SIX

Juliet

Somehow, I was back at the cafe, facing Grace's piercing gaze.

After I struggled to hold back from crying, which I had been doing a lot these days, Grace managed to convince me to go back to the cafe with her.

“So… how about Naomi and Leah?” I asked, not just because I was trying to shift the conversation from me, but because I was curious about the women I used to call my friends.

“Leah left the country to manage her mother's farm a year after graduation”, Grace answered.

“And Naomi?”

“She died of cancer last year”, Grace replied dryly.

“Oh”, was all I could say, wringing my fingers on the table.

I could still remember Naomi; bold, reckless and so full of life. A lump formed in my throat, chest tightening with guilt.

“Was it Declan?”

I looked up at Grace, who had her gaze on the side of my face.

I could only sigh, unable to accept or deny the fact that Declan was the one who gave me the bruise.

“How long?” She asked with dread.

“It’s the first time”, I quickly answered, then recoiled. Should it matter that it was the first time?

“That's how it always starts”, Grace said, her expression turning dark.

It made me remember how much of an abusive asshole Grace's father was, and how her mother never left until karma caught up with him and he got murdered by some gang he owed.

But that wasn't my situation.

I suddenly felt more uncomfortable.

“Do you want to go to the police?” She asked, reaching for my hand on the table.

I blinked at her. The thought never crossed my mind. But now that she mentioned it…

“There is no point”, I shook my head. It was pointless to try to fight against Declan.

Grace opened her mouth as if to argue, but then relaxed. “You're right”, she agreed.

“What are you going to do then? Go back to him?” Grace asked.

“I…” My phone rang.

The screen lit up, showing Declan's number. I had not seen him since he stormed out of the room, not that I wanted to. What was he calling me for?

“It's him isn't it?” Grace asked.

“Yes”, I answered, ending the call.

“The thing is…” My phone rang again.

I glared down at it in annoyance. Clenching my jaws, I ended the call and turned on airplane mode.

“You don't plan on going back right?” Grace asked.

“No”, I answered with full conviction. The thought of going back to that house or Declan made my skin crawl.

Grace’s expression melted with relief.

“I’m sorry I know it looks like I’m prying…”

“It's fine”, I cut in. Though meeting Grace was unexpected and awkward, I was glad I saw her. It was like she just came to me the moment I needed someone the most.

“I should be the one to apologize. I’m sorry for what I did four years ago. I was a shitty friend”. The apology was long overdue.

Grace gave me a smile, shaking her head. “It's okay. I don't hold it against you anymore”.

Is that why you blocked me and never reached out? I thought.

“Thank you”, I said instead.

“Actually, there is something I want to tell you. It may not matter but I just want to say it”, Grace said.

“Okay?” I sat up properly.

“Back then when you and Declan were still dating, were you aware that Declan was texting me?”

My brows drew together. “Texting?”

Grace shook her head dismissively. “He framed it as checking up on me, and also offered to help me with money. It may not sound weird right now, but back then I thought it was strange that he never mentioned it to you”.

It was weird indeed. Because Declan never had anything positive to say about Grace.

“And I didn't tell you because I didn't want you to feel bad about it or something. Maybe if I did, you would have realised how much of an asshole he was and it wouldn't have gotten to this”, she said.

I thought back to how blinded in love I was, and shook my head. “Don't beat yourself up about it. It would not have changed anything”.

Grace blinked at me.

“I caught Declan cheating on me and still stayed”.

Her eyes widened.

“I would have made excuses for him back then just like I did after I literally watched him receive a blow job from another woman”. I shook my head, trying to clear the offensive image.

“That's fucked up”, she muttered and quickly added an awkward, “Sorry”.

“It's fine. Judge me all you want, I’m stupid”, I admitted.

Grace winced.

“So where are you going to stay?” She asked.

“Hotel, motel, anywhere”. I shrugged.

“I’m staying at a hotel too. Do you mind tagging along?” Grace asked.

“Of course not. Thank you so much Grace”, I smiled.

I sat on the bed in my hotel room, turning off airplane mode. And as if on cue, my phone began to ring.

“Mum”, I muttered, staring at the screen.

Declan had probably called her to check on me. Bracing myself, I answered the phone.

“Finally!” She screeched and I frowned, taking the phone away from my ear.

“What happened to your phone Juliet? I have been trying to reach you. Declan has been trying to reach you, he had to call me. And where the hell did you go?!”

I clenched the phone. “Really Mum? That's what you're worried about? Declan?”

“Well…”

“You didn't even ask me how I have been doing?! Do you even know what happened?” I tried to push down the anger and hurt, but it kept rising.

“You left without telling anyone where you were going, and you turned off your phone. That was reckless and immature of you regardless of what happened”.

My jaws clenched.

“Declan hit me”, I said. Yet it was barely enough to describe everything Declan had been doing to me.

There was silence from the other end.

“Well… what did you do?”

It felt as though someone drove something into my chest. I breathed, trying to hold back the urge to break down again.

“Mum”, my voice cracked.

“Declan has never raised his hand at you before. He is not the type to lose his temper, so you must have done something”.

“Sure. It must have been me. I provoked him right?”

Mum sighed. “I know you must be hurt. But your reaction was immature. Couples fight all the time, that is never a reason to leave and turn off your phone”, she chastised.

“Sure, Mum. Sure”, I nodded.

To think that a small part of me had hoped.

“Call Declan after I hang up and apologise okay?” She asked.

I pressed my lips to stop them from trembling.

“I hate you Mum”, I said.

“What?”

“I hate you so much. Don't ever call me again”, I ended the call.

I looked up, blinking so the tears would not fall. Maybe I was over reacting.

No.

I slammed the thought down, thinking back to when Grace escorted me to my room, telling me I was doing the right thing.

I turned on my phone again, watching the messages roll in. There were several from Declan.

D: Where are you? What happened to your phone?

D: Did you turn it off on purpose?

D: Mum called to tell me you misbehaved with her. Did you really threaten to beat her?

D: I know you're upset about what happened last night. I'm sorry for losing my temper, I shouldn't have hit you. It won't happen again I promise.

D: We'll talk things out when I get back from my trip okay?

D: Please reply as soon as you see this.

I stared at the screen blankly, feeling nothing. Hurt me, apologize, repeat. Playing with my feelings seemed to be Declan's favorite pastime.

I furrowed my brows, noticing I got a message from an unknown number.

I frowned at the view once photo. And then I clicked on it.

The first thing I saw was an image of a familiar red head, lying over the naked chest of a sleeping Declan with a smirk on her face.

'Thank you for sending him back to me', the text read.

I stared at the image and the text for a while. And then I laughed.