Someone I'm Not

20| Got Caught, Run Boy

"You like to hear what I think, Miss Greene?" Houdini asks as Vianne gleefully picks random clothes from the cloth racks.

"What is it, Mister Houdini?" She mocks his voice as her eyes are still on the clothes.

"I think that Thrift Shopping IS NOT ideal and that I'm refined and comfortable with my suit! And besides, I can pick my own clothes—"

"Hey!" She stands in front of him with a bored and irritated look in her eyes. "Just because you're RICH doesn't mean you'll have to BUY EXPENSIVE SH*TS all the time! And why judge thrift shopping? Do you see this hoodie I'm wearing? I brought this here! Even the other shirts I've been wearing from home! And please, I also know style. So, how about you try these outfits first before judging the senses of types that I picked right for you, hmm?"

"I—" But before Houdini could even protest, Vianne already handed him the clothes of his choice. He stands there for a few seconds to annoy Vianne, and it worked when she noticed his presence.

"What the f*ck are you still doing here!? I thought we were going to follow my sister?"

"We are!"

"Then go already! Gosh, you're even more nitpicky than a woman itself!" She complains before hearing a groan from Houdini as he poutingly walks his way towards the dressing room on the far edge of the facility.

On the other hand, Eduardus is hiding on one of the mannequins a few steps away from where Vianne is standing.

"Buying him clothes?" He asks himself as he looks down to see what he is wearing. He's also wearing a suit and tie similar to Houdini but with different folds and colors. "But why won't she bring me here before?"

Waves of anger and curiosity mixed inside him as he unconsciously grips tight on the mannequin that he hears a faint sound of breaking. Attention caught, he turns to the form and slowly releases his grip, only to realize he destroyed it already.

The hand detaches from the body that makes him panic. He immediately grabs the hand and places it in gently before finding another location for him to hide.

Vianne hears the sound that made her turn to see if where the sound came from. But then, she sees no one. A pinch of fear brushes off her system when that happens. Ever since they arrived, she felt like someone is watching her, and it creeps her nerves out.

"Calm down, Vianne. Maybe you're just paranoid. Who would want to follow and stalk you? Your sister?" She exhales a chuckle as she talks to herself. Shaking her head off, she continues to look for clothes that would fit Houdini.

After a long five minutes spent, Houdini comes out of the dressing room, trying his best to hide the smile and excitement. When Vianne noticed his presence, she approaches him with a smile on her face.

"So, what do you think of the clothes?" She asks as she couldn't read his expression— anything. His lip doesn't even curve, only forming a thin line, his eyes don't show spark, and his cheek muscles are so tense like hardened ice.

"They're. . . These clothes are okay," Houdini answers as he hands Vianne the clothes back. Vianne tries to reread him but failed, as she stares at the same expression. In the end, she gives up and sighs, thinking that she won't be able to convince him any longer.

"Okay, fine. Maybe I should not force you to buy any of these cheap clothes because—"

"TAKE THEM ALL!" Houdini wasn't able to contain himself as he almost shouts at her in response. Vianne's eyes widen with his reaction that Houdini immediately clears his throat. "I mean, I didn't say that you're going to bring them back. We can take them all. . ." he pauses for a second before his eyes landed on the second batch of clothes from her choice. Without a single word, Houdini grabs the out of her hands and turns his back on her, and went straight into the dressing room in silence. As Houdini enters the dressing room, he excitedly wears the next clothes. After slipping the first one, a smile forms on his lips.

"Damn, I look so hot in these clothes. Who knew thrift shopping is so good?"

On the other side, Eduardus is more curious than ever.

He wanted to find out what is going on between them. But the jealousy is also enveloping him that it took him five sense-talking minutes to come up with a decision to go out of hiding and confront the two.

"You got his, Ed. It's just Houdini you're going to deal with. It's not like you've never faced him in any type of battle." He motivates himself to look strong even though he never recalls a single moment in his life that he and Houdini fight with an armor suit on, swords and shield, only the battle of mouth and words.

He steps out of the shadow and starts to walk towards Vianne, whose back is facing him. Eduardus inhales deep and exhales long as he shakes his hands, trying to get rid of the distress he's feeling. 'You got his, Ed. It's not like you've never talked to Vianne before. This should be a piece of cake to confront them.’

"Hey, Vi—"

*bzzzzzzzzzzz*

A long buzz sound tingle into his ears that made him halts immediately. Luckily, Vianne didn't hear him, which made her not turn to looks around. Eduardus is only standing a few steps away from her now, and it makes him feel the disappointment rising when all he wants is to confront them. Until his plan suddenly got canceled shortly when his sixth sense suddenly screams alarm.

He wanted to continue following their every step. He wanted to continue investigating. He craved the moment to tell Houdini that whatever he is doing to manipulate Vianne would never work, not when he's on the watch. But then, priorities have come to be first in the line.

"Soroya." He mumbles to himself. Without so much hesitation at that exact moment, he groans in frustration and immediately gets himself out and teleports into the city, where Soroya is.

•••

"Philip. . . stop the car." Philip instantly throws a glance in Soroya's direction when she sounded a bit off.

"What? Do you want to pee, or are you feeling sick— gosh! You're so pale!" Philip's eyes are sharp that Soroya's pale skin didn't leave him to notice. "Soroya, are you okay—"

"JUST STOP THE CAR!"

"OKAY, OKAY!" Philip flinches as fear immediately envelopes his body. He instantly finds an excellent open road to stop. He steps on the break almost immediately before turning his full attention on her.

"Motherf*cker, argh! It's so painful!" Soroya complains as she leans her head into the car header and uses her hands to press it harder.

"What the heck is going on? You seem okay when you got out of the station. Did you eat something or anything?"

"It's happening again. . ." she was able to mouth as she feels her body getting cold and getting hot at the same time.

"What the hell does that mean!?" Philip panics. "Should I call Phoenix—"

"NO!" Soroya grips onto Philp's hand to stop himself from getting his phone inside his pocket. "I don't want to worry anyone—argh!" She bites her lower lip to stop herself from moaning in pain. Instead, she manages to remove the belt, hoping that it could help her breathe more of the air. She starts to feel suffocated that she pleaded for water.

"Here. . ." Philip didn't ask any more question and hands her the bottle of coconut juice he just bought. Soroya squeezes the bottle until it's empty, breathing in and out like the colors of her skin start to come back. Philip notices that, that it makes him squeeze her left shoulder.

"Did you feel any better?" He raises the question, hoping that she did. And Soroya nodded. "Thank goodness! For a minute, I thought something attacked you or something far worse."

"Don't worry, Phoenix, I don't have any allergies to attack me." She assures him as she takes a moment to breathe and enjoy the air. Phoenix From The Present knows what's about to happen.

‘But why didn't it happen?’

Suddenly, as she's busy with her thoughts, a car also stops behind them and knocks on her window. Soroya effortlessly reaches her hand into the button to pill down her window. Philip decided to take over the conversation, but the man seems too focused on the woman.

"Is she okay, sir?" The man asks as he points out Soroya, who already has her eyes closed. Philip turns his attention to her for a second before shifting it back to the man.

"Yes, sir, she is. She just got tired of the four hours travel of the train." He explains away, hoping the man will buy it.

"The reason she's that pale? Or was it her natural color?"

"Uhm, no. We stopped because she felt her stomach turn. She said she wanted to vomit that's why. . . is there anything that we can help you with?" Philip asks to change the subject, now him getting suspicious over the man. The man, on the other hand, replies with a chuckle that lasted for a few seconds.

"In our town, sir,  when a car stops and parks out of nowhere, it could mean that they got a flat tire or machine malfunction. My wife and I thought you were facing one of those problems. That's why we thought to give you rescue. But, it turns out that your girlfriend here is just having a headache." He says that makes Phoenix nod.

"Yes, she is, but she's not my girlfriend. She's just a friend of mine." He corrected her that makes the man nod.

"Oh, sure. Whatever you kids like. . . Now, I should be going now if there's nothing serious here. Have a good day, sir."

The man moves out of the way as Philip closes the window. He waited for the car to drive past them that makes him wave at the man who is steering, who also waves back at him and nod before they disappear in front of them. After that, Philip is about to sit back and relax when Soroya groans lightly.

"I thought you weren't going to correct him with the girlfriend part." Soroya exhales that makes Philip flinches. Her eyes are still closed, making him think she's still trying to relax.

"As you said earlier, I'm loyal. And I respect you and my girlfriend." He replies before he sighs. "How are you feeling?"

"I think I'm more okay than earlier. . ." Soroya assures as Phoenix reaches out into her chair, and suddenly, Soroya feels her chair bending backward that made her open her eyes.

"What are you doing?" She asks him.

"Trying to help you relax? Maybe adjusting your seat diagonally would help somehow." He explains before sitting back on his chair. "Is that okay now?"

"Hmm, much better." She gives him a thumbs up. Philip nods before starting the engine. As soon as Soroya feels the car moving, she half opens her eyes and peeks at him.

"Thank you for not panicking so much. I thought your freak out like how the movie characters exaggerate over something sometimes." She says that makes him throw a glance in her direction for a split second before looking back at the road with a small smile.

"Well, I just don't want to scare you and think about the negativity. . . On those times, when one is panicking enough, it's better not to join them, or you'll end up feeling down even more. It's better to clear your head and be the bigger person to support the person who is freaking out. Don't you agree?" He asks as his eyes are still on the road. Soroya smiles weakly at him and nods silently.

"Yes, I do agree to it." She answers back before turning her attention outside the window.

On the other hand, Eduardus sighs in relief when he's able to get out of the older man's body. Now, he's floating in the thin air as he watches closely on the vehicle where Soroya and Philip are riding. Suddenly, the question he's been asking himself awhile back comes back, haunting him.

"I thought he's about to glitch out of the body again. . . But why didn't I see his soul unfasten with the physical body? Could she have been able to fight it? But that's odd. How could he do it?" He raises the question within himself as he rubs his chin gently, thickening of it.

"Damn! Why do I have to see different unusual sh*ts on the same day? First, Houdini and Vianne, and now this? What is going on!?"