[ Rain's POV ]
The world was spinning now, and for a second, I could see two Seans smiling at me. It felt like they were mocking my inability to stay upright.
"Yah! Why are you laughing at me?" I grumbled, reaching out with a clumsy hand to try and pinch his cheek.
"Haha. You're being way too cute right now," Sean said, his voice a low chuckle. He caught my hands to stop me from toppling over. "Here, don't move too much. You'll just get dizzier."
He held my arms steady, but then, his movement stopped. The laughter died in his throat.
"Rain," he said, his tone suddenly dropping into a territory of dead seriousness.
"What?"
"What is this?" He leaned in, his eyes narrowing. "I just noticed... why is your lip so swollen? There's dried blood here, too."
I instinctively touched my mouth, wincing as my finger brushed the spot I had bitten. "I... I tripped. A while ago."
"You tripped and bit your own lip?" He didn't sound like he believed me. His gaze drifted down to where his hands were still holding my arms. He slowly pushed back my sleeves, revealing the angry red and purple marks left by Fran's fingers. "Then what is this? Why is your wrist like this?"
I couldn't say anything. The scene from the apartment flashed back in my mind—the sound of the soup hitting the floor, the coldness in Fran's eyes, the way the wall felt against my back. It hurt more than the bruises did.
"Did he do this?" Sean's voice was terrifyingly calm. It was a stillness that felt like the eye of a storm.
I couldn't take it anymore. Maybe it was the wine, or maybe it was just the exhaustion of carrying the weight alone, but I wanted to tell him. I needed to let it out before it poisoned me.
"He wouldn't listen, Sean," I whispered, my voice cracking. "I tried to fix everything... I tried to be the one to bridge the gap, but he just misunderstood me all over again."
Sean sat back down heavily. He reached up and removed his glasses, rubbing the bridge of his nose. I could see his knuckles turning white as he clenched his fists, trying to control the rage boiling underneath his skin.
"Did he hit you?" Sean's voice was shaking now.
"No," I whispered, staring into the dark swirling liquid in my wine glass. "He... he kissed me. But it wasn't a kiss, Sean. It was a punishment. He looked at me like he hated me, but he still wouldn't let me go."
The silence that followed was suffocating. I could feel the tears finally breaking free, hot and steady against my cheeks.
"I thought I could handle his silence," I sobbed, the words tumbling out in a mess. "I thought I could handle the glares and the coldness. But the way he looked at me while he pinned me to that wall... I don't recognize him anymore. I'm scared, Sean. I'm scared that if I stay, I'll lose the memory of the Fran who actually cared for me. I've always been patient. I've always given my all for the people I love... but that doesn't mean I don't break. I'm so tired. I'm just so tired of this."
Before I could sink any further into the dark thoughts, I felt a pair of strong arms wrap around me. Sean pulled me into a warm, soft hug, tucking my head against his shoulder.
"You're not going back there," Sean said. It wasn't a suggestion; it was a vow. "I'm not letting him touch you ever again."
I looked up at him, my vision swimming through the tears. Sean's face was so close, his breath smelling faintly of wine.
"Rain," he whispered, his hand gently tapping my back in a rhythmic, soothing motion. "If he doesn't know how to treasure you... I do."