LEERA POV

The man dropped me my home without any word and I didn't even dare to speak to him. I can't even express in words how lighthearted I felt when I finally stepped in my house.

Everything happened tonight were so surprising. I feel like crying thinking about it again. What if they killed us? Or what if those were actually his men and he made them pretend like that to terrify me? No that's inconceivable. But his doings are literally unthinkable too.

I really thought it's the last day of my life. I won't be able to see tomorrow's sun. Anytime a bullet will pass through my head and I'll lay there lifeless on my own blood. I don't even want to think what else I imagined in that short amount of time which actually felt like a few hours probably. I'm just so glad that I'm still breathing. Still alive.

When he bought me to that remote place I was so petrified. Only I knew my own condition, How shaken I was that time. And again there was the fear what he would do to me as he bought me there. But I was firm that even after whatever happened I won't act like an impotent person in front of him anymore. I ain't weak. I ain't impotent.

I closed my eyes, laying straight on the bed. A lone drop of tear made it's way off my eyes down my cheek. What else can anyone expect from a person who escaped death twice? Death was so near to me. I felt helpless everytime. I felt impotent. How am I strong?

My phone buzzed up breaking my thoughts apart. I wiped off my face, getting up and looked at my phone screen which was on my bedside table. It showed the caller name Levi. I took a deep breath and took the phone in my hand. I made sure of calming myself before picking up the call.

"Hey cupcake!" He sounded joyous.

"Hii" I muttered. Even after trying I couldn't make myself sound that better.

"What's the great panda doing?" He asked teasingly. "Missing you" I murmured the actual truth. His voice made me miss him. I feel so down but I know that he could make me feel better anyhow. I just needed him beside me. When you feel that you need someone it makes you miss them even more.

"Do you want me to come over?" He enquired but his tone is still frivolous. "No. I was kidding" saying that I laid on my bed again holding the phone to my ear.

"Why do you sound down?" He asked again and I bit my lip so that my unpleasant sob doesn't leave my mouth. Why is it that when someone asks you about your condition while you're really in an unfortunate condition, it makes you feel even more painful? Doesn't sharing pain lessens pain? But it's the opposite for me. It feels like sharing my pain is like a burden to the other person and it also feels like an agony that the same person will feel that pain because they consider you a close person.

"I'm alright. Just sleepy" I uttered when I was sure my sobs won't oblige my words. "Then goodnight I guess?" His voice turned low. "Can't we talk more?" Talking to him made me feel safe. He's like a healing to my pain. Isn't that best friend for? He has always been there for me but it's just me who feels like I'm burdening my sufferings on him.

"Panda said she's sleepy" he asserted plainly but I could feel that grin on his face through the phone. "I ain't sleepy anymore. Talk to me" I wanted to feel usual like nothing happened and gladly he always made me feel like that. From childhood till now.

"Alright. As the panda says" Hearing him a tiny smile formed on my face again.

...................

My eyes trailed on the mirror watching my own reflection with a slight smile. The black graduation dress, made me feel so bright. Lastly I settled my black graduate hat on my head. I still can't believe I'm being graduated today! Finally!!

I took extra time anyway to enhance the pure bliss just by looking at myself like this and I was already kinda late too. So without wasting anymore time I rushed to my medical college where the graduation ceremony will be held.

"Leera! Leera! Leeraaaa!" Aria bumped on me hugging me, making me unable to breath. "I can't believe we are getting graduated!" She rejoiced. "I know, I know" I murmured out of air due to her tight hug.

"Hey hey! Forgot me girls?" Levi joined us from behind hugging both of us. A threesome hug, Our happy trio hug. "Ahh I can't breath anymore" the words left my mouth quite uneasily as the pressure of both if their hugs are literally taking all my breaths away. After we broke the hug we three chuckled up.

The convocation started. We all gathered and took our seats. The venue is the open space beside our medical college garden, under the blue beautiful sky which was being shielded with the overflowing clouds. The sun is radiant making everything more gleeful in this cold winter morning, being the source of soft heartwarming heart.

I felt alive once again. Half of last night spent talking to Levi and I don't even know when I fell asleep during the call. He absolutely made me kinda carefree and nonchalant. That's also a part of reason why I'm like this today even after experiencing one of the worst nights of my life last night.

The air felt fresher this morning. All the eyes fixed on the stage when professors, chancellor, guests and every other important members arrived. My smile faded away seeing the least desired person on the stage again. Why do I have to encounter with him almost everyday? It was just last night I saw him and those incidents happened. Why again? I mentally frowned. Whenever anything bad happens in my life again it's that everytime he's near me or somehow included in that.

I looked by my side at Levi as he's sitting beside me and Aria is sitting by his side. He rolled his eyes scowling when he saw him on the stage too and looked at me but he didn't say anything. I sealed my lips in a thin line fixing my gaze at the stage.

The speeches initiated and some of the guests gave their parts or speech. "Let's welcome the trustee of our medical college the great businessmen of our country Azezal Pavano to give an honourable speech. Then he stood there in front of the mic. His looks calm and composed, his face cold as ever. His hair giving off that morning hair vibes but still managed to look quite neat in that white shirt and tie, his dress formal like usual. I could already hear my batchmates and classmates whispering under their breaths how ridiculously handsome and breathtaking this man is looking just like he always do. I rolled my eyes.

"Goodmorning students. It's an honour for me to be speaking here" His eyes roamed down over the students as if he's searching for someone in particular.

"I like to be always on point so I would directly like to mention some important cases which you need to focus in future so that you don't get lose of tract." The girls near to me were like drooling over him with his every word as if he's a master desert. His eyes suddenly stopped on me like he finished his search. So the prey he seemed to be looking for before was me? Well I guess so just by looking at him back as his eyes were boring holes into my eyes even when from where he's standing is so far from me.

He drifted his eyes off me as he continued his speech. His whole speech was like we are hearing him speak as the most perfectionist man, optimistic and all pragmatic. To be honest every part of his speech gave off positiveness and sanguineness. It was absolutely worth the while and everyone started clapping so loud as he finished his speech.

I gulped. Fakest person in the whole damn world. It's just the fake him that he shows the world and the world is also stupid enough to trust him blindly.

The most fakest speech which everyone seem to be enjoyed and rejoiced after that the handing over of graduation diplomas started. And it's also fucking him who's handing over the graduation diplomas to the students and shaking their hands. Why is it has to be him too?

Elation delighted over every other girl's faces who were drooling over him from the moment their eyes laid on him. Their facial expression itself showed how yearning and eager they were just to take the graduation diploma from his hand and craving for the handshake after. The rejoice clearly pestered on their face after the handshake as if they have felt the most heavenly thing in life. After the pictures being clicked I already had that feeling they are going to frame it out especially because of this certain person in the picture. Why are these girls like this? If I didn't know him before would I have been like this too? I wondered.

I watched as Levi took the graduation diploma from his hand and their dead glances at eachother as they shook hands. But they both somehow managed to smile at the picture which somewhat was actually funny to me. It's my time after him. I hesitated climbing on the stage first but I know I'll manage this. He can't do anything with me infront of everyone even if he wants to.

I made my way towards him taking slow but steady moves. His eyes tracked my every move like he's observing and watching me from deep inside. I tried to walk confidently, keeping my eyes at the presenter because of the etiquettes mainly, but his dead cold stare which is practically gawking dead at me wasn't helping much.

I stopped and breathed when I reached him, offering him a artificial smile on my face. "Goodmorning, sir" My words came out my mouth quiter than I thought. He didn't say anything just nodded and handed the graduation diploma to me. I stared at our hands which collided for the handshake and then back at him. His hand firmly holding my hand more like clenching to break it probably.

We looked at the camera and I tried to pester the painass smile on my face again. The photo was taken and my hand is still in his. I looked up at him again and with his last stare the pressure on my hand released and he surprisingly left my hand which I have been thinking to he broken by his force on it.

I was just too glad it was okay and all normal. I walked off the stage keeping the urge to run aside because of the etiquettes again and went back to my seat.

"You fine. right?" Levi concerned and Aria eagerly listening to us too. "Yeah" I smiled at them reassuring everything is fine.

.............

The same day, we have the after graduation party to attend. So all of us went back home and is supposed to return in the evening again. I went to Aria's home with her with my stuffs, so that we both can get ready together and leave for the party together too.

I dressed up in a spaghetti strap, v-necked, long, fascinatingly beautiful lavender dress which Aria chose for me at the mall that day, saying it suited me too well as if it's the dress only made for me. I honestly loved the dress myself too.

I paired a small beautiful pendant with a elegant pair of earrings and wore my favourite rings. My makeup is simple yet looked elegant to me. I let my hair open with some soft curls. After I was done I finally wore my white pair of heels which weren't too tall and not even too short.

I spinned around watching myself in the mirror one last time. I really looked so dreamy in this dress.

"Ooh my god, Leera! You look so faciable!" Aria exclaimed with a amazed smile. "Thanks honey" I muttered winking at her. "Look at you! You look so beautiful too in this violet dress Aria!"

"Hmm I know, I know. Still not beautiful as you sadly" she jokingly frowned. "Says the girl who's legit looking like a princess right now" I rolled my eyes and she laughed. "Yeah. We the heartthrobs of our college ofcourse!" We both grinned together.

"Levi is already here. Let's go" She said and we both checked ourselves last time and went downstairs as Levi's gonna take us there.

"Hmm you look handsome" Aria said to him raising her eyebrow in a teasing manner. Levi brushed his hair with his hand with a smirk "It ain't a new thing. I always look handsome"

"Okay sir, let's go now" I patted his arm. "Yes can't keep the beautiful ladies waiting". We laughed at Levi's silly jokes and Aria's mysterious gossips until we reached there.

Finally when entered, the atmosphere looked so joyous here. Everyone having fun and moving their body along the soft music. We joined the other groups. Most of my other friends complimented how beautiful I'm looking and it made me feel kinda shy.

"Leera! Come, let's dance" Aria dragged me along with her. I didn't feel like dancing but I didn't refuse. I moved my body along the song which is moderate now not that soft anymore. Aria looked so excited like everyone else but why am I feeling different? I felt uneasy like I'm being watched.

"Aria, I'll get a drink and see where Levi is. Wait for me here" I turned just to meet those grey orbs intensely watching me from a distance. His fingers full of dark rings which were visible from here clearly, holding a glass of red wine. One of the guest of our graduation ceremony before, kept blabbering stuffs to him but his eyes fixed on me. His lips taking small sips as he kept nodding in agreement with the man talking to him.

I trailed my eyes to the other direction where drinks and food were served. I went there and asked for a cold drink to the waiter. It's supposed to be cold but actually I'm feeling so warm here maybe because of dancing.

"Miss, your drink" The waiter served me and I thanked him with a smile. I looked around searching for Levi. Where has this dumbo gone? I took a sip from my drink looking for him. When I couldn't find him I stood by the table keeping the glass on it to text Levi to ask him where he was.

It was a sudden when I felt a presence by my side as my eyes were glued to the phone screen. I looked at the hands holding my glass which is on the table by the corner of my eyes while texting and I knew who this hand belonged to. I stopped and slowly looked up at him. He bought my glass to his lip, drinking the rest of the content in the glass staring at me. I gulped and his eyes moved to my neck then again back at my face.

Why is he drinking from my glass? And what the hell is he doing here infront of me? Gawking me like I'm an alien? I clenched my phone and was about to leave but stopped when the chancellor of our university joined us.

"Mr. Pavano, hope you are enjoying the party" He asserted with a smile. "Yeah it's alright" Then the chancellor noticed me. "Ooh Leera, how are you?" He asked me genuinely. "Good sir" I gave a small smile to him. Not really good actually. How can I be good breathing in the same air as him? His presence is poisonous. He feels Poisonous.

"This girl. She is... you won't believe. She's too talented. A truly brilliant student. And yeah she's the one who will be doing internship in your hospital" The chancellor praised me infront of him and he nodded taking another sip of my drink "Ooh really? Quite impressive"

"May I get to know this girl's name who our great chancellor is praising so much?" He raised his eyebrows at me sipping my drink again. "Leera Elis Reilly, Sir" I forced a smile as our chancellor is still watching us. He set the glass on the table "So Miss Reilly may I have this dance with you? We can talk more while dancing I guess" he offered me his hand. I blinked.

I stared at his hand and back at his face. He's certain to dance with me. Then again I looked at our chancellor cornering my eyes. How should I refuse? Will the chancellor be mad at me if I refuse him? I didn't know what to do and why is this exactly happening to me.

"Actually I.... I.. " I breathed "I'm so sorry, I'm not feeling so well, Sir" I felt relieved as I made up the easiest excuse. He looked kinda agitated and perturbed at my refusal but didn't say anything as the chancellor is still with us. "It's okay" His words itself told me it wasn't a right option putting him down like that. But it's still felt right to me. "I'll excuse myself" I left from there talking long steps almost running.

Unfortunately I bumped over a waiter and the juice he was was on the tray he was holding spilled on my dress. He got the glass before it dropped but the juice already ruined my dress. "Holy crap!" I murmured under my breath. My face totally frowned looking at my dress drenched with juice. "I'm so sorry ma'am! I didn't mean to-" I shook my head in negative "No no it's fine. It's not your fault anyway. It was me who was being careless and darting stupidly"

"Ma'am wait here I'll bring tissues" He said but I stopped him "No need. I'll just go to the washroom. It needs to be washed anyway". I sprinted towards the washroom direction with a distressed face. I tried opening the washroom door but it seem to be locked. Damn? Nothing is in my favour! I tried again

"Hey. This washroom is currently off now for some repairement" Someone said who was passing by me, she continued "If you need to go to the washroom. It's on the upper floor". "Thankyouu" I darted from there again and climbed up the stairs.

Literally nobody wasn't here as the party was ongoing downstairs. I searched for the washroom and finally found it. It was empty surprisingly. All of the time the girl's washroom remains filled with girls retouching their makeups, adjusting their dresses and all but nobody was here. Maybe nobody knew about this washroom.

I didn't feel so good about it but still went inside. Standing before the wash stand I looked at myself in the mirror frowning. I set my small purse aside and turned on the tap. My hands cleaned the part of my dress lightly with water which was drenched with juice. It didn't go off well but seemed presentable atleast. I sighed and started washing my hands with water after I was done cleaning my dress.

I shaked my hands lightly after turning off the tap to drip off the water droplets off my hand. Taking a tissue I dried my hands properly. I glanced at the mirror to checkout myself one last time and the sight made me feel gasping.

To my horror my eyes watched him through the mirror. He's leaning against the door frame with his hands shoved inside his pockets, gawking me deeply and enormously..............

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Not edited :/ ignore the mistakes lol

Heyyyyy! It's 2022! Oml doesn't it feel so surreal? Well it honestly does to me. 2021 was indeed a roller coaster ride and it's actually not in me to believe 2022 is already here :/

Wishing a great year ahead. May this year bring lotta happiness to each of our lives. Starting this year with a hope of better year than previous one. A very Happy new year to you all!

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