[ Bella's Point of View ]
"Oh, yeah? I'm more handsome than you! Do you not realize that Bella probably didn't date you back then because you were ugly?"
"Bella dated you because she had to play along with Niana's games."
"That doesn't matter. Bella's dating me, and you shouldn't be with us."
"I want to be with her because I need to protect her!"
"I can protect her myself!"
"You weren't there when she was being abused by the guy at the bar. Where on earth were you that time? You're such a useless boyfriend!"
Jameson grabbed Ivan's collar, and Ivan gritted his teeth.
"What are you saying?" Ivan said.
"So you don't know, huh? Well, Bella was finding you that time because you were drunk! And guess what? She was ..." Jameson looked at me with eyes of pity.
Ivan looked at Jameson and me confusedly.
"No, Bella? What happened? Why didn't you tell me?" Ivan asked as soon as he finally realized. He cupped my face.
"I'm fine, Ivan. Don't worry about me."
He pulled himself away and sighed, "Niana, you witch! I'll make you pay for what you did," he said.
"Huh?"
"You probably don't know, but I have a strong feeling that Niana was behind it," Ivan uttered.
That's when I realized that Niana was also there that night. No, it couldn't be a coincidence, right?
She probably knew I was about to see Ivan.
I fell to my knees again. That night was traumatizing.
"Bella, Bella!" Both of them came to me and held my arms.
"Bella, we're almost back at the dorm. Can you still walk?"
I ended up being carried by Ivan on his back. Jameson was glaring at us, and Ivan was sticking his tongue out at Jameson.
They're like kids.
As soon as we arrived at the dorm, I rested immediately and locked my door. I want to be alone.
Every time I close my eyes, the face of that guy from the bar haunts me.
And Niana was behind it.
I will kill her. I WILL KILL HER!
...
There were no signs of Niana for a whole month. I wonder what she has been doing, but the thought of her still unnerves me.
Nothing terrible has happened. Even the serial killer who attempted to kill me before laid low.
Just, what is happening?
I felt like I was growing weaker and weaker. I don't have the same energy as I had before. I'm not myself.
"Bella," I heard Ivan speak from behind while I was looking outside at the window of my room.
"Hi," I simply said without looking at him.
To be honest, we're still dating. I don't know if I should break up with him or not.
"Are you thinking about Niana again?" He asked softly and wrapped his arms around my waist while he rested his chin on my shoulder.
"Hmm, yeah."
"Don't worry, I'll do my best to find that witch. What she did was unforgivable," he spoke.
I looked at him and removed his arms around my waist.
"Ivan, what if you saw me killing someone right in front of your eyes? Will you still love me?" I asked him.
His mouth parted, but no words came out. He is probably shocked by my sudden question.
"Bella, I know you won't kill anyone," he said.
"Oh, Ivan. You don't know me at all."
"I will love you no matter what. But please, Bella, killing people won't fix everything. There must be another way," he mumbled and held my hand.
I wish. I wish there was a different way.
He cuddled me for hours, but nonetheless, I still can't seem to love him back. I can't. I just can't love.
Ivan is a great guy. He is very showy of his affections and loves to cuddle. He deserves someone better than me. Someone who can love him back.
He slept on my bed, and I went outside my room. There, I saw Jameson sitting on the couch while reading a book.
"What are you reading?" I asked him.
He looked at me in an instant and smiled.
"Oh, this book is entitled 'One of Us is Lying.' It's a mystery-crime book," he replied and went back to reading again.
I sat on the other couch and sighed. "You're still interested in reading books, aren't you?" I asked.
He nodded, "Yup. Nothing has changed."
"So, what have you been doing these past years? Where do you live?" I asked again.
"Well, when I was out of the hospital, I came back to my grandmother. Then when I entered high school, I decided to live in a dorm. It's not far from here."
That's right, he and Ivan entered the same school, but Jameson transferred to my school recently.
"Anyway, Bella, do you like Ivan?" Jameson closed the book he was reading.
"Hmm? Oh, well, Ivan is a great guy. He is kind and clingy. Also, Ivan never fails to show his affection. Once he says, 'I love you, he will definitely prove it. But, I don't seem to like him or develop any romantic attraction towards him. I've never felt it anyway, so I have no idea," I replied.
"So he's that kind of guy," Jameson muttered in a small voice. Too soft that I almost couldn't hear it.
"Why are you asking?"
"Bella, I've loved you since day one. If I was here by your side, do you think I am the one you're dating?" He asked.
"I wonder. It might be possible, but dating isn't a part of my priorities just yet. Actually, I have no plans to date. It's just that I had to date Ivan to know more about Niana," I replied.
It's true. I decided to play her games, but I won't be playing with her anymore. I'm done, Niana.
That wench.
"Good night then, Bella. I'll go back to my dorm." Jameson stood up and stretched his arms. "Wait, what about your boyfriend? Will he be sleeping there with you? I will also sleep there if he will be sleeping with you?" He pouted.
WHAT?
I went inside my room and threw a pillow on Ivan's face. He is quietly sleeping on my bed while hugging the bunny plushie he gave me before.
"Hey, wake up!" I screamed at him, but he wasn't waking up.
Ah, geez.
"Ivan, come on! You can't sleep here! The landlady will get mad if she figures out I'm letting a guy sleep in this place!" I pulled him out of my bed, and he finally opened his eyes as soon as he fell on the floor.
"Ouch!" He groaned and looked at me.
"It's time for you to go back to your dorm," I said.
He went back lying down on my bed and covered himself with the blanket.
WHAT THE HECK?!
"IVAN!"
"Bella, let me stay here, please? I want to sleep beside you. Besides, the guard at our dorm will never let us in this late," he replied in a sleepy voice.
"I won't sleep with you! Just... okay." I gave up pulling him, and he looked at me with excitement in his eyes.
"Really? You will sleep with me?"
"No, of course not. That would be indecent. What I want to say is, you can sleep here this night but sleep on the couch outside." I pointed at the couch in the living room.
He started to kick the air and act like a child throwing a fit. "I don't want to sleep if you're not beside me," he said in a childish voice.
"Gosh, you're so annoying."
"Come on! I won't do anything! I'll just hug you!" He started pulling me on the bed, but Jameson suddenly spoke from behind.
"What's the fuss, Ivan? If you want someone to cuddle, I'll sleep with you," Jameson said in a flat face.
That's right, they can sleep together.
Ivan covered himself with his arms and moved to the corner of the bed.
"WHAT?!? THERE'S NO WAY I WOULD SLEEP WITH YOU!" He pointed at Jameson.
"Okay, then leave Bella alone here. We can sleep on the couch or in Niana's room. But, it wouldn't be nice to sleep in Niana's room, so we have no choice but to sleep on the couch," Jameson suggested.
"But I want to be with -"
"WILL YOU PLEASE SHUT UP!" I screamed at them. They're so annoying!
"Ivan, I told you, I don't want to sleep with you. And you, Jameson, why do you have to meddle? Both of you, GO OUTSIDE AND SLEEP AT THE COUCH!"
Both of them abruptly went outside, and I locked my door.
What a pair of idiots they are.
As soon as I lay down on my bed and closed my eyes, I heard a loud sound from outside.
What are they doing again?
*Knock. *Knock.
I opened my door, and I saw Ivan crying while holding a pillow. Behind, I saw Ivan with his arms crossed.
"May I just sleep here? Jameson is going to kill me before I could even sleep."
I went outside and looked at the couches. It's ruined.
"WHAT DID YOU DO?!?" I asked both of them.
"Please, Bella? Let me sleep in your room."
I had no choice but to let them sleep inside my room because the couches were destroyed. What on earth did they do?
Both of them stayed on the floor while I stayed on my bed.
"That's what you get for destroying my couch. That's pretty expensive. I'll have to charge money from the both of you," I said while looking at them, pulling a single blanket for themselves. I swear, they're like kids.
"The both of you should sleep already and stop fighting like children. I will throw you outside if you still do something ridiculous."
I finally lay down in peace and slept.