Chapter 22
- Third Person's POV –
Among the members who heard Rhea's loud scream, they ran outside to find out whose loud scream they heard.
They witnessed Juviler falling to the ground, lethargic and powerless to get up, Ceejay lying on the ground with Jc on top of him. Grabbing the collar tightly and punching the face.
Ceejay buried his fist in Jc's side, causing him to stop punching him in the face and moan in pain. He took the opportunity and kicked Jc's stomach. He tumbled and fell.
Both of them were getting weak when the male members approached them to block the two of them and make sure they couldn't get close to each other.
After Almira came out, she first caught sight of Rhea's body lying on the ground, a few steps from the two young men. She blinked as she approached her while Boss Ganda and Sais followed her.
Almira knelt down next to her and her trembling hand removed her hair covering her face. She swallowed to get rid of the nervousness she was feeling before she carefully cupped both of her cheeks.
"C-Crushmate..." Her voice was confused and she rubbed her whole face.
Boss Ganda also knelt down next to Rhea and held her hand tightly, "P-Prim.... Are you okay?" Its tone is flat.
"Come on! There's blood on her n-nose…" Sais panicked under her breath.
Almira started to panic and shook her shoulder, "Crushmate!! RHEA CASTINO!"
In the meantime, they are still in trouble even though there are many people blocking between Jc and Ceejay, the two are still struggling to get close to each other.
Akinka is on Jc's left, Jc's left arm is tied to him. Rhuji was on his right, his right arm tied to him. Tagj and Seven were in front of Jc trying to push him back.
On the other side, Dope is on Ceejay's left, his arm wrapped around Ceejay's left arm. Nono was on his right, his arm wrapped around Ceejay's right arm. While Lil_ron and Jhunz were in front of him trying to keep him away from Jc.
"Just calm down!"
"That's enough, Princebeybe!
"You two stop!"
"Everyone calm down!!"
Consecutive shouts and weaning of those between them. But they still don't stop and they still dare to crush each other.
But they were only stopped by a soft sob. Everyone fell silent and looked around in surprise, to find out who was sobbing. Soon all attention went to Almira's whereabouts.
Boss Ganda hugged Rhea tightly, while her face was buried in her shoulder who did not respond to her hug. Almira gently caressed her back while Sais stood behind the three. Ceejay and Jc are very angry. It seemed like they were going to stab each other at any moment if they continued.
"Rhea..." Ceejay's tone was worried and he let go of the two who bound him before finally going to where they were.
But before he could get close, Almira quickly blocked in front of him and pushed him.
"Don't come near her." She commanded in a voice that seemed annoyed.
He frowned and tried to pass Almira but she blocked him again and pushed him.
"Told you not to come near her!" He shouted angrily at Ceejay.
"Step aside, Almira or else---"
"What?" He scolded angrily before Ceejay could finish what he was saying, "You're going to smack me? I'll spank you!"
Ceejay's palm slowly clenched while the look in his eyes was deadly. But Almira was not touched by it and glared at it.
"Are you two messing around again?" The voice of an angry dragon almost pierced their eardrums.
Everyone suspiciously turned to the owner of the voice because they were sure who it was.
His sharp look moved around to all the members who seemed to be examining the surroundings, especially Jc and Ceejay. He examines every bruise on the face of the two butting heads.
But his blood boiled more when he saw Rhea hiding on Boss Ganda's shoulder while sobbing.
"Otso, take Primera up to your room. I might kill someone if I couldn't bear to see that look of her like that." It was calm but there's a hint of hidden anger in its tone.
Otso didn't flake anymore. He hurriedly approached the girl's location. But before Otso could get close to them, Rhea stood up and wiped his wet cheek while bending down to walk into the house. Otso followed behind her.
A few minutes after Rhea and Otso disappeared from sight, they were deafened by the silence of the deep night. So the Founder's head grew hotter as he impatiently waited for an explanation of what had happened.
"Can't someone explain why you're losing it?" His voice is controlled but it shows that he is running out of patience.
"Boss, won't you explain why you're sweating so much?" Juviler whispered after he appeared from nowhere.
He glared at Juviler with a sarcastic smile, "Am I funny?"
"When I kissed you, yes." He giggled softly.
His jaw tightened, "Not now, Juviler or I will smash your face."
Juviler's smile was as raw as a raw mango and he gave him the peace finger sign. The Founder didn't buy it and he looked down on everyone.
Lil_ron, who was right next to him, elbowed him, "Fix your joke. The one without teeth, smiles." He whispered.
"Should I still joke? It looks like Uno is about to eat us alive." Juviler also whispered to Lil_ron.
"Where are you going again, Four?" Uno looked up when his eyes saw Jc walking behind him.
"I don't need your lecture. And if your planning to terminate again, I'm already at the exit." The words that came out of Jc's mouth were violent and rough that made Uno's blood even hotter.
Uno and Jc briefly exchanged evil looks before Jc disappeared from their eyes.
Uno was still staring at Jc's back as he walked away from them when Almira gently pulled his hand.
"I'll take care of that one." Almira whispered to him. He didn't wait for his answer and followed Jc.
"All of you go to sleep! We'll talk tomorrow!" Uno ordered everyone, "I also need to calm myself down because I might kill someone in no time."
Uno's gaze focused on Ceejay who was clearly threatening. They looked at each other and briefly exchanged evil looks before Uno turned his back and went inside first.
The members murmured about what started the trouble as they entered. Ceejay felt almost all the eyes were on him and he knew he was the one being talked about. He just let it out of the other ear and continued walking.
- Rhea's POV –
I kicked the door of the room and rushed in. Considering how strong I slammed my foot on the floor, they probably heard from below. I heard footsteps following me and my eyes caught Janica standing at the door.
Suddenly it occurred to me that this was her house, so I just swallowed the anger that wanted to come out and buried my face in the pillow.
"Sorry about the door." I said weakly.
I don't know if she heard. My mouth was covered with a pillow.
"It's OK. Take a rest." Her voice is calm.
I heard the sound of the door closing and Janica's steps walking away from the door.
I sighed..
Now I regret why I went to Janica's birthday. Her happiness would not have been ruined. She was so looking forward to celebrating her birthday with the whole clan. Because she was in Manila for a while and she just came home. It's like a welcome home party.
It's Ceejay too. Very jealous. My face was even reddened by his anger. He's really annoying.
Since I couldn't release my anger because I was at Janica's house, I started crying while sinking my face more and more into the pillow.. So that they wouldn't hear me.
"I can smell tears from the supposed love of an angel about to break a wing."
My eyes widened and immediately stopped crying when I heard a rough and terrifying voice.
It took my ears a few minutes to take in what I heard and process it in my brain. I stayed in my position while feeling around.
Next I heard the silly laughter of someone who sent a strange chill to my body, making my hair stand on end.
I swallowed the fear I was feeling and slowly got out of bed. My whole body stiffened as I turned to the door where everything I was hearing was possibly coming from.
Just a little and my eyes will fall when I witness Andrei. But his presence felt strange. Her complexion is very white, as well as her lips. And his face was scary, especially since he was smirking like a devil smiling.
Seriously.. Is there nothing more to add to this nightmare?
"Did you have a good night, Crista?" His voice was thick and echoed throughout the room.
I gritted my teeth, "You're the one who did it?"
He laughed so hard it made my whole body tremble.
"This world is mine and this is my kingdom." He said, "And you? Your soul will be mine."
He laughed again. His voice was so scary that my body got cold and shivered. My heart felt like it was going to jump out of my rib cage because of the strong pounding. I took a deep breath. I can not move. It's like I'm slowly turning into a stone in where I'm standing.
His terrifying laugh continued until he slowly turned into black smoke. My eyes were still wide as I watched his entire body turn into smoke and completely disappear in front of me, along with his terrifying laugh.
My whole body fell on the bed like a withered plant. I can breathe easy. I really thought it was the end of me earlier.
I closed my eyes.
What is really happening in my life? Why can't I control it? It seems that I will perish before I can accomplish my mission. I have to recover from the manipulations of the Fallen or I might become the Fallen myself. One more wrong move, I will lose my wings. I really need to be doubly careful. Maybe what is happening around me is just a result of manipulation.
A knock from the door made my drowning mind come to its senses.
Who is that again??
Since I didn't answer, the door slowly opened. I immediately reached for the pillow and covered my face before anyone who knocked could enter.
I heard every step he took towards me. So I hugged my pillow tighter.
After a while, he suddenly pulled the pillow and I automatically opened my eyes. Lorenz was standing in front of me. He is holding a coffee.
Well…. I'm not in the mood for a lecture from this one.
I crawled to the other end of the bed and lay down with my back to him. I heard him put the coffee he was holding on the bed side table and put the pillow behind his head before laying down on my bed earlier.
"I'm not going to lecture." He began and his tone of voice seemed to be quite sober, "Because they are all worried about you. So I brought you coffee."
Ignore...
"Have you wiped your face? It looks like you had a nosebleed earlier." I heard he was worried about me.
I didn't answer but I wiped the lower part of my nose with the collar of my dress. I looked at the collar and saw small dots that looked like blood.
"Is it really hard to choose?" He continued.
And I don't know where our conversation will go. Because of the tone of his voice, it looks like he's going to be dramatic.
"I've been there before so I can feel you." It was a weak response.
Because I felt sadness in his voice, I turned to him. His hands were behind his head and he was looking up at the ceiling.
"Did you also choose?" I asked calmly.
He nodded but was still looking at the ceiling, "Between Almira and Janica."
"Who did you choose?" I'm not sure if I asked correctly. I know the story of the three of them and the pain of it.
"Of course the one I loved." This is his answer.
"Almira?"
"But he didn't choose me." I could feel the sadness in his voice, "The friendship between the two of them is more important and that is the most important thing for her."
"That's why Janica went to college in Manila." I added, "Everyone thought she would never really come back."
"He won't last long here either. Next semester, she will return to Manila." He said.
"Does it hurt?"
"Not at all. It's just like being run over by a bulldozer."
I laughed at this answer. He even managed to joke. He smiled when he heard me giggle.
"But that's not the important thing." He continued, "If you really love that person, you will support her happiness. Even if you're not her happy."
"Ahhh. The power of a red horse's kick." My dramatic response.
He just grinned, "Never mind.."
After a while, I was annoyed by a fishy smell that could not be explained. I've been noticing the smell for a while but I was so scared of Andrei earlier that I lost my mind.
I sat up with a frown and rubbed the bed sheet and blanket. Lorenz looked at what I was doing, obviously surprised.
On the bed sheet, I felt cold. So I immediately opened the blanket to see what it was.
There is a wet part of the bed sheet that I believe is where the bad smell is coming from.
I looked at Lorenz who was also looking at the wet part before our eyes met.
Only then did it occur to me that they did something creepy in Janica's room.
"What did you and Juviler do here?" My voice is thick and I have a snort.
He immediately took his eyes off of me, "Besides he molested me, he probably made fun of me."
"Janica?" Suddenly the name I thought came out of my mouth.
He automatically turned to me, "Why did it go to her?"
"What did you do here?" My eyes widened slightly when I put him in the hotseat.
He immediately took his eyes off of me so I couldn't see his smiling face. But it was too late because my eyes caught it.
Your dead, Lorenz.
"What are you talking about?"
"I saw you carry Janica here before I went down to the living room." I grinned.
"Besides we watched a Horror movie on her laptop...." He didn't continue what he said and slightly turned to me.
It was obvious on his face that he was holding back a smile and I was intrigued by the way he spoke.
"Something happened to you guys?" I couldn't hold back anymore and I really asked. Curiosity will kill me.
"I was even going to get another round but get interrupted by your mess downstairs. You don't know how to cooperate." The size of his smile really splits his face.
"Hey, Lorenz! You flirt!" Laughing with scold remark before taking the pillow that was next to me and throwing it at him.
Even before he was hit, he immediately stood up to get away.
"She stripped me and raped me. So it's not my fault." He defended with a laughter.
If only you were not the Founder, I've already hit you.
"Darn you! Both of you are so pervert!" I exclaimed in the middle of my laughter.
He really burst out laughing, "Just go to sleep, Rhea. It's almost dawn."
He turned his back on me and walked towards the door. While I was laughing watching him.
"I'm going to close the door." He was still smiling when he said goodbye.
"Sure and please lock it." I reply.
He locked the doorknob before closing the door. I also heard his steps to leave.
By the way, he was burning with anger when he came down earlier. Apart from the fact that we were in trouble, his flight to heaven was cut short.
I lay down again to rest. Apparently, it's almost dawn.
'I can smell tears from the supposed love of an angel about to break a wing.'
I suddenly remembered what Andrei said earlier.
Believed to be love? What could he mean?
Well, there's only one way to find out the answer.
Is to finish my mission here on earth.