Chapter 6

I looked at the only friend I had in my entire life. She is hurting deep inside. I could see the remorse and hatred that reflected in her eyes. And it hurts me, too, knowing that I was the reason why she was feeling that.

Zen took a step backwards until she disappeared from my sight.

My chest hurts so much that I started grabbing the fabric of my dress and clenched it.

“I’m so s-sorry, Z-Zen…” was all I murmured to myself. “I didn’t mean it,” I whispered and sat on the ground. It was way too much.

The raging feeling that I felt for Thomas, for my stepfather, to my family who was supposed to protect me from abuse – but is the one who sold me to them.

And to my sister who ran away from home.

A pitter-pattering sound was heard on the wooden roof of the gazebo. I was standing outside, so I felt the cold damp of the raindrops against the flesh of my skin. The weather must have felt my emotions.

 A thunder strikes the ground, causing me to jump to where I was standing.

Someone shouted my name, but I didn’t look in the person’s direction. I was walking like a dead person in the gloomy weather of the night. The blanket of stars disappeared in the night sky. 

I saw someone in maid uniform giving me an umbrella. I let her do whatever she wants. Her mouth slowed in my sight.

She was telling me something.

But I didn’t listen to her.

I couldn’t hear what she said.

That night, I didn’t know how I arrived in my room. 

At dawn, I was sweating so much in my bed. The beads of sweat covered my forehead up until my neck that I felt so hot.

“T-Thomas…” I whispered to myself. Why did I think about him? Why am I calling his name? Why is he the first person that comes to my mind at this state?

“T-Thomas… w-where are you?”

I needed to see him. It’s not a want already. I needed him. Why is he not in my room? 

“T-Thomas…” I cried out his name, even though my throat ached so much.

“Miss!” A maid came towards my bed when she saw me sitting up against my headdress. 

“What happened?!” she asked, horrified because of what I possibly looked. I touched her arms and looked up at her. “Where’s Thomas?”

“Your Highness… Your Highness Thomas is not yet home, miss. He’s still in his business endeavor.”

“I need to see him. Can you get him on the line?”

“Uhm, I’m not sure about this, miss. I will get Cina – “

I shake my head and give her pleading eyes. “Not Cina. I want my husband...”

“Yes, miss. Please wait here, and I’ll call miss Cina.” 

She did not waste any seconds and went out of my room. My body felt so weak, and every time I tried to move, my head started spinning. Several people came inside my room back and forth.

None of them were Thomas.

I saw Caleb looking angrily at me. 

His jaw clenched so hard that I thought it would break. 

“Look what happened!” He growled at me and put the back of his palm on my forehead. 

He shook his head and returned his gaze to Cina, who was worriedly looking at me.

“Get the family physician!”

“Okay!” Cina replied and ordered someone to do it.

 I didn’t understand what they were doing. Someone tried stripping my clothes. “Wait,” I stopped the maid and shook my head. 

I wasn’t born like a princess, and I knew all too well that this is just normal. My older sister is used to being stripped by our maid every time she takes a bath.

I don’t have the privilege and luxury to do that. “I can… I can do it,” I smiled weakly to the girl.

“Strip her,” Caleb said, his voice hard and commanding. 

The girl looked terrified, so she did it. The rest of them went outside while they stripped my clothes because it’s already damp with sweat. 

I didn’t notice Caleb going out, so he must’ve seen me already. 

Naked.

I don’t have the time to protest because I know they were just doing this for my sake.

They put on clothes for me. A man in white lab coat went inside my room and check up on me. He said something to Caleb while Caleb was staring at me. 

Cina, on the other hand, was caressing my hands.

“Thank you, Doc,” Caleb shook hands with the physician and looked at me worriedly. 

“Take the medicine I prescribed and have a good rest. I’ll go now.”

The rest went outside, leaving me, Cina, and Caleb inside my room.

Cina didn’t interrogate me. She just told me to have a good rest, like what the doctor said. She grabbed the white towel and basin on my bedside table before locking the door. I looked at Caleb who was standing at the edge of my bed. 

His arms crossed on his chest, his eyes dark, and I know he’s angry.

“Come on, just leave now…” I said weakly. I didn’t have the energy to fight with him.

“You caught a cold.”

“Obviously,” I tried to grin, but it was no use. 

He doesn’t seem to be playful right now. “If Thomas will know about this, you know what will happen right?”

I feel like my cold return back. 

I put my hands on the blanket and looked away. “Did you tell him about Zen?”

He didn’t answer me.

It was a relief.

He didn’t tell Thomas, yet.

“Thank you for not telling him,” I said and smiled at him genuinely. He took a heavy step forward and heaved a deep sigh. 

“He will ask why you had colds tonight.”

“I can just lie to him.”

His eyebrows raised. “Can you?”

I sighed. Yeah, I couldn’t lie.

 I’m a bad liar. Caleb and I fell into silence. 

Why did he not tell Thomas? 

Was it because if he told his boss, he would get punished for not doing his task seriously? That he let a little girl slip inside the tight security of the mansion?

So, in the end, he was doing this for his benefit…

“Caleb, can I ask you a favor?”

He only stared blankly at me. I couldn’t help but feel ashamed of myself. Still, my mouth didn’t stop blabbering my thoughts.

 This must be the effect of the medicine. “Please help Zen return safely in the pack.”

He started laughing without humor and sat at the edge of my bed, looking at me like I’m the biggest laughingstock in his mere existence. 

“I can’t do that,” he replied in a blank gaze.

“Thomas says I can rely on you when he’s not around.”

“This situation is not – “

“Please, please…” I started pleading at him, my voice becoming shaky that he was shocked, “she’s the only genuine person left in my life. I don’t want to lose her. Please, Caleb…”

He licked his lower lip and stared at me horribly. 

It was true. Thomas told me if I ever need anything, I should contact Caleb. Now that I’m doing it, why is he being hesitant?

Well, I get that this is a different situation.

He sighed and looked at me. “Fine.” Yes! “I’m doing this because Thomas told you to favor your needs.”

“Of course, of course,” I nodded repeatedly. 

“Thank you, Caleb,” was all I said in my most genuine voice. “How will I know you’re not lying?” I asked hesitantly. I’m so shameful, but I gotta put my friend’s safety first.

Now, he was grinning devilishly. “Well, I guess you just have to trust me.”