Zoe by Miu

"Where are you going?"

Estela grabbed my hand when I zoomed towards that boy with a black mask.

"I . . . I . . ."

I didn't look at Estela. My eyes lock on that boy, afraid I might lose him in the crowd.

When I saw him exiting the Casino, I panicked.

I shook my hand from Estela's grasp and ran towards the exit.

"I'm sorry, Estela! I have to go! Go back on your own! I'll call you!"

"Zoe!"

I didn't mind Estela's frantic calls, nor the people's curious stares, nor the mask which fell out of my face, nor I almost slid down from the stairs.

"FOLLOW THAT FUCKING CAR!"

The driver must have sensed I was ready to kill him if he didn't listen to me as he quickly drove and follow the boy's car.

----

What am I doing?

I bit my lower lip. I was sitting at the lobby in a hotel, waiting for the boy to come out, ignoring all the glances thrown at me.

You're not even sure if he's indeed THAT boy.

Even so. I continued to wait.

The boy's hair and built were the same as I remembered it.

It's my only lead. I'll have to see his face!

I was shifting from standing and sitting for some time. Unsure of what to do.

It was already an hour, and I sensed that anytime soon, the guards would shoo me away. They must think that I was crazy, hopping between standing and sitting while in a peacock dress.

I don't care.

I don't care at all.

Eventually, I could no longer hold the suspense and agony anymore –– I walked towards the reception.

Just as I was about to shamelessly ask the room number of that boy, the elevator dinged, and my eyes flew to the young man who came out.

I was electrified, couldn't think as my heart beat faster and faster. My blood was out of control as my dizziness. My legs were paralyzed on the spot as my muscles tightened while my stomach and intestines were twisting like I had diarrhea, LBM, and constipation all at once.

When our gaze met, his deep brown eyes were surprised, yet it quickly returned to its calm, mysterious glint.

I thought my heart would leap out from my mouth, so I kept my lips tight.

He sauntered toward me. I was suffocating and realized I forgot to breathe. I didn't know what to do as I was having seizures at the moment.

"H-h-h-how . . ."

I didn't finish my sentence as he was just inches apart from me. He then turned to face the reception lady and gave out a card.

"Everything is done. Thank you for staying with us," the reception lady said, all smiles.

The boy nodded and walked to a well-built man, and without even glancing at me, they left the lobby.

W-what happened? Didn't he recognize me?

Unable to accept the outcome. I sprinted out of the hotel and found the young boy together with his male companion inside a car and drove off.

Fudge!

I rushed again to the nearest taxi stand, roaring.

"FOLLOW THAT FUCKING CAR!"