Chapter 9

"Sir Jeremy????" Serin is shaking him.

Jeremy is kneeling on the ground. Deep agony is plastered on his tearful face.

"Sir??? You are not okay. I need to call your friends. Please give me your phone."

Jeremy could not believe his eyes. Serin is kneeling in front of him. She did not disappear!

He reached for Serin's hand. He looked down to check Serin's waist. "A..Are you o..okay??"

"Sir, you are the one who is not okay."

Jeremy tried to stand up. Serin helped him. His body has no more strength. He is feeling dizzy.

His eyes focused on Serin's waist once again. He really wants to make sure that there's no blood on it. 

Serin is totally speechless.

"Tell me you're okay. Please?? Tell me you didn't get stabbed."

"I am really okay, sir. We need to leave. This place must be traumatising you and if it's because of that night you found me here almost lifeless, I am very sorry."

Jeremy released a heavy sigh.

But what could it be? It can never be a hallucination. He experienced it. It felt real!

"Sir, please listen to me. You are having hallucinations. You need help."

"I am not hallucinating!!! What I saw.. What I experienced. It was all real!! Serin.. Look at me.. I can see strange scenarios in your eyes. And one of those just happened now. The girl I saw in your eyes is you. I was with you.. That road is this road. That overlooking view. That big tree. Your memory came back. You called me H..Heron A..Arth. But.. someone stabbed you. You told me, it was clear. I heard your voice, it was really you. You were crying. I saw blood on your waist!! My hands with blood. The heavy rain, the fireworks. I kiss---" Jeremy stopped.

Serin is deeply crushed looking at Jeremy.

The guy she used to resent is in the most pathetic state at the moment. He has been exposing his real disturbed self in front of her, not minding who he is anymore.

Jeremy Sean, who is admired for his grace and intellect and is expected to be the next Mr. Tony Sean in the future, has already revealed his frail side to her. 

But, instead of showing him he's in his poorest condition, Serin decided to be his solace. "Sir Jeremy.. Your saddest and most painful stories. Don't bury them in your heart. I will listen to you."

Jeremy did not expect to hear consoling words from the girl he used to ill-treat.

“Jeremy??" Tony Sean has been knocking on the car window.

Lost in his deep thoughts recalling the late night he was with Serin on Desf Road a month ago, Jeremy did not notice that he had already reached their mansion in Horizon Town.

He smiled at his dad and quickly unfastened his seatbelt.

“Dad!” He gave Tony Sean a warm embrace.

Hugging his dad, his tears dared to come out. His heart is still sinking.

For him not to cry, he looked up.

But instead of fighting back his tears, the overwhelming feeling of sorrow and pain let out when he saw Dave.

He is standing on the balcony of his room on the fourth floor. His older brother's eerie smile is haunting.

Since their mom passed away, Dave has become Jeremy's miserable adversary. Always.

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It is Jeremy's weekend routine to stay at their mansion in Horizon Town. He would leave Hopkins District either after his Friday afternoon class or Saturday morning. Jeremy's weekends are spent like this.

Though he hates staying at their mansion, he has no choice but to endure the traumatic feeling he would always get whenever he's in their house.

After Leona Sean passed away and Dave fell seriously ill, Tony Sean decided to let the people he has trusted handle his businesses. Jeremy promised that he would help manage his father's businesses once he finishes his degree in Fermone National University.

Tony Sean decided to stay with his older son in Horizon Town. He could not afford to continue managing his businesses while Dave has been seriously battling with post-traumatic stress disorder that keeps worsening as days pass. 

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Serin can really feel that eyes are staring at her. She feels uncomfortable that someone is silently observing her.

But, whenever she steals glances at Jeremy, he looks busy. Jeremy is doing his school work on the table by the big glass window. He is in Dave's room. His older brother is sleeping.

Serin is arranging Dave's books on the shelf.

Because of her, Dave gets to love reading books and whenever he finishes one, he would excitedly share it with her. Reading books has become one of Dave's favorite hobbies. 

Serin, as someone who is friendly, thoughtful, patient and caring, eventually got Dave's trust. Whenever he is with her, he feels safe and consoled.

But Serin finds it difficult to be Jeremy's comfort. Serin thought that after the night she was taken to Desf Road, Jeremy would be approachable and friendly. But the guy still chose to be distant and cold towards her. 

Jeremy has been doing his best not to think about Serin anymore. He has become fearful of falling deeply for her because of those mind-numbing and haunting scenarios he unbelievably experienced on that night a month ago. 

To lose Serin. That becomes his fear. And he can't help but think that falling for her would only cause him great torment once those scenarios happen again making Serin completely disappear. 

Serin is silently organizing Dave's bookshelf when she suddenly feels that someone is walking towards her.

The steps stopped.

She already knows who is standing behind her. That familiar scent, that familiar feeling.

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Serin did not turn her back and did her best to avoid Jeremy. But he blocked her and suddenly held Serin by her arms. Feeling embarrassed, she looked away.

For the last time, Jeremy wants to make sure if what Serin said is true. He could be hallucinating.

“Can you look at me?” Jeremy asked, fearlessly. 

Serin slowly faced him. She already knows what it is for. She then prepared herself to witness Jeremy's usual flustered expression every time he meets eyes with her.

Jeremy no longer wants to waste this chance. He let out a deep sigh and fearlessly looked into Serin’s eyes.

But just like the last time he met eyes with her, he could no longer see anything in Serin's eyes but his own reflection. 

She was expecting to hear another incredulous scenario from the guy in front of her. But surprisingly, Jeremy's face did not show his usual puzzled expression.

Not seeing anything in Serin's eyes is still confusing him. Strangely, it feels saddening in a way. And he could not deny that somehow, this is breaking his heart.

He used to hope that Serin would just disappear before his eyes, out of his distress and frustration. But since he shared an intimate moment with her on the day they clashed, there has always been a feeling of great yearning for her, which he can't explain. 

Jeremy suddenly felt a rush in his heart. Feeling awkward, he quickly let go of his hands from holding Serin’s arms. He then walked away in haste.

He went back to the table. He makes himself busy again, doing his school work. 

Serin feels the need to finish arranging Dave's books on the shelf. As soon as she's done with it, she thought of staying in her room. The growing discomforting atmosphere caused by Jeremy is already suffocating her.

"If Sir Dave wakes up and needs me, I'm just in my room." 

Jeremy did not respond. Serin hurriedly stepped outside the room.

The door closed. 

Jeremy just keeps himself focused reading the book but Serin's innocent beauty is distracting him.

Releasing a deep sigh, he closed the book. 

The moment he stood up, his eyes spotted a piece of paper on the floor.

'This is crazy!' He thought to himself while staring at the drawing.

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"Did you draw this?"

Jeremy is showing Serin the drawing he just saw in Dave's room.

A beautiful road where autumn leaves are falling. 

No wonder why it looks familiar. That drawing is the same exact scenario that flashed the first time he met eyes with Serin.

Serin nodded, confirming she's the one who drew it.

She flashed no expression on her face. "Aside from reading books, Sir Dave has been into drawing and painting. He saw me while drawing that one afternoon and asked for it."

Jeremy is studying her reaction while looking at her. “How did you know this place?"

"Can I have that now?" Serin asked, still expressionless.

But instead of handing her the drawing, Jeremy looked into her eyes. "Should I ask you again?"

Serin glued her lips.

'What is it this time?' She thought to herself.

Serin's obvious unresponsiveness began to infuriate Jeremy.

'Please.. while I'm being nice to you.' He thought.

Serin is sure that her drawing stirred Jeremy's disturbed mind again.

Since that unforgettable night at Campbell Park, Serin could sense if something is bothering Jeremy. Just like now, distress is on his face. And that is the reason why she has been trying to avoid answering his question.

"It is from a random picture in the book I have been reading lately. I found it beautiful so I tried drawing it. Can I have that now? Sir Dave will throw a fit if he doesn't see that on his table."

Serin is in a rush and obviously, she is lying. Jeremy noticed it.

"Don't try to act like I don't know you. We might have a lot of misunderstandings but I can tell if you're telling the truth or not."

Serin did not know how she would feel. Would she feel good after hearing what Jeremy had said because that means he already knows her? Or would she feel bad because he knows she is lying to him?

Jeremy faced Serin again. This time, it's much closer, making Serin unable to escape. Then, without a word, he pressed her against the wall. 

But rather than glaring, his eyes are begging. "Tell me the truth.. Please??"

The guy's pleading softened Serin's heart.

She let out a heavy sigh.

"I saw that place." She paused and closed her eyes.

Serin continued. "In my dream."