CHAPTER 294: AM I JUST LIVING IN A DELUSION?

(Author’s POV)

"Hey~ ... Wends, what’s up? Where is your mind at, huhh?" Yelena inquired while following Wendy’s gaze.

Wendy recovered from her trance like state and, in a very over the top and exuberant tone, said, "YOU GUYS WON’T BELIEVE WHAT I AM GOING TO TELL YOU."

"Tell us, then we will decide if we should believe you or not," Yelena teased her. "Shoot it, babe. What is it?"

"Guess what, who I just met? No~ ...... not did just I meet him but also had a great chat with him," Wendy exclaimed, being all dramatic and suspenseful.

Both Myra and Yelena knitted their brows together and looked at each other, and then shifted their gaze towards Wendy simultaneously. Yelena then said, "Him, as in a male. By your reaction, it seems that the person is quite popular. Who could it be?" Rubbing her chin like some detective, she made a thoughtful face.

Myra had a bad premonition about all this. In the back of her mind, and by the recent events, she could conclude that whoever Wendy met wasn’t going to be good news. And boy, was she so damn right.

Wendy, with an elated, delight filled smile, responded to Yelena’s question, "One of the prestigious guests of the seminar, ELIO EVERESTS. Crazy, right?"

Myra could feel her heart sink in that moment, and a thud sound roared in her brain. The dizziness was back, and so was the uneasiness and anxiety. That name, that very name, gave her goosebumps all over her body. Fabian’s eyes dilated in shock, too.

Although Yelena was stunned as well, her reasons were entirely different from the other two people beside her. "Seriously? No kidding?"

"Definitely," Wendy replied.

Yelena smacked her back a bit too excitedly and said, "Ohhooo~ .... Wendy, when did you become so straightforward, huhh? Good going, girl, I like it. You took the initiative to talk to him. And here I am still considering whether to go to one of them and greet. Myra, your sister, has grown a lot." Her voice was full of teasing.

Myra was at a loss about how to respond to all that. Meanwhile, Yelena continued, "By the way, what did you guys talk about, uhh~? Is he a sweet and polite type, or is he like others, a show pony, flashy yet garbage mouth?"

"The former. He was really sweet and respectful. And for the record, ’he’ was the one who approached me and not the other way around," Wendy feigned haughtiness as she claimed.

Each word she verbalized was a stab to her sister’s heart, twisting and piercing it.

Oblivious of Myra’s inner turmoil, Yelena and Wendy enthusiastically talked about Elio. But Fabian could see everything clearly. With each word, Myra’s face became paler and paler. And it gnawed at his heart. He came closer to Myra from behind to support her.

Myra, after gaining a bit of calmness, asked Wendy, her voice small, almost inaudible, "Did you~ .... Did you, by any chance~ ... tell him your name?"

"Umhmm~ ... I did," Wendy replied. "I even told him about you and how awesome you are."

"You told him~ ...... about me?" Myra asked for confirmation, her heart sinking even deeper into an abyss.

"Yups, I was waiting for you guys to introduce you to him. Unfortunately, he had something to do, so he left. But, before that~ ...." Wendy flashed the card Elio had handed her. "He gave me this. And said to hang out sometime."

Myra felt odd, listening to Wendy’s statement. A lot of things didn’t add up. ’If Wendy told her name and also about me to Elio, why didn’t he react much? That’s odd. Am I the only one who is thinking too much? Have I been living in a delusion that they must have been searching for me all this time? Maybe~ ... maybe, they already forgot about me, or even my existence. After all, our worlds are like sky and ocean, totally apart. I guess this is for the better. Yes, this eases my mind a lot. Now, I don’t have to hide anymore. I can just pretend we are strangers and everything will sort out on its own.’ She tried to convince herself, though there was a dull ache pestering in her chest.

This sudden conclusion relaxed her a little, though her mind was still conflicted. She shrugged everything aside and changed the topic, "Okay, okay. Enough of your boys’ tales, both of you. I am feeling famished. Recommend something to me, will you, umm?" She tried to sound more cheerful than her usual self.

But Yelena and Wendy didn’t notice anything out of the ordinary, and the girls got busy. Fabian was observing Myra’s body language from the sideline.

Yelena then turned to him and said, "Ohhh~ ... hello, Mr. Incharge. What are you standing there for? Won’t you even eat? Come."

________________________

"Ohhoo~ ... look who is finally here. COO Alaric, I am glad you made it. Done with your other business?" Jacob, when he saw Alaric, greeted him and asked.

"Likewise, Chairman Larson. And~ .... Yes. Preparations are all done," Alaric’s answer was brief and curt.

"Excellente! I like how workaholic you are. But someone as young as you needs to relax and enjoy as well. So, here, have a drink with me, won’t you? I have especially asked my people to prepare this for you." Lowering his voice, he added, "Don’t worry. It isn’t poisoned." Saying this, Jacob handed him a glass of premium, Goût de Diamants and waited for him to accept it.

Alaric took the glass but didn’t drink it. He then lowered his voice and inquired, "Mr. Larson, I will be straightforward with you. When do you think our meeting can start?"

"What’s the hurry? As I just said, ease up a little, mingle with your peers. The meeting, it will surely happen today. You know, I am not someone who will go back on my words," Jacob assured him.

Alaric nodded, downed his glass and then said, "Well then~ ... I will follow your advice and be on my way." He then nodded, turned around and walked away, puzzling everyone around him.

’Am I the only one who is overthinking here? Or did just Alaric agree with Jacob Larson and go away to mingle?’ Dion mindlinked Elio, as they both watched Alaric’s receding figure with a look of pure astonishment.

Elio stated, ’It’s not just you. But brother Al has been acting weird ever since he came inside. There is definitely something that is not right. Should we tell brother Brave? Or should we follow him?’

’Leave him be and don’t be such a worrywart, umm~ Eli. Al already knows what to do and what not to. He will be fine on his own. Let’s just get on with our things,’ Dion shrugged it off. He then shifted his gaze towards Elio and vocalized, "By the way~ .... I have been meaning to ask you. Who was the little girl you were talking to earlier, huhh?"

Elio recalled the person and answered casually, "Just a new friend."

"A ...... new ... friend?" Dion looked at him from head to toe, "You are making a new friend? That’s even more strange than Al’s behavioural changes. And that too, a female, on your own accord. Eli, you have finally found your way to life. Commendable. But why the sudden interest? Is it something like those movies, love at first sight, hmm?" he teased his youngest.

Elio rolled his eyes dramatically and said, "It is nothing like what you are thinking, brother Dion. She is just a friend I had to make. Luckily, for me, she turned out to be someone I could have an enjoyable conversation with."

"Had to? What are you talking about? Did she point a silver made bullet loaded gun at you or something?" Dion was perplexed. Elio then explained his call with Nora and her wish.

"Okay, okay. I got it now. Our little sister, she is a genius. Otherwise, you would have died single," Dion remarked.

"I am still single," Elio fired back. ’Though, mentally and emotionally, I am committed to my one and only.’ He was instantly reminded of Myra once again.

"So, what is her name? She seemed kind of cute and adorable," Dion complimented Wendy and asked.

"Her name~ ... uhhh~ ..... I~ ... don’t know," Elio stated embarrassingly.

"Huhh? What? You said you enjoyed your talk with her and she is your new friend, but you didn’t ask her for her name? Tell me you are socially awkward, without telling me you are socially awkward, hmm?" Dion was baffled at his brother’s words.

"I did ask her, but when she was telling me, you mindlinked at that exact time. After that, I just said goodbye and came to you," Elio concluded.

"So, by mistake, I am the villain. Sorry, Eli, I interrupted your love life before it even started," Dion commented.

"For the nth time, she and I are friends, just normal, ordinary, friends. I have no interest in her or anyone else. I already have someone in my mind," the words came out faster than he could stop himself.

Dion’s eyes widened at Elio’s confession as he was reminded of his own, when he said the exact same words in front of Nora and Alaric. He was then reminded that Alaric said the same thing, too.

To Be Continued . . . . . . . .