PEARL*

★

"Because I'll never say it back, Pearl" he muttered.

Pearl froze, and she could see her heart falling at her feet.

She could imagine Roonie trampling on it, stepping on it and marching it into the puddles.

That blank look is in his eyes as he said it, and Pearl couldn't stop another tear which rolled down her red-hot cheeks again.

He looks reclusive and merciless... His eyes are killing her, and for one minute straight, she couldn't form a word.

It felt like all the blood in her system dried up, and her throat started itching from sudden dehydration and the need to cry.

She made to hold his hands again, but he stepped back and turned, breaking her heart more as he started going for the door.

"Xhen...," she called after him, her voice painful, but he didn't make any effort to stop.

"Xhen... please don't leave" she begged when she could already feel his exit at the tip of her sour tongue, but that didn't stop him from stepping out the door.

Pearl fell on the bed, sitting sickly as her tears rushed like pounds of rain this time.

Her heart has began beating so fast, so out of control and loud, so she quickly clutched at her chest with her right hand as Tate finally came in with the rest.

"Why is she crying?" Sybil said.

Tate quickly sat beside Pearl and brought her head to her chest, petting and cuddling her gently.

"It's ok...you know Richard is in jail, right? Whoever posted those posters wanted to mess with us obviously, but he won't go free I promise you" she said, stroking Pearl's hair.

Everyone in the room went silent.

They all know Richard escaped, everyone except Pearl herself who they've been keeping it from.

"You told me she'd be fine with him, then why is she crying after he left?" Mr. Wilson suddenly faced Rebekah.

Rebekah sighed and went to sit on Pearl's other side.

She placed an hand on her shoulder and stroked it. Pearl's face is still on Tate's chest though.

"What did he say? Why the tears? Tell me and I promise to do something" she probed, but that only made Pearl cry more.

She clinged to her mother, and her tears soaked Tate's blouse.

Mr. Wilson suddenly pulled Rebekah away from her, and Rebekah staggered on Morgan.

"Sir!" Sybil said.

"Don't caution me! Maybe you should try having a daughter who got raped at ten by your blood brother! Richard is my junior brother and he didn't only rape but beat her. Lizzy betrayed her too, and she's the same girl who gets triggered by nightmares, gets triggered anytime Richard is involved. And now a devilish guy is making her cry? I won't have it!" Mr. Wilson directed his harsh words at Rebekah and Morgan.

"And are you aware that we'd have lost pearl is Banks wasn't involved?" Morgan talked.

"Should I start counting the number of people he killed because of her?" Rebekah added.

"I don't care Rebekah! Morgan I don't care! He made her cry and that's making me feel useless! I hate seeing her cry! I hate it! She has cried enough" Mr. Wilson said at the point of tears.

Morgan gave the man a pitiful look, and Rebekah rushed out of the ward.

Morgan rushed after her, and Tate felt Pearl's temperature.

"Oh no she's burning up again,.. call the doctor" she said.

Mr. Wilson left to get one, and at the same time, Sybil got a call.

She left the ward to pick.... it's Teal.

"Hey girlfriend" she said sullenly.

"Why the bad mood?" Teal's voice came.

"Pearl is not getting better. I think Banks said something to her and she has been crying. Honestly it hurts to see her this way" Sybil replied.

"Banks said something to hurt her?"

"Obviously, though I dunno what" Sybil said.

"Then she should forget about him and move on. Banks is wild and unpredictable" Teal replied.

"I know, but girl... she's in love" Sybil said.

"Gosh... I'd have come to visit but I'm really really trying to settle some stuffs. I'll come when I'm done" Teal replied.

"Sure... ciao" Sybil hung up.

*

"You have long legs so slow down for me" Morgan said as she walked behind Rebekah, to the hospital park.

Rebekah stopped beside her Tesla and faced her, looking breathless.

"What are we gonna do?" Morgan asked.

"I know how to tackle Banks, but shouldn't we talk about you right now? Is your foster sister mad? Why is she treating you like that?" Rebekah said.

"She's a spoilt only child, so I'm used to her brattiness. Don't worry about me" Morgan replied, and Rebekah scoffed.

"Is this really Morgan?Where is the no-nonsense Morgan who beat up the guys trying to bully us last semester?"

"Sabrina is not just anybody I can beat up and you know it. Her parents brought me up and I can't just throw that in the mud. I'll be fine" Morgan insisted

"But...

"Bekah I said I'll be fine" Morgan cut her off.

"Fine" Rebekah shrugged in surrender.

"Should I follow you to Banks?" Morgan asked.

"No. Just stay with Pearl" Rebekah replied, and Nina nodded.

Rebekah jumped into her car and drove out of the hospital.

*