FAMILIAR STRANGER

NIRELLE

I stare at the man in front of me as I try to relate his face to Cassian Wolfe, my classmate while I was still in high school. The person standing in front of me was way different from the boy from then. He looked like he had gone under the knife to perfectly sculpt his face. Even though he had been the hottest boy in class back then, he was not this hot.

"Cassian Wolfe?" I ask as if he did not just say so. The words leave my mouth in fragments, and he looks at me with excited eyes.

"Yes, Nirelle, it's me, Cassian Wolfe," he says, and I stand still. I have no idea what the protocol is supposed to be. Since Enoch pulled me away from school and cut off all my contact, I have not had any close calls with any of my classmates. What am I supposed to do now?

"Can you ask your security to let me through?" he asked, snapping me back to reality. They all trailed their eyes to me, waiting for my command. I gulp hard and nod my head, signalling that they could let him through. "Thank you," he says, pretending to clean off imaginary dust from his jacket before he approaches me.

"Oh my goodness! It's you in the flesh and blood!" he exclaims as he stands in front of me. "I don't know what to do; am I supposed to hug or shake your hand?"

"I also do not know what the procedure is supposed to be," I say, taking a step back. Even though this boy was my high school crush, the feelings had died out a few years back.

"Oh my goodness, fancy seeing you here," he adds, and I smile. "What are you doing here?"

"Well, it's a hospital, so..." I hope he does not ask me any more questions and just walks off on his own. I didn't want to seem rude; that was the reason I asked the guards to let him in, but still, I did not want to talk to him.

"Are you busy? I would love to have a cup of coffee or pick up dinner with you," he says, and I wonder if he is intentionally avoiding the fact that I am married or if he does not know. "I just flew in, and you are the first person I met? My luck must be running through the roof."

I press my lips together because I do not know what I am supposed to say or do now. I take a deep breath and agree; the bodyguards would be there, and I am sure he wouldn't be able to do anything funny to me. He leads me to the coffee shop opposite the restaurant, and we sit by the window.

Cassian Wolfe had been every high school girl's crush, and even some men's as well. He had the perfect body, face, and life then, and now that puberty and maturity have hit, everything is perfect on him. I swear we had a connection then, and it was exactly what I told my friends, but they all told me that I was delusional. I never got to live out that connection because soon after, I was locked up.

“Your security is a bit tight,” he says, his eyes trailing the number of men following us. “Did your father recently come into more money?” He is mocking, but I don't mind, and I am not interested in answering him either. 

"Where have you been?" he asked. There was true concern in his eyes; at least I was trying to convince myself that there was. " After high school, we waited for you to come to prom, but you never did, and then we showed up at your house to check on you, but we were told that you travelled abroad for your education, but no matter how much we asked, your parents refused to tell us.

I almost scoff because of how ridiculous it is. I had never even been told that my classmates came over to search for me. They had some dignity, at least making it seem like their child was being taken care of.

"Yeah, I went to school in Kenya, Africa, almost immediately," I lie. Why was I lying to cover for them? Maybe because I felt like I would also feel the shame if he knew what I had been going through." I came back a few months ago, and I continued the lie, wondering to myself if I would be able to keep up with it.

"That would explain why nobody ever saw you, so you've been away all this time?"

"Yes," I nod, and he smiles.

"I must be lucky then," he murmurs, taking a sip from his glass. "I just got back from Dubai, and you are the first person I meet? We have to stay in touch." He sounds too excited for someone he hadn't seen in years, and since he was not bringing up my marriage, maybe he was not aware.

"Oh wow, welcome back," I say, trying to act happy for him. My mind briefly runs to Lucien. What if he finds out about this meeting? Why do I care what he thinks? 

"Oh yes, that reminds me, our class is doing this mini reunion, and I think you might want to come." Reunions—I had only thought about them; never once did I think I'd be able to attend one at my will.

"I am a bit exhausted; I don't think I can," I say, because how will I be able to keep up a lie in front of my friends and classmates for hours? "You know how trips can be? Tiring," I mutter as I try to act the part.

"I guess you are right, but we have to keep in touch," he says, taking out his phone and pointing it at me. I take it and put in the number I had just gotten. He smiles at me and stands up. "I have to get back to the hospital now."

"Are you going there for a check-up?"

"No, silly," he laughs as his eyes run me up and down. "I work here. Did you forget that my dad owned multiple health centres and hospitals around the country?" he asked, and it was almost as if he were bragging. I press my lips down and nod as I realise what an incredible person he has always been.

"Let's catch up for real soon," he says, stretching his hand to me. I do not want to shake his hands, but I know that if I am keeping up an image, then I have to go all out, so I stand up and take his hands.

"Of course."