The next thing I heard was the sound of the ambulance taking Arnold away because apparently, his scar opened and he’s stubborn because he just let it be until he can’t bear the pain anymore and blood soaked the plaster that was on it, based on the medic that took him to the nearest hospital.“What a douchebag,” Andrea commented, showing like a mushroom on my side, I almost jump to my place. “Who would leave his date like that?” I gave her a frown and turned to the exit of the carnival, the food he bought got wasted because he stumbled on the floor, and a huge regret blow down my chest because of that. And of course, on Arnold because he lied to me when he said he doesn’t remember his assault on the forest, when he told me he was just on the side of the road having a night jog but end up in the forest, he said he don’t know if his attacker was an animal or a human: He said he didn’t get attacked, he lied. I came home fuming mad and I threw my bag anywhere in my room before I lay on
I step back and the crackle and crunch of the dry grass was the only sound I heard aside from the buzz of moths around in the night. “Harriet, you’re hurting me.” I close my eyes and his words whispered in my ears, each pack stabbed into my chest. “I haven’t done anything,” I mumbled, taking the courage to stare back at him coldly, the corners of my eyes crinkled and I gripped the tray tightly. “That’s the point, you haven’t done anything but you’re already hurting me, what if you've done things already? Do you know how much pain that causes?” he retorted, his eyes fuming and I don’t know what to say back. I fought back my tears as my shoulders tensed and I have to purse my lips to stop myself from bawling, this was why I hate being attached to people, I don’t like them getting angry at me because I would break down easily, and I would get scared, and run.. or hide… or avoid them like they have infected by a plague or something. But should I be feeling like this? Should I let my
That same day, I was walking down the hallway of my school, feeling a little groggy and holding a can of soda in my hand when suddenly a hand snaked on my shoulder knocking me off and taking me down to the ground. “Harriet! Shit, I’m sorry.” I identify the voice to be Arnold, he stood in front of me while saying sorry, but I’m too hazy and lightheaded to stay focused. I will myself to stand up, a lot of students also passed by us, it’s amazing how I suddenly became invisible again once Tyler and Blake stop coming to school, they also didn’t know he existed but Hayley and Arnold stayed beside me and Ira and Danisha got out of my way. It feels like I got to go to a different school but same classmates still. “It’s okay,” I replied after a little while. “Why do you suddenly feel like that? The morning classes haven’t started yet.” That’s what I’m asking myself also after I had a conversation with Lukas, I prepared myself and get to school but then I suddenly feel lightheaded and agi
At work, I saw Arnold in a different light. He doesn’t know Ira talked to me and told me his secret, now I know why he came running to the woods that night, it wasn’t to find me, it was to run away from the responsibility. If only glare could burn, he would be turning to ash right now. “Why are you looking at him like he took something precious to you?” I almost jump and let the stick of the mop I’m holding hit the floor when Uncle George suddenly showed up behind me. “Why are you here, Uncle George?” Uncle George was just the same height as me, he has black hair and round eyes that weren’t big but also not small, his charming smile makes the ladies in this town go back to his restaurant. I also thought he put lip gloss from time to time and that’s cool, he made it so the ladies won’t be dismayed when they saw him get out of the kitchen and go to their tables to ask them for some feedback. “Why? Am I not allowed to walk around and just stayed in the kitchen? But this is my restau
Now that I saw it from another perspective, why shouldn’t I be the one? Why didn’t I stand up the first time everyone said it? Why didn’t I get the limelight? Was it because I’m slow? That’s why they chose another one? Or they didn’t see me fit the role, that’s why someone step in? Is it because I’m a loser and all I’m meant to do was to cry on the sidelines because the battle has been fought and it already ended, so why am I standing still on the empty battlefield? Now I see it. Blake helped me stand up and we went to the farmhouse. “You hurt your shoulder.” He removed my cardigan and showed me my shoulder. “I’m going to get the first aid.” It was blurry what happened next, Andrea barged in with Tyler and they asked me questions; particularly, questions about who killed the chickens. A little sob escaped from my lips, followed by another and then Blake came back and clean my scar then after it was uncontrollable, I bawled in front of them and cry inconsolably. Partly because I h
After we ate dinner, I was left alone in the living room, Andrea had her shift on the carnival, while I snuggled up in the L-shape grey sofa. I have a crocheted maroon blanket that Tiffany gave me and my focus was on the television, watching advertisements as they passed by. “Harriet, aren’t you sleepy?” Tyler was starting to irk me again when he sat on the single sofa holding a glass of red wine and crossing his legs. I made my head rest on my arms as I was laying on my side, I didn’t answer him because he already knew the answer to his question. I heard the faucet close and the trash can open so Tiffany must be already done with the dishes. “Are you going to forever ignore me?” Blake showed up and I automatically sat up and motioned him to sit beside me. I snuggled at him the moment he sat, he has the body of a woman, of course, her muscles were there, especially on the biceps but her chest was so fluffy and his abs don’t hurt too, they were visible but he was so white that it d
I didn’t expect that it would be a quick friendship test, now I’m leading the two as we go to my work. “Isn’t best to talk to Arnold tomorrow? When he arrives at school?” I suggest when we rode on the train, because they said the bus would be too crowded and they covered my expensive fare on the train so I just shut my mouth. “What? Harriet, the quicker we responded on this, the better,” Danisha hissed, balling her fist and sitting on the available seat on the train, just like they said, most of the people prefer bus because maybe it’s more cheaper? I could count the people riding with us on the train and they’re all either on their phone, sleeping, or reading a book, no one talk in high volume like they own the place. This was super convenient. We arrived in no time in the next town and Danisha hailed a cab next, at this point, I’m thinking that Danisha was so kind, she has a pure heart despite all of the gossips about her being a spoiled brat or bitch, she remained grounded,
“I fathom it is more convenient to talk to me in the dining, not in my room, Harriet.” Tyler sat down on his favorite chair with ago in his favorite tea in his room after dinner. I pursed my lips and clasped my hands together, sitting on the long sofa in front of him. I don’t know where to start. I just thought about my life being wrecked and if I broke Andrea down, it would be a wrecker. If I have the silent-treatment type when I’m mad at someone, she, on the other hand, the pissing off until the end-type of act. I remember back when I’m ten and she was seven, she asked me to give an excuse letter to her elementary teacher because she has a stomachache, I forgot to give it but told her I gave it, so the next day when she went to class she found out and she went to my classroom and pushed all of my buttons that day where my classmates where watching, and my teacher too, they can’t do anything. I hate myself for forgetting to give that letter.So, if I had to choose whom to save fir