Mr. Hephephobias

Chapter 31 - Stalker ?

Reisa and Lucia were curious as to who the man was and what the meaning of the message he wrote for Lucia was.

“You sure you don't know him?” ask Reisa.

“If we know each other, why do you think he did not say hello and immediately gave it to me” replied Lucia re-read the written message.

Reisa tries to guess the message written leads to the incident that Lusia just experienced last night. The message showed that the man was sorry because he was late so he could not help Lucia and he was also angry with people who had hurt Lucia.

“Did anyone else know about the incident Lucia? Is that guy Rayn?” reisa asked Lucia with a suspicious expression. Lucia brushes him off because she believes Mickey will not break his promise by telling Rayn.

“Then who else if not him, I'm sure it's him” firmly Reisa forced her belief to Lucia.

“I'm sure it's not him, you know why? OK, I explain to you” said Lucia while positioning her seat facing Resia

“One, Rayn's condition is very unlikely to allow him to come here alone let alone until popcorn. Although he forced himself, less work once to follow us here” said Lucia by brandishing one index finger counting sign.

“Two, he is a man who thinks critically, outspoken and hates something troublesome, mysterious messages like this are not his style at all” continued Lucia by brandishing two fingers.

Three, this is definitely” he continued shaking his head. “I know very well what the posture of Rayn and the man was, although from behind it is very clear he is not Rayn" continued Lucia.

"Four, maybe you think he could have asked someone else to do it. And if he was, that guy would have been none other than Mickey. But Mickey is a guy who likes to the point. So, it is very unlikely that he will arrange for people just to convey the message that he lives to say long ago. Ok, do you understand now?” lusia asked Reisa who had focused on listening to her and was only suspicious of Rayn.

“You're right, it makes sense. Why now makes me creep. Lucia are you sure you don't have any problems with anyone other than those loan sharks?” resia asked, getting anxious.

“This is not about people who have problems with me or vice versa, but is not this more precisely like.. ” replied Lucia doubtfully.

“Aaaaa... “ chirps Reisa with mouth agape.

“Stalker” says Lusia and Reisa together.

“Ah is impossible, can't we just consider her a fan?" continued Lucia with forced laughter. So far, my private life has not been disrupted. So, it has not reached the level of stalker” said Lucia comforted herself to lower her anxiety.

"You're right. All right, the movie's starting soon. Just leave the popcorn here” invite Reisa to pull the arm of Lucia then she tore the paper message and throw it in the trash.

***

At Villa, Mickey is currently in the reading room with Rayn. Rayn looks busy in front of her computer. While Mickey sat on the couch engrossed in playing games on his phone. Rayn had said she was busy painting her room because she wanted to give Lucy time to calm down with her best friend.

“Sometimes you surprise me. I wonder why that night you prevented me from giving the Bar lady some money? I think it's a quick way to get Lucia out of there” Mickey said stopping the game asking Rayn.

Rayn who had been busy typing immediately glanced at Mickey stopping his fingers. “Didn't Lucia have decided to stop by itself, so what do you want to discuss now? There is no point in me answering your curiosity” Rayn replied casually as if assuming that this has passed.

“It is true that Lucia has decided to get out of that bar by herself, even before I actually gave the woman a money guarantee to get Lusia out of there. I guess it doesn't matter to you by giving him a reward, but it turns out you're stingy as well” Mickey shook his head and continued to play the game.

Recalling the scenario that night at the Bar, Mickey meets Mami Rere to ask him to take Lusia out of the job, but the woman refuses because Lusia's beauty is a purse of money for him. He felt that he would lose a lot if he just let Lucia go.

Rejected by Mami Rere, Mickey plans to give him some money as compensation, but Rayn bans it and asks Mickey to keep enough watch and keep Lusia. Not in the concomitant turns out that Lucia experienced a heartbreaking incident so that by itself he decided to stop because of the incident of violence and abuse that he experienced.

“I still remember you shouting at me out loud don't be stupid! what is stupid? It was our one-on-one path before learning of Lucia's decision to stop” Mickey grumbled regardless of Rayn.

“What do you mean by buy it?” mickey asked again to stop the game.

“That's why I said you were stupid!” rayn replied with a disappointed look if this trusted man sometimes did not understand the situation.

“I just don't understand what you mean by buying it?” ask Mickey.

“You want me to release a valuable item? If you want, you have to pay well. Isn't it obvious that's what the bar lady meant? Then you're gonna get into the hole by giving him the money?” ask Rayn.

“But, it's not a big thing for you right?” ask Mickey back.

“If you talk money of course it's not a problem for me. But, if I give him the money it means I've redeemed him. Making up for it means I've exchanged it for the money. If I exchange it for money indirectly it means I buy it. Lucia is a woman not an item, how can you make a deal with money. The deal will not only hurt his pride but also his feelings” Rayn replied seriously.

“Wah... “ said Mickey stood up to Rayn. “Are you really the Rayn I know?” ask Mickey to pat Rayn on the shoulder. However, Rayn quickly grabs the book on her desk to filter out Mickey's hands that are close to her.

“Didn't you love your hand?” rayn asked after filtering Mickey's hand.

Mickey just laughed awkwardly. “I'm too often and used to seeing you very relaxed with Lucia. So, I feel like everything is fine, ” replied Mickey to talk about Rayn's phobia. He stroked his hand on the edge of Rayn with a book and then sat back down.

“I've decided, go find out the financial problems that Lusia faced” orders Rayn standing from her seat.

“Eemm, which I know he spends his time just working means he must always be in a state of lack of money. Then what kind of trouble do you want to know?” ask Mickey.

“Wah, are you really the Mickey I know?” rayn asked, copying Mickey's words to him earlier.

Rayn explains to Mickey that it's like he's missing a connection in his brain. As they knew all along Lusia only survived working in Flower shops and Cafes. But suddenly he forced himself to work at the Bar which he obviously knew was difficult for him. Something must have happened that was urgent and required him to earn money quickly.

“If so I just need to ask him kan” Mickey said.

“If he would accept your help, he would have already looked for you and asked for a salary upfront” said Rayn.

“You're right, I still don't understand why he never looked for me to ask him if it turns out he was in need of money huh?” ask Mickey.

“Do not waste time guessing, just do what I ask” replied Rayn prepared to leave the reading room.

“Alright, I'll arrange it for you. I also want to know the big thing what else you're going to do for him” Mickey said with a smile teasing Rayn.

“Actually I'm also curious why do you care so much about him so far? What do-don't you.. “ further seduced Mickey. “But if I continue not only books, but the notebook in your hand that will float towards me. Haha” led Mickey with an awkward laugh.

“If it bothers you, you just fire him” Rayn replied by walking away from Mickey to his room.

"Of course there's no way that's happening” Mickey shouted. “Didn't he know how hard I took Lucia here” Mickey grumbled at a man who never seemed to be disturbed by his jokes at all.

Mickey is still astonished and does not understand Rayn's attitude towards Lucia. He seems to care a lot but also sometimes casually says it doesn't matter if Mickey fires him.

*** To Be Continued***