Chapter 22: Darling

Unknown number: You're dead! Soon!

___

"Lorence, here's your clothes"

"Oh, Erika? Thank you!"

"This is lovely!" she's looking at my white dress.

"You can have that!" I said seriously. I have a lot and I can't wear them always.

"Really? Wow!"

"Yeah! Anyway, let's have our sleepover later!" I said and pick a dress.

"That looks good on you!" she said lively.

"He choose this one!" I sadly utter while looking at my reflection.

"I'll change now, let's have fun later!" I said and go at the comfort room.

He's not here yet, it's my first day at work and I'm excited but the excitement fades away, nervous and
fear were jubilantly replace the feeling that I must feel right at this moment.

Why love cause so much trouble?

I fixed my hair and after that I eat with them but everything's done without Raze, he's not home yet. I
didn't receive any notification from him.

I call but he's not answering, I leave him a message yet I get nothing for the response.



"You're going?" it's mother Sharn.

"Yeah! this is my first day and I don't want to go there late." I explain and smile, I force to smile.

"keep safe!" she added.

"Bye mother Sharn, see you later!" I wave goodbye before entering the shotgun seat.

The trip went smooth and fast.

"Thanks Sebastian!" I said before I close the door.

I sigh before I continue walking. The guard greeted me, it's still Philip. I greet back before heading
inside.

"Good morning Cath!"

"Hi Catherine, Good morning!" they greeted me.

"Good morning guys!" I smile widely, I really feel welcome that made me feel at ease.

I'm smiling, thanks to them.

I check my phone, there's a still no notification from Raze.

I hope he's fine.

"Owh! here's the queen!" it's Liza who run towards me and give me a hug as I reach our room, teams
room to be exact.

"Hi, good morning. Good morning everyone!" I greet them.



I put my bag at my table and sat with everyone at the discussion table. I'm with the team alpha, we
have a project now to create a new game for iOS and Android. We have to create a character now and
we already plan for it so, I go at my cubicle and start with my digital art but yeah! I do first sketch for me
to make it easy.

Around 9am they call me for a break so we went at Litdinner, a place like cafeteria.

"Cath this is one of the reason why I love Texno, imagine the boss is handsome too be honest, please
don't get mad." Cassy said smiling.

"It's fine" I respond and fake a laugh. I'm still worried about Raze.

"Thanks and in addition there's a free snacks and lunch, in noon time there's a free snacks too like
we're a kindergarten class plus there's a free dinner if we have a work overtime" she added with a
smile and others agree then start to tell their experience here in Texno.

I look around to see if there's a shadow of Raze but my sight couldn't find him. I check again my phone
and there's nothing new than Ivor's message. He said good morning and send a picture oh him. That's
it. Raze! What's wrong with you?

He really made me worry.

"Hey! Cath!"

"ah! Yeah?" did I space out?

"I ask if what you want?" Cassy said and chuckle.

"Ah! I'll take iced coffee and chips." I reply and hide my phone.

We occupy a table for six since we're six members in the team.



"Hey! You're okay?"

"Oh! Y-yeah!" I reply at Ranz, he was the only man in the team, he sat at the seat in front of me.

"You're gawk looking at the table while playing your fingernails. Are you sure you're okay?" he added

"A-ah that's just a habit and I'm just sleepy!" I reason out and smile.

I'm really distracted right now, I need to know if he's fine.

While waiting the order Ranz starts to talk to me through sharing his favorite game that Texno ever
created.

A game where it's available on PC and in mobile but in a little bit different in version. The game was
called "The impostor" a game where there's a hundred of task and upgrading, it's a team game and
while doing a task you have to hurry or else the impostors team may found your team and take your
teams life but the twist is that the other members from your team can defend the member who do the
task from the level 1 to eternity level.

If they're able to protect the mind members or the member who do the task then the team may end up
stealing the rivals life and gain gems to upgrade the defense and upgrade the IQ section that instantly
give a hint and map for the next adventure or next task.

"Wow! I love this game" I utter while playing, yeah! I downloaded the game and play it with the team
alpha, luckily the members who can play was minimum of 6. We're playing 6 vs 24 now because
there's a lot of team who can play.

"Shit! Ranz defense!" Cassy yell while still looking at her phone. I'm just doing a task now.

I'm doing a puzzle with a 50 pieces, I guess. It's kinda hard but it's exciting. The game was a mind
game and also fit for all who love action games like using swords and guns... there's a cars and



helicopter too to travel for the next task.

Good thing for this game is that we're just like traveling around while enjoying things.

"Kyaah! Wooah! We play for almost an hour!" Liza stretch her body while I massage my fingers, it feels
numb. I hope my heart too, so it can't feel more pain. :(

"Let's go back guys!" Ranz said like informing us that the break was over.

"Let's go!" they replied lively while I just grab my chips and eat.

The girls were talking about someone I don't know so I end up walking beside Ranz.

"Want some?" I ask him, showing my chips.

"No, enjoy that." he said and smile.

While walking I hear a familiar sound, ah? It's Ranz ringtone.

It's the music from "Darling in Franxx" intitled 'Kiss of Death's produced by Hyde and by Mika
Nakashima.

He answer the call while walking and after the call I can't stop myself from starting a conversation
about his ringtone.

"Yeah! I love that series too. I'm glad that you're an otaku too. I have a friend now to talk about some
topics, you know, common minded conversation." he said, I love it when he's talking because of his
gestures.

"I love Zero two especially when she say Darling!" I said while laughing.

I can still remember Zero Two's voice when she's saying Darling, it was so fresh in my mind.



"LORENCE CATHERINE CELO! Come here!" Is he mad? He just arrived?

"Cath you're called, he looks scary again!" Liza whisper it, intimidated. She said again? So he was
often looks scary?

"Okay! go ahead guys." I said and slowly walks towards Raze, his hands were on his pocket. His eyes
were dark. So,he is literally mad.

What did I do wrong? I can't remember this time.

As I steps my feet was very heavy like walking towards him was against my will.

My heart beats fast, scared and nervous this time.

Scared because I don't know what's wrong, he looks mad and scary and also I'm nervous to know what
happened last night, I'm just really coward or I'm maybe nervous because I'm scared who'll be his
chosen one at the end.

It's Sabrina? Their parents choose them or still he will choose me but I know, his parents maybe
against us.

His father will hate him more if he'll choose me so maybe he'll choose Sabrina without doubt, for peace
and for good.

I have to accept that fact! I have to.

After all, I'm just a beautiful option as of the moment, I guess, I pity for myself.

"You're spacing out, DARLING!"

"Spacing out? Darling? What?" I roll my eyes as I say ask.



"Yeah! you're spacing out!" he snort.

"Darling?" I ask again. I didn't know what he mean or he's just saying that because his tongue slipped!
haysss! I'm jumping into conclusions again. Darn it Lorence!

"Yeah! You call him DARLING!" ah! He's mad because of that?

"I'm not!"

"Denial!" he reprove

"It's an anime we watched! It's Darling in Franxx!" I reason out while calming myself. Damn him!

I didn't complain about them and Sabrina but he's mad just hearing the word 'darling' assuming that I
call Ranz that. He's crazy!

"Okay!" he replied and after that the two of us shut up.

Minutes later, he grab my wrist to pull me without a word. He really loves pulling me? I just noticed.

Where are we going? I sigh and walk naturally beside him. I slowly look at my wrist, his hands that
holds has a bruises.

What happened last night? He's really making me worry. We get inside the elevator, I see, we're going
to his office.

He let my wrist inside the elevator then he cross his arms and lean at the elevators mirror wall. I'm not
used to him being silent, he's scary.

I stole a glance at him, I sigh!

I just realized that I miss his side, his cheerful side.



"Cath?" Cath? he's not calling me love. Well, I have to accept things early.

"Hmm!"

"Nevermind!" he said and look away.

As the elevator opens, he hold my hand and pull me closer with him.

Everyone was looking at is as we walk at the hallway, why this day was so dramatic? Because I choose
it to be?

"Why we're here? What do you need this time?" I ask him seriously and say at the couch. He look so
tensed.

"Cath!"

"What?" I snort, he's driving me crazy! Why he can't continue saying?

"What Raze? Please tell me!" I said in the coldest as I can.

"Ah-" he utter and loosen his necktie. Oh?

"What did you do last night?" I ask, he's making me mad.

"Nothing!"

"Are you sure? Nothing huh?" I'm really holding my temper.

"Yeah! I do nothing love!"

"You're lying Raze!" I chided

"I can't understand you love!"



"I CAN'T UNDERSTAND YOU! Raze! I can't understand you!" I yell.

"Love--"

"Why you have a HICKEY! huh? You do nothing! It doesn't make sense Raze! That's bullshit!" I yell,
suddenly, my tears did flow silently and I can't stop them. He is cheating. He is cheating!

"That's not what you think, love let me exp--"

"Explain Raze? Explain? The hickey is an enough evidence that you had a--"

"Enough! love please listen to me! Please!"

"Don't touch me!" I said between my sobs. My chest aches like it's stopping me to breathe and it feels
like my lungs are going to collapse. It's very painful.

I hold my chest, holding my shirt tight like it can comfort me.

"Love please! Listen to me..." he's begging, I force to wipe my tears and laugh mockingly.

"Ha! Sorry Raze! Sorry because it's just our second day but we already had our lovers quarrel. Girls
are complicated right?" I said and laugh like crazy again.

"Love sorry!"

"Sorry? it can't remove your hickey! Shame on you, Raze!" I chided and stand. He held my hand,
saying sorry again.

"I don't want to see you for now! I have to go!" I coldly say.

"Let me explain please!"



"I'm not ready yet Raze, I'm not yet ready to hear an answer if I'll ask you who I am to you, I'm scared
for your possible answer. For now, give me a space and I'll give you peace too, I want you to decide
who will be the one you're going to choose and the one who's really worth for your fight!" I said and
give him a small smile before I hurriedly go out to his office.

I left him inside and he didn't even dare to follow me. Tsk! My heart, I can feel my heart. It's dying
inside. I never feel love this sudden and I never feel a heartbreak this fast too, honestly, he is my first
boyfriend and he is my first pain.

I can't believe that he can do this.

I wanna hear his explanations but I'm not really ready yet, I'm scared to hear a truth from him. I'm really
scared.

Gush! My tears wants to go out from my eyes again.

Love's really unfair or the fate itself was the real cruel.

The fate maybe didn't receive my letter.

I go back at my cubicle and continue doing my job. My teammates notice something so they keep
asking if I'm fine and yeah! I love to lie now. I said I'm fine and I'm just so sleepy, my lame excuses.

At lunch time Raze came at our room and ask me to eat with him but I said that I don't have the
appetite.

I simply ask him to leave without making others to suspect about our actions, without letting others
know that we're not in good condition. I hate him!

After that he didn't insist but he floods me with his messages and voice messages on Instagram, he
also sent his video, he is trying to make laugh.



Honestly, I can't resist him but his mistake was holding me to accept his apologies easily.

"Ma'am Catherine, delivery for you." a man was looking around before bhe look at me.

"I didn't order anything!" yeah! didn't go out for lunch too because I said that I don't have the appetite. I
don't want to Raze to see me at the Litdinner, I don't want him to caught me lying.

"What's that?" I added

"Milktea, a spicy fried chicken, chicken nuggets and omorice. Here!" he said and put two paper bags at
my table. I was preoccupied, I was thinking why I have a food delivery.

"Who ordered?"

"You can see WHO at the note ma'am! Please sign this anyway!" he said in all smile and show me a
little logbook.

"Do I really have to sign that? That's weird!" I complain but still, I sign it.

I'm really suspecting this man. I really feel suspicion.

"Thanks, lastly, can I have your picture with the food?" he ask again so I just nod so he can leave
already. I didn't ask why since they need a proof that I received that delivery, I guess.

I pull out everything what's inside the paper bag and I suddenly starve, they are all my favorite.

I read the note.

"Enjoy eating, I'm watching you! After eating, please go at the next lower floor in open room 19 but use
stairs only. You can proceed, if you don't eat. ~Ice "

This is from Raze? Maybe! Well, I don't care.



This is all mine so I can eat everything. I pull a chair and put my feet above it, it's way too chilly than
sitting in ordinary position, well, that's for me and I don't care if I'm doing that though I'm wearing dress.
No one's around.

I eat since I already starve. Thanks, I'm really full. I do t know but I follow what's written on the note.

I'm walking downstairs with a surprise on my face. There's a petals of roses, LED lights on the edges of
the stairs and with a lovely music coming from the floor 19, I guess.

I don't know what's going on but there's a lot of people as I arrive. I just look at them questioning like
what? What are they doing? I hear a beep, it's from my phone, I received a message and it is from
unknown bnumber.

"It's started with the letter after 'R' and that letter will complete a word. Click the link below to watch the
video."

Someone give me a chair so I sat and click the link.

The video what started by an anime opening. Oh? it's the opening of Darling in Franxx. I miss it. My
eyes was pierced at the screen of my phone.

"My love! I'm sorry! I love you!" that was the words popped up after the opening.

It's a short animated video. there is a busy man, wearing a tuxedo with the letter R that stitched on his
left coat.

It's Raze. He was the busy man at the video. The sun hides and there moon show, then after, the sun
rises like it's time lapsed. So, it's the next day already.

"BRTTTFRSDXXEENNGGCCCCCHHHHH" that's the sound of the cars brake.



There's a girl wearing a maroon dress, walking at the center lane.

Damn, is this our story? Yeah! it is! The story continues the way like how we know each other. I love it.
Somehow, it calms my emotion.

Suddenly, there's a chaos. Oh? OMG.

The music The kiss of death's starts playing together with Raze's entrance between the crowd as Hiro
of Darling in Franxx. He cosplay Hiro and he even have a blue horn.

He is so cool. I didn't expect that he could do this just for asking apology.

"Love!" he hand me a beautiful bouquet of flowers and who am I to reject that? I accept it without a
word but actually my heart is celebrating.

"I'm really sorry love, please forgive me." he said loudly and even his employees was cheering for him.

They're all shouting "Forgive the boss, Lorence!" "Real boss, forgive the boss, yieee!" they really
support him. Aish!

"Darling, please forgive me!" he said and hold my hand.

I look at everyone, do I have a refuse when he already win?

"Fine!" I said

"You sounds like you're forced!" he said and make a sad face.

"What do you want me to say then?" I snort

"It's up to you, just make it more believable!" he said and laugh.



"Okay! Apology accepted!" I said and fake a smile. Actually I don't know what to feel. All I know, I'm not
mad anymore.

Everyone was clapping after hearing what I said, it's a big deal?

Raze tell me to listen because he will explain everything but I refuse. Not now I'm not really ready yet.

I just excuse myself after that because I still have a work. I arrived at our room being teased by my
teammates, I ever knew that the video I watched was also played at all PC. Yeah! They tease me about
that .

I start my digital art with a smile on my face.

4pm was my out from work so I go out, planning to buy some snacks for later and while walking at
overpass I received a call from Raze.

"Where are you? I check you at your cubicle but you're not there. Your teammates said that you already
leave. You didn't inform me." is he scolding me? He sounds like one.

"I'm not a kid, okay?"

"I know, my point is you should inform me, that's what at least you can do. Where are you?" he ask
again.

"I'm here at VM just to buy some stuffs!"

"Okay, see me at the office later!" Why he's so bossy? Well,he is a boss.

"I'm tired!" I reason out

"Then I'll go at VM, bye!" Fudge! Why he's acting that way? Aish! it seems like I can't stop him.



I walk fast and find the grocery area as I arrived VM, VM is a big mall infront the Texno. I get some
Pringles, Nova, Piatos, popcorns and some crackers. For drinks, I only get yakult, Chuckie and some
bottled soda.

I hurriedly pay because I'm planning to hide so after that I rush at the exit when...

"ouch! Can you please look at-- oh?"

"Look at what?" he utter seriously.

My heart thudded maybe because I was surprised.

"Nothing!" I said and pick the plastic bag that fall from my hand.

"Give me that!" he said and grab the bags.

"You don't have to do this, I already forgive you!" I whisper

"What?"

"Nothing!" I said and look away.

He bring his car so I hop in.

"We're going home!"

"K!" I boredly reply

"What are this stuff for?"

"What are foods for?" I roll my eyes and look outside the window.



He is asking if what's up but I couldn't answer, I can't accept to myself that I'm still affected about what I
saw earlier.

"I thought we're fine now!" he said

"I don't want you to be embarrassed infront of them all" I answer sadly, still looking at the window.

"Did you wait yesterday?"

"No, Why should I?" I responded

"I can't blame you but you won't listen"

"I'm not ready to hear your explanation Raze, I'm not ready to hurt myself!" Aish! Why I'm in teary eyes
now?

"L-love I'm not going to hurt you!" his words made me look at him.

"You already did!" I said, looking straight at himfora second since he look back at the road.

"Love~!" he didn't continue. I just lean at the backrest and close my eyes, playing asleep.

"Love, we're already here!" he said.

I get my stuff and bring it myself.

"Thanks for the ride!" I said and leave first.

I stop to talk with the girls and they're happy about my quick announcement.

I change after and go out to see the huskies.

"I miss you babies!" I said and walk beside brix.



We're at the backyard,as always. I'm holding a stick and I move it side to side while Vyan was playing,
trying to bite the stick. They made me happy.

"Booo~"

"FUCK!" I was terrified, my heart did jump out of little surprise.

"Raze! What are you doing?" I chided out of nervousness.

"I'm sorry!" he said and suddenly hug me. Aish!

Why my heart also behave for him?

"Don't touch me! You're terrible and YUCK!"

"Fuck! We didn't SEX! okay? You have your dirty mind!"

"Because you show me the evidence!" I fired back.

We're at the backyard,as always. I'm holding a stick and | move it side to side while Vyan was playing,
trying to bite the stick. They made me happy.

“Booo~"

"FUCK!" | was terrified, my heart did jump out of little surprise.
"Raze! What are you doing?" | chided out of nervousness.
"I'm sorry!" he said and suddenly hug me. Aish!

Why my heart also behave for him?

"Don't touch me! You're terrible and YUCK!"

"Fuck! We didn't SEX! okay? You have your dirty mind!"

"Because you show me the evidence!" | fired back.



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