Mr. Hephephobias

CHAPTER 04 - The Meeting That Night

Psithurism Art is a painting gallery owned by David's father that has 5 floors. The Gallery building is not only used for painting exhibitions, but they also open painting courses for children.

Indeed, painting is not a field that is in David, he only helps the father run the office of his Gallery. David's father is a businessman who is also the CEO of Golden Group Company. The gallery was just one of the businesses his father owned because of his love of painting. This place is precisely what makes David have many opportunities to spend time with his girlfriend Reisa.

It has been quite a while since Lucia decided to continue looking at some paintings on the second floor that have been filled with several visitors. "Today is quite crowded, what because of some new paintings" murmured Lucia.

“Ting.. Ting..” sounds beep mobile phone Lusia, indicating there is a WhatsApp message coming in.

“You're still not back?“ whatsapp message from Dave to Lucia.

“Okay, how is this ? because it was too busy, I forgot if I still had to go back to the cafe. Even I brought a Cafe” car, said Lucia began to panic after reading a message from Dave, her co-worker at Friends Cafe.

“I'll be right back, wait for me. I'll make sure it's there before you go home. Sorry Dave !_!)”  reply Lusia.

“Alright, don't worry. I can wait and help replace Kak Lucia's shift. If it still takes time you can wear it. Don't worry, I don't have any other schedule. Kak Lucia has helped me a lot so this is not how much ^” Dave replied. This should have entered his return schedule, but he decided to wait for Lucia.

“Wahh..., he is really reliable at times like this. I will repay your kindness Dave” said Lucia while putting her phone in a bag.

“He doesn't need to apologize" Dave said inwardly with a smile after sending his last message to Lucia, then he resumed his work at the Cafe.

Dave is a part-time worker at Friend’s Cafe. He still sits in High School. Dave has a lot of respect for Lucia. To him, the help he provided was still not comparable to what many Lucia had done for him. Lucia has always treated Dave well like her own sister.

Lucia rushed away leaving the second floor to return to the Cafe. But suddenly he had to stop his footsteps because instantly all his opponents became pitch black. He could only hear a small commotion from the visitors who were on the second floor.

“What happened…? Dead lights…? how can a gallery of this size turn off the lamp“ grumbled Lucia by staying calm while palpating reach for her phone to turn on the flashlight feature. Lucia tried to walk slowly to get a way out to the emergency stairs.

“Everything, we kindly keep quiet on the spot. We apologize for the inconvenience” said a staff member trying to calm visitors.

“There was a problem with our electric power and our security officers encountered a slight obstacle when turning on the generator. It will only take a short time, we beg to be patient” continued another staff while illuminating visitors with emergency charge lights. Not a few visitors who complain because the lights do not turn on.

“Brakkk.... !”

There was the sound of falling objects allegedly one of the paintings followed by a commotion from a screaming visitor.

“Hei… ! What the hell are you doing? you pushing me?“ a man shouted to a man who looked panicked and completely ignored him. The man only repeatedly said not to approach while trying to lean his body against the wall.

“Do not approach...!!!” said it.

“Please stay away from me” he continued by continuing to hold the chest looking to endure the pain.

The young man who kept asking people to get away from him was named Rayn. The lights are still not on, all curious visitors are getting closer and closer. They are trying to find out what is going on even if only armed with light from the flashlight feature on their respective phones.

“Master, are you okay?” ask one of the Gallery staff trying to get close and try to help. However, with a face that already looked pale, Rayn actually dodged and set her feet away to avoid the crowd of visitors.

One of the visitors who snapped at him was increasingly upset because he felt constantly ignored by Rayn. He felt that Rayn had been arrogant. The visitor tried to stop Rayn's steps by pulling her shirt from behind.

“Hey, where are you going**an.. !” his yell.

“I told you not to touch me .. !” rayn shouted back, grabbing his hand until the man slammed onto the floor.

Seeing this, Rayn apologized. “I'm sorry, and please stop touching me !“ rayn apologized for not wanting to hurt anyone. Rayn who was getting more helpless tried to reach the wall to lean her body.

Other visitors who still did not understand the situation remained surrounding Rayn, thus forcing Rayn to continue begging. “Didn't you guys listen to me? please..., please stay away from me and don't touch me“ he said in an increasingly limp voice.

Hearing those words and seeing Rayn's reaction made other visitors no longer dare to come closer and just whisper to each other. On the one hand they seem pity and want to help and on the other hand they consider Rayn is not sane or drunk.

Lucia who was still trying to make sense of the situation could only be dumbfounded due to the dark conditions and there were only the spotlight lights from some of the visitors' phones.

The situation was getting more chaotic, it appeared that a female staff of the Gallery was panicking because they could not contact the security officers. "Why no one answered my call" he said.

The man continued to curse Rayn with a fist ready to hit Rayn again. Rayn just looked down with pain in. The man was about to throw his punch back. Seeing what the man was going to do, Lucia immediately ran over and stood right in front of Rayn by stretching out her hands.

“Please stop... !!!” Shouted Lucia.

“Can't you see if he can't fight you anymore? Please, stop ...!“ Lucia asked the big-bodied man in front of her by blocking her from hitting Rayn again.

Seeing the man holding back his punch, Lucia immediately turned towards Rayn, she removed the jacket she was wearing to cover Rayn's head.

Ryan who was already very helpless against fear, anxiety and panic tried to keep Lucia's body away from him, but Lucia actually hugged Ryan and gave a small light from her phone.

“Calm down, everything will be fine. You will be fine” said Lucia by still hugging and patting small shoulders Rayn. "Focus on the light I give you" he continued.

Lucia then looked towards the visitor. “Can you leave us. Seeing him seem frightened, anxious, and panicked it seemed like he was suffering from a phobia of something. Maybe because of the dark or the crowd.” said Lucia pleading for understanding to other visitors.

“I'm sure he has no intention to hurt anyone“ continued said Lucia who also asked for understanding to the man who had hit Rayn.

“Hahh... ! Let's just say I was unlucky today” umpat the man and then leave Rayn and Lucia. Lucia could only retaliate by lowering her head apologizing while still hugging Rayn.

Not long after the lights were on, visitors slowly left the second floor assisted by referrals from the Gallery staff. The staff unceasingly apologized to one by one the visitors about the incident . Some visitors understand that what happens is not a deliberate intention to make them uncomfortable. But not a few also visitors who leave the Gallery with scorn for the service and security that is not good from Psithurism Art Gallery.

“We apologize for the inconvenience” said a staff member, lowering his head, allowing visitors to enter the elevator one by one while holding the elevator button open.

Lucia was relieved, she tried to convince Rayn that the situation was fine and now there was no one around except her and Rayn.

“Are you starting to feel better? Can I open the jacket ?" lusia asked but did not get an answer from Rayn.

"Do we need to go to the hospital?" ask Lucia.

“Or wait a minute, I will ask for water for you” continued, said Lucia releasing her embrace and trying to stand up.

“Don't go..!”

Rayn's voice softly sounded as she grabbed onto Lucia's arm to hold her back. “Only a moment, can you stay here for a moment?“ pinta Ryan was getting stronger with Lucia's arm.

“Why? is anyone injured?” lusia asked as she tried to open the jacket that covered Rayn's head. Rayn did not answer, hugging Lucia tightly and leaning her chin on Luisa's shoulder.

“Please...” said Rayn closed her eyes.

***To Be Continued***

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