19 Chapter 18 | She's a stranger

Waking up the next day I found the bed empty. I thought that I would wake up and shes beside me but she wasn't, I didn't expect to cry either; I got up out of bed and stretch my body. It's not my bed so… yeah, I feel a little sore although the bed is comfortable.

Walking in my socks I walked down the passage and found the toilet after I was done I went looking for Cindy.

Stepping into the lounge and there she is. Dressed in a green fleece jersey and black tights she laid there fast asleep on the three seater. The tables, floor and other two couches were scattered with paper… this must be her work.

I looked all over for my bag but it wasn't there, going back to the bedroom I found it beside the bed… She must have brought it in while I was asleep. Rummaging through my stuff, I took out my toiletry bag and some clothes. It's not particularly hot today so I'll wear something cool.

A week before, I packed a bag for myself with two tracksuits, shoes, three shirts, my pink jacket, underwear and socks. I left it in a public locker two days before and sis and I went to pick it up before we left. I just feel sorry for that school bag of mine, I am not ungrateful but it reminded me of my past, well my whole life till yesterday. Cindy told me that if I am to embrace my new found self, I need to get rid of all my old things, throwing away that bag seems a tad bit unnecessary but whatever, it was cheap and from a knockdown sale.

Finishing up in the bathroom, I walked out with the towel still on my head drying my hair. When I reached the bedroom I saw that sis was up, she was busy tidying up.

"Morning," I said looking at her. She paused in her steps turning to me, with a smile on her face she brushed her hair back while saying, "Is it still morning? Well good morning, how did you sleep?"

"I don't know, I can't remember falling asleep," I answered.

"I see, well what do you want for breakfast or brunch?"

I sat down on the couch that was cleared looking up at her, shrugging my shoulders I said, "anything."

She only shook her head with a smile on her face; packing the pages into a stack on the table, she headed to the kitchen and put together what seemed to be pancake mix.

I moved to the table counter in the kitchen and sat on one of the black chairs that spun in a circle… Yep, it's confirmed she's making pancakes.

Well, I don't know, today I just find looking at pancakes fascinating.

Cindy, "You seem quite relaxed compared to yesterday," she said gaining my attention.

Smiling back at her I shrugged, but what she said is true, maybe it's the crying that helped but I do feel more relaxed or maybe it's because I am not cooped in a room all morning like at home.

I offered to help make the pancakes and told her she could freshen up. By the time she was done, I was almost done too.

We sat at the dining table after she moved her laptop and brought out the mango juice from last night.

Breakfast was peaceful. "Did you switch on your mobile?" she asked. "No," I answered.

Cindy, "Why not?"

Reign, "Won't they track me down?"

Cindy, "Didn't you switch your location off?"

Reign, "I did!"

Cindy, "Then what's the problem?"

Reign, "Well, I don't want you to get into trouble, they might say you kidnapped me."

Cindy, "I technically did."

"I will throw that mobile if I must," I said determinately.

Cindy chuckled and shook her head, stuffing pancake into her mouth she continued, "Well you could sign out of all my social media and use your logins only facebook and hangouts will show that you are online but I have a device that will block all that. Then later when we go out I will switch your mobile on for you and deactivate everything for you so that they don't track us back here. How's that?"

Scrunching my nose, I reluctantly nodded to her suggestion.

I washed up the dishes while she was working on her laptop. When she was done she offered her laptop over for me to check my social media but I declined; for now, I just want to relax without having to worry about stuff that is not happening around me.

Cindy muttered the word, "Stubborn," but I didn't mind, hopefully, I can live a week without care.

Today passed by smoothly, we ended up watching romance movies and some BL that I haven't had the privilege to watch back home, munching on junk food and the works.

***

Today sis returned from work around one pm, we were about to head out to the mall when we realised that it would be packed with school kids - it was the holidays after all.

Cindy, "You'll have to face the public someday, today could be your 'learning confidence" day"

I am sooo~ not looking forward to this.

~~~

I swear, we sat in the car for about ten minutes before I was able to move my damn legs err… I don't want to get caught.

I stiffly walked behind Cindy for quite some time but as we walked on I noticed that I wasn't being paid attention too; gaining courage I stepped out from behind her and we walked side-by-side.

I don't know why but my head was lowered as I walked, self-conscious much? Maybe.

She grabbed hold of my hand and locked fingers. I raised my head to look at her with a questioning gaze but her eyes never met mine, nor was she looking my way.

She was busy answering her emails as we walked, as though I wasn't there… Ah, I'm starting to lose hope again.

"Mn?" I turned to her after she squeezed my hand, she's still not looking at me, so why?

Looking further I noticed that she was changing the volume settings to silent. She locked at her mobile and shoved it into her bra… Well, she was wearing a maxi dress and sandals where else was she going to put it.

We arrived at H&M. She looked at me with a grin, picking up a bag we walked through the men's section picking out hoodies for me but I don't want them… They're way too expensive for my liking.

Before she said she'd buy me new clothes but honestly, this is ridiculous.

Making our way to the women's section, there wasn't anything the two of us particularly liked so after picking out a few accessories she pulled out her black card from her bra and paid, leaving me to carry out two bags of stuff.

The next shop we stopped at is called Rosies. I think this is their only store because I don't remember seeing this store in my town. Anyways this store is well… filled from top to bottom with jewellery.

She picked out so many black and sterling silver rings, earring and some diamonds ones. Lace, diamond and rope chokers.

When we reached the cashier, "How much is it again for a body piercing?"

Cashier, "The ear piercings are $3 each, a tongue piercing is $7 and navel piercing is $5," she ended.

Cindy looked at me asking, "Which ones do you want?" My eyes widened, shaking my head viciously I turned and left; she paid for the stuff while I waited outside for her.

The next store we headed too was Fashion Nova. My heart raced like it was nothing. I pulled Cindy over to the women's section; quickly browsing through before I found the pants I wanted.

"You want this?"..."mn" I nodded happily. It's a white jean made of stretchy material and I wanted it so bad. She took it off the rack and measured it against my waist - oh how embarrassing.

Picking two more sizes up she forced me into the changing rooms. I tried on the first one but it was too small, taking it off I tried on the next one which was too big, the third one seemed small too making me lose hope. Tying the button and pulling up the zip, "eh?" Looking in the mirror from the side. The front. The back… Oh my word, I have an ass!! "Eeek" quickly covering my mouth!

Cindy called out, "Are you okay Reign?"

Reign, " Yeah, sorry."

Cindy, "You've been in there too long, what's wrong?"

Reign, "Nothing, I'll be out soon."

I summon my courage and stepped out barefoot. Arriving in front of Cindy and the attendant they both were looking at my waist that was showing.

Quickly covering it I looked at Cindy, "This one fits."

She walked up to me, circled me then turned the label inside out. Saying to the attendant, "Please bring me your jeans, shorts, tracksuits all in size six please."

The attendant quickly dashed off but Cindy didn't let go, her hands slid down, rounding out my butt cheeks as she squeezed it. I stood stiff for a moment looking around but no one was looking at us.

She continued squeezing my cheeks making a light sensation spread through to my front… luckily I'm not that big or else it will show. She's making me give off a reaction; I quickly darted away.

The attendant returned a while later with two others holding so many clothes. They did not only bring what she asked for but also brought stuff to match with them. Instead of having me try on everything she sent it to the till while she pulled coats and jackets off the racks - they were beautiful but this is too much…

I pulled Cindy one side, "This is too much." She looked at me strangely before saying, "All of this isn't for free, you will pay me back eventually." She smiled at me but it wasn't the warm smile from before - why does it seem like I am in trouble?

The ride back home was scary, I don't know what to expect, I completely forgot that Cindy is a stranger - you should not trust strangers easily.

Instead of going home we went to a Thai-hot-pot. We spoke and it was like nothing happened...maybe it was my imagination - maybe.

I was full to the point where it was as though my stomach would explode. We arrived at home, carried all the bags of clothes in then washed up for bed. Cindy had work to do once again leaving me to sleep alone in bed

+++

Later into the night Cindy walked into the room and switched the bedside lamp on; with the dim light brightening the room, she took off her hoodie and kicked off her slippers.

Switching off the lamp she walked over to the other side of the bed, lift the sheet covers and closed herself, closing her eyes.

An hour must have passed but still, Cindy couldn't fall asleep, pulling out her phone and inserting her headphones she sat up on the bed and watched videos… particularly, she was watching twink porn…

The video was 20 minutes long, leaving Cindy to feel a slight tingling sensation in her lower body. The video ended.

Taking her headphones off, placing it with her phone on the table. She closed herself. Laying with her hands under her head.

Closing her eyes she couldn't stop thinking about what happened in the video, taking in a deep breath she muttered, "Oh well, tomorrow is a new day."