"I... I…" he tried to speak, but the words caught in his throat.
He shoved her hand off his collar, and she moved back; turned and began pacing the room, fingers tangled in her hair, tugging in frustration. "Do you even realize what you've just done?!" she cried.
"What you did can easily be called rape!" she shouted, her voice trembling with fury.
"Nooo…Jay…please…! I didn't!" he gasped, his face crumbling.
"You didn't?" she spat. "But you could have!"
"Noooo! Never!!" he roared, gripping the side of his head. "don't put these horrible actions on me!"
"Stop it! Don't make me laugh! You broke into my house! You took me out without anyone knowing; not even me! My parents even weren't home! You dragged me to some strange place, and I had no idea where I was.
"JAY! I took you to the hospital! There are records! You can check them!"
"Who's to say you didn't drug me? Make me unconscious? And now you're calling that place a hospital?"
"You were dying," he said, his voice lower now. "I took you to the hospital." He said painfully.
"Oh, so I should be thankful?" she snapped. "That a stranger took me out of my own house without consent? That even my parents didn't know? And I had no idea? You think it's my fault now?!" Her eyes widened with disbelief. "You think it's my fault that I've been losing sleep, questioning my sanity; wondering whether I'm going mad because I thought I dreamed something that actually happened?!"
"I saved your life," he whispered dejectedly, as if knowing himself that it was lame of him to show off and make her feel as if she owe him. "You…your stomach… " he tried to cover up the situation. But the more he said, the more he ended up ruining the situation. He was overwhelmed and was flushing with anger as he could clearly see the failure of his words and his thinking, totally losing his composure.
Jay was the same, she was also in shock, she never expected to see her dream come to reality so suddenly in an unexpected place… he had started on the wrong foot and had caused them both to fall.
"Oh! So now I'm supposed to thank you?" she snapped bitterly. "Because a stranger kidnapped me and took me to a hospital without my consent? I assume a stomachache is worse than expected rape in your logic, right?!"
"JAYY… PLEASE….You're twisting everything!" he shouted. "You're not even listening to me."
"I'm twisting the facts?!" she screamed. "Fine! Let's pretend I'm grateful Hero!. You saved me. But tell me something…"
Her voice dropped, colder now.
"You had so many chances to come clean. In the hospital. After I woke up. After I got discharged. You could have said anything. But you didn't."
"You were sleeping," he mumbled.
"And when I was awake?! What about when you entered my house again; this time under my parents' noses; and took the button from my hand? You could've told me then too, but you stayed silent."
He had no answer. His mouth opened, but nothing came out.
"SPEAK! It was your button right?" she shouted, her voice cracking.
"I... I'm ashamed," he finally said, his voice barely audible. His hands trembled. Sweat dotted his forehead. His lips quivered, and a lump formed in his throat. "I didn't mean… "
"Are you even listening to yourself? You touched me! Held my hand. With whose permission? And now you stand there, ashamed? As if that means anything now?" she said while raising her hand that he had held before.
Her eyes narrowed, sharp with disgust. "I could call the police. Do you realize that? I could press charges. You'd be in jail before sunset."
"Jay... I am not scared of police! but please… just listen… "
"Get out!" she barked, stepping back. "I don't want to talk to you! I don't want to see you! Just leave; leave me alone!" Her voice cracked again, her anger dissolving into something close to despair.
And just then; like divine timing twisted into a curse for him; the door flew open.
Her mother stormed in, taking in the scene with wide, furious eyes. "What are you doing to my daughter?! Get out!" she yelled, shoving him hard in the chest.
Seeing Jay so shaken, her eyes were red and her hands were trembling; and now facing her furious mother, he glanced at her one last time, pain etched in his face, then rushed out of the room without another word, shame clinging to his back like a second skin.
Jay's mother watched him go, her expression hard and cold. As soon as the door closed behind him, Jay's father and Venelope entered with a quiet rush. Her mother, unfazed, held a lunchbox in her hands and began preparing the table near Jay's bed.
Jay stared. "Why are you here?" she asked flatly.
Her mother didn't respond.
"Dad!" Jay snapped. "Why is she here?"
"My love…" her father began, gently. "She's your mother."
Jay scoffed. "Mother? I've been rotting in this godforsaken place for days; surviving on the kindness of strangers. And now, suddenly, the prodigal mother arrives, just in time for the discharge? Please! spare me the formalities."
Still, her mother remained silent. Just arranging the food.
"Sweetheart, she's been taking care of things at home," her father said, trying to mediate. "She came as soon as… "
"I don't want to talk to either of you," Jay cut him off. "Venelope, please… take them out. I don't want them here."
Venelope hesitated, nodding slowly. She approached Jay's mother, gently reaching for her arm. But Jay's mother yanked it away, glaring at her with unspoken contempt.
Venelope's gaze shifted to Jay's father, hoping he'd step in. But he too was staring back with cold judgment, his eyes screaming at her, This is all your fault. I told you not to let her meet that boy. Now look what's happened.
Venelope swallowed hard and forced a strained smile as she tried to lead them both out.
"Let's go," she said softly.
Just as they reached the door, Jay called out.
"Venelope. You stay." her voice soft now.
Venelope stopped in her tracks, turned around, nodded and closed the door behind the parents. She returned to Jay's bedside and sat down quietly.
"Are you okay, Jay?" she asked after a moment.
Jay didn't respond. Her eyes were fixed on nothing in particular; staring ahead, but seeing something else.
"Jay?" Venelope tried again.
Jay slowly turned to face her. Her expression was cold, furious, exhausted.
"Do you even know that man?" she finally asked.
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