. "I can help you. Just tell me." 

"P..Please c..call--"

"Don't make me worry. You'll get sick if you stay there longer." The man cut her in.

Serin gave her a reassuring look. "Don't be scared. I will help you."

But the girl suddenly turned her back and walked to the open gate of the mansion. Her heavy steps added worry to Serin's feelings. 

Serin felt deeply troubled as she looked at where the man is. He is still standing there. Though his face is concealed in the darkness, she can feel being attacked by his flaring eyes.

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"Leave us alone." Jeremy's firm voice spoke unwavering eagerness.

From Horizon Town in Marionne City, they just arrived in Hopkins District.

His two best friends are obviously against the idea.

"But Jerem--"

"Please." Jeremy stressed the word. 

Chris and Ken could no longer do anything. 

The door closed.

"I have never seen someone thoughtless like you."

Jeremy's words punched a hole in Serin's heart.

The huge glass window paints the tranquil night view outside. But Jeremy's burning annoyance makes the calming sight before his eyes unappreciated.

"Do you really think I stole that necklace?" Serin feels terribly bad, standing behind Jeremy.

"Then why was that necklace in your bag?" He started to lose his temper.

"Sir Jeremy, I only lost my memory. I still know what's right and wrong." Serin shielded herself.

Jeremy's accusation annoyed the hell out of Serin. But she keeps convincing herself that she needs to understand the situation because Jeremy has been battling trying times. Sparking a heated conversation with him will not help anyway.

"Where is your brain to let Gail put that necklace in your bag? And you know what's annoying me more? You can't stand up for yourself!" Jeremy already lost the last bit of his patience.

Serin has been enduring Jeremy's harsh words in silence.

And this is frustrating Jeremy.

Serin bit her lower lip to hold back her tears. "I don't want to clash with you anymore.. That's what I told myself when I dragged my feet just to show up at that party."

Immersed in his inexplicable depth of emotions, he did not notice that Serin is already standing in front of him.

But before Jeremy could speak a word, his odd desire suddenly pushed him to lock eyes with her. His usual fear has become anticipation now.

In Serin's eyes are Jeremy and a girl walking along the beautiful reed farm in a golden sunset.

In a quick flash, another scenario..

The same girl is in tears as she rests on Jeremy's shoulder. She closed her eyes. Jeremy is crying, hugging the girl. Then, he shouted. 'No!!!!!!!' Jeremy is in anguish.

Jeremy's loud scream, like a bolt from the blue, deafened Serin. She hurried to get a hold on Jeremy as he looks totally shocked and agitated. 

"Sir Jeremy? Are you okay?" The look on her face can tell that she is also dazed. 

Jeremy is still standing, shivering. He is sure he saw himself in Serin's eyes once again. He is certain that he, in that scenario, painfully screamed. He is in a total shock.

He is in crippling chaos. Like what just happened, he could already hear voices through Serin's eyes.

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Two months flew by fast.

Serin is no longer staying in Jeremy's unit.

It is hard for Jeremy to abandon his strong desire to know Serin's real identity and to get clear answers to those surrounding mysteries; Heron, the two exact sketches of his face, her eyes, the deep cut on her right shoulder, those scenarios he has seen in her eyes, the old man.

But it is a lot harder for him to see Serin hate him more. He wants to treat her with great affection but his own fear of growing deeper feelings for her would always stop him.

Since the day he faced Serin intimately close, his heart totally erased his resentment towards her. For some reason, he began to hope to care for her. He has to admit that he has been a coward even up to now. He is full of fear. He has always wanted to help Serin but he just ended up hurting her more.

The day after Gail's party, Jeremy decided to let Serin go. It is not because he believes she stole Gail's gold necklace but because he is strangely getting attached to her. And the fact that Jeremy could not understand himself pushed him to make her leave his place.

Jeremy and his two best friends tried to offer a decent place where she could stay but Serin refused. She is determined to live on her own despite feeling helpless.

Though she is really thankful for their kindness, she has been doing her best not to cross paths with them anymore.

After leaving Tiffany Blue, she has managed to find multiple jobs in a small neighborhood in Hopkins. She keeps working all day without resting. She works as a cleaner in a few shops. When she has no work, she would nurse toddlers and clean houses.

At first, she had to endure sleeping at the back of a cake shop. But when she got compensated for working multiple jobs in a week, she found a place to rent. A very small space in the attic of one of the average apartments in the neighborhood.

One weekend, she mustered her courage to apply for a non-cleaning job at the famous cafe near her place. Her boss at Glaze Cake Shop recommended her the job because it would offer her a good salary. But as someone whose name is not registered and without any personal records, she failed to get accepted.

Serin could not help but feel hopeless whenever employers deny her application.

She sighed, recalling what she has gone through for the past two months.

Sitting on the bench at the neighborhood park, she looked up.

Gazing at the clear blue sky, Jeremy's face suddenly flashed in her mind.

She shook her head, not wanting to think about the guy. But her thoughts are already wandering on the day Jeremy let her go.

'I'm letting you go.' These words are still painful. It feels like she only heard these yesterday, still resonating with her.

Serin is clueless why Jeremy's words ached her heart.

"Miss?" A female voice snatched her stray mind.

A girl is already sitting beside her.

Flashing her a light smile, she introduced herself right away. "I'm Yenny."

Surprised to see a familiar face, Serin can't believe her eyes. "You?" She just uttered.

From smiling lightly, Yenny's face instantly displayed a confused look. "Do you know me?"

Serin nodded, face can't hide happiness. She moved closer to her. Her eyes scanned Yenny up and down.

'What a great relief!' Serin thought to herself.

"I'm glad you're okay." Serin said, smiling and feeling relieved. 

Yenny's confusion grew deeper. "But, I am sorry I can't remember you. Have we met before? Where? When?"

Serin excitedly held her hands. "Yes! In Horizon Town.. two months ago."