"We also have other teachers to fill in your classes for the following days if you’re still feeling sick. So, just rest and don’t worry. Get well soon, Malissa!" the lady said cheerfully.
Although I appreciated that the school was more than willing to support me and help me out during my time of sickness, the truth was that this was all just a big misunderstanding. I wasn’t sick and right now I should be there teaching my classes!
"Thanks..." I managed to say in a whisper before the line disconnected.
Hayden...why are you doing this?
My eyes lifted from the phone screen towards the still-closed door and an ominous feeling began rapidly growing in the pit of my stomach. This is all just a bad coincidence, right?
Surprisingly, after a few desperate poundings on the door, I heard clicking sounds as if the door was being unlocked from the outside. My eyes narrowed suspiciously, and I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. The door was locked from the outside all this time? Why would the door even have a lock on the outside?
The answer was sinister and clear, but I just couldn’t quite believe it. Someone locked me up in here on purpose. Why?
I felt like I was about to get the answers to my questions when the door started to slowly swing open. Honestly, I was expecting to see Hayden and I was ready to give him a piece of my mind. However, the person who greeted me with a guilty smile was none other than Auntie who had led me here last night.
"Why was the door locked?" I demanded for an answer right away.
Auntie sighed loudly and seemed uncomfortable as she shifted her weight from one foot to the other in the doorway. Her eyes wouldn’t meet mine and I could tell that she was feeling guilty.
"Auntie...what is going on here?" I asked as I narrowed my eyes at her.
"Umm...Hayden wants you to stay in your room. He says it’s for your own good," Auntie replied hesitantly.
Hayden wants...what?
"Where did he go? Why did lock me up here? When is he coming back? Why won’t he answer my calls?!" I bombard the Auntie with my questions.
I bit my lower lips in frustration when I realized that I had raised my voice at the old woman. This is so bad; I knew that I was taking out my anger on her simply because she was the only one in the room with me. I knew that I was mad at Hayden and my behavior was inexcusable. Auntie is probably just doing what Hayden told her to do.
"I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to take it out on you," I apologized softly.
"It’s alright. You must be tired from last night so you should eat something," Auntie encouraged quietly.
"Thank you but I don’t feel like it," I said dismissively.
"Is there something that I can do for you?" Auntie asked sadly.
"When Hayden is back, can you tell him to come see me?" I asked.
Auntie nodded sadly and I knew that she probably thought that locking me up in here was a bad idea as well.
"Yes. I’ll be sure to do that. In the meantime, please just rest and relax in here..." she said before she turned and took her leave.
I heard the door closing behind her and knew instinctively that it would be locked again from the outside.
Hayden, what are you thinking this time? Why are you doing this?
In the back of my mind, I had a vague idea of the cause behind this. After all, this all happened because he found out that Ethan came to see me. If he couldn’t control my life when I was outside, did he come to conclusion that it was better to keep me locked up here instead?
--To be continued...