The Luster of Stars in Moscow
⁇ 64
"You're wrong" said Cheri. "This is different from before. I think that if Rafael calls the MoscovArt Theatre office, there's hope."
"Huh! What's the?" Cyzarine grunting. "This means absolutely no change. If he can call, why can't he show himself?"
"He must have devised a plan that benefited him, let alone saying he would save me. He must have seen a chance to win."
Cyzarine responded to Cheri's beliefs. "Don't forget about the other personalities, there are other people" he reminded Cheri. "We can only trust him fifty percent."
Cheri immediately fell silent.
"You sure you still want to play Joan in Vladimir's theater?" ask Cyzarine.
"If Rafael asks, I will."
"It's naive" said Cyzarine. "It was just a voice on the phone. Could've called the other personality."
"From his voice alone, I knew it was Rafael." Cheri insists.
Cyzarine burst into laughter. "You really are like Joan hearing the voice of God" she said.
And before Cheri could react, the atmosphere around them suddenly turned rowdy. The girls around the table next to them suddenly fussed and giggled.
Cheri and Cyzarine followed their eyes towards the entrance.
A tall man entered the Coffee Shop with a sullen look and half of the female visitors were made to gasp.
Cheri groaned while twirling his eyeballs with a look of disgust.
Mikail burst across the room and rushed to their table.
Cyzarine moved and regained his chair. "I have to go" he said quickly.
"Hei—" Cheri stuttered and froze helplessly.
Mikail had already reached their table.
"I have a date" Cyzarine said as he tidied up his things and stuffed them all into a bag. Then he leaned towards Cheri. "I'm afraid to be tempted if I stay here too long" he whispered as he glanced at Mikail.
The man kept a sullen face.
Cheri bowed with a clumsy face, not daring to look at Mikail.
"Let's go home!" Mikail grabbed Cheri's wrist and pulled him to his feet.
The girls who had been glaring at him were disappointed.
"He had a wife" they said.
Cheri gulped and looked around.
The girls turned their faces away quickly.
Mikail took some money out of her pocket and put it on the table, then dragged it away.
"Explain to me about the phone from Rafael" urged Mikail after they reached the apartment five minutes later.
Cheri flinched and checked all the clothes he was wearing. Then found a small microphone in his long coat pocket.
"You eavesdropped on my conversation with Cyzarine?" Cheri glared impatiently, feeling a little irritated.
"My job is to protect you, Cheri!" sergeant Mikail half growled.
"But this is a little bit outrageous" Cheri snorted as he brandished the microphone device in front of Mikail's face. Then throw the microphone at the phone table.
Mikail glanced at the microphone at a glance and looked back at Cheri.
Cheri turned his face away and took a stance leaving him. Snatched his long coat collar and disarmed it, then threw it into the jacket storage area.
"Cheri—" Mikail tried to restrain Cheri as the girl rushed towards her room.
Cheri stopped and glared at him.
"I'm sorry about the microphone, '" said Mikail. "But—"
Cheri groaned and bought it.
"Why do you have to sneak out secretly?" ask Mikail. "Why didn't you tell me about the phone? What the hell is wrong with you? You've never kept anything from me before!"
Cheri did not answer.
"Do you no longer need me?" Mikail asked again with a wounded expression.
Suddenly, Cherie felt guilty.
"Sorry," hiss Cheri. "I'm not really sure if he's really Rafael. He should be Valentin now, right?"
"shoulda?" Mikail raised her eyebrows.
"I'm just not sure" added Cheri. "That's it."
Cheri gulped and bowed.
Mikail placed both of her hands on Cheri's shoulders very carefully. "Cheri," he whispered softly.
Cheri lifted his face and looked up, looking at Mikail's face which was quite high above his head.
And then the man changed his mind. "Sleep" he said, rubbing the girl's shoulder. "I will sleep in Rafael's room" he said. "Don't hesitate to wake me up if something happens."
Cheri was again bowed in a puzzling silence.
Mikail left without looking back.
Cheri was still pecking in front of the fireplace, staring blankly out the window.
Cheri spent the whole night flipping his body.
And when morning came, he woke up tired.
The door of her room opened and Mikail appeared carrying a breakfast tray while smiling widely. Looks fresh after the shower.
"I have to go to Tsar Dramy," Cheri told the man after they had finished breakfast.
Mikail glanced at the watch on her wrist. "Let me drive with my car," he offered.
"No, thank you!" Cheri refused quickly.
The man squinted his eyes in surprise.
Cheri leaned over in front of the closet where his jacket and shoes were stored, grabbed his knee-length shoes and put them on.
Mikail watched the girl while holding her back. His face looks cold. "Cheri," he reprimanded rather sharply.
Cheri looked up with his eyes and mouth rounded, surprised by Mikail's facial changes.
"Did Rafael instill something in Valentin's mind?"
Mikail's question made Cheri stammer.
.
.
.
Ibis Moscow Kiev…
Valentin blinked and frowned, holding his head. He pulled up his body and staggered towards the window. Opening the curtains while grumbling.
The sunlight that slipped in felt tormenting him.
He was sitting hunched over the edge of the bed when a Front Office walked in delivering bill bonds to check out.
"Arrrrgh," furious Valentin. "Put it down there!"
"Are you okay?" The front office asked politely.
"Whisper!" Valentin.
The man let out a short sigh and rushed out.
"Hey!" Valentin yelled at him.
The man flinched and turned around.
"Was there a group of people asking about me?" ask Valentin.
"Yes" the waiter replied a little nervously. Valentin's sharp gaze scared him a little. "So it looks like it's in the lobby, and someone called asking you, but he won't tell me his name."
Valentin sighed harshly. "Truly troublesome," his grunts impatiently. "They followed me everywhere." Though I have painstakingly snatched this body from Rafael, his mind. If this continues where it can move. I have to do something!
He nodded again while holding his head. What the fuck? thought annoyed. Why does my head hurt every morning?
After believing that nothing was asked anymore, the front office pleaded.
"Hey!" Valentin shouted again as he brandished the bill paper.
The young man turned back in shock.
"What's this phone bill? I don't remember ever using a phone" Valentin's cerocos half rebuked. Then cram the bill in his hand into the hands of the front office. "Remove!"
"But, Tuan—"
"Say delete!" Valentin doesn't want to know.
"Ba--good!" The front office rushed out of Valentin's room with a frustrated face. "Where can be removed," his grunts upon reaching the corridor. "The file is already in the archive."