Chapter 4

>>Kato? ... You there?>>

Cassandra listens intently to Abel talking on his phone, trying to catch as much of it as she can. She hates not knowing what he does, where he goes and whom he's with. She shudders as the traumatic memories of childhood abuse flood her mind as soon as Abel stops talking.

>>...Yeah, sorry 'bout that. Still up for tonight? ... Great! Great. I'm glad.>>

Cassandra frowns as she sees Abel blushing. She fears that she might have to be by herself all night. The loss of control, the unpredictability of dreams and being the only one to face it is too much for her to face alone.

>>The cinema, six-thirty, I'll get the tickets but the dinner's on you. Deal? ... You already got the tickets? Dinner's apparently on me, then.>>

After hearing his plans Cassandra feels slightly relieved. She goes through them in her head, filling in the blanks the best she can. Still quite stressed, she grabs the pack of cigarettes and skull-patterned flip lighter from her back pockets and lights one after putting it on her lips. She knows Abel hates cigarette smoke but it's the only way for her to feel better at the moment.

>>Oh, no need for that. Just bring them with you and I'll help. Mike's Coffee Shop, five o'clock? ... Hey, no sweat. I'd be glad to do it. ... Wait just a second, I can smell something burning.>>

Abel puts his phone down on a cupboard and turns his face to Cassandra. As he sees her smoking indoors his expression changes rapidly, from a blissful smile to a cold, disapproving glare.

"Cass, why are you smoking inside? I thought I told you to quit smoking, or at least do it outside".

Cassandra looks back to him with no sign of remorse,

"Your fault for stressing me out like that you old bastard. I thought you'll be out all night".

Abel sighs. "You're right. But you shouldn't eavesdrop on others' phone calls like that. If I promise to come home by midnight, will you please go outside?".

"Fine", Cassandra replies. She grabs her bag and rushes out of the main entrance.

Abel looks at what she does for a while before he realizes he's still on the line.

>>God, sorry, I almost forgot. I'm still here. ... Please don't call me old. You're not exactly a teenager yourself. ... Heh, I know. Anyways, if you don't mind I have some papers to fill. I'll see you later.>>

He taps the End-button on his phone, tucks it in his breast pocket and breathes out deeply. He's angry and frustrated at himself for not being able to tell Kato how he feels, even after knowing him for over three years. He turns his gaze to the computer screen which shows video feed from every room in the testing area. The test subjects, the twins, are in the play room at the moment, reading the note he'd hid for them earlier. He wonders if he's doing the right thing but tries to stand behind what he put in motion.

When the hands of the clock on the wall reach four-thirty Abel starts packing his things. He suggests that Cassandra should stop working for the day too and head home. He smiles as she nods reluctantly, and starts heading home.

Once he gets there he throws his bag on his bed and checks if he looks all right from the mirror before hurrying to the front door again. As soon as he gets the door open he realizes he's still wearing his lab coat, with a comical t-shirt and cargo shorts under it. He takes them off hastily and leaves them all over the floor, then grabs the casual suit he put neatly on his night stand the night before. He then grabs his trusty, black leather jacket from the closet, wraps a red knit scarf around his neck, hangs his bag over his shoulder and runs out of the door, desperately trying to make it to the next tram.