"Let's finish our work with you too." I heard the amusement in the guy's voice.
He took a step towards me as the guy who held me tightened his arms around me but I wasn't bothered about them at all. I was starting at a lifeless body of Alec lying there on the ground.
I couldn't feel myself. I couldn't feel the air inside me as I felt like nothing. I felt nothingness as even if they hit me with their bats now... it wouldn't hurt me as much as it was tearing me to see the person I love laying unconscious because of me. For me.
No, Serene. It's not you. It's because of the bitch.
My eyes snapped upto her. She was standing at some distance with a face devoid of emotions.
"I hope you rot in hell before dying the worst way anyone could ever imagine."I spat at her. I had so much to curse her for but my mind was blank and fucked up as I felt my knees getting weaker and weaker.
"Alec," I squeaked, "Get up. We will get out."
I tried to reach for him but the guy jerked me and made me stand still and tall. The guy with the bat approached me with his crooked smile. I closed my eyes as I felt tears running down my cheeks.
No. They weren't the tears of fear. But the tears of my heart crying.
I waited for the bat to hit me too but I was surprised when nothing happened. I opened my eyes and noticed them frozen in their places their eyes wide.
"Do you hear it too?" The bitch asked from the distance with a hint of fear in her voice.
"RUN!" She screamed, "RUN OR WE WILL GET CAUGHT! FUCK, RUN YOU RETARDS! LEAVE HER!"
It was then that I heard the sirens getting louder and louder. The guys left us and ran away with the bitch. But I wasn't bothered about them at all right now.
I kneeled down and took Alec in my arms as I shook him.
"It's the police, Alec." I tried to smile but failed miserably, "Alec. Alec. We will be saved now. You will be saved." I cried as I looked around desperately searching for someone.
I watched as a silhouette came out from behind the trees. I still had Alec in my arms as I felt his blood covering my hands and where his head lay on me.
"Help us," I mumbled to the silhouette, "please."
I watched as it came closer to usâ almost jogging towards us until their face was clear.
"Liya?" I said.
And truly, there she was hurrying her way towards us. She was the one who called the police? She saved us? She saw it?
"Yes. Yes to all your questions. Now, don't waste time we need to get him to the hospital. Henry and Max are coming in a minute. Take him to the hospital and I'll go and talk to the police for now."
"Thank you." I felt so gratitude towards her. I felt like becoming water and just cry in front of her but I controlled myself as I waited for Henry and Max which didn't take them long.
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I was sitting outside the ICU. I looked down at my feet and watched them shaking. I bit my lip before holding onto the seat tightlyâ making my knuckles white.
How long? How long will it take? I ran my hands through my hair pushing them away from my face in anxiety.
Henry and Max were taking care of all the hospital papers and bills while I sat here twisting in my own mind.
I watched a hand press down on my thigh. I looked sideways and saw Liya sitting there beside me with a concerned look on her face. I looked away from her and ran my eyes across the white outline of the door with the sign of 'ICU' on it.
"Hey," she whispered, "can you look at me?"
I gulped. I cannot get over everything that happened today. It was supposed to be a good day. A memorable day. A day when we had our first date. A day filled with laughter, happiness and... love. But what happened was totally contrary. I got stood up. I got envious of Liya. I fought with him. And I even got him hospitalised.
I blinked a few times to control my emotions before looking at her. Her eyes looked troubled as she took my hands in hers.
"I am sorry." She said.
I pursed my lips and looked around trying to control the tears from forming, "For what?"
She was the one who helped us in the end. Why is she apologising? I was the one yelling at her, why was she apologising?
"For everything. But especially for making things this way. I am sorry if I was a terrible friend. I really am, Serene." She closed her eyes momentarily making me stare at her, "I should have asked Alec what he meant when he asked me to not disturb you, when I asked him to come to help me. If I had asked... I would have known about your date and none of this would have happened."
I took a deep breath and felt like my soul and body were just attached with a thin thread. Unknowingly, I moved forward and embraced her into my arms.
I know, how it feels. To feel guilty and blame yourself for something you didn't have control over. I have blamed myself for so many things in my life, one of them was the time when my dad left me. For a long time, I thought it was something I did but no matter what I would have done... he would have still left us. So blaming was just a game we played with ourselves.
"It wasn't anyone's fault," I mumbled patting her back as she snuggled her face closer to my neck and hugged me back tightly. I was surprised as she rubbed my back lightly, "W-wha-"
"You should let your feelings out too," She said referring to me crying.
Or I'll feel as if all my insides are being frozen? Frozen until I don't feel anything? What stage am I already in?
"Don't hold it in, Serene." She said again, "Alec would want you to be okay after everything."
Alec. I hope he will be alright. I want him to be alright. I just... miss him already.
I felt a tear running down my cheek as I held onto Liya tightly. I could feel like a tap being opened as the tears didn't stop as I clung to her while I felt like breaking anytime.
"I am here," Liya repeated as she continued to give me support.
"I- I didn't," I sniffled, "I didn't mean anything l-like this to happen to him."
She nodded her head and continued comforting me. I felt another pair of arms wrap around us, I tried to pull a little away to find Henry squatting in front of our seat and hugging us back while Max hugged me from behind.
"It was nobody's fault." Henry said softly with his soft features, "He will be alright. We all are here."
I was so grateful to have them all in my life. Friends to lean on. To share my sadness with. Just to exist and bear me.
"Where is Serene?"
We all broke from our hug and watched as Evie, Brian, Nathaniel and Xavier came running towards us. They all had a weary expression on their face as they huffed for air.
Evie didn't even take a second as she ran straight to me and started inspecting me to make sure I was alright, "You aren't hurt, are you?"
"I am fine." I gave her a soft smile as she stopped and let out a deep breath before looking at me and throwing herself at me.
"Thank god," she muttered, "I wouldn't have been able to bear if something were to happen to you too."
I hugged her back and watched Nathaniel and Xavier standing behind with an anxious look on their faces as well. But it wasn't for me... they were looking towards the door which led to Alec.
Their best friend was on the other side of the door and the most they could do was stand and wait in uncertainty.
Evie let go of me, just when Brian squeezed my shoulder in reassurance. I nodded at him but my focus was on Xavier and Nathaniel. Their face twisting in emotions I couldn't comprehend.
Liya went and tried to soothe Xavier. He tried to let her know that he was alright but anyone could see that he wasn't.
"He will be alright," I said finally approaching Nathaniel as I watched him sit in one of the seats.
"Is that what everyone has been telling you?" He asked not meeting my eyes.
I shrugged my shoulders knowing he could see me through his peripheral vision, "That and I know he will be alright."
He was silent and didn't move for a few minutes before turning his head to finally look at me, "This shouldn't have happened."
"I know," I whispered.
"We have been together for as long as I can remember," he clasped his hands and looked at the white tiles on the floor, "He doesn't have anyone apart from us."
I know. He doesn't and maybe that was the moment... when he opened up to me that I started falling for him.
"Even now," he let out a mocking chuckle, "His father is attending a meeting which seems more important than his own son. That stinky piece of," he caught himself in time as he pursed his lips, "After his mother, we were his family... and now it is you."
I am? Did he love me enough to consider me his family?
"Serenity?" I looked up and saw Xavier standing there in his full height hovering over both of us, "Can I talk to you for a minute?"
I looked at Nathanielâ a little panicked. I have never looked at Xavier for more than five minutes, forget about talking to him. So, it was a little surprising when he asked me to have a talk. Nathaniel nodded his head at me to ensure me that it was alright. I got up and followed Xavier to the corner where no one could hear us.
I was intimidated by him. And the moment we were alone I felt like withdrawing from him even more. Knowing and hearing all about Xavier, he probably blames me for what happened to Alec.
"You think it was because of me, don't you?" I asked.
"What?" He looked confused.
"You think Alec is injured because of me,"
"No?" He had a stunned expression, "I don't."
"Then why did you..." I motioned him referring to 'why did he he ask me to talk'.
He looked nervous, "I just wanted to make sure that you forgave him."
I looked at him in surprise. I wasn't expecting that. Xavier, the guy who doesn't even like looking at me was asking me to forgive his friend?
"I know. I know." He said rather fast, "He made a huge mistake. But falling in love means even if one makes mistakes, you will still love them, right?"
I didn't say anything as he continued speaking,
"I have made so many terrible mistakes in the past, you have no idea but still Liya forgave me. Even though she shouldn't have. And it is surprising for me too that she did but I am just happy with the way it turned out for us... Love is never easy." He smiled, "Also, I might have come across as a jerk until now but I didn't mean it. I know Alec is in love with you. So thank you,"
Thank you for what? I asked.
"For finally getting him off of my Liya," he joked before shaking his head and getting serious, "For being there for him. With him. Helping him. And just loving him. You love him, right?" He asked to make sure.
I chuckled lightly even with the seriousness of the situation.
I nodded my head at him letting him know that I was in fact in love with him as much as he was.
"Thank god." He sighed, "I wouldn't have been able to bear with his unrequited love again... Not even he could. He finally deserves someone who will be able to deal with him." He said, "So I just hope for his sake, for the sake of all your good memories ... you will forgive him and give him another chance."
Give him another chance? Forgive him?
I forgave him the second he came for me and stayed even if he knew that it could be dangerous for his life. I forgave him the second our eyes met the one last time before he closed them. I had long forgiven him.
So, I just want him to be forgiven and wake up for me now.
"The doctor is here," Brian said coming towards us.
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