hapter 16

La-La Point of View

"I arrived home this morning, driven by Zayne, and Yuna and Ellie are drop-dead worried about me. But when I tried to tell them the story, it left them with a roller coaster of reactions. Now, I'm on the phone call with Zayne.

"What do you mean by that?" I asked him as he delivered some complicated news.

"Unfortunately, due to the incident that happened yesterday, all the glass windows and doors in the library are broken. It will take weeks for them to be repaired, and during that time, I don't think the library can open. So, you can't go to work for at least a week," he explained. I dropped the bag I was holding.

"So, I need to wait a week to come back to work? Is that right?" I clarified.

"Yes, you do. I'm sorry," he said.

"There's no need for you to apologize," I reassured him. "But during this week that I'm not working, will it be covered by the company?" I inquired.

"No, it won't be covered," he replied, and my eyes widened. "But I'm not working, why wouldn't it be covered?" I pressed.

"Well, it's my fault that the glass is broken," he admitted reluctantly.

Zayne sighed on the other end of the line. "I wish there was more I could do, but it's out of my hands now. Just take care of yourself during this time off, alright?"

"Yeah, I understand. Thanks for letting me know, Zayne," I replied, trying to mask my disappointment.

"Of course. I'll keep you updated on any changes. Take care," he said softly before ending the call.

With a heavy heart, I hung up the phone and leaned back against the wall, processing the implications of the situation. A week off work wasn't exactly what I had in mind, but I had to make the best of it. I hate resting-

Then suddenly a notification popped out through my phone so I settled into my sofa and clicked it. It was from our department.

""There's an update with our division," I announced, my voice tinged with curiosity. Yuna paused mid-bite, her fork hovering in the air, while Ellie leaned forward, her interest piqued.

"What is it, senior?" Yuna inquired eagerly.

I glanced at my phone to see the source of the notification—it was a blog post.

""Attention all Love Hunter Division members and other division, It has come to our attention that there is a pressing matter regarding the disappearance of our Love Hunters, pertaining to the 'Gold String issue.' Although the existence of the Gold String has been acknowledged, its authenticity remains unconfirmed. In light of this, it is imperative that all divisions prioritize the safety of Hunters. Any involvement in the abduction of Love Hunters is a direct violation of our rules and regulations. The Special Forces have been instructed to take swift action to eliminate any individuals found guilty of such actions. We urge all parties involved to cooperate fully and promptly return any missing Love Hunters. Failure to do so will result in severe consequences. Please spread this message to all concerned parties immediately. Thank you for your attention to this matter. Love Hunter Division Command" I read the blog they posted.

Well they taken to long to noticed it as in-

"I guess you two can go back to work" I said to the two they looked happy as they looked to each other.

And then there was a knock on the door. Yuna, who was about to stand up, I signaled her to stay seated. "I'll get it. Just continue what you're doing," I said to her. She immediately returned to her seat as I walked towards the door. But as I opened it, I saw someone unexpected.

"You never seem to understand what I always tell you, do you?" I said to Axel, who was now in front of me. He gave me a faint smile, but I still felt a tightness in my chest. Sadness and anger lingered within me. What was that dream that made me feel this way towards him? This isn’t right to do this with my friend.

"Let's talk it out," he said, I noticed that he is holding out a plastic bag in his hand.

"There's nothing for us to talk about. Just go back to your apartment," I said, about to close the door, but he stopped me. Ugh, this guy.

"Just at least tell me what's wrong, we can’t continue doing thius La-la" he pleaded. I glanced at the ceiling for a second, scratched my neck, then suddenly felt a presence behind me. I saw Yuna standing there. I smiled at her. "Is there anything wrong?" I asked her.

"No, senior. I just heard Mr. Axel," she said and looked at Axel. "Good afternoon," she greeted him.

"Good afternoon. Oh, I also brought this," he said, offering the plastic bag to Yuna.

Yuna walked towards us and took the plastic bag Axel was offering. I watched as Yuna accepted the plastic bag from Axel, curiosity flickering in her eyes. She glanced at me briefly, silently asking for permission, and I nodded, albeit reluctantly. Axel's presence stirred up a whirlwind of emotions within me, but I knew I couldn't let it affect my interactions with Yuna.

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

"Thank you," Yuna said politely, taking the bag from him.

Axel nodded, his gaze shifting between Yuna and me. "No problem. I hope everything's alright here."

Yuna nodded in response, a small smile gracing her lips. "Yes, everything's fine. Thanks to senior care we are good now" she said in a happy tone.

"That's good to hear," Axel said with a smile.

"I should take this to the table," Yuna said, glancing at me for confirmation.

"Go ahead," I replied, nodding to her as she left us.

Now it was just Axel and me.

I sighed, feeling the weight of the conversation settling between us.

"Let's go outside," I suggested to him, it’s better to talk it out.

A Few Moments Later.

Once again, I found myself seated on a bench, with Axel offering me an iced Americano. I accepted it gratefully, and he settled down beside me.

"Why have you been avoiding me all of a sudden?" he asked directly, breaking the silence.

I hesitated, unsure of how to respond. Should I tell him about the absurd dream I had where he was involved in a dark scenario with my so-called husband? It sounded ridiculous even in my own head. It would be strange to confess that I was feeling this way because of a dream, it just seemed too absurd. More on that I had a drean,

"Because... I just do," I blurted out, grasping for a vague explanation.

"Huh? 'Because you do'?" he repeated, clearly puzzled by my response.

"Yes," I affirmed, taking a sip of the coffee to avoid further elaboration.

"Wait a minute... So, let me get this straight— you've been angry with me all this time just because you 'feel so'?" he asked incredulously.

"Yeah, do you have a problem with that?" I retorted, feeling defensive.

He furrowed his eyebrows in disbelief. "You've got to be kidding me," he said, shaking his head in disbelief.

I looked at him sternly. "Do I look like I am joking to you?" I asked.

"Seriously," he said, his expression serious.

"What do you mean, seriously?" I asked, feeling frustration building up inside me. "Tell me the truth," he demanded.

How could I tell you the truth, you idiot? Can I just tell you that because of the dream, I have this lingering feeling of sorrow? You should have waited, bruh.

"Bastard," I muttered under my breath, unable to contain my frustration any longer. His reaction was immediate, as if he'd been personally insulted. "B-bastard?" he repeated, sounding incredulous. "You know, just tell me what I've done wrong. 'Bastard' me? With this handsome face?" he joked, trying to lighten the tension. I rolled my eyes in disbelief.

"Do you ever get tired of commenting on yourself?" I asked, the annoyance evident in my voice.

"Is that it? Are you angry with my self-confidence? I've been like this for decades," he retorted defensively.

"No, I'm not angry because of that, and for your information, I'm not angry at you," I clarified to him.

"You're not angry?" he asked, sounding puzzled.

"Yes, I'm not," I replied firmly.

"Then why are you avoiding me?" he pressed, his tone tinged with confusion.

"Just because," I replied evasively.

"Just because? Tell me," he insisted, his persistence growing.

I couldn't possibly tell him about the dream!

"Do you believe that our dreams are connected to our past lives?" I suddenly asked him, changing the subject.

"Huh? What's with that question all of a sudden?" he responded, clearly caught off guard. I gave him a sidelong glance, urging him to answer.

"No," he replied immediately. "Huh? No?" I questioned, taken aback by his swift denial. "No, we can't dream," he explained.

What did he mean by that? I just had a dream!

"And besides, glimpses of past lives are forbidden to us," he continued, sipping his coffee. "That's the job of the Sandman," he added, a note of finality in his voice. This conversation was turning into a killjoy.

"What if I had a dream," I said to him, causing him to stop sipping his coffee and stare at me in disbelief. "You're joking, right?" he asked, incredulous.

"Do I look like I'm joking?" I replied, feeling the weight of the conversation intensify.

"Did the Sandman accidentally give you a dream? Wait, are you angry—or rather, are you avoiding me because of that dream? Are you... no, because of a dream, you're acting this way?" he questioned, his words stumbling over each other in his haste to understand.

I couldn't bring myself to answer him.

"So, am I right? You're avoiding me just because of a particular dream?" he pressed, his tone earnest.

"It's not just a particular dream," I confessed softly.

I couldn't bring myself to tell him, and an awkward silence settled between us. "La-la, just tell me," he urged in his soft tone.

Should I? If I do, it might turn into a big ordeal. "La-la," he called out my name once again, breaking through my internal debate. I took a deep breath.

"Your sins," I finally confessed.

"What do you mean about my sins?" he asked, his voice tinged with confusion and concern.

I bit my lips nervously. "Wait—perhaps," he said, his voice trailing off. Feeling a surge of uncertainty, I placed the coffee beside me and stood up abruptly. He looked baffled, clearly taken aback by my sudden movement.

Third Person Point of View

"This isn't going anywhere," La-La said, her voice tinged with discouragement as she hesitated to reveal the truth. Axel reached out and gently grasped her wrist, stopping her attempt to leave.

"Don't leave me with that cliffhanger. Tell me the truth," Axel implored, his tone pleading. But La-La pulled her hand away, shaking her head. "No," she said firmly, determination etched in her expression. "La-la" Axel called her name.

Axel stood up in front of her, his worry evident in his eyes. "This is not your choice. By saying no, you've already mentioned something, and It’s a big deal " he said, his voice tinged with urgency.

"It's nothing, just gave me some time-" La-La insisted, avoiding Axel's gaze as she turned to walk away, heading towards the crossroads. Then Axel who was about to get the coffee La-La left behind just also to follow La-la however-

As La-La stepped onto the road, her mind consumed with herself, she failed to notice the speeding car hurtling towards her. Just as disaster seemed inevitable, Axel's instincts kicked in dropping both the coffee that he is holding. With lightning speed he run , he lunged forward, pulling La-La out of harm's way in the nick of time he pulled away La-La and the car honked really loud,

As they both stumbled to safety, adrenaline coursing through their veins, Axel's who was out of breath was take aback, but also from the intensity of their unresolved conversation. "Are you out of your mind?" he exclaimed, his voice trembling with a mix of relief and frustration.

Then suddenly as they both in the ground they immediately feel a headache . They both was ad if they are being pulled by the ground The headache seemed to intensify with each passing moment, leaving them both feeling disoriented and unsettled. Axel glanced around, searching for any signs of help or a way to alleviate their pain. But the pain intensifies.