Chapter 4 – Destiny or Foul Play?
I was peacefully sleeping, dreaming about who knows what, when I opened my eyes suddenly. Outside of my room, I heard Frédéric shouting all over the house:
"Mon projet, Anne! Ou est mon projet?"
"Je ne sais pas!" Anne shouted in response.
"What is going on? For God's sake, please stop shouting!" Derek said.
I jumped out of my bed, got a sleeping gown, combed my hair, and went out of my room, still sleepy.
"What hour is it? What happens?" I asked.
"Toi qui bouleverses tout! Anne, ou est mon projet?" Fred shouted.
"Please stop! Can somebody explain to me what happens?" I said desperately.
"Anne took my project, I am sure!" said Frédéric, in his amusing French accent.
"I didn't take it, I say!" Anne argued.
"You took it! I am sick of all your jokes!" Frédéric exclaimed.
"Please! Why do you say Anne took your assignment?" Derek said, trying to calm down our two crazy friends.
"She is always playing jokes on me! The class begins at one o'clock, and I still have to get ready," Fred said, too concerned to be quiet.
"What hour is it?" I asked, very puzzled.
"Eleven o'clock," Derek said.
"Oh, my God! It is very late!" I said. "I have very little time, but I will help you search for it. Wait for me, please."
I went to the office room to search for my own project first. When I was already there, I discovered something quite strange.
Beginning by the entrance of the room, a row of rose petals led to a bookshelf that was at the other side. I hastily lifted all of them, fearing someone would suspect. I was entirely sure Erik was responsible for this.
I moved the bookshelf, and there emerged another secret doorway. I ran inside of it and almost instantly I found Erik. He was holding a red rose in one hand, and in the other he had a bunch of papers.
"Good morning, Ellen," he said, and gave me a little kiss.
"Hi, Erik," I answered.
"I heard your friend is searching for this?"
I laughed. "You took it?"
"No, no, I've just found it. Yesterday, when I left you in your room, I got out and went to the corridors, and I found it on the floor. I kept it because I enjoy seeing your friends struggle, and because I wanted to see you."
"Oh, you are so mean!" I said, laughing. "I also wanted to see you," and I kissed him.
"Take this also please,", he said, rising the hand in which he held the rose.
"Thank you,"
"I love you, my angel."
"Sorry, but I have to leave. I have to print my project and get ready for my classes."
"Good luck, my Little Lune."
I ran out swiftly as I heard, each second more distant, the voice of Erik:
"Now I find
A light for all my darkness.
I have her
To fight out all that dimness.
She has given me
A new sense for my life.
I will give her
All the love I can bestow.
Now I'm truly a new, changed man..."
When I was already out of the passage, I moved the bookshelf to its original position. Just as I was finishing, Sophia entered the room, and asked, "What were you doing?"
"I was searching for Fred's project," I answered. "Here it is."
"Oh, thank God! He was getting crazy... What is that?" she asked, pointing at my right hand, where I held the red rose.
"Oh, this? It is.. uh.." I muttered, not knowing any reasonable excuse.
"You are hiding something," she said.
"No, no, it's only... It's just..." I mumbled, numbly.
"Hey, I am not a perfect stranger to you. I am your friend, remember?"
"I know, it's only that..."
"Let's talk when we return, ok?"
"I think it's better to talk tomorrow," I replied. "I am not free until very late, today."
"Ok, but please keep in mind that I am your friend."
"Very well. Take this to Fred," I said, giving her the project.
"Well, bye Ellen," she said, retiring from the room.
I was very nervous. What would Sophia think about this extremely odd situation? What would she say? How would I tell her that I was in love with a perfect stranger? I had to talk with Erik, for sure. I had to ask him for help. I knew that, sooner or later, somebody would discover the bizarre affair in which I was involved, but I never thought of Sophia discovering it so quickly.
I turned on my laptop, and printed my project. I then ran to my room to prepare for classes. I got ready very early, so decided to go walking to the university alone. I left very rapidly, because I did not want anyone to follow me.
On my way, I passed in front of many stores. While I watched the endless display windows, I thought of many things.
Always my life had been very normal, with some difficulties, but never full of mystery or irregularities. But with Erik, uncertainty had come. I did not know what to believe, or what to do. I did not know why I never could get him out of my mind. I knew something was wrong with that entire situation, but I was not brave enough to quit caring for him. Was this my destiny? Was this my choice? Or, was this only a foul play?
All of a sudden, I stopped and stared at an antique jewelry store's window. There were many attractive jewels on display, but one, especially, caught my attention. It was a silver necklace, which had a silver angel full of white crystals. I closed my eyes involuntarily, and sensed a pair of hands parting my hair, and placing that cold collar around it. Abruptly, almost as a real image, I saw it. Shining bright, there it was, the silver angel on my neck. When I regarded that image, I heard, distant, a voice singing:
"Say you won't forget me,
Say it to me, please.
I don't want you to leave me,
But that is... your destiny.
You will have my love
Now and always,
I know I would not
Forget you..."
When I opened my eyes, I felt nervous, and whispered, "Stop placing images in my head!"
Oh, what sick insecurity I felt! Why? Why did I sense so many weird things? Why should I live such strange events? I stared at the window, and the necklace was there, unperturbed. I decided to enter the store, for I desired to ask after its origin.
When I came in, a tall woman spoke to me. "Good afternoon. What are you searching for?"
"I saw a necklace in the window, and I wanted to know where it came from," I answered.
"Which one?" she asked.
"The one with a silver angel," I said.
"That one was found in England. I don't know specifically where, but it is believed that it was manufactured here, in Paris," she said.
"Thank you very much," I said. "Goodbye!" I swiftly got out of the store.
I began to walk briskly down the street, because there were only ten minutes left before the first lesson. Thoughts and doubts once again attacked my mind. Found in England... why there? Had my country some relation with this outlandish affair?
I reached the university just in time. That day I had trouble with paying attention. I made all efforts to concentrate, but my head had so many things to think of...