I was starting to get impatient waiting for the response of my friends as they haven’t told me the exact place where they are having karaoke. I popped my head into one of the snack bars that have karaoke.
“Hey, babe!” one of the boys from the table near the table said
I ignored him and tried looking at the other tables to check if my friends are there. I am too shy to go inside and look properly that is why I am stretching my neck at the entrance.
“Want to join our table?” one of them said one more time
“No, thanks. I am just checking if my friends are here.” I declined
I immediately looked away because I noticed someone sitting at the table with them. I pursed my lips and tried to force myself to smile. I was about to go out when the same boy grabbed my hand.
“Come on! You can sit with us. We don’t bite, we just wanted to get to know you better.” he insisted
“I’m sorry but my friends are waiting for me,” I said politely.
“Why are you trying to play hard to get? Is it because you are from a different school?” he said
“It is not about that. I really should go.” I said removing his hand and walking away
He followed me and held my hand tightly while trying to pull me inside. I could smell the alcohol every time he spoke. My heart was starting to beat fast and I was starting to panic. I looked at Allyson who was drinking at the table with them with the hope of him telling his friend off but he didn’t even throw a glance.
“Let my hand go. You are hurting me.” I said in a stern voice which made Allyson look.
“Let her go if she said she doesn’t want to join. You shouldn’t force any girl to join a table if she refused.” Allyson told his friend before gulping his beer
“Do you know her?” the boy holding me asked
“I told you to let my hand go. I don’t want to cause a scene here.” I said again
“Leave her alone,” Allyson said
“If you know her then why don’t you introduce her to us.” some of the boys at the table also added
Allyson sat there quietly drinking his beer which made me furious. I guess I expected too much from him. I shouldn’t have cared already when I saw him during the parade for the interschool competition. I knew that I should have gotten a hint that he changed when he ignored me twice during the time that our paths crossed that day.
“You jerk! I told you to let me go.” I shrieked
“What is happening? Althea is that you. Is everything okay?” I hear Jackson’s voice behind me
“Let her go to avoid any commotion. Her schoolmates are coming.” Allyson said standing up
The man who was holding my hand smirked before covering my mouth. I know that I could easily get out of that situation but I don’t know why I became too weak because of Allyson’s indifference.
“Let her go if you don’t want a fight to break out.” I heard Jackson say beside me
“Fine, we don’t want any ruckus. I just wanted to make friends.” the boy said before letting me go
“Are you hurt? Did they force you to do something?” Jackson said while checking the redness on my wrist.
“Yeah. I am fine.” my voice cracked
“Next time, you should watch after your friend so that she will not be wandering around like a lost child,” Allyson said
I froze on my spot due to how fast it happened. I am still processing what happened because all I see is Allyson chuckling as he held his jaw that Jackson punched.
“I don’t know what kind of friend you are for allowing Althea to be disrespected like that in front of you. If you want to break her heart then you did a great job.” Jackson said
‘Who are you to say to me? Stop acting like you are such a good friend when you watched her get bullied by your girlfriend and her friend without doing anything. We are just the same.” Allyson arrogantly said
“When did I watch her get bullied? You don’t know the sacrifices I did when you decided to leave as if we didn’t spend time together. Just admit that you’re a coward for not even saying goodbye.”
“Oh yeah! Then should I remind you what your girlfriend did while you are having second thoughts about approaching them? You stood there while Althea was soaking wet because your lover threw water at her. Thank goodness for the rain, she had a very good reason not to tell you.” Allyson said gritting his teeth
“Stop running that filthy mouth of yours,” Jackson said before holding Jackson’s collar.
“Want me to say more? You know how important all her sketchbooks are to her but what did you when they burned one of her important sketches. You just shut your mouth and let them do what they wanted.”
“Don’t mind him, Jackson. Let’s get out of here.” I said pulling Jackson away
“Yeah! Take him away and stop pretending to be weak so that other people will pity you. I am not your knight in shining armor. I know that you would only believe him since he is the angel while I am the Blacksheep.” Allyson said to me before pushing me away
I scratched both my knees when I fell to the cemented path because of his push. I could feel some pain in my knees but I got so enraged by what he said. I didn’t mind the ache when I stood up and went straight to him. I stretched my arms and before I could get ahold of myself, I spanked him as strong as I can.
“What a jerk?! I never sided with anyone of you before. I was always in neutral mode and tried to understand both of your viewpoints. How dare you accuse me of that?!” I said before throwing the friendship bracelet in his face
“Both of you are just the same. I really can’t trust anyone these days. Okay, I get it. You have always denied that you got back with Nathalia every time I asked a question. I guess I am not that trustworthy. We aren’t friends anymore. ” I shouted as I threw the other bracelet to Jackson.
“Let me explain,” Jackson said
My voice cracked as I was shouting and I could feel my eyes tearing up. I ran away before any of my tears fell. I bumped into someone as I was running while looking back because I heard Jackson’s voice.
“Are you okay? What happened?” Vladimir asked
I ignored him and continued running away. I immediately called a car and went home. I did my best to stop my tears from falling. I broke down as soon as I closed the front door at home. I was sobbing when I heard my phone ring. I was just watching it ring when I saw Jackson’s name on the screen. I turned it off when it stopped ringing. I walked slowly to the sofa and collapsed. I could feel my heart gradually breaking as I remembered Allyson’s words.
“Althea! Wake up!” I heard someone say
I opened my eyes while breathing heavily with my heart beating so fast. I wailed when I saw Vladimir in front of me.
“It’s okay. Hush! I am here. It’s okay.” he said hugging me.
He let me cry for some time while brushing my hair to calm me. He wiped my tears away and smiled.
“What a cry baby? Is your dream that bad for you to cry as soon as you wake up? You don’t normally have nightmares unless something bad happened.” he said
‘What are you doing here? Why are you here?” I asked in between my sobs
“Everyone is too worried that is why I volunteered to come and check on you. You also left the door open so I invited myself in.”
“Why am I in bed? I remember sitting in the living room when I came home.” I asked confused
“I carried you here with the thought that you wouldn’t like it if your grandma will see you in that state,” he said
“Is grandma home?” my eyes grew bigger because of what he said
“I haven’t seen her anywhere inside the house so I guess not yet,” he said
“Are you the one who... Ummm.” I hesitated to ask while looking at my knees
“Oh, that! I had to clean your wound because I was afraid that it might get infected.”
“Thanks but are the others downstairs?”
“I am the only one who came. Daniel wanted to come but he has a game. We don’t know what happened but we guessed something might have happened since you ignored us which you rarely do.”