Secret Doors

Portia’s P. O. V:

I am pretty excited about my day right now. It’s Saturday and today is Akuji’s book signing for his new book. I left my house at eight in the morning and I had breakfast at the near Cafe at the bookstore where the book signing will be held. I’m excited to buy his new book and make him sign it. It will be my gift for Levi tomorrow. I look at my screen and see Levi’s message.

‘Don’t go anywhere far and take care.’ – Levi

Why does he worry so much about me? I’m all good and I don’t think that there is such a thing that will happen to me. I replied to him that I’m just in a Cafe and he send me a GIF with a worried dinosaur. He’s really cute. ‘I’ll take care don’t worry.’ I replied to him and he send a GIF nodding. I know he is busy when he’s replying with GIFs so I didn’t disturb him anymore.

I focused on my food while scrolling down my emails. I saw an email from Aleksei about our progress. I answered the email immediately and book a schedule with my secretary for a meeting on Wednesday.  A waitress gave me a caramel cake, “I didn’t order one miss.” I told her. “Yes ma’am a man order this for you. Here.” She explains and handed me a note. “I see where is he?” I asked as I’m confused. Did Levi go home early?

“There ma’am the man who wears yellow the one leaving.” The waitress pointed at the man but I only saw his back so I couldn’t see his face. “I see thank you.” I thanked the waitress and didn’t bother to follow the stranger. The waitress takes her leave so I read the note. I think I already knew from his writing who he is.

‘It’s been a while, my dear daughter. How are you? Can we talk? Seven at your favorite restaurant.’ – Daddy.

Just as I thought he still pull this kind of stuff like I am the one who’s been the illegitimate child here. My blood boils in my thoughts but I just ate the cake to ease my mind instead of crying in anger. I didn’t bother to calm him as he used to when he was sending me things like this. I finish my food, go to the comfort room, and get out of the Cafe.

It’s only forty-five minutes before the book signing so I hurriedly go to the bookstore to buy a copy of Akuji’s book outside. The bookstore is closed for his signing. It will be open as soon as he is ready inside the store. I look around the merchandise stalls as I waited for the program to start. I bought a doll that looks like his character and a bookmark too. How can a mystery/thriller author have this cute merchandise?

The line starts in ten minutes so I immediately fall in line and ready my ticket. I booked a VIP ticket to make sure I will get a signature from Akuji. We enter at the bookstore where seats are already in line for VIPs down to the general Ad. I sit at my designated seat and I am in front of Akuji he’s wearing a half mask on his face but his half face is seen. The author is undeniably handsome but he looks stubborn.

He’s not into smiling too like Levi. He waves at the fans and everyone shouts their heart out. He looks mysterious and I can sense authority in his aura. My eyes are on him even when the program already starts. The program started with his short speech and some games to win merchandise from him like shirts, masks, drinks, and many more.

There will be ten winners to have an official selfie with him. The lights turn off and every time the spotlight goes to a fan, a fan will go up to the stage and have a selfie with him. The tenth spotlight stops in my seat and it made me so happy. But when I am about to come to the stage a man appeared and he approached me.

He looks creepy so I quickly run towards the stage but he manages to reach me and stab me but I cover myself with the book and I run towards the stage. Everyone panics and run so the guards can’t keep up with him. I saw some staff covering the author already and I am all alone. He reaches me and stabs me everywhere he can for four times. Until someone covers his body for me and when I looked up it was the author.

I automatically feel dizzy as I am losing blood already. I saw the man runs away when he realized that I’m not the one he was stabbing anymore. So that only means that he’s really aiming for me but why? What did I do to face such trouble like this? Questions are playing in my head before my vision becomes blurry and slowly turns black.

My scenario was switched to me and Levi reading a book. This is the night before he leaves for London. Am I just dreaming? “Why are you passing out again Portia?” Levi asked me. Am I just dreaming? But I fought with Irene. I know it’s real. Am I hallucinating right now? But Levi’s hug feels so warm. I sleep in his hug and my place switched again at the time when he said he don’t want to leave anymore but I told him to.

That hits me. My dear Levi is having hanged about what’s going to happen but I ignore it. Am I gonna die? I don’t want to just die here. I wanted to see Levi and tell him I love him. I want to tell him that I am already sure to have a family with him. I still want to be able to hug him and bake cookies for him. I need to fight against this. But I already saw Mom, she’s currently at my house baking cake.

“Hey, sweetie! Why are you passing out?” Mom said as the time-lapse changed again. This is the last happy memory we have before the incident the only difference is I am grown up now. I hugged Mom because I miss her so much. I cried and I can’t explain my happiness right now. “Shhh. Stop crying, sweetie. It’s alright. Mom misses you too.” She said and I can feel her crying. “Mom please stop crying. I don’t like it when you are crying.” I comforted her.

“It’s alright my love. Mom just wants to express how much I love you. How much I miss hugging you.” She cried so I hug her more. “But I’m here now. Hug me anytime you want.” I told her. “No. I can’t do that. That will be so much selfish of me, I wanted you to come back to the life that you are starting. Grow up and have a family like I always dream about for you.” She told me and kisses my forehead.

“But Mom I also miss you,” I told her as she let go of our hug. She smiled at me. “I know my dear. I always know but you still have a lot of time to enjoy. You are already starting life and that made me proud. That’s why Mom won’t let you be with me yet.” She said kissing my hands. “I wanted you to forgive your dad and I wanted you to have a happy life until we can finally be together sweetie.” She said and I hugged her.

This is just a dream but I want to savor every minute with her. Mom hugs me tight too and it feels like home and my time switches places again. I am currently hugging Levi which gives the warmth like Mom as I’d my brain is telling me that I already found my new home in Levi’s arms. I looked into his eyes and with that, my mind went black again as if I am falling too deep nowhere.

I can hear someone talking but I am too tired and weak to process who it was. Am I already awake? But why my body can’t move? I can feel something aching in my body, making it hard to breathe. My brain is giving a command to my eyes to open but it feels like my eyes are feeling weak too. I am feeling the rapidness of my heartbeat and it’s slowing down and it makes me feel sleepy.

But before I drifted away my eyes managed to open but it was blurry I saw someone but I can’t figure out who it is. He or she is I guess with a doctor and nurse. Am I being rushed to the hospital? Can I be saved?

I wanted to see Levi once I survived this. He’s all I wanted up until my last breath. I will leave it for him that’s for sure.