Chapter 23: Chapter 23

Sheila's POV:

"The injury is so deep, please take care of you. Don't get near the water until your wound gets dry." The nurse said pulling the knot around my palm.

"Okay," I said faintly eyeing my bandage covered palm.

I thanked her before walking out of the medical room and there I saw Harry was standing near the office room, the one next to the medical, wearing nothing but a worried expression on his face looking in our direction. Once he saw we were coming out of the room, he took a step to approach us.

"Quinn, I want to be alone, please." I said more enough to hear him. She nodded her head and walked towards Harry while I turned my heels and walking towards the opposite direction of him badly expecting a break from this drama.

---

It has been two hours since I was sitting alone in the playground. No one is here, that somehow gave me peace to my mind.

I wanted to go home but there is no way in hell. I have no key for the house, Quinn offered me a spare key the day I was welcomed in their house but I refused to take and now I'm regretting my decision why I didn't accept her offer.

As I was drowning in my own trance of thought, I felt someone's presence behind me. Anger rose in my body when I realized who would be that, cause he won't leave my side even when I'm looking for a time to kill him.

"Can you please leave me alone," I shouted not looking at his face but my face went pale that shut my mouth tightly when I turned around to see him the last person in my mind whose face was severely injured, he has a bandage on his left cheeks and a cut on his lips.

"May I talk to you for a minute," He asked and I nodded my head even though I wanted to leave this place especially from him.

He took a seat beside me not too close. "I'm sorry, Sheila." He whispered.

I looked at him like he has grown with two heads. No way in the world the great legend the one and only Karl Parker came here to seek my forgiveness.

"Please stop your drama. I had enough of you. Just tell me what you want." I said sternly masking my face as straight as ever ignoring my pounding heartbeat.

He let out a small laugh that covered with a painful crown before he looks at me. "I know you are hating me and don't even wanna spend a second with me but please just give me a minute. I will explain everything." He said calmly.

"So, now you have the reason for whatever pain you caused me, aren't you? Don't tell me you did all of this just for fun. You spoiled my life, you took everything from me. You... You even burnt my 12 years of education, you humiliated me in front of the students, you made me drink against my will and took me to your house, and you did a lot of horrible things that I can't forget. How are you going to explain everything, huh?" I spat at him.

His eyes illustrated guiltiness and he looked down ashamed of himself. "I'm sorry, Sheila. I know I don't have an explanation for all of these, but I really feel sorry. Please forgive me." His eyes met mine and I could read the sincerity on there though I don't want to believe him.

What if he is playing another game? But for an unknown reason, I wanted to give him a chance. Everyone deserves a chance to prove their guiltiness.

"Go ahead," I confided him.

His face lit up with happiness and he gave me a small smile but he seemed nervous. Karl being nervous is totally a new history. He is not the old Karl, what got into him.

"Shasha Shivani." He whispered a name.

"Uhhh?" I asked furrowing my brows.

He shook his head and looked at me. "Her name is Shasha Shivani. She was the first girl who went against mine but me being arrogant--" He let out a painful sigh and said, "I did awful things to her."

"I tortured her every day more than I did to you. The last thing I did was tearing her dress apart in front of everyone." I looked at him not knowing what to say. How cruel he was. Sensing my stares, he looked at me but averted his gaze in a second as he didn't meet mine.

"From that next day, she didn't come to college. I had been waiting for a month to her return but she didn't show up." He continued his flashback.

"After that, I learned the truth that she left college and is continuing her studies in London where she belongs to. Suddenly I felt strange as my heart was ripped open." His lips formed a thin line.

"I spend more time learning about her as to where she from, what she likes, what her favourite things, and what she will do in her spare time. And finally, I came to discovered that she was an orphan. I feel guilty now." He ended his miserable story.

"Why?" I had the courage to ask him. His eyes were moisturized a bit leaving me a complete utter shock.

Who would believe if I say Devil shed some tears for his Sin too?

"That's how I grew up. I'm used to be a mommy boy but I lost my mom when I was five. My world started to collapse on that day. No one there for me to guide my life." A complete fit of worry occupied his face.

"My dad's focus was only on his business. I became so arrogant to get rid of the loneliness I felt inside my heart. I started to rule everyone. With the snap of my finger, I get whatever I want that made me became even arrogant and a manipulative jerk. My dad fed me money more than a child could need." His voice croaked.

My eyes welled with tears for him. If anyone had said I will feel pity for him in the future, I would have laughed at their face, but now, in reality, I really feel pity for him. I can't imagine my life without my mom. For God's sake, he was a kid when he lost his mom.

He wiped my tears with his thump that I didn't aware of rolling through my cheeks. "I don't like to get any pity from anyone that's why I wore a mask to hide my feelings." He sighed.

"I'm sorry for your loss, Karl. It was really a hard time for you." He shook his head and said, "You two brought my life back." Furrowing my brows I looked at him confusingly.

Who he was implying?

"Do you remember the first day when we met?" He asked and I nodded my head. How could I forget?

"That day I really missed her. Her innocent face still played on my mind and then you bumped to me. I wanted to get rid of her thought so I used you." Yeah! That day I wouldn't have shown up.

"Whenever I bullied you, I saw her in you that made me feel so good as she was with me." He let out a small laugh.

"How pathetic I was?"

His hand came to hold the tip of my forefinger before he continues "And when you threatened me to going to drop the college, the wave of emptiness occupied my body and I began to lose my self-consciousness. That's why I burnt all your documents. I thought you can't leave me like her from my side and I will have you as mine." He chuckled but he couldn't able to hide his anxiety.

"Do you know I even started to develop feelings for you? I thought it was Love." He said sincerely.

A gasp escaped from my mouth when he said those words 'Love.' How it could be.

He took my hands with him and drew a smooth circle. "But again someone came and took what's mine. I went insane when I thought I lost you, but it is not true. I already lost someone precious to my heart already. I just think of you as her replacement, but you taught me a lesson which had been lacking in my life."

Tears pooled down through my cheeks nonstop as it's not because of the pain I have in my hand, instead, It's all for him. I feel sorry for him. Somewhat I think it was a joke or another prank he is doing or at least I wanted to believe but his eyes held all the truth.

"Karl," I whispered. "What are you going to do?" He gave a small polite smile. "I want to do a lot of repairs for the damage I have done in the past and I wanted to start from here with you." I stared at him blankly.

"Please forgive me, Sheila. I don't remember when I asked apology last time. So I don't know how to ask for a proper apology. Just forgive me, Please." He made my heart melted.

"It's okay, Karl. It's not your entire fault. The way you grew up has changed you so much. It has nothing to do with you. If you had someone who guides your life, you would not be in this situation. So don't blame yourself. Everyone has a dark past." I reasoned out.

"So, that means I was forgiven, right?" He eagerly looked at me for my answer.

"Of course, you are." I laughed at him, soon he joined with me.

"Thank you, Sheila. You lifted down a big burden from my shoulder." Then he took out an envelope from his pocket and handed it to me.

"What is this, Karl?" I asked.

"It's your cash, I wanted to return this to you." He said referring to the first day.

"No, I can't take this. Past is past. We can't change the past, Karl. You have to learn that. So, please don't force me to have this." I refused to take the money and this time my mind is also with my side, not as double mind as many times I used to be.

"Then what about Lunch?" He asked awkwardly scratching the back of his neck.

I wanted to pinch his cheek. How cute he is. Well...who would predict a devil may turn into an Angel.

"Karl, lunchtime is over. It's 4 pm." I pointed out.

"I know that, but since you hadn't eaten your lunch we can eat, and please say yes. I feel grateful if you agree."

"Okay fine. I will go with you." I said without hesitation. We both hopped into his car and I put the seat belt across my body.

Should I trust him? My subconscious mind asked me once again, but I put that question in the back of my mind and focus on the drive.

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