ROWANThere she came. “Good morning, pretty lady.” She walked brisky to catch up with me and I observed her skin. “Look at you. See how pretty you look.” I mouthed and leaned closer for a more genuine hug. “How are you feeling?” “I'm doing alright.” She smiled at me. “I'm more than glad to hear that.” I took a moment to check her out—her skin. “There's still redness. I'm sorry about this and how well have you been using the medications? Do you feel any pain, at least?” “I try my best to take my medications, Rowan.” I halted. Someone walked next to us. Her stepbrother who was also my enemy. “Good morning to you too, Caleb.” “How come you're greeting me now?” He stopped and walked up to me, smiling. “Have you accepted that I am better than you?” He didn't look at just me. He looked at the woman I was dating, then back at me again. “Your boyfriend is a lover, you should remind him. I won the cup on behalf of my team the last time I checked.” “You're right. I'm happy for you.” W
CLARA How dare he walk into my room to do something like this? What the fuck was his problem? I looked at the guy, wondering at the same time if he was high. “You should leave my room at this instant and don't try to piss me off, Caleb.” He walked even closer, obviously ready to push me to the wall. “Why would I leave a room that's built in my Father's house? Can you listen to yourself?” He looked around the space and looked at me again. “You must apologize to my girlfriend whether you like it or not—and don't push me to the wall. This is my advice to you, Clara.” Push him to the wall? Could he listen to his own words? I was tired of everything. Spending so much time at the hospital and in that bed, but I needed to be out of his sight. There was nothing he could do that would change my mind. “I should take a walk—” I patted my skin to check its temperature. “I'd rather be sick under the sun than stay in the same room with you while arguing.” “Clara. You can't walk out on me.
CALEB“Hi, Mom.” She was helped out of the car, her skin pale and reddish. The tension in the air is palpable. Mom rushed to her side before anything. “My goodness.” She cried. “What happened to you?” She took a glance at the faces staring back at her and let out a soft cry. “Why is your skin so red?” “She should sit before she speaks.” Everyone at the scene acted like I wasn't there. I looked at them one by one and made up my mind to be quiet after moving away from the space. “Come on.” Dad urged and opened the door for not just Clara but Rowan, who held a bag that seemed like Clara's. “Come on in.” Dad urged again, and they all walked in, ignoring me still. “Good day, sir.” “Good day,” Dad greeted. “Meet my wife.” He looked at my stepmother and greeted her. “Hello, ma'am. I'm sorry for scaring you, but this isn't my fault.” Everyone sat in the living room while I held myself from making so much noise. What was the need? If there was any noise I wanted to make, it was shovi
CALEBWe were on a break. I got back home early this morning. No, yesterday evening. Something inside of me expected to see her. My step sister whom I had not set eyes on since the rink. But she wasn't home. Even my stepmother was forced to ask after her and I told her I didn't know. But I didn't, in reality. “Good morning.” The cold voice of a man woke me. Glancing up, it was my dad. Immediately, I sat up, got off the bed so that I could stand and face him. “Good morning, Dad. Do you want something?” As I asked, I tried my best to recall the last time he was in my room. Probably since a year ago. “Good morning, son.” He moved farther and looked around my room. “I have come to ask you the whereabouts of your sister. If you cannot provide me with a better piece of information, I'll be forced to reach out to the school management. This is the second morning without her.” Fear choked me. There was no way he would reach out to the school. Not because of Clara. “I think she's
CALEBWe were on a break. I got back home early this morning. No, yesterday evening. Something inside of me expected to see her. My step sister whom I had not set eyes on since the rink. But she wasn't home. Even my stepmother was forced to ask after her and I told her I didn't know. But I didn't, in reality. “Good morning.” The cold voice of a man woke me. Glancing up, it was my dad. Immediately, I sat up, got off the bed so that I could stand and face him. “Good morning, Dad. Do you want something?” As I asked, I tried my best to recall the last time he was in my room. Probably since a year ago. “Good morning, son.” He moved farther and looked around my room. “I have come to ask you the whereabouts of your sister. If you cannot provide me with a better piece of information, I'll be forced to reach out to the school management. This is the second morning without her.” Fear choked me. There was no way he would reach out to the school. Not because of Clara. “I think she's
CLARA My eyes opened in a room. My head is like a heavy weight has been placed on it. Whatever happened here, I didn't know. One thing I knew was that I felt better compared to the last time when my eyes opened. “Hey—” His voice sounded. Right next to me, leaving me to wonder when exactly he walked into the room. “How are you feeling?” I turned completely for a moment to see him seated on a chair not far from the bed. “I feel alright.” I let out a warm smile. Then it dawned on me. “How was the—” No, this was the wrong question to ask. “Did you play for your team? I'm not sure I saw you do that—plus I'm sorry I couldn't make it to the rink to cheer you on. I'm sorry.” “Hey, no. There's nothing to be sorry about.” A sigh escaped my mouth. I wish I could believe those words. But I couldn't. Not when I felt bad already. “I'm sorry I couldn't be there with you.” A smile I didn't know how good or bad it looked on my face, ran out of my mouth. Somehow, I nodded to his words—words