Chapter 16 You are you

I coughed violently and spat my sandwich all over the floor. My throat was on fire, and I felt like I was about to cough my lungs out.

Lionel patted me on my back lightly and asked, "Are you okay? Do you need water? I'll get some for you."

He quickly went to the hall and poured me a glass of water. I calmed down after finishing the glass.

I pushed his hand away and straightened up, saying slowly, "Impossible. We've never met."

Lionel remained silent, but his brows furrowed, and seemed a little lost. A moment later, he pulled out a packet of tissues and handed them to me, "Do you need some?"

I accepted it and turned around to wipe the corner of my mouth.

"Why do you wear a veil? Isn't it annoying?" Lionel asked.

I was silent for a bit before saying with my back to him, "I'm ugly, so I need the veil to cover my face."

It seems like I could already speak lightly of my bloodied past. The scars that ran so deeply had now faded in time.

Though it still hurt, it wasn't a big deal after all.