Kath was more interested in the date than Hermione herself. Just next day at work, Kath pulled her to the pantry and asked her how the date went. Kath was not satisfied by Hermione's few words of comment, she asked for every little detail, as though she was a journalist.
"I am getting jealous," said Kath, beaming at Hermione. "Wish I have someone who can pamper me like a princess."
"You'll get one," said Hermione. "You're younger than me!"
"Well not much young—"
"Five years younger than me," Hermione corrected her.
"A parcel for Ms. Kathleen Sinclair!" yelled a voice.
Kath went out and received a bouquet of red rose and a letter from the postman. Everyone in the office gather round Kath. Alexa said, "Secret admirer?"
Kath blushed, she gently placed the bouquet on her desk and unsealed the envelop. As she took the letter out, she screamed and flung it on her desk.
I'M BACK. DID YOU MISS ME? (Smiley face)
No signature could be found on the paper or the envelope.
"Is that blood?" shrieked a worker who stood next to Alexa.
Hermione picked up the letter and had a closer look.
"It's red paint," said Hermione.
Everybody let out a sigh of relief, still the sight of such a letter was frightening. Alexa asked, "Kath, do you want to call the police?"
"No, it's fine. It's a prank, that's all."
Kath was calmer than everyone expected, as though she knew who sent it.
"Are you sure?" asked Hermione, concerned.
"No, really. It's fine. It's just a prank."
Kath took the letter and put it into the paper shredder. She watched the whole letter shredded into long thin lines before she went back to her seat and asked everyone not to worry.
It was a long day, when Kath finished her work, she took her bag and left the office. She was thinking about the her warm bed and sweet cup of hot chocolate. It was the little things in life that could make her stop thinking about other things.
Just when she was approaching the gates, she saw Draco leaning by the gates, seemingly waiting for someone. She was about to ignore him when Draco asked,
"Aren't you afraid at all?"
Kath was mildly surprised by his question. However, she remained calm and said, "Why should I?"
"Anthony, is it not?"
This name pierced her heart. She had tried to forget the name, but people kept bringing it up. She thought he would be gone for good, at least for a couple of years. But how on earth did Draco know the name, and Kath could only think of one way…
"You took the paper shreds and pieced it back!" exclaimed Kath, feeling her privacy seriously violated. "How could you do such a thing!"
"It's you who don't know how to protect yourself!" argued Draco.
Kath did not want to start a quarrel, so she pushed Draco aside and stormed out of the gates. When she walked past the gates, a tall shadow lunged towards her. Kath's scream alerted Draco, he rushed out and saw Kath facing a tall yet scrawny man. Draco was shocked to see such a man, he looked as though he had been through months of sleep deprivation. His eye sockets were big and his bloodshot eyes were staring at Kath. His smile was sly and wolfish, as if he was plotting. His clothes were worn and dusty, Draco reckoned he had not washed his clothes for quite a while.
"Kathleen!" said the man. "Did you read my letter?"
"What do you want?" asked Kath, annoyed.
Draco assumed that the man was Anthony. Immediately, he barged in between the two of them and pushed the man. The man stumbled backwards, but he did not walk away, nor did he look shocked. He rubbed off the white powder on his nostrils and sniffed. His wolfish grin grew wider and he began speaking with a raspy voice.
"Oh, is this why we break up?"
"I repeat," said Kath with a cold stern voice that Draco had never heard from her before. "We have never dated, so don't you say we break up. Nothing has happened and will never happen."
"I am here to talk business," said Anthony. "Give me 3000 quid."
"Are you insane?" screamed Kath, hiding behind Draco. "I have given you more than that over the years. I told you not to go back to it!"
"Oh come on—"
Just when Anthony wanted to touch her, Draco shoved his arm and said, "Leave."
Anthony seemed agitated, he roared, "You own our family so much, and you wouldn't give me anything."
"Leave," said Draco, getting more and more angry. "I do not wish to repeat, or I will be calling the police."
Soon as he heard the word 'police', he dazed, then he glared at Kath and pointed his finger at Draco. He said,
"You better watch out!"
Anthony ran off, and Kath let out a huge sigh of relief. Draco turned around and said,
"You should have called the police."
"No, I won't do that."
Draco suddenly felt livid, even though it had nothing to do with him. He tried to reason.
"Look, he's not going to leave you alone, and this will not be the last time he asks for money. You are going to get hurt one day, mentally and physically."
"No, you don't understand, I can't do that."
"Why not?" asked Draco, determined to persuade her.
"I own his family," said Kath. "We…we used to be neighbours. I lived with my aunt and uncle, she had never been kind to me. It was his family who helped me throughout my childhood, they gave me enough clothes and food,took care of me while my aunt and uncle were busy at their restaurant. His mother was so nice to me—"
Kath suddenly looked away, then said, "Never mind, you don't understand. You have never been through any of these."
"I do," said Draco. "I understand."
Kath's phone rang and quickly she answered the call.
"Yes, I will be there in 10 minutes!" said Kath, immediately she hung up and was about to run.
"Where are you going?" asked Draco.
"I'm going to the bank." said Kath. "I will talk to you some time later!"
"I will give you a ride," offered Draco.
Normally Kath would refuse help from others, but this time she accepted. Not for long, they arrived at the bank, and Kath sprang out of the car, rushing to the old woman who stood at the automated teller machine. Draco got out and walked towards her.
"Did you change the password?" asked Kath to the old woman.
"I think so," answered the old woman. "But I don't remember the new password. This is the third attempt, I don't want to have my account locked."
"Don't worry, Aunt Susan, I will help you," said Kath, then asked, "Can you give me your phone?"
Aunt Susan gave the phone to her, and quickly she scrolled through the notepad and message applications. After searching for a while, she pressed a few buttons on the automated teller machine. Aunt Susan almost cried with joy when she saw Kath getting the correct password.
"Oh Kathleen, I couldn't do it without you," said Aunt Susan, holding Kath's hands tight.
"Well, well, looks like we meet again."
Anthony marched towards them. Draco immediately stood in front of Kath, staring at him without blinking.
"Ma, did I not tell you to give them money to me?" said Anthony. "What took you so long?"
"I'm sorry, I forgot the password—"
"So can you get the money then?"
"Yes, Kath helped me. Let me get it out now."
Kath was horrified. Quickly she stopped Aunt Susan and said, "Aunt Susan, don't give it to him. I gave the money to you so you can eat and live better!"
Anthony was irritated. He clenched his fist and yelled, "Get out of the way!"
Draco pushed him and said, "Stop bringing troubles to Kathleen and your mother. Kath didn't give the money to you, she gave it to your mother. Now leave!"
Anthony was about to throw punches, but the people queuing behind Aunt Susan were staring at him, some of them ready to act, and some of them ready to take out their phones. Perhaps he did not want to start a fight, perhaps he did not want to alert the police, he scurried away, like a rat.
Kath immediately turned to Aunt Susan and said, "Promise me, Aunt Susan. You need this money."
Aunt Susan nodded, weeping quietly. Kath escorted her to the bus stop and watched her get on the bus. Soon as the bus left, Kath turned to Draco and was about to thank him, but she could not seem to say the words to him. She opened her mouth but no sound came out. Draco then said,
"If you want to thank me, you don't need to."
"Huh?"
Kath was confused.
"If you thank me, I would feel like a superhero, and you will make yourself look like a helpless civilian," said Draco.
Kath was baffled, she rolled her eyes at him, but deep inside she was grateful, for she, for the first time, she felt she could rely on a man.