Chapter 27 - The Attempt

Strange.

There was this strange feeling swirling inside me as I stared at my ring finger.

It felt empty. Maybe because I had been wearing it for seven years now, not having it on was leaving a weird sensation behind.

“Hey. Are you okay? You look a little pale.” Ruda asked.

“Was I wearing the ring when I entered the room?” I asked as I kept my eyes on the finger.

“No. I don’t think so.” He answered, “Is the ring that important? I know you’ve always had it on but why are you this worried?”

“I don’t know.” I finally looked at him, “I really don’t know but I need to find it.” I was feeling something I couldn’t define in words. A sensation of loss. Like I was missing something, like I had lost something… What it was, I couldn’t point it out and my only logical answer was that it must be the ring.

“Class is about to start though.” Ruda put his hand on my shoulder.

“I think it’s fine if I skip a class or two. I need to find the ring.” I felt like if I didn’t get it back, something terrible would happen. Maybe it was just me being scared for no reason or perhaps it was just hard suddenly not having something you’ve had for years.

I turned around to leave when the professor came in and closed the door behind him.

“On your seats everyone. I’m giving out a project today.” He started speaking even before he reached the desk and I had no other choice but to follow along.

I walked back to the last row and sat down but throughout the lecture I wasn’t able to focus at all.

My mind was stuck on the ring and I kept wondering where I might have lost it.

Did I lose it at home? Or maybe I lost it in the forest? Or perhaps it fell off somewhere on the way to the forest.

Just thinking about it was giving me mental stress. If I really had lost it anywhere besides at home, it would be near impossible to find it.

I began fiddling with my thumbs while I bit my lower lip in frustration.

Just as soon as the class ended, I grabbed my bag and was about to run out when Ruda grabbed my wrist, “I’ll come with you.” He offered.

“It’s fine.” I escaped his grip and began to run but then I noticed that he was running behind me. I guess he really wanted to help.

That was sort of relieving. I smiled.

Maybe I’ll forgive him.

***

It was hazy but I remember the path we followed in the forest. We started searching for the ring from the entrance and kept going without break.

Time passed by so fast and the sky began to turn dark.

“Maya,” Ruda approached me, “That’s enough for today.”

“No.” I was looking for it around the big oak tree. The ground had lush green grass, so there was a possibility that it could have fallen anywhere here.

“You won’t be able to look for it in the dark.” He held my arm, “We can come back tomorrow.”

“But-”

He yanked me up, “Losing something isn’t a sin!” He sighed, “I know you’re attached to it but let’s finish for today. You haven’t even eaten anything either.”

“....”

“Come on. Let’s go back.” He pulled me along with him as I began to ponder upon his words.

Losing something isn’t a sin…

I know and it wasn’t on purpose either. There were many times I took the ring off but it was like for a few hours at most but now that I’ve really actually lost it, I felt weird.

We parted our ways at the forest entrance and I went straight home.

Yohan was already there when I got back and was busy on the call with someone.

I wonder if he has any idea about the ring.

I went and sat down on the triple seater couch on which he already was on. He glanced and smiled at me and I waved at him.

As his call ended he turned to me, “You seem like you want to ask me something.” He placed his phone on the table.

“Ah! Yeah…” I looked at my ring finger, “I can’t seem to find my ring. Have you seen it anywhere?”

He shook his head, “No I haven’t. Was it important?”

“Yea…” I sighed and then panicked, “I mean it was important because my guardian gave it to me!” I tried justifying, “It’s like a protection ring from him-or something like that.”

“It was from your guardian?” He looked a bit troubled, “I see.” He noticed me looking at him and his expressions completely changed, “I’m sorry. I have no idea where it is. When did you lose it?”

“Today I think, or maybe yesterday. I’m not sure.”

“Maybe in the forest?”

“I looked for it there but I couldn’t find it. Maybe I’ll go and try again tomorrow.”

“I see…” He began thinking about something but just a moment later he turned to me again, “Dinner?”

“Yea…”

Something felt odd

***

The next few days were the weirdest I’d ever experienced. I couldn’t concentrate on my lectures and there was something constantly pulling on my mind. As if something was tugging on something in the dark depths of my consciousness.

But, the weirdest thing was that I didn’t get a call from Quincy like how’d I’d usually get as soon as I took off the ring.

That was very worrying and I began to wonder if something happened to him or Nena.

I wasn’t getting anywhere on my own so in the end, I decided to visit Quincy myself and come clean.

I texted Yohan that I wouldn’t be coming home and went to the bus stop.

I know I’m going back there a bit sooner but it should be okay. I’m not a stranger, I assured myself.

Upon arriving at the house I took a deep breath and steeled myself but before I could ring the bell the door opened and a woman ran out holding her clothes. She wasn’t full naked but the way she left anyone could tell something of ‘that’ kind happened inside.

My eyes were still on her when a voice made me jump, “Why are you here?”

I shot my head towards Quincy, “I-ah, I needed to talk.”

“Come inside.” He turned and started walking without making a single attempt to explain himself.

Well, I’m never home so I really don’t know but I had no idea he had another woman coming here. I looked at his broad back as I walked behind him.

I can’t be wrong. Not after seeing a scene like that. There can’t be any other explanation but it did seem she was rejected, considering the situation in which she was running away.

We were in the middle of the corridor when he stopped suddenly and turned around. There was an expression on his I’d never seen before.

He seemed worried.

“You’re not wearing your ring?”

“Oh yea.” I gulped, “I came to talk about that.” I hesitated a bit but he didn’t force it out of me so I decided to say it, “I lost it.”

“Lost it?” He wasn’t sure about my words, “How?”

“I don’t know.” I expected him to think I was lying but for some reason he didn’t.

He began to think and it felt like he suddenly came to an answer, “When?”

“A few days ago.”

There was another expression on his face. Something new again. It felt like he was a bit angry.

“Are you mad?”

“A little bit.” He turned around and began to walk again, “Go and wait for me in the room.. There’s something special I want to do today.”