Besotted

My eyes scanned through the list trying to recall if I had left anything. I was making a list of the things I needed and made up making a list. I am yet to let Caleb know that I was going to Paris in less than two weeks. I had no idea how he would react but he needed to know. Somehow, he made it in my life and I felt guilty for not letting him know about the decision. But I would tell him as soon as possible. In fact, I would let him know the next time he comes to my apartment.

Jenny didn't leave and is still in my apartment cooking me food even though I was perfectly fine now. I was more worried for Caleb since Jenny was with me. I told him that it was okay for Jenny to go back to his service but he straight forward refused and I was tired of arguing with him.

I had to buy a big luggage bag for packing. I was going to leave the USA and I had no idea even after completing my diploma, I would ever come back. Perhaps, I would get a job there or somewhere else and think of settling there. I had no one in the US except for my head nun who took care of me back in the orphanage. If I would ever come back to the US then I would definitely to meet.

I had to meet her before I left but that means, I had to travel twelve hours by bus to reach the orphanage. I had so many work to do. So, I got ready, picking up the list as I made my way to the door.

"Are you going somewhere? What about lunch?" Jenny asked as she walked to me from the kitchen.

"I am going out for shopping. You can have the lunch," I smiled at her and turned to leave.

"But you can't eat outside. The doctor has clearly told you to not eat anything from outside. You are still on medications and Mr. Theller would be mad at me," Jenny told me as I sighed.

"I am fine now, Jenny. And I can eat once in a while. I have been at home for a long time and I am tired. I want to go outside. I can't just sit at home just for a small incident like that," I told her and she shook her head.

"It was not small. You were poisoned," she argued and I looked at the ceiling. Clearly Caleb had worked on her and taught her how to speak to me.

"Ok. You know what? Let's go outside together," I told her and she tilted her head to the side.

"Yes! Together. You need a break as well. You do my house chores, cook for me and you only watch Netflix the whole day. You must be bored as well. Let's go out! If you will be with me then Caleb won't get mad at you, right? And you can help me with my shopping and keep an eye on me, right?" I told her while she stared at me for some minute but then nodded reluctantly as I beamed with excitement and waited till she got ready.

~

"What do you think about this bag? Oh, look! It's on sale," I said as I dragged the large bag out from under the rack and Jenny nodded. She looked gorgeous for her age. She wore a white shirt and black jeans and braided her brown hair to her side.

"But why do you need such a large bag, Ms. Carter?" she asked as she helped me handling the bag.

"You need a large bag because you pack the whole damn thing you own when you travel," I laughed and she furrowed her eyebrows.

"Are you going to travel somewhere Ms. Carter?" she asked and I nodded.

"Stop calling me Ms. Carter will you? I am not your boss. Caleb is. Call him whatever you want but please stop calling me that!" I told her as I recalled telling her to call me Sang.

"Alright," she chuckled and I looked down at the large purple-colored bag, inspecting its weight and space inside it. Finally. I chose to take and we made our way to the billing counter when Jenny got a call. She excused herself and went to the side to pick up the call.

It was unusually a long queue in the billing counter as I stood there in the queue and looked at Jenny who seemed in distress. The color drained from her face as she talked timidly and that made me wondered what happened with her. She looked back at me for a mere second and then made her way to me handing me the phone.

"Mr. Theller is really angry," she mouthed as I sighed and took the phone from her.

"What is this Sang? Do you seriously not understand both your and my situation?" he yelled as soon as I took the phone from Jenny. I clicked my tongue in annoyance and signaled Jenny to stand on my position in the queue and handed her my card as I walked a little away from the crowd to talk to Caleb.

"Caleb, can you please calm down?" I asked and this seemed to infuriate him even more.

"Calm down? You two snuck out tricking the bodyguard. I don't mind you to go out but I placed the bodyguard for your protection. Do you not get the situation? And you snuck out!" he yelled at me as I curled up my palm into a fist.

"Yes! I snuck out. What protection are you talking about? I don't want any and I don't want a bodyguard around me twenty-four, seven. Who do you think you are telling me how to live my life? I refuse to take the bodyguard. I brought Jenny with me and that was enough," I argued and heard him taking deep breaths.

"Look, Sang! I don't want to argue with you when you are not well. I know you are mad with me but this is just not the way. There is someone out there wanting you dead. This is a serious situation do you understand? I don't give a damn to what you think. So stop being childish now! Jenny already told me where you two are and I have informed your bodyguard. He will be there in five minutes. Cooperate with him until you want me to go there on my own," he challenged and as much as I wanted to retort back I decided against it and shut my mouth and just gave him a hum in response.

"I can't bear to lose you again. It is okay with me if you are angry on me and want to stay away from me. As long as I know that you are safe and sound, I'm okay with it. Please don't do this to me because you are mad at me. Let me take care of this matter and I promise I won't bug you once the case is cleared. Please?" he lowered down his voice and the anger in me seemed to subside as a small smile appeared n my face thinking about it.

"Alright," I told him.

"He will be there in five minutes. Stick closer to Jenny and return home as soon as possible. And enjoy," he told me and before I could argue with him about me enjoying with the bodyguard sticking to me, he hung up. I stared at the phone and huffed.

Look at this jerk! One second he is all sweet and the next minute such a jerk!

Nevertheless, I walked back in to find Jenny already in the front paying for my bag as I smiled when she looked at me raising her eyebrows wanting to know what happened.

"Don't worry he is not angry anymore," I said and she took a sigh of relief putting her hand on her chest dramatically.

"What a drama queen," I joked and that made her chuckle.

~

Surely, as Caleb had told us the bodyguard arrived and I had thought he would have a foul expression because we put his job in danger by sneaking out without his knowledge but thankfully the guy was as chill one. He arrived while we were having food from the food court of the mall and stood right next to me.

He was pretty tall, even taller than Caleb and bald. Thankfully he was in his civil uniform and didn't bother us. People were definitely giving me a strange look as they saw him standing there looking here and there in an alert position.

is embarrassing," I whispered at Jenny who sipped her coffee and gave me a smile knowing my

betterment," she told me

"Yeah right!"

The winter was near and she bought some coats on sale but I didn't bother to buy any because I would be long gone and instead

you going somewhere? You bought so many clothes," she asked as she looked at my

Paris soon," I

should also take a leave," she said and I looked up at

am going alone,"

Mr. Theller is not going?"

Why would he?

alone," I told her and she nodded and thankfully she didn't ask any further questions as we made our

sale. I will give one to my daughter," she told me and

you even you are

with her. Thanks to the picture, I remembered how

if my parents

bought me coats and my father would have protected me from

heard a faint voice and saw Jenny

from my eyes. I wiped them away and smiled at her when the cab arrived before us. The bodyguard whose name, I came to know as Nile helped us put our things in the trunk of the car and as I was about to

what happened. And then I saw it. My bodyguard was on the ground writhing

been shot!" I heard a frantic voice of Jenny and saw her crouching

my arm. I was shot on my arm and

to me in shock and tried to put her hand on my arm but there was another gunshot and I saw Jenny's body being lifeless as she tumbled to my side

What's going on?

is this

~

free and I got to my senses to know that my hands were tied in my back while my mouth was gagged and eyes were blinded. My lower body was tied to something that felt like a pillar and I struggled

What's going on?

Where am I?

Why can't I move?

memories came flooding in. I was at the mall, we were hailing a cab

Wait! I was shot.

Jenny was shot.

Nile too.

What's going on?

wants

Jenny? Is she

where in the

my voice came muffled because my mouth was gaged still it didn't stop me from shouting. I tried to thrash against the pillar wanting to have my hands free when all of a sudden there was a hard hit

I

her! Immediately!" I heard her voice and shook my head when the blind in my eyes slipped a little and I peeped to find five men around me. The area looked as if I were in an abandoned warehouse. One of the man stood before me and there was

were having

the woman getting angry. She looked as if she was in the late forties with short hair. Her eyes filled with venom as she spoke: "Don't fuck with me. I can kill you all. Kill the woman right now!" she

not. So do as I tell you to or you will have to face the consequence," the man

and I shifted in my position scared to death thinking why she wanted to kill me.

the call and walked to me. I put my head down not wanting him to see that the blind

I felt him crouching down as he touched my face and I

the men spoke and the one before me

wench pay me first and then only I will kill her," the man said and next I heard the footsteps fading away as if

I heard him again and knew someone was right next to me keeping an eye on me. I tried to peep and saw only two

drag! Why not just kill her? Not we got do babysitting," I heard

fucking complain. If boss hears you then you will be the one in her place to die," the other guy warned him

for the way I was sitting. Even though whatever

remained in the

happened

were shot because of

one to

only I had heard what Caleb told

too childish and fickle to agree that someone was indeed

and even Caleb told me that

can a person be so stupid

anything happens to Jenny and Nile, I won't be able to forgive

God! Please save them.

~