Chapter 4: Stranger Care

Adriana's POV

"Hey," I heard someone call, followed by soft taps on my cheeks.

I groaned as I opened my eyes.

Seeing a man in front of me when my vision is cleared can't help but make me panic.

"Hey, it's okay, it's okay. You're safe, shhh."

I felt him gently caress my cheeks, and for odd reasons, it calmed me. His touch made me feel safe.

"You've fallen asleep," he said.

I roamed my eyes around and saw that we were in a parking lot. I almost forgot who he was, but it's a good thing I remembered that he's the man who saved me before I could even scream my lungs out.

Images of what happened earlier flashed in my mind, and it didn't fail to scare me again.

I quickly grabbed my phone out of my bag and gripped it tightly to be sure I could use it when something terrible happened again.

"I'm not going to hurt you," the man said as he held my chin again and made me face him. "I'm just going to treat your bruises, then we'll get you home."

My racing heartbeat calmed down, and I finally relaxed in my seat.

I nodded at him, and he started opening the plastic bag that had a convenience store logo on it. He bought a first aid kit.

"May I?" he asked as he gestured to my arm.

I just nodded at him, and he held my arm and softly caressed my bruises.

I flinched.

"I'm sorry," he apologetically said.

My gaze focused on him when he started treating me. I tried to squeeze my mind trying to remember if I had already met him or if I'd seen him anywhere before, but there weren't answers. This is the first time, and I have so many questions in my mind.

"What's your name?" I asked him.

He stopped at what he was doing and looked up at me. "What's yours?"

I sucked on my lower lip. "Adriana."

"Adriana," he stated.

"How about you?" I questioned.

"You're done," he announced.

I looked at my arm and saw that it was already well-treated.

I looked at him in much awe. "Wow, it didn't even hurt. I didn't feel any pain when you were treating me."

It's true. I didn't even notice that he was already done treating my arm because I really didn't feel any pain. I don't know if it's because he's really careful and gentle, or I was just astonished by how attractive he is, and I got distracted from the pain.

"Let's get you home," he said and cleaned everything.

I just sat there and watched every move he made.

"Is there something wrong?" he asked when he saw me looking at him intently.

"Why can't just every man be like you? I mean, you know, not a jerk," I blurted out. "But then again, I was stupid for not being careful with Nate when he literally showed some signs that he can't be trusted. I'm so dumb for not believing my instinct."

He stopped at what he was doing and looked at me straight in the eyes. "Listen, what happened tonight is not your fault. None of it is your fault. You said it yourself; he's a jerk." He paused, and I saw how his jaw clenched. "You're not stupid, and it's not your fault that he is a fucktard. It's all him."

Hearing his words is like a cue for my tears because the next thing I know, they're already streaming down my face as I sobbed uncontrollably.

It's like what happened to me just fully sank into my mind right now.

"You're gonna be okay," he softly whispered as he pulled me in his arms, and I cried my heart out. "You're safe now, and no one is going to hurt you ever again."

~*~

I have overslept because of a dreadful headache, and I'm now rushing to find where my scheduled classroom is.

Good thing I managed to prepare and dress well for the first day of school with minimal time earlier.

I was confident about going to the party yesterday because my classes start in the afternoon but looking back at it, I wish I hadn't gone to that party.

I heaved a deep sigh as my eyes continued to roam around the hallway.

Well, I can't redo what happened no matter what I do anymore. I'm just really thankful that Nate wasn't able to do more horrible things to me than kiss my neck.

I shivered at the thought of it.

It's so disgusting.

When I got to my apartment last night, I automatically took a bath and scrubbed my neck thoroughly until my skin felt sore.

I was so disgusted but not at myself because I remembered what the man had told me. He said it's not my fault and I shouldn't blame myself. And I know he's right, and I should believe him. I sucked on my lower lip at the thought of him.

He drove me home last night after I cried in his arms for hours.

I felt so comfortable with him that I was able to pour all my worries and the pain I was feeling. There's something inside me that's telling me that I should be scared of men because they aren't trustworthy, and all they're gonna do to you is hurt you, but the man who saved me last night proved me otherwise.

It's not really about the gender but the person. If a person is horrible, then that's on them and not because of the particular gender.

Nate is a jerk, and the man who saved me isn't. And they're both males.

I didn't get his name and only realized it when I was already inside my apartment, and he had already left. I wasn't able to thank him properly, and I wanted to punch myself because of it. I owe him big time. If it weren't for him, god knows what would happen to me in the hands of Nate.

"Hey, you're that girl from last night!"

Someone spoke behind me, snapping me out of my reverie.

I turned to face who is it and saw Molly.

"Hi," I greeted her as I flashed a smile.

She took a peak from the paper I was holding, and her face lit up.

"We have the same class, great!" She beamed.

Hearing her say those words is a relief to me. I'm assuming she's not new here anymore, and that means she knows every classroom here, and I wouldn't have a hard time finding my designated class because I could just ask her.

"Are you going there too?" I asked.

She nodded. "Yup, let's go."

She started walking, and I just followed her.

"We didn't really get to talk last night, but I'm really curious why did you transfer school when you're one school year away from graduating?" Molly asked as we walked side by side.

"Well, I really want to graduate here. This is my dream university," I answered.

"Didn't you have a hard time? You know, transferring records and all that school stuff."

I shrugged my shoulders. "Well, I did, yeah."

White lies because I didn't. My parents gladly took care of everything when they granted my wishes.

This is the first time I have fully taken advantage of my privilege, and I didn't regret it because it equated to me getting the freedom I've always wanted. And it's not like I had it easy. It's a shame that I had to argue with my parents before they entirely gave it to me.

"I'm glad you're here. I get to have a new buddy." Molly nudged my shoulder as she moved her eyebrows up and down playfully.

I chuckled. "Of course."

Molly suddenly halted, and so I stopped walking too.

"We're here," she announced and walked inside a classroom.

I just followed her again.

"Here!" Molly waved at me as she gestured to the seat beside her.

I sat beside her and placed my bag in my lap.

"Oh, I forgot." Molly turned to me.

"Yes?" I asked.

"I'm so rude; I don't know your name yet."

I flashed a smile. "I'm Adriana."

Molly smiled back at me.