The sudden stop of the car jolted me awake from my reverie, the memory dissolving like a dream.
I left the car, said goodbye to Victor, and, avoiding Isabella's glare, headed towards my class.
Thankfully, I made it on time.
The lecture hall was large, and many students were already here. Soon, the lecturer came in. It was a Chemistry lecture, but honestly, I couldn't focus.
The worry of what's coming next gnawed at me. I was so deep in thought that the lecture ended without me even noticing.
I didn't realise until everyone had left, leaving me alone.
Sigh. When did I get so paranoid?
In the cafeteria, "Hey Val, everything alright?" Victor asked, watching me as I took a bite of my sandwich.
I paused chewing for a second. "Everything is alright," I said calmly. "What could possibly go wrong?" I returned to my sandwich.
"Of course it's not alright," he said. "You've been weird all day. You even insulted Isabella, which isn't like you."
He was right. Usually, I'd just ignore her, not bother to throw a jab. But the confusion and frustration from this morning were getting to me.
"I guess I'm a bit down today," I said with a sigh.
"What happened?" he asked, his tone filled with concern.
I recounted what had happened since this morning, leaving out some for obvious reasons.
"Wait, so let me get this clear," he said, leaning in. "You're seriously just sad that your mom is going on a business trip? Are you that much of a mother-con?"
He had a point. I didn't deny it. "I might be a mother-con, but this isn't about her. I just have a bad feeling." I wiped my mouth with a tissue.
"So you aren't gonna deny it..." He made a weird face then paused and continued, "Anyway," he said, his face getting serious, "you're coming to my birthday party tonight, right?"
My eyes widened. Wait, it's today?
"No... don't tell me you forgot, you bastard," he said, his expression falling as he saw my genuine surprise.
I didn't reply. Anything I said would sound like a terrible excuse.
"Seriously?" He let out a dramatic sigh, faking a heartbroken tone. "I can't believe you really forgot. I thought we were best friends."
I rolled my eyes. "Okay, stop acting. You know this isn't the first time."
I stood up. "I'll be there tonight. Just stop being so dramatic." I left for my next lecture.
....
Victor's pov
"He's coming, right?"
A feminine voice came from behind me, sharp and inquiring.
I turned around and met her cold gaze.
There wasn't an ounce of love a man should expect from his girlfriend.
But who am I kidding? This whole game of love isn't real.
At least I'm not the protagonist in it, I thought with a grim smirk.
"Of course, your highness," I replied in an exaggeratedly sweet tone.
"Valerian will be there. It's his bestest buddy's birthday, after all."
"Alright," she uttered, turning and walking away. I was left alone, pondering why the heck I was even bothering to pretend to be her boyfriend.
...
After finishing all my lectures, I returned home and got ready for the party tonight.
Looking at the mirror, I remarked, "Should I go without my bangs covering my face?" After a moment of thought, I decided against it.
I can't have everyone gawking at me.
With a slight chuckle, I left the house and headed towards Victor's, a few minutes away by foot.
The familiar streets of New Orleans felt calm and quiet under the night sky.
I didn't know this would be the last calm night I'd walk as a human being.
...
At the Party
"Hey, welcome, buddy!" Victor greeted me at the door to his party.
The house was massive, easily big enough to fit ten of my own.
Victor was the son of an old, prestigious New Orleans family.
But I ignored such details; they were useless for me to ponder on.
"I thought you wouldn't come and forget about it again," Victor said with a sigh of relief.
He sounded relieved, but why?
"I promised you I would," I deadpanned, watching his exaggerated expression.
"Why are you so dramatic about it?"
"Okay, okay, I won't be dramatic," he said with a laugh.
"But seriously, couldn't you have styled your hair? It's so long, I can't even see your face, haha."
He paused, his laughter dying down. "Wait... I've never seen your face, have I?" The realisation hit him.
We had been friends for years, and he had never seen my face.
I grabbed a drink from a passing waiter, took a slow sip, and found a nearby seat. "Bro, you're not gay, are you?" I asked solemnly.
Victor froze, then blurted out, "Wait... what? No!"
"Then you should keep your curiosity to yourself," I said, finishing my drink.
"Because if you do see my face, you'll start doubting your own sexuality." I left him alone to ponder what the hell had just happened.
.....
Victor's Pov
"Wait, was he serious?"
I didn't know whether to believe those absurd words. I just stood there, staring at the spot where Valerian had been, feeling a mix of confusion and annoyance.
Then, the sound of footsteps echoed behind me, making me turn around.
I met Isabella's piercing gaze. "Did you do it?" she asked, her voice hushed with a hint of nervousness and hope.
My heart sank. A cold dread washed over me. Ah, oh shit!
I looked at her, then back at the empty spot where Valerian had been.
He was gone. He left. Just like that. I was so caught up in our usual back-and-forth, our stupid inside jokes, that I completely forgot the only reason I was even here.
The only reason she was here.
"No," I said, the word barely a whisper.
"He left."
Isabella's face hardened, her perfect smile replaced by a scowl.
"What do you mean, 'he left'?" she hissed, the inquiry a demand. "You were supposed to give him the drink."
I took a shaky breath. "He took a drink, just not the one I gave him.
He just... grabbed one from a waiter and left. I couldn't stop him."
She scoffed, a look of pure disgust on her face.
"You had one job, Victor. One simple task! And you couldn't even manage that."
My blood ran cold.
The playful, fake anger in our earlier conversation was gone.
This was real.
This was the woman I was pretending to be with. This was the real Isabella.
"I tried," I said, my voice rising, the guilt eating away at me.
"But he just left. He said he had to deal with something."
She turned, her back to me.
"It doesn't matter," she muttered, pulling out her phone.
"The plan is already in motion. We'll find him."
I just stood there, the weight of my failure pressing down on me.
I was supposed to be the guy who finally brought them together. I thought I could act as the catalyst, pushing Valerian toward her so I could finally get some peace. All I did was act like a fool. And now, I had no idea what she was going to do to him. I had no idea what I had just helped set in motion. And for the first time in a long time, I was truly afraid.
.....
Back at Valerian's Pov.
After leaving Victor alone and wandering around the old mansion for a bit, I got bored and decided to leave.
What? It's not the first time I've left a party midway. Besides, there was something I needed to deal with.
After a few minutes of walking on the suspiciously empty street, I spoke calmly in a solemn tone.
"Sigh... How long are you going to stalk me for? Care to come out?"
My words cut through the calm night, but there was no immediate reaction.
Then, a pale pink gas began to spread everywhere, its sickly sweet scent filling the air.
Feeling the danger, I immediately covered my nose, but my mind still began to feel dizzy.
"Who are you?" I managed to voice out, my body already giving in.
"Such an interesting human," a feminine voice cooed.
"No wonder that arrogant leech asked for my help to capture you."
The voice was extremely seductive and hypnotizing, making my mind lose its reason even faster.
"No need to resist, darling. Just give into your desires," her voice felt like a devil's whisper in my losing consciousness.
But I tried to hold on
"How curious," she said, sounding genuinely intrigued.
"You're still awake, even though I used the strongest sleeping gas found in Hell."
"Anyways, it doesn't matter," she said as my consciousness finally gave up to sleep.
"You won't be able to resist any longer."
"Ah, there he sleeps," her final words barely registered in my mind as I was already out cold.