Chapter 16

Chapter 16

“Are you sure you can go?” Marie asked when I was about to leave the house for another day.

She still looks worried after witnessing what happened last night.

“I'm fine,” I replied.

“You always say that,” I heard her sobbed, which made me freeze from coming into the car.

She looked away from me as if she was stopping her tears from dripping.

“But we both know that you're not fine,” she added.

I crumpled my hand and refrained myself from crying. Her words hit me so much. It penetrated my bones.

“I'll mean it soon,” I said, without any assurance that I would. I left her with my forced little smile where there was not even a light of joy.

I shut my eyes firmly as the car began to move. I haven't seen Elijah this morning. Marie told me that he left early, which is probably a good thing for me. I don't know how I am supposed to face him. I wasn't even able to have a good sleep right now. My head was flashing back how he slapped me that I didn't see coming. I know that he's damn mad, he despised me and he blamed me for Freya's death. But I never once thought that he would lay a hand on me.

“Can we stop by at my parents’ house?” I told my driver before we headed to my shop.

I saw him checking me in the rear mirror before he just nodded at me. I just feel so weak and my entire body is seeking strength. It's me who chose all of this. I shall bear with it and try to survive until I die.

“Should we go inside?” He asked, while my eyes were already pinned outside the house. I could see my room from the third floor of our mansion. Beside mine was Freya's room.

“No,” I replied.

I went there not to meet them personally. It's not because I don't want to, it's because I know that they wouldn't like to see me. I stayed inside the car, watching my room and Freya’s room from there. A few seconds later, it happened that I saw my mother, coming out of Freya's room. She stood up in the veranda of her room, roaming her eyes around. I could see how the wind played with her hair. The next seconds, I found my father who stood up beside Mom.

Even if they were this far, I see the heaviness of agony from both of their eyes.

I covered my mouth with my hands as I lost control of my tears once again. I just broke in. I burst into tears while watching the two of them there. The heaven knows how much I wanted to touch them, to hug them as if there was no tomorrow anymore and fill them with kisses.

“M-Mom, D-Dad,” I muttered.

“I'm not fine…I'm suffering each day,” my voice broke along with my entire self melting down with all the pain that has been weighing me.

Do they care though? Of course, they don't. They mourn and feel pain not because of me, but only because of Freya. Until now, I don't understand why they have to blame it on me. I didn't even do something wrong for them to disown me. I kept shedding my tears while watching them from afar. What have I done so wrong to be treated like this?

I stayed there for a while until they both left Freya's room up there. I had to compose myself and find a way to breathe again even though I do not feel breathing.

My phone rang when I was in the middle of pulling myself back together. I took a deep breath before I answered Brian's call.

“Hello, Brian?”

“Hey, Faith! How are you?” He asked, being polite again.

“Fine. By the way, I have the design of your attire. Where can I meet you? Will you be able to stop by?”

Isn't it funny? I just told him that I'm fine when I just cried.

“Oh, unfortunately I am not available. I'm actually on the set. I'm shooting a commercial today. But…maybe you can go here if you're not busy?”

My brows arched as I began to think of that.

“Well, I can make time. Where are you?”

“I'll send you the address,” he said.

“Sure. I'm on my way,”

“Alright, then. I'll wait for you. See you!” I hung up as soon as he said that. Right after the call, my phone beeped and he sent the address right away.

“Let's go here,” I told the driver and showed him Brian's message.

“Copy, Ms. Faith.” He said as he began to drive.

Their location is not a bit far from us. They are in the restaurant, where they are doing the shoot for the commercial that Brian mentioned over the phone.

“Wait me here,” I said as I came out of the car.

There are a lot of people, probably the team. There are cameras around and lots of things that are probably used for the shooting. I began to roam my eyes around, looking for Brian.

“Faith?”

Instead of looking for him, it was the man I wouldn't want to see right now that I met.

Lucas.

“L-Lucas,” I stuttered. My eyes widened a bit.

Shit. I just realized that he is the fucking director of this commercial. Of all people, why does it have to be him?

“What happened to that?” He asked immediately. In one glance, he noticed my bruise, goddamnit.

“H-Have you seen, Brian? I'm here to meet him up for h—

I wasn't able to finish my words when I was trying to change the subject. He just placed his hand on my cheek and examined my entire face keenly.

“What happened to this?” Now, his eyes went straight to me. I was lost for words.

“Did he do this?” He asked firmly. I couldn't answer. His eyes were already sharp and dark. I knew him for a long time. This is the look that I fear a lot.

“No, of course not. It's an accident, I tripped—”

He chuckled sarcastically. He even shook his head.

“You tripped and your cheek suddenly became like that? You suddenly have that bruise on your lips? And this?” He grabbed my arm, which I quickly pulled away when he saw the bruise there.

“This is nothing. It's really just an acci—”

“Stop fooling me, Faith! I am not fucking dumb!” He exclaimed. I looked around and saw that some of them were now looking at us. He turned his back and washed his hands on his face.

I couldn't defend Elijah there. I was fucking trembling.

“What are you doing, Faith? He's doing violence towards you!” He was filled with anger and I can see that from his face. He wants to kill, definitely, Elijah.

“Lucas, calm down. We're in the public,” I said, trying to calm him down.

“How can I calm down? You're hurt! You showed up to me looking like that! With tons of fucking bruises!”

“Director, what's going on?”

I shut my eyes when Brian now came into the scene. He was still dressed. Probably, because of the commercial. Why does he always have to witness these kinds of things?

“What happened to you?” This time, I never saw Brian's usual smile. He looked dead serious as he went towards me, closer.

“This is nothing. Can we not talk about it? I'm only here to meet Brian, Lucas. Let's talk another time,” perhaps, coming here isn't a good idea at all.

“Talk another time? Why? Are you going to admit that Elijah did that?!”

“He did that?” Brian asked. He eyed me unbelievably.

“This is too much, Faith.” He added. He began to massage his forehead as if he couldn't stand looking at me.

“Are we going to talk, Brian? Because if not, maybe we can just meet next time when you're not busy.”

“You're not answering the question, Faith! Did he fucking do th—”

“Yes, he did!” I exclaimed.

I don't care if we are already creating a huge scene there. I am not fucking fine and they are both pushing me on the bridge so much. I felt my tears welling out around the corners of my eyes again as I admitted that in front of them. I know that I wouldn't be able to conceal this and deny that this isn't Elijah's doings.

“Happy now?” I chuckled, not into myself anymore.

“Are you going to tell me again to leave him? That I am being blind and stupid? Do you think it doesn't hurt me?” I lost it all. It's such a shame to burst into tears in front of my sister's idol, Brian.

“I never once thought that Elijah could lay his hand to me, but he did.” My voice cracked again. Where would I even stop from crying? My eyes are too tired from crying each day.

“Then, leave. Leave that fucking bastard,” Lucas said with his baritone voice.

“I knew that he wasn't a good husband when I first met him,” Brian commented, couldn't even give me an eye.

I shook my head in front of them as I wiped all my tears.

“I won't,” I uttered firmly beyond my situation.

“Let's meet next time, Brian.” I added before I turned my back to them and left.

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