Chapter 22: Chapter 22

Isabella's pov;

"Have you heard about this?" Tracy asked me while I was taking my notebook out of my bag.

I stared at my notebook blankly and asked, "About what?"

"Someone beat up your bully really bad."

"What?"

"Yeah, he showed up to the college with a face full of bruises. Everyone on the campus was talking about your bully. Do you know anything about that?"

I shook my head and said, "Did you finish the assignment for Ms Greta?"

"Yes!"

I took my phone out and saw Harry's picture all over the feeds. The way they commented about him was out of limit. Some of the words were harsh and looked like they were bullying because of the face with bruises. Some weren't even sentences, they just sounded like they could be ones and they weren't. And yet they said it all anyway.

I commented under the picture of Harry they posted, "Not all bruises are bad, some show the courage of that person for someone they love." And kept my phone back into the bag.

Jose, "Did you submit the assignment?"

"No."

I took the assignment from my bag and tried to leave but Tracy called me, "Can you please submit this along with yours? My legs are numb."

"Buy me a chocolate smoothie." And walked out of the class.

When I came to the teacher's office, I saw Ms Devlin. She was sitting there, holding a small cup filled with some coffee I guess. Her expression looked happy seeing me. When she noticed me, her eyes widened.

"Ms Devlin?"

She smiled, "Bella! How are you doing?

"I'm good. What about you?"

"Doing great. Is that an assignment in your hand? How did you become so punctual?"

Mr Davis got the assignments from me and said, "I can mould anyone."

Ms Devlin asked, "What about your studies?"

"It's okay."

"Okay?" She turned to Mr Davis and asked, "How is she doing her exams?"

He gave an odd expression and said, "Actually, she's catching up. It's not like she can't study, she's just too lazy to study. She's going to second year soon so she has to start studying hard. You don't have to worry about that, I'll take care of it."

Ms Devlin said, "Please take care of her, Sir. She's really good at studying but her grades dropped because of her part-time jobs."

"I'll take care of it, Ms Devlin."

"Okay, I'll leave for my class." I excused myself from both of them and walked to the class.

After Ms Greta's class got over, I came to the cafeteria with Tracy and Jose.

Tracy ordered a chocolate smoothie and said, "Why did you comment like that? I thought you would roast him more using this situation."

Jose, "She may look like a sharp tongue person but she's not worth it."

I said, "Oh, really?"

"Yeah, then can you make a roast comment for him?"

I shook my head and stood up.

Tracy, "Hey! Where are you going?"

"I'll wait for you in class."

When Tracy tried to hold my hand, she accidentally pulled my scarf around my neck. It exposed the bite marks on my neck. I took the scarf from her hands quickly and covered it around my neck and left the cafeteria in a hurry. Tracy watched me leaving confused. Ever since that day when I broke down and cried, I had a hard time dealing with people who saw me as weak. Even though I told myself not to give into those emotions anymore, my heart continued hurting.

I sat on a stone bench behind the juniors building and held onto my scarf tightly. Tears ran down my cheeks as I stared at the floor. Why did this have to happen to me? Why does everything always go wrong for me?

"I know you will be here."

I wiped my tears as soon as I heard Tracy's voice.

Tracy and Jose sat either side of me.

Tracy asked, "What happened? Why does your neck look like that?"

I looked either side of mine and removed the shrug and exposed the bruises over my arms and shoulders.

"What the hell is this? How did you get these bruises? Who did this to you?"

Jose got mad, "Is it him? Did he do this to you?"

I wear my shrug and scarf again.

Tracy asked Jose, "Who are you talking about?"

Jose said, "Her boyfriend."

"Isabella has a boyfriend? Why didn't I know about this? Who is he?"

Jose, "The CEO of Skyland corporation, Alexander Martinez."

"Was he the one who gave the bruises? Was it an abusive relationship?"

Jose asked me, "Why are you being silent?"

I shouted, "It's not him!"

Jose, "Then, who's it? Where did you get these bruises?"

"Harry. He… He tried to rape me last night."

"What the hell!?"

I wiped my tears and continued, "Mr Martinez saved me from him."

Tracy, "Why are you being idle like this? Come on, we'll report him to the principal."

Jose, "Come with me. Let's report him."

I pulled my hand and said, "I'm not going anywhere. And, I'm not reporting anyone."

Jose, "Are you crazy? Bella, come with me. We have to report him."

"He didn't do anything to you guys. Then why are you worrying about it? I'll take care of it."

"We're your friends. Aren't we supposed to care for you?"

I stood up and said, "I told you guys because you're my friends. Since I told you, it doesn't mean you have to do something for me. I'll take care of it on my own. If I came to know that you two reported it to the principal, I'll stop talking to you guys forever."

While I was walking past the playground, someone tapped on my shoulder. At first I thought it might have been my friend Tracy or Jose but when I turned around to see who it could be, it turned out to be none other than Harry Williams.

“Hello there!” He greeted me with a large smile and his hand still resting on my shoulder.

"Bella!"

"Jeremy?"

"I got tickets to the music concert for this weekend. Are you free?"

I let out a sigh and asked, "Will you go to music concerts every weekend?"

"No, only when they're performing. It's been three months since I asked you last time."

"Really? I can't believe it's been three months already."

"What?"

"We're going to have exams next week. After that we'll be sophomores. It feels like the freshman ceremony happened yesterday but now we're going to be sophomores."

He tapped on my shoulder and said, "Don't talk like my granny. We're just going to be sophomores and not 40 or 50." And gave a flick on my forehead. "Okay, are you free or not? Answer me quickly. I have to go to my class."

"Okay."

"Don't go back on your words."

He ran quickly.

Wait, I don't feel uncomfortable around him now. I think I started seeing him as my friend.

I got a call from Harry. Why is he calling me now?

"Yes?"

"I thought you won't pick up."

"Are you alright?"

"I'm the one who is supposed to ask you but you're asking me."

"Why did you call me?"

"I want to meet you for the last time. I'm leaving for New Orleans on tonight's flight so I want to see you before leaving. I'm not forcing you to come but if you want to, make a call before 6 because I'll leave for New Orleans after that."

And ended the call.

After college got over, I got into Mateo's car to go to Mr Martinez's house.

In Mr Martinez's house,

Big brother ran towards me and hugged me as soon as I entered the house.

"What is it, Big brother?"

He removed the shrug and scarfs and got mad looking at the bruises.

I asked Mr Martinez, "Did you say that to him?"

Big brother, "Why are you asking me? Look at me. How could you be so naive? Why did you go to his house in the middle of the night?" He turned to Mr Martinez and asked, "Can't you be more responsible? I let her stay in this house since I believed you'll take care of her but you didn't do your part. Where did you go while he's hurting her? She took you with her since she's afraid to go alone then why did you leave her like that?"

"Big brother, he's the one who saved me. Why are you accusing him?"

"If he were with you, this wouldn't have happened to you."

"Big brother, I'm okay now."

"I'm going to report Harry to the police."

"No, you shouldn't."

"Why are you stopping me? Take a look at yourself. See what he did to you. I wonder why you still speak for him even after he tried to rape you. I'm not going to let it be like this…"

I shouted while he's speaking, "He's leaving for New Orleans on tonight's flight!"

"What!? How can he leave after doing something like this? I'm not not going to let him leave."

"If you report him, I will go somewhere where you can't find me."

"Bella…"

I hugged Big brother and said while being in his embrace, "Let him go. I don't want anything with him anymore. Don't stop him from leaving. Let him go wherever he wants. Let's drop this. If you have problems with my bruises, don't worry, it will go away in two to three days. Please let him go, Big brother."

"Bella…"

I heard Harry's voice coming from behind me. I turned and looked at him.

When Big brother tried to speak, I grabbed Harry's hand and started walking away from the house.

Big brother called, "Bella!"

Mr Martinez said, "Let her go."

After Mr Martinez said, Big brother stopped in his place.

I dragged him out of the house and asked, "Why did you come here? Aren't you supposed to be in the airport right now?"

"I was on the way to the Airport but I wanted to see you before leaving so I came here." He looked at my exposed shoulder and arms and said, "I'm sorry."

"It's fine. Big brother is mad at you. Leave before he does something crazy."

He held my hands and asked, "Why are you still worrying about me even after what I did to you? Why aren't you getting mad at me? I saw your comment and heard what you were saying with your friends. Aren't you mad at me?"

I shook my head.

"Bella, if you want to report me to the police. Go on. I'll be right here."

I shook my head and asked him to leave.

"Why… Why aren't you reporting me to the police?"

I hugged him and said, "Because you're my friend. The friend who I liked more than a friend. Everyone's saying that I'm the crazy one since I'm not reporting you. How can I report my own friend? I don't know how I look to you but to me, you're the one true friend I got." I broke the embrace and said, "But I don't want to see you anymore. I don't want to be friends with you anymore. Please don't come back into my life again. I don't think I can stand it for the next time."

"Bella…"

"Just leave. Please Just leave."

After he left, I walked back to the house and saw Mr Martinez and Big brother standing in front of me.

"He left. He won't come back."

When I tried to go to my room, Mr Martinez walked up to me and gave me a hug.

He caressed my head and said, "Everything will be alright." I hugged him back by wrapping my hands around him.

After a while,

"Okay. Eat and go to sleep."

I nodded to big brother while he was leaving the house. Mr Martinez didn't talk after he consoled me. When I looked at him, he looked nervous.

"Did you eat?"

He shook his head and said, "I had a meeting so I didn't."

"Shall we eat together?"

He nodded and walked to the dining table. I walked after him and saw him looking into the refrigerator.

"I'll bring it. Go and wait at the table."

I nodded and walked out of the kitchen. I sat at the dining table and waited for the food after arranging the plates on the table.

After some time, He walked out of the kitchen while holding a vessel and kept it in the middle and said, "It's hot."

He sat in front of me and opened the pot of chicken soup noodles.

I took some in my bowl and started eating it.

"I heard people who feel sad will lose their appetite."

I kept my bowl on the table and said, "But I'm hungry. I haven't eaten since morning. I only had a chocolate smoothie in the cafeteria."

"Hey! I didn't say it in that way. I just thought teasing you may bring up the mood."

"It's fine. I don't really not in a good mood. Anyways, thank you." And continued eating the food.

When I was about to go to my room, he asked, "If you feel lonely, you can sleep with me tonight."

I walked into my room and closed the door behind me. I took the pillow and blanket and came out of the room. Mr Martinez wasn't there. Did he go to his room?

I stood in front of his room and knocked on the door. Mr Martinez opened the door and let out a nervous chuckle and said, "I thought you're going to sleep in your room."

"I went to pick up pillows and blankets."

"Come in." He moved and let me in his room.

I looked around and said, "It's been years since I stepped into your room but it's still the same. Nothing changed."

He took the blankets from my hand and spread them on his bed. I placed the pillow beside his pillow and sat on the bed.

Mr Martinez said, "I like to have lights on. Do you want me to turn them off?"

"It's fine. I can sleep with the lights on."

When I tried to lie down, he stopped me and said, "Wait." He took something from his cabinet and gave me an ointment saying, "Put it on the bruises."

I nodded and removed my shirt to apply the ointment. When I looked at Mr Martinez, he was facing away. After applying, I put my shirt back on and said, "I'm done."

I lied on the bed beside him.

"Why are you still sitting? Aren't you going to lie down?"

He gave a nod and lied beside me.

I closed my eyes to go to sleep but I couldn't since it was a new place. When I opened my eyes, Mr Martinez was looking at me.

He asked, "Can't sleep?"

I nodded.

"I'll turn off the lights."

"But, you…"

"It's fine."

He turned off the lights and lied beside me.

He was silent as I stared at the ceiling, my thoughts racing around in circles on what happened today, what will happen tomorrow and how it will affect us.

I held his hands under the blanket as we lay in his bed. His breathing had become steady and even but he was still far from asleep. I gently moved his arm out of the way and kissed him softly on the cheek, then pulled up the blankets for another layer. We hadn’t been able to stay together much since that one fateful day.

"What are you doing?"

"I'm holding your hands so that you won't get scared of the dark." And smiled at him.

"I'm sorry."

"For what?"

"For leaving you like that. I should have come with you. I should have made you wait till I parked the car. It was my mistake like Mr Johnson said. If I were with you, this wouldn't have happened. I feel guilty. Even after knowing about him, I shouldn't have let you go alone to that house."

"Hey! Stop overthinking about it. Just remember the part where you saved me. Do you know how I felt after seeing you? The only thing that flashed in my mind after seeing you was 'I'm safe. I don't have to worry anymore'. You saved me. Just remember that. Okay?"

He nodded and said, "I don't want to make you remember that again so I'm going to sleep."

I closed my eyes and tried to sleep.

In my sleep, I started to feel uneasy and sweaty. It felt like someone's touching all over my body. I don't want this. I want to wake up from this. I feel stuffing up. I couldn't breathe. I heard someone calling my name. Who's calling me?

"Bella!... Bella!... Bella!..."

I woke up suddenly feeling like someone was shaking me and saw Mr Martinez in front of me looking at me like he was haunted.

"What happened?"

"You had a nightmare."

I looked around and let out a sigh of relief.

"What did you dream about?"

I didn't give a response back.

He asked me again, "What was the dream about?"

"I… I felt someone touching hand's running all over my body."

Mr Martinez hugged me and said, "It's alright. It's just a nightmare. Go to sleep."

I moved closer to him and hugged him from behind and asked, "Will you hug me to sleep? I feel safe inside your embrace."

He turned towards me and wrapped his hands around me and said, "Good night." And planted a kiss on my forehead.

I hugged him back and went to sleep.

It was cold when I opened my eyes again, but not too bad. The sun hadn’t risen yet so it felt like it wasn’t going anywhere soon. As I sat up, the blankets fell away from me. I stretched out. The bed was very comfortable so I slept peacefully. It was nice when they actually let you share, but then some people would come over and it was really difficult to sleep without them. My stomach growled loudly which made it even harder to stay still.