Mr. Hephephobias

CHAPTER 70 - The Aroma of Petrichor

Since the completion of Hypnotherapy until the afternoon Rayn was still in the painting room. Lucia who still has time off from working at the Cafe spends all her time at the Villa accompanying Rayn. Lucia makes a cup of chamomile tea that can help Rayn to relax and calm her mind.

Lucia stood in front of Rayn's painting room with a tray in her hand. Although he already knew the password to be able to directly enter the room, but Lucia wanted to give privacy space for Rayn at this time.

Lucia knocked on the door and called out Rayn's name, only intending to ask permission whether Rayn would let her in or still need some time alone.

“Come” replied Rayn from indoors.

“Are you okay?” asked Lucia by giving her the cup of tea she brought.

Rayn grabbed the cup from Lucia's hand with a smile. “Don't worry, I'm fine” he replied.

Rayn grabbed a wooden chair not far from her seat, then she shifted it closer and asked Lucia to sit down. Rayn wanted to be honest and tell her what had happened. He knew Lucia would be more worried about him if she didn't know anything. And he must have been wondering about it.

“I don't know where to start, but I'm sure you'll understand” Rayn said by brewing tea in her hand.

Lucia smiled and sat down to listen to Rayn. Rayn begins to tell Lucia about the accident and new facts about the cause of her mother's death that she finds in her memory.

“On the night of the accident, the Canadian police said it was purely a single accident and they suspected a possible suicide attempt by my mother. Although the police said it, but my father and I never believed that mom would do it.”

“In the memory that I got on the night of the fireworks party that time, it turned out that everything was not true. My mother never tried to commit suicide as they say. But, it was more terrifying than the action

bunu selves.”

“Things are like a nightmare to me. I remember, I saw clearly a man I still didn't know who killed my mother. Right in front of my eyes when we were helpless. I thought he was coming to save us, so I tried to ask him for help. But he didn't come for it. He came to take my mother's life and mine. I still do not remember and do not know how I survived, which I remember only until the moment he was going to hit me at that time.”

“Rayn...” said Lucia by grabbing Rayn's hand after hearing that terrible thing. Lucia grasped it and placed the hand on her lap to give Rayn strength if she would always be there for him.

Rayn stared at how Lucia's hand was holding her hand, then looked back at Lucia. “You know what makes things harder for me?” ask Rayn lirih.

With a sad look Rayn continued her words. “In the accident, I lost my phone. I don't think it's impossible if I lose it because of an accident. But a few years ago I accidentally saw Mickey had that phone, he saved it.”

“Mickey?” tanya Lucia cut out Rayn's words.

“Eeemm... “ replied Rayn nodded.

“I never asked him, I waited for Mickey to tell me himself. And until then, I still never put any suspicion on him” Rayn said.

“But...” Rayn stopped her speech and lowered her head. “When I got my memory, I saw clearly the man who killed my mother had my phone. I see it if the guy brings my phone” he continued.

Lucia clasped Rayn's hand in her lap. “What's why at the time of hypnotherapy you went back to the moment when you were with Mickey?” ask Lucia.

"You're right, there's something I want to make sure of. What he knows and what he hides from me. I just found an answer if Mickey asked me and my mom not to go" Rayn replied.

“Why don't you ask him directly?” ask Lucia.

“Because I'm too cowardly..” replied Rayn.

Rayn looked back at Lucia. “I really want to uncover the facts, but I'm afraid the reality is more painful than what I think” said Rayn.

"Rayn, it's because he's Mickey, because that guy is Mickey. You never thought he would be there. In hypnotherapy you want to convince and show yourself if you can still believe it as Dr. Leona. And you did it because you care so much about him” said Lucia.

“You're right, I was thinking about quitting, but I felt it would be very unfair to my mom” Rayn said.

“I believe that Mickey will not betray you and that's what you also want to believe instead of”.

Lucia asks Rayn to brew some more of the chamomile tea she makes. “May I know who Mickey really is in this family? Seeing that you care so much for him, I'm sure he's also part of the people who matter in your life. And so does Mickey, I see he's always trying to protect you.”

“Mickey?” rayn asked as if he was thinking.

Lusia nodded “For the time being I thought if she was a confidant of your mother or father to look after you” said Lucia.

"How should I call it. All this time, Mickey was like a piece of rope that tied me and my father. He's the one who keeps fighting and holding on to not breaking up as my father and I move away."

"He is the one who has promised to be faithful to me but also to remain faithful to my father. When my relationship with my father became bad. I'm sure it was a hard time for him to be among us.”

“That's what he'll always do. Until the end, that was the path he chose for us. A person who refuses to be part of the big Anderson” family said with a serious look as he uttered it.

“Family? Do you and Mickey really have any family ties? Why did he do it?” ask Lucia.

“Because that's what he promised himself” Rayn replied.

“Why does he promise like that?” ask Lucia.

“We never asked for it, but that's what Mickey himself wanted. For him, that's what he had to do. He felt I was the one who had given way to him free from his horrible life and my father the one who saved him”

“Free from his horrible life? I still don't understand” asked Lusia.

“You want to go sightseeing looking for fresh air?” ask Rayn.

Lucia was still sitting and just staring at Rayn. Lucia thought that Rayn would again and again switch their conversation. Rayn opened the window curtain. "The rain has just stopped, they will definitely leave a trail that we can enjoy" Rayn said looking out from behind the window.

“You know if I won't turn down” replied Lucia then stood up from her seat. This time Lucia felt that she did not want to force Rayn to answer her curiosity now.

Rayn smiled and extended her hand to Lucia. “I will not divert our conversation" said Rayn knew what Lucia was thinking.

"It's okay if you still don't want to say it" Lucia said.

"I know it's gonna be a little hard for you to understand why Mickey has that loyalty. I will tell you who Mickey really is and how he can be in this family” said Rayn by grabbing Lucia's hand and holding her out of the room.

They also went down the stairs to get out of the villa to enjoy the air outside. “Are you going somewhere? I will prepare mobil” Arka said when seeing Rayn and Lucia.

“No need, I just take a short walk” Rayn said.

“Good Muda” replied Arka positioning herself behind Lucia and Rayn to follow them.

“You don't need to follow us” Rayn's orders.

Arka without being confused, she glanced at Lucia. Lucia nods to code Arka to comply with Rayn's request. The understanding Arka finally agreed to it and stayed at the Villa.

Rayn and Lucia walk through the streets of the Villa surrounded by pine forest. Rayn was still holding onto Lusia's hand which was walking right next to her following the rhythm of her footsteps.

"What trail can we enjoy?" ask Lucia.

"Petrichor's scent." said Rayn.

"Aroma Petrichor ?" asked Lucia who felt foreign to the word Rayn said.

"The smell of wet soil from the first rain. You know, in Greek, Petrichor means stone and liquid flowing through the veins of the gods" Rayn replied.

Lucia stopped her steps trying to inhale the scent by closing her eyes. "The smell of wet soil from the first rain." he murmured.

Rayn stared at Lucia's beautiful face as she closed her eyes enjoying the scent left behind by the rain. Rayn smiled as she looked at Lucia Lucia's sweet smile.

"Great grace" Rayn said in her heart.

Lucia opened her eyes and continued her steps back. "A soothing aroma" he said.

"The scent that Mickey and my mom liked, they liked it a lot. Therefore, every time after the rain, my mother always took Mickey for a walk around" said Rayn smiling at the moment.

"You must love him very much" Lucia said.

"I? Who?" ask Rayn.

"Mickey, you must have loved him very much" Lucia said.

"I think so, without me knowing I love him so much" Rayn said.

"Because what you have so far is all good memories of him" said Lucia.

"With Mickey's presence, he always gives me happiness. He always does everything he can to protect me. That's what I have about him. But, he only keeps bitter memories in his life" said Rayn.

"Bitter memories? Is that about that horrible life you said?" ask Lucia.

Rayn felt that the suffering she experienced was still not comparable to the tragic memories Mickey had. But Mickey always looks strong and never complained about it to himself and his mother. He always said okay.

Mickey Salalu became a more mature person than Rayn. Even the words Ryan never forgot from Mickey to him.

~ Don't be afraid, I will always protect you. It will also be my redemption that fails to protect her~

Rayn knows exactly who Mickey is referring to, who Mickey failed to protect. Rayn knew it was Mickey's biggest injury of his life. Therefore Rayn did not ask or discuss it with Mickey.

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*** To Be Continued***

What kind of horrible life does Mickey have ?

Look forward to the next CHAPTER of Reader....^^