- 12 hours ago
Rehab for Loving You New Ep,34
Category
🎥
Short filmTranscript
00:00Roderick ripped my shirt open and froze.
00:03My back was covered in scars, old and new, all from whippings.
00:07What the hell happened here?
00:11I misbehaved. They punished me for it.
00:14My voice was flat, like I was talking about someone else's body.
00:18He stared at the scars he'd never seen.
00:21Then he said,
00:24You deserved it.
00:26He sent me to that place three years ago to cure me of loving him.
00:32I spent three years locked inside that place.
00:35Now, I stopped loving him, just as he wanted.
00:38Then he came running back and said,
00:40I regret it.
00:42For eight years, I was a fixture by Roderick Dunlap's side.
00:46Everyone said I was addicted to him.
00:48I was so obsessed with him that I'd run off any woman who got close to him, whatever it took.
00:53Once, I offered one of them money to leave Roderick.
00:58The woman laughed in my face.
01:00Being with Roderick meant an endless supply of cash.
01:03Why would anyone walk away for such a pathetic amount?
01:07Then that woman took a staged fall down a flight of stairs.
01:11Roderick thought I pushed her.
01:14And I ended up being sent to a rehab center by him.
01:22Others went there to quit smoking, drinking, or gaming.
01:25I was there to let go of Roderick.
01:28In the end, I succeeded only for him to tell me he regretted it.
01:32The moment I stepped out of the rehab center, I saw an Audi parked there.
01:37It looked totally out of place.
01:40I glanced at it and lowered my head, preparing to walk away.
01:43The person who got out of the car called out to me.
01:47It was Roderick.
01:49He had grown more mature in the last three years.
01:51I glanced at him once, then looked away.
01:54The staff at the center taught us that staring was rude.
01:58Especially at someone we liked.
02:00Yes, after three years, I had been completely reformed.
02:07Roderick told me to get in, and I did so, sitting quietly in the back seat.
02:12I kept my head down, staring at my lap and not moving a muscle.
02:16Roderick sat beside me.
02:18I could feel the weight of his intense gaze.
02:20The car was dead quiet.
02:22I held my breath, scared to make a peep.
02:24But a cough escaped me anyway.
02:27It was just my old cough.
02:28The car pulled up at the Dunlap's mansion.
02:31Roderick's grandmother, Maggie Dunlap, lived there.
02:35Today, as I remembered, marked her 80th birthday.
02:39Then it hit me why Roderick had come to get me.
02:41He started to walk in.
02:43I hesitated for a second, then blurted out,
02:48Um, Roderick?
02:50I didn't bring a gift.
02:52When he turned around, my heart was pounding out of my chest.
02:57I quickly looked down.
02:59I knew my quickened heartbeat was from fear, not from affection.
03:04Somehow, I'd turned into a total coward.
03:06If someone even glanced my way, I'd get a jolt of fear.
03:12I'd toss and turn all night in nightmares, haunted by those staring eyes.
03:18Follow me.
03:20Roderick brushed off my worry.
03:22He was as cold as always.
03:24Or maybe he only saved that coldness for me.
03:26I had to jog a little just to keep up with him.
03:31Mari!
03:32You're back!
03:33Come in, dear!
03:34Maggie was right there at the front door.
03:36Waiting for me dot Maggie had always had my back.
03:39Always encouraged my crush on Roderick and even snuck me info on his plans.
03:44I walked over to her.
03:46Hello, Maggie.
03:47Mari, honey.
03:49Why are you being so distant?
03:51You're not mad at me for what happened, are you?
03:53Maggie stroked my hair, her eyes full of affection.
03:56I shook my head.
03:57I could never be mad at her three years ago.
04:00If Maggie hadn't threatened to harm herself,
04:02I probably would have been sent to jail instead.
04:06On the outside, it looked like a regular school,
04:09but only the people who'd been locked up there knew what real torture was like.
04:15During the meal, I kept my head down,
04:18shoveling down spaghetti as fast as I could.
04:20I didn't make a sound, didn't reach for anything else,
04:23just ate fast like I hadn't had a meal in a month.
04:28Marianne!
04:29Yes, sir!
04:30Hearing my name, I set down my fork and stood up straight.
04:33We all froze me, Roderick and Maggie.
04:36I met their shocked stares for a split second.
04:39Then I looked down at the silverware I'd set neatly on the table.
04:43Even with how panicked I was, I just stood there, confused.
04:47It hit me then I'd forgotten I wasn't at the center anymore.
04:51I had no idea why Roderick had called me.
04:53You scared her, you big idiot!
04:56Maggie swatted Roderick's arm before turning to me.
04:58Sit down, Mary.
05:00You're home now, sweetie.
05:02Just relax.
05:04I did what Maggie said and sat back down,
05:07but I couldn't eat another bite.
05:09Something about the way they looked at me told me they'd noticed.
05:12The girl who walked in three years ago was gone,
05:14and the one sitting here now was someone they didn't recognize.
05:19Grandma was talking to you.
05:21Why weren't you listening?
05:25Roderick's tone was sharp.
05:27I couldn't tell if he was mad I'd ignored Maggie,
05:29or just ticked off about getting swatted.
05:31I'm sorry, Maggie.
05:33I was just very hungry.
05:35I didn't hear you.
05:36I gave her an apologetic look.
05:39The counselors at the center always drilled it into us.
05:42Apologies have to be sincere.
05:44Only I knew the truth.
05:46It wasn't hunger.
05:47It was fear.
05:48Fear of getting punished for not eating fast enough,
05:51or for leaving food on my plate.
05:52I vaguely recalled her telling me to try the other food.
05:56I'd heard her, but I just couldn't react fast enough.
05:59So Roderick called out to me.
06:01By the time dinner was over,
06:03my forehead was covered in a light sweat.
06:06I wasn't sure if it was from the heat in the room,
06:08or my own anxiety.
06:10Three years in that place had taught me one thing.
06:12Never let your guard down, not even at a dinner table.
06:17After dinner, I returned to Grandpa's old house.
06:22Thank you for the ride.
06:24I gave Roderick a small bow.
06:26Maggie had wanted me to stay the night,
06:28but I'd turned her down.
06:29I didn't want any more contact with them than I had to,
06:32so I'd asked Roderick to drive me home.
06:36You really want to stay here?
06:38Roderick frowned.
06:39I glanced back at the house.
06:41It hadn't been touched in three years.
06:43Now it was completely overgrown with weeds.
06:45But I nodded.
06:47I had nowhere else to go anyway.
06:49I was flat broke,
06:50and the clothes I was wearing were from three years ago.
06:53The rehab center had given us uniforms,
06:55so these clothes had never even been worn out.
06:59I bent down to pull some weeds.
07:01The little critters living there scurried away.
07:03I saw cockroaches, mice,
07:05and a snake coiled in the corner,
07:06too lazy to move.
07:07Once upon a time,
07:09I would have jumped straight into Roderick's arms.
07:12Now, I just stared at them calmly
07:13and looked for a stick to shoo the snake away.
07:18Roderick pulled me back toward the car.
07:22What's wrong?
07:23I didn't even realize he was still there.
07:25Didn't you see that snake?
07:27Oh, right I'd forgotten Roderick hated reptiles.
07:34I saw it.
07:35It's fine.
07:37I'll just shoo it away with a stick.
07:39If it bothers you,
07:41you can just leave!
07:42I caught myself reassuring him.
07:45I reached for the door handle,
07:47ready to hop out.
07:48But Roderick locked the doors and drove off.
07:51I quickly buckled my seatbelt.
07:54W-where are you taking me?
07:57He didn't say a word.
07:59I didn't dare ask again.
08:00He took me to his private apartment.
08:02He closed the door behind us without a word.
08:06I couldn't leave it was a keypad lock.
08:08He went straight to the shower,
08:11probably trying to wash off the creeps
08:13from seeing all those critters.
08:14I sat straight on the living room couch.
08:17About an hour later,
08:18Roderick came downstairs in pajamas,
08:20his hair still wet.
08:22I knew better than to stare.
08:24Stay here until your place is cleaned up.
08:26You can sleep here tonight.
08:28I thought about it for a second,
08:30then nodded.
08:32That house was a mess.
08:34Tackling it all alone
08:35would have kept me going way past midnight.
08:37He walked over.
08:38I stood up and stepped aside without thinking.
08:41Roderick grabbed my chin,
08:43forcing me to look at him.
08:45So you're over me?
08:46His expression was questioning.
08:50Yes.
08:51I didn't hesitate for a second.
08:53Any delay would have felt like an insult
08:55to everything I'd been through.
08:57That night, the nightmare returned.
08:59In my dream,
09:01countless eyes stared back at me,
09:03filled with hatred, disgust, and contempt.
09:06Every single one of them belonged to Roderick.
09:10The next day, when Roderick left for work,
09:13I asked him to drop me off downtown.
09:16He didn't seem to mind,
09:17as long as I wasn't in his way.
09:20I hesitated in front of a florist's hiring sign.
09:23I didn't have a college degree.
09:25I never finished college
09:26because Roderick had me sent to that rehab center.
09:29Hunting for a job?
09:31The shop owner noticed me staring at the sign
09:33but not coming in,
09:34so he finally asked.
09:36I nodded.
09:37The owner looked to be in his mid-twenties,
09:39and he seemed pretty nice.
09:41The pay was $3,000 monthly,
09:43and no diploma was required.
09:45I just had to be on time
09:47to help out at the shop every day.
09:49I asked the owner for a $1,000 advance.
09:52Money makes the world go round
09:53I needed it for everything.
09:55My official start date was the next day,
09:57and to my surprise,
09:58he trusted me.
09:59I spent $400 on a used electric scooter
10:02from a local shop.
10:04Once upon a time,
10:06$400 wouldn't have meant squat to me.
10:08Now, I had to haggle
10:09just to get it for that price.
10:11It's not like I was an orphan or anything.
10:14Three years ago,
10:15my parents disowned me.
10:16To protect the company
10:17and the family's reputation,
10:19the only person who'd ever really loved me,
10:22Grandpa,
10:22was gone a long time ago.
10:23If he were still here,
10:25I probably never would have ended up like this.
10:29I rode the scooter back to Grandpa's old house.
10:32The weeds outside were already gone.
10:34Roderick must have sent someone to clear them.
10:36Inside, everything was covered
10:38in a thick layer of dust and cobwebs.
10:42It took me for hours
10:43just to make the place halfway livable.
10:46Most of the stuff inside
10:47was broken beyond fixing.
10:50I was trying to carry out the junk
10:52when I tripped.
10:55Everything went flying
10:56all over the floor.
10:58I was a mess,
10:59my knee hurt,
11:00and I was covered in dirt.
11:01I saw a pair of shiny leather shoes
11:03stop in front of me.
11:04I didn't even have to look up
11:06to know who they belonged to.
11:08I got up slowly,
11:09my knee throbbing with pain.
11:12Mr. Dunlop,
11:14can I help you with something?
11:16I'd gone from calling him Rod
11:17to Roderick
11:18and now to Mr. Dunlop.
11:21It was better this way
11:22keeping my distance.
11:23I never wanted to go back
11:25to that hellhole ever again.
11:27Grandma sent me to check
11:28on how you're doing.
11:29Roderick's brow was furrowed.
11:31Please tell her I'm fine
11:32and she doesn't have to worry about me.
11:34I crouched back down
11:36to clean up the mess
11:37that fall had just made
11:38everything worse.
11:42Roderick grabbed me
11:43by the back of my collar
11:44with a tear,
11:45my shirt split right open.
11:46It was the same shirt
11:47I'd worn yesterday
11:48and the same one
11:49I'd had three years ago.
11:51The fabric was so thin
11:52it tore almost instantly.
11:54Mr. Dunlop,
11:55have some respect!
11:57My voice was sharp with anger
11:58as I clutched the torn fabric.
12:00Thank God it was only
12:01the back that tore,
12:02but it was my only shirt.
12:04I hadn't had time
12:05to buy new clothes,
12:06and now how was I
12:07supposed to go shopping?
12:09But Roderick's eyes
12:10were fixed on the scars
12:11on my back.
12:13What the hell happened here?
12:14I misbehaved.
12:17They punished me for it.
12:19My voice was flat,
12:20like I was talking
12:21about someone else's pain.
12:23You deserved it.
12:24He walked out.
12:25I glanced over my shoulder.
12:27My back was covered
12:28in scars old and new,
12:30all from whippings.
12:31The newest ones
12:32were probably
12:33from a few days ago.
12:34I couldn't even remember
12:35exactly which day.
12:37They hadn't even
12:38fully healed yet.
12:41I found a dusty shirt
12:42in the closet,
12:43shook it off,
12:44and slipped it on
12:45right away.
12:46Pretty soon,
12:47I felt an itch
12:48on my back,
12:48right over the wounds.
12:49They probably got infected.
12:51Of course,
12:52just as I was heading out
12:53to buy new clothes,
12:55Roderick came back.
12:56Was he back
12:57to laugh at me?
12:58He tossed a bag at me?
13:01Change into these.
13:03I refused.
13:04He had a girlfriend,
13:05and it felt wrong
13:06for him to be
13:07buying me clothes.
13:08But it had been
13:09three years?
13:10Maybe Chelsea was
13:11his wife now,
13:12not that I cared?
13:13Roderick pulled me
13:14roughly back
13:14inside the house.
13:16I sat down
13:17and did what he told me.
13:18He cleaned the wounds
13:19on my back
13:20with antiseptic
13:21and rubbing alcohol.
13:22It stung.
13:22But I didn't make a sound,
13:24it was nothing next
13:25to what I'd been through.
13:26His hands were rough
13:27but strangely careful.
13:29Like he was trying
13:30to undo something
13:30he couldn't name.
13:34Why is this one
13:35right here
13:35across your waist?
13:37Roderick pointed
13:37to a particularly
13:38ugly scar.
13:39It wasn't just
13:40a surface scrape
13:41whoever hit me
13:42had aimed right
13:42for my kidneys.
13:43I shook my head.
13:45Um,
13:46I don't know.
13:47He finished up
13:48cleaning the wounds
13:48and helped pull
13:49my shirt down.
13:51Why did they
13:52do this to you?
13:53I was already
13:54wearing a new shirt.
13:58Because I misbehaved.
14:00Then,
14:00as if worried
14:01he might not believe me,
14:02I added,
14:06but I'm good now.
14:08What did you do?
14:09Roderick pushed,
14:10clearly unsatisfied
14:11with my answer.
14:14One of the counselors
14:15caught me
14:16after I dropped
14:16some food on the table.
14:19Roderick frowned
14:19but said nothing.
14:21I glanced at him
14:22nervously
14:22after a long pause.
14:25Elsewhere.
14:26Where else
14:27did they hurt you?
14:28I shook my head.
14:30It's not like
14:30they chose to go
14:31for my back.
14:32I'd curl up
14:33into a ball
14:33so my back
14:34was just the only
14:35part left exposed.
14:37It's getting late.
14:38You should go now.
14:39I didn't want
14:40to be in the same room
14:41as him.
14:42It felt suffocating.
14:43Besides,
14:44it was already
14:44dark outside.
14:46Oh, it's fine.
14:47I'll crash here
14:48for the night.
14:50Silence
14:50hung between us.
14:52I didn't argue.
14:53But I stayed awake
14:55long after the lights
14:56went out.
14:58I hadn't eaten
14:59since breakfast
15:00at his apartment.
15:01Using the groceries
15:02I'd picked up earlier,
15:04I whipped up a simple meal
15:05on the old hot plate.
15:07Thank God Grandpa
15:08never used gas otherwise.
15:10I'd have had nothing to eat.
15:12You're not at the center anymore.
15:14You don't have to eat so fast.
15:16Roderick's voice reached me
15:17as I hurried through the meal.
15:19But I was already finished
15:20and Roderick had barely
15:22touched his food.
15:23Old habits die hard.
15:24Roderick took my bedroom.
15:26So I slept in
15:27Grandpa's old room.
15:28Late that night,
15:29my knee and back
15:30started throbbing.
15:31My head felt heavy
15:32and dizzy.
15:33When I opened my eyes again,
15:35I was staring
15:36at a white ceiling.
15:37The sharp smell
15:38of disinfectant
15:39was everywhere.
15:40I didn't have time
15:41to wonder
15:41how I'd gotten here.
15:42All I cared about
15:43was that I was gonna be late
15:45for my first shift.
15:46I tiptoed over
15:47to put on my shoes.
15:48Careful not to wake Roderick.
15:51Roderick's sleepy voice
15:52stopped me right
15:52as I was almost out the door.
15:55Where are you off to?
15:57I got a job.
15:58I'm gonna be late for work.
16:00Do you even know
16:01you're running a fever?
16:02He sounded annoyed.
16:03Was it because
16:04he'd had to pay
16:05for the medical bills?
16:07Don't worry,
16:08Mr. Dunlop.
16:10I'll pay you back
16:11as soon as I get
16:12my first paycheck.
16:12I gave him a quick,
16:14polite bow
16:14and slipped out the door.
16:17Thankfully,
16:18I made it to work
16:19just in time.
16:23It was Valentine's Day
16:24and the flower shop
16:25was absolutely packed.
16:27My job was simple
16:28just working the register.
16:30I didn't know
16:31how to do anything else yet.
16:32The shop was small,
16:34but the owner was amazing
16:35and customers
16:36just kept coming in.
16:37But out of all the people
16:39who could have walked in,
16:40I never thought
16:41I'd see Chelsea Harvey.
16:43arm in arm
16:44with Roderick,
16:45laughing and talking
16:46up a storm.
16:47Chelsea,
16:48the same girlfriend Roderick,
16:49had brought home
16:50all those years ago.
16:52Chels,
16:53Rod.
16:55The shop owner
16:56walked over
16:56to greet them politely.
16:58My mind went
16:59completely blank
17:00and I froze in place.
17:02It turned out
17:03the owner
17:03was Chelsea's brother.
17:04My life was starting
17:05to feel like
17:06a bad soap opera
17:07all over again.
17:08I'd suffered
17:09for three years
17:10because of Chelsea.
17:11And now here I was,
17:12working for her brother.
17:14How pathetic was that?
17:22Chelsea spotted me.
17:25Flinched in fake fear
17:26and buried her face
17:27in Roderick's chest.
17:29Cliffy,
17:30what is she doing here?
17:31She's,
17:32she's the one who...
17:33Chelsea pointed
17:34a shaking finger
17:35right at me.
17:36Clifford Harvey
17:36stared at me in shock.
17:37Then his face
17:38twisted with disgust.
17:40He grabbed me by the arm
17:41and shoved me
17:42right out the door.
17:46It all happened so fast.
17:48I stumbled
17:49and crashed to the ground.
17:51Roderick just stood there
17:52and watched.
17:53Cold as ice.
17:55Humiliated,
17:56I got up and ran
17:57all the way back
17:58to the old house.
18:00I locked myself
18:01in grandpa's room.
18:02It was the only place
18:03I ever felt safe.
18:07Thanks to that,
18:09I had to find a new job
18:10and I had to pay back
18:12that $1,000 advance.
18:16I hated
18:17owing anyone anything.
18:21Job hunting
18:22sucked for days
18:23until I finally
18:24got hired
18:24as a dishwasher.
18:26It was tiring,
18:27but it kept me busy
18:28kept my mind
18:29off things.
18:31I thought maybe
18:32I could finally
18:33live a quiet life,
18:34but some people
18:35just couldn't stand
18:36to see me happy.
18:37Chelsea's shadow
18:38followed me
18:39wherever I went.
18:45The floor manager
18:46had told me
18:47to bring the clean dishes
18:48out to be sanitized.
18:56Well,
18:57look who it is.
18:58The Crawford Group Harris.
19:02Ah!
19:03Oh, wait.
19:04I mean,
19:05a pathetic little shadow
19:07nobody wants around.
19:08As I walked through
19:09the dining area,
19:10a few girls
19:11blocked my way.
19:13Their voices thick
19:14with sarcasm.
19:15They were my old
19:16college classmates,
19:17also Chelsea's
19:18little minions.
19:19Chelsea was standing
19:20right behind them,
19:22watching it all go down
19:24no sign of her
19:24usual innocent act.
19:29I tried to ignore them
19:30and walk past.
19:31I didn't want any trouble.
19:32Did I say you could leave?
19:34Someone yanked my hair
19:35so hard it sent
19:36a sharp pain
19:36shooting through my scalp.
19:38The noise set off
19:40a commotion.
19:42All I could think about
19:43was the plates.
19:45I'd have to pay for them.
19:47Roderick's voice
19:48cut through the noise
19:48from behind me.
19:49What's going on here?
19:51My hands,
19:52busy picking up
19:53the broken pieces,
19:54frols for a second.
19:56I cut my finger
19:58on a shard.
19:59It didn't even hurt.
20:00I knew something
20:01way worse
20:02was about to happen.
20:05Sure enough,
20:06I heard Chelsea's
20:07fake sweet voice
20:08complaining to Roderick.
20:09We were just trying
20:09to make up with Mari.
20:14Just catch up a little.
20:16But then she...
20:22Before Chelsea could finish,
20:23another girl cut in.
20:25But then she lost her temper
20:27and tried to hit shells
20:29with a plate.
20:40I kept picking up
20:41the broken pieces calmly.
20:45I knew I was going
20:46to lose this job too.
20:47The floor manager
20:48rushed over
20:49and chewed me out.
20:50I do know how to avoid.
20:51I'm chewed at me
20:51busting, dunking.
20:53Munt, nup, dest!
20:59I handed over
21:00almost all the cash
21:01I had on me.
21:02All but ten bucks.
21:06I'm sorry.
21:08I'm sorry.
21:37Grandpa, I didn't turn out
21:38the way you hoped I would.
21:43You taught me that
21:44loving someone means
21:45having the courage
21:46to go for them.
21:47So you never regret it.
21:52But Grandpa,
21:53I'm so tired.
21:54I can't do this anymore.
21:55I'm giving up.
21:59What if I come
22:00to be with you instead?
22:05You're not saying no,
22:06so I'll take that
22:06as a yes.
22:11I downed all the
22:11sleeping pills
22:12I bought at the pharmacy.
22:14I downed all the
22:15sleeping pills
22:16I'd bought at the pharmacy.
22:22I was scared
22:22Roderick would use this
22:23as an excuse
22:24to send me back
22:24to that center.
22:27I couldn't live
22:28like that anymore.
22:29I couldn't find
22:30a single reason
22:31to keep going anymore.
22:33But sleeping pills
22:34were supposed
22:34to put you to sleep.
22:44Why did it hurt
22:45so much instead?
22:49A sharp cramp
22:50hit my stomach
22:51and I could feel
22:52my eyes starting
22:53to close.
22:55Right as my eyes
22:56closed for good,
22:57I thought I saw
22:58Roderick standing
22:59in the doorway.
23:07When is she
23:07going to wake up?
23:08She's been asleep
23:09for days.
23:10When I came to,
23:11it seemed I heard
23:12Roderick's voice.
23:22Why was he still
23:23clinging to me
23:24even after death?
23:31It wasn't until
23:32a team of doctors
23:32began examining me
23:33that I understood.
23:42Roderick had rushed
23:43me here to have
23:43my stomach pumped.
23:50I'd been given
23:51a second chance.
23:58That figure I saw
23:59hadn't been an illusion.
24:00It was him.
24:08Are you sending me back?
24:11I looked at
24:12his darkened expression.
24:22The doctor says
24:23you may be suffering
24:23from depression.
24:27Roderick avoided
24:28my question.
24:31I nodded
24:32dot but that
24:32wasn't the point.
24:41All I cared about
24:42was whether
24:43I had to be sent back.
24:50Why didn't you tell me?
24:55Would you have
24:55would you have believed
24:56me if I had?
25:00Telling him
25:01would only have
25:01made him think
25:02I was making
25:02excuses to leave
25:03that place.
25:14I had reached out
25:15out to him.
25:17I told him.
25:17Each resident
25:17was granted
25:18a scheduled call
25:19to family
25:19twice a year.
25:28During my first
25:29six months
25:29I called him once.
25:33I'm sick.
25:35I cough up blood
25:36sometimes
25:37and they hit us.
25:43Can I please
25:44come home?
25:51I promise I won't
25:52bother you anymore.
25:54What did he say
25:55back then?
25:57You come to
25:59find a better
26:00excuse next time.
26:04Then he hung up.
26:10After that call
26:11I was beaten again.
26:14I never called
26:15him after that.
26:21Why did I cough
26:22up blood?
26:29Their blows
26:30had landed
26:30on my back
26:31over and over.
26:32The internal damage
26:34eventually affected
26:34my stomach
26:35and lungs.
26:44Seeing Roderick
26:45fall silent
26:46I knew
26:46he still
26:47didn't believe me.
26:48I lowered my head
26:49and didn't ask again
26:50whether he'd
26:51send me back.
26:53I moored me long
26:54the pair in the
26:55sorry to we's out
26:55in sparing
26:56and disavilling
26:56functy.
26:57Should I be sent back
26:58I won't leave alive.
27:03In a place like that
27:04no one would notice
27:06whether a person
27:06was breathing.
27:08I thought once
27:09I got out
27:10I could start over
27:12but I was wrong.
27:14My peace
27:15was always shattered
27:16whenever Roderick
27:16came into the picture.
27:22The doctor
27:23called Roderick out
27:24saying some test
27:25results were ready.
27:31The door swung open
27:32as Roderick
27:32strode back in.
27:41He yanked
27:43the blanket aside
27:43then my hospital gown.
27:52An ugly
27:53jaggy scar
27:54was exposed.
27:58Your kidney
28:00where is it?
28:05His eyes were bloodshot
28:06a vein throbbing
28:08on his forehead
28:08as he stared at me.
28:15He looked terrifying
28:16just like
28:17at the staff
28:18at the center.
28:20They had that same look
28:21in their eyes.
28:32That look
28:33always came
28:34right before a beating.
28:36I pulled the blanket up
28:38and hid underneath it.
28:46The bed shifted
28:48as Roderick
28:48sat down
28:49beside me.
28:51He gently tug.
28:54He gently
28:55did the covers.
28:58Mary, come out.
29:00You'll suffocate.
29:03You'll suffocate.
29:05His voice softened
29:06as if he'd realized
29:07he'd scared me.
29:12Promise you won't
29:13hit me?
29:21My voice was muffled
29:22under the blanket.
29:23Only after he promised
29:25did I poke my head.
29:34He asked again,
29:36patient this time.
29:38What happened
29:39to your kidney?
29:42I shook my head.
29:48I don't know.
29:52Roderick took out
29:53his phone
29:53and said
29:54he would
29:54investigate this
29:55thoroughly.
29:58Ever since
29:58learning about
29:59my depression,
30:00Roderick had
30:01barely left
30:01my side.
30:03It was as if
30:04he was afraid
30:04I might try
30:05something again,
30:06but I saw
30:06that the rehab center
30:07had been shut down
30:08on television.
30:09No doubt
30:10it was Roderick's doing.
30:12It had posed
30:13as an educational
30:14institution.
30:15Behind closed doors,
30:16it ran vile operations.
30:19Did he do this
30:20to you too?
30:21Roderick pointed
30:22at the screen.
30:24Mari Kambai,
30:25VO.
30:25The man being
30:26interviewed
30:27was the infamous
30:27director.
30:28He spoke excitedly
30:29to the reporter.
30:30I was helping.
30:32They should be
30:33thankful
30:35without my
30:36guidance.
30:37Do you think
30:38they'd be so
30:39compliant now?
30:40Go ask their
30:41parents.
30:42Their children
30:43are model
30:43citizens now,
30:45aren't they?
30:46I took a kidney
30:47as my fair
30:47compensation.
30:48My method
30:49was simple.
30:50Add something
30:50to their bedtime
30:51milk,
30:51then proceed
30:52with the removal.
30:53I'd watch them
30:54wake up
30:54in agony.
30:56The man grew
30:57more animated
30:58as he spoke.
30:58I felt a wave
30:59of dread
30:59seep into my bones.
31:03The bloody scene
31:04felt like it
31:04had happened
31:05yesterday.
31:06That night,
31:07I went to bed
31:08as usual.
31:09Before lights out,
31:10we all had to
31:10drink the milk
31:10the attenders brought.
31:12Refusal meant
31:12a beating.
31:15In my sleep,
31:16I felt like
31:17I was being
31:17restrained.
31:19Then,
31:20slowly,
31:20a sharp pain
31:21pierced my side.
31:26My eyes
31:26flew open
31:27to see the director's
31:28horrifying face
31:29leaning over me.
31:30It wasn't a dream.
31:31He was staring
31:32intently at my waist.
31:34The pain
31:34made me black out.
31:36I didn't wake
31:37until the next day.
31:41He threatened me.
31:43If I ever
31:43spoke a word,
31:44my other kidney
31:45would meet
31:46the same fate.
31:47No wonder
31:47so many people
31:48there moved stiffly,
31:49and no one
31:50ever said a thing.
31:51Mari!
31:53I stared at him,
31:54my gaze empty.
31:55Then,
31:56a mouthful of blood
31:57surged up
31:57and spilled over.
32:00I collapsed.
32:04I had no idea
32:05how long I was out.
32:09When I woke up,
32:10I was still connected
32:11to a ventilator.
32:14I shifted my fingers,
32:15trying to wake Roderick.
32:18His weight was resting
32:19on my hand,
32:19and it had gone numb.
32:26You're awake.
32:27How do you feel?
32:28You were in shock.
32:29Did you realize?
32:30But I was in shock.
32:31How would I know?
32:34But was this
32:35really Roderick?
32:38His jaw was shadowed
32:40with stubble,
32:41his eyes streaked
32:41with red.
32:43This wasn't the same
32:45cool collected man
32:46I remembered.
32:47I tried to speak,
32:48but had no strength
32:49left.
32:50I just lay still.
32:53Let the doctors
32:54and Roderick
32:54do what they needed
32:55to do.
32:56I learned I'd been
32:57unconscious for four days.
33:01Roderick had stayed
33:02by my side
33:03the whole time.
33:07That afternoon,
33:08a doctor removed
33:09the ventilator.
33:12I could talk again.
33:17What's the prognosis?
33:18Weeks, months?
33:19I knew my time
33:20was running out.
33:22Roderick's hand,
33:23which had been holding
33:23a spoon to feed me
33:24broth, paused.
33:26After a long moment.
33:29Six months.
33:31Maybe less.
33:35A faint smile
33:36of relief
33:37touched my lips.
33:38Good.
33:39I could get to see
33:40Grandpa soon.
33:42Lung cancer?
33:46I phrased it
33:47as a question,
33:47but I was sure.
33:49Even after,
33:50I'd learned to behave
33:51and the beatings
33:53mostly stopped.
33:59I kept coughing up blood.
34:01The depression
34:02only made things worse.
34:09Roderick nodded.
34:12Can I get back to work?
34:15Is there any way
34:16you could keep your wife
34:17from interfering?
34:18If they'd just leave me alone,
34:20I could work in peace.
34:22I still owed Clifford
34:23$1,000 after all.
34:26She's not my wife.
34:28Roderick frowned,
34:29putting a clear distance
34:30between himself and Chelsea.
34:32I didn't care
34:33what Chelsea was.
34:35I just needed her
34:36to stay away.
34:40I started a small street stall
34:42on a decent block,
34:43selling burritos.
34:47I had planned to find
34:48a regular job,
34:49but Roderick forbade it.
34:54When he set his mind
34:55to something,
34:56no one could change it.
35:04He offered me two options.
35:07Start my own small business
35:08or stay home.
35:13Doing something I chose
35:14with the time I had left
35:15was a good idea.
35:17I stood nervously
35:18behind my cart,
35:19worried no customers would come.
35:20The location was close
35:22to campus.
35:24Steady foot traffic
35:25from students
35:25and professionals.
35:27It was a fully licensed area
35:29for street vendors
35:29to operate.
35:36Best of all,
35:37it was close to
35:37Grandpa's house.
35:44Hey, how much for a burrito?
35:47I was lost in thought
35:48when a guy with a brighty smile
35:49walked up to my stall.
35:54I looked up
35:55and met his clear eyes.
35:56He had faint dimples,
35:58wearing a basketball jersey,
35:59a ball in his hand
36:00as if he'd just come
36:01from a game.
36:02I was caught off guard
36:03for a second.
36:06He spoke again
36:07before I came out
36:07of my trance.
36:08For some reason,
36:10looking into his eyes
36:11didn't make me uneasy at all.
36:14Usually,
36:14any eye contact
36:15filled me with dread.
36:17So many pairs of eyes
36:18haunted my nights.
36:26Would you like to try one?
36:27It's free.
36:28Why free?
36:30Is it because
36:30I'm so good looking?
36:31He grinned
36:32and rubbed his chin playfully.
36:34His playful tone
36:35made my face grow warm.
36:37No,
36:38it's my first day.
36:39If it turns out
36:40unpasteable,
36:41I couldn't possibly
36:41take your money.
36:45I'd practiced at home
36:47over and over,
36:48but doing it for real
36:49felt completely different.
36:52Oh,
36:53so
36:53I'm your
36:54gimme pee pig.
36:56No!
36:58I thought
36:58I'd scared him off.
37:00Just kidding.
37:00Go ahead.
37:01I'll eat it
37:01however it turns out.
37:02He laughed warmly.
37:04Most vendors
37:04could make one
37:05in three to five minutes.
37:07My clumsy attempt
37:08took nearly seven.
37:09The outside was crispy,
37:11though not burnt.
37:12Maybe I should make you
37:13another one?
37:15He took the wrapped burrito
37:17and bit into it.
37:18This is perfect.
37:21Mmm.
37:22It's great.
37:23Seriously,
37:24this is how it should be.
37:25Nice and crispy.
37:27His compliment
37:27made me smile.
37:29So,
37:30how much?
37:31You're not gonna charge me
37:32an arm and a leg,
37:33are ya?
37:33No.
37:34He widened his eyes
37:35in alarm.
37:35This one's complimentary.
37:36A lucky start
37:37for my first day.
37:39I'm Leonard Williams,
37:40by the way.
37:41As he turned to leave,
37:42he glanced back
37:43and waved.
37:44I watched him walk away.
37:46It struck me then
37:47how distant
37:47my own college days felt.
37:49If I hadn't been
37:50so reckless back then,
37:51I would have graduated
37:53a year ago.
37:57As the day went on,
37:59more customers came.
38:05I was almost too busy
38:06to keep up.
38:09But I got quicker
38:09and more confident
38:10with each one.
38:13I didn't pack up
38:14until I'd run out
38:15of ingredients.
38:22I'll drive you home.
38:23Roderick pulled up
38:23beside me in his car.
38:25It's fine.
38:25I have my scooter.
38:27I nodded toward my scooter
38:28parked out nearby.
38:32It's getting chilly tonight.
38:33You'll catch a cold.
38:34I won't die from it.
38:42Marianne,
38:42how long are you going
38:43to keep fighting me
38:44on everything?
38:46Roderick caught my wrist
38:47as I started to walk away.
38:50Mr. Dunlop,
38:51do not forget.
38:57I was the one
38:58who pushed your girlfriend
38:59down the stairs.
39:04I'm the one to blame.
39:12In that moment,
39:13to cut any last tie
39:15between us,
39:15I claimed the guilt.
39:19Mary stopped lying.
39:20I know the truth now.
39:22She fell on her own.
39:25Suddenly,
39:26his arms came around me
39:27from behind.
39:30Hadn't he told me
39:31to protect Chelsea?
39:36So you were protecting her
39:38while I bore
39:39all the blame?
39:43No.
39:45I was afraid
39:46once you knew the truth,
39:47you'd hate me
39:48for not believing you sooner.
39:50I was wrong.
39:52I'm sorry.
39:54I'm sorry.
39:59His arms tightened around me.
40:02I only found out
40:03two days ago.
40:05I went to Chelsea
40:06to stay away from you,
40:07and we argued.
40:11She let it slip.
40:14I could no longer
40:15hold back my tears.
40:18They fell onto
40:19the back of his hand.
40:21At least I would
40:22clear my name
40:22before I died.
40:23Don't cry, Mari.
40:26He released me,
40:27bending down
40:28to wipe my tears.
40:31I sobbed
40:32uncontrollably
40:33in his arms.
40:38For a moment,
40:39neither of us spoke.
40:41Three years of silence.
40:44Three years of pain
40:45I'd swallowed
40:45without a word.
40:46And now,
40:47finally,
40:48someone believed me.
40:54Rod.
40:56Here.
40:57I pointed to my chest.
40:59It doesn't beat
41:00for you anymore.
41:04Rod, if I could,
41:05I'd wish we had never met.
41:08I wiped my tears
41:09and gave a faint smile.
41:12This is the last time
41:13I'll call you that.
41:16From now on,
41:17let's each live
41:17our own lives.
41:20I'd treat this
41:20as a goodbye.
41:21A proper end
41:22to those eight years
41:23I spent loving him.
41:28I could never forget
41:29the three years
41:30in that place.
41:32And the person
41:33who'd sent me there
41:34was Roderick himself.
41:38Mary.
41:41He reached for me,
41:42but I stepped back.
41:43Mr. Dunlap,
41:44please don't disturb me again.
41:48I want my remaining time
41:51to be peaceful.
41:54With that,
41:55I left.
41:56I drove my scooter home.
41:59Roderick's car
42:00followed at a distance
42:01in the rearview mirror.
42:04I ignored him.
42:07I went to my stall
42:09as usual every day.
42:15Roderick watched
42:16from a distance.
42:18I just ignored him.
42:24Hey, I'm back!
42:25Brought my classmates
42:26to try your burritos.
42:28It was Leonard,
42:29my first customer.
42:33I glanced at the two boys
42:34behind him
42:35and gave a slight nod
42:36in greeting.
42:37What kind would you like?
42:38A real sense of ease
42:40washed over me.
42:41Something I hadn't felt
42:42in a long time.
42:43Whatever you recommend.
42:53Maybe one of each?
42:54I'll take some back
42:55for my roommates too.
42:57One of his buddies said,
42:58eyeing the ingredients.
43:01So, how much?
43:03You didn't let me pay last time.
43:04You've got to charge me today
43:05or I won't come back.
43:08I hadn't said
43:09I wouldn't charge him.
43:11I still needed
43:12to pay back my debt.
43:14$6 each.
43:16Cash only though.
43:17If you don't have any,
43:18you can get change
43:18at the store down the block.
43:21I pointed to the sign
43:22on my cart
43:23and then toward the store
43:24down the block.
43:27Wait right here!
43:28I'll be back!
43:29I watched Leonard
43:30walk away inside.
43:32The young seemed
43:33so full of life.
43:34It was easy to forget
43:35I was only a year
43:36older than him.
43:38Yet my life felt
43:39worlds apart.
43:43Hey!
43:43Isn't he good looking?
43:45And he's single.
43:46Maybe give him a shot?
43:48His classmates
43:49clearly thought
43:49my glance at Leonard
43:50meant more than it did.
43:51I shook my head
43:52and stayed silent.
43:54I was making around
43:55three to four hundred dollars
43:56a day.
44:01Soon,
44:02I had enough
44:03to repay my debt.
44:04Clifford seemed
44:05to have been waiting
44:06for me.
44:07He looked different.
44:09Guilty, almost.
44:11I heard what really
44:12happened.
44:14Chelsea admitted
44:15the truth to Roderick.
44:17I'm sorry for what
44:18I did to you.
44:19I didn't reply.
44:22I placed the money
44:23on the counter
44:23and left.
44:29Finally,
44:30I was free
44:31of that burden.
44:32Why did Leonard
44:33keep coming to my stall?
44:35Did he really love
44:37burritos that much?
44:40Do you really like
44:41burritos that much?
44:42I finally asked.
44:44No.
44:45Why?
44:46Taking another bite.
44:49Why do you come
44:50every day?
44:52Were you short
44:53on money for meals?
44:56But he didn't look
44:57like he was struggling.
44:59Because you're here.
45:01Between bites,
45:01I didn't fully
45:03process his words.
45:04Not until he swallowed,
45:06leaned closer,
45:07and looked at me
45:08seriously.
45:09Be my girlfriend?
45:13I froze for a second,
45:15then shook my head.
45:16I took his hand
45:18and placed it
45:18on my waist.
45:20I'm missing
45:21a kidney here.
45:23I have lung cancer
45:25here.
45:26He shrugged,
45:27unfazed.
45:28I know.
45:30I've always known.
45:31How could he know,
45:33reading my surprise?
45:35I'll tell you later.
45:37His hand lingered
45:38gently on my waist.
45:39Did it hurt?
45:42My eyes stung.
45:43No one had ever
45:44asked me that before.
45:46Not Roderick.
45:47Not my parents.
45:49Not a single person
45:50in three years.
45:55But this young man did.
45:58Six months later,
46:00I held the medical record
46:01the doctor had just given me.
46:04He said the cancer cells
46:05were gradually receding.
46:09Leonard had made sure
46:10I ate three meals a day.
46:12He walked me
46:13to every checkup.
46:17For the first time
46:18in years,
46:19I wanted to live.
46:20And it showed.
46:23With a positive mindset,
46:25consistent medication,
46:26and no late night
46:27depressive episodes,
46:30full recovery was possible.
46:34There were cases
46:35of people beating cancer.
46:38It just wasn't easy.
46:45But I had managed it.
46:50Hey, where are you?
46:52You're not at your stall today.
46:54My phone buzzed
46:55with a message from Leonard.
46:56He'd bought me
46:57this phone himself.
46:59He'd claimed it was
47:00a buy one, get one deal.
47:02That he had an extra,
47:04and if I didn't take it,
47:05he'd throw it away.
47:06Who believed that?
47:08I certainly didn't.
47:11At the hospital.
47:18Half an hour later,
47:20Leonard came jobbing
47:21toward me
47:21in his basketball jersey.
47:26What did the doctor say?
47:29I put on a somber face,
47:31pretending to be downcast.
47:33I saw his expression dim,
47:34but he kept his voice steady.
47:38It's okay.
47:40I'll be with you
47:41every step of the way.
47:44I cut him off.
47:45Just kidding.
47:45The doctor says
47:46I'm doing really well.
47:50I couldn't bear
47:51to tease him for long.
47:55You've gotten mean.
47:57He pretended to be upset,
47:58but then he picked me up
48:00and spun me around twice.
48:09So,
48:10does this mean
48:11you'll say yes?
48:12He looked at me eagerly.
48:14Say yes to what?
48:17Interest at him playfully.
48:18Be my girlfriend.
48:20But I'm not completely healed yet.
48:22What if it comes back?
48:24I don't care.
48:28My job is to love you
48:30and make you happy.
48:33If you're happy,
48:34you'll get better.
48:35He hugged me tightly,
48:37nuzzling against me.
48:40All right,
48:40I suppose I'll say yes.
48:45I wrapped my arms around him in return.
48:48I sounded as if I was doing him a favor.
48:52The truth was,
48:53he had been the one settling for me all along.
48:59As Leonard and I walked away hand in hand,
49:01I saw Roderick.
49:08I hadn't seen him.
49:09I hadn't seen him in two or three months.
49:11He stood watching us,
49:13his eyes red.
49:19He'd pick me up to attend the service,
49:21and that was it.
49:22I'd also repaid him for all the medical bills.
49:25Even the money for the food cart.
49:29I knew he'd been watching me from a distance.
49:34He tried to approach me a few times.
49:41But I'd threatened to harm myself each time,
49:43and he'd finally stayed away.
49:50Mari, who is this?
49:51His eyes were still red.
49:54He already knew the answer.
49:58My girlfriend.
49:59Leonard answered first,
50:01raising our joined hands.
50:05Is he good to you?
50:07Yes.
50:13I know what it looks like
50:13when you love someone, Mari.
50:16And I can see it's not me anymore.
50:19It took me a while to face it.
50:24Be happy.
50:26I wish you the same.
50:28He turned and walked away.
50:32I didn't look back.
50:34Some people are meant to be part of your story,
50:36but not your ending.
50:39I heard later that Roderick left to teach
50:41in a remote mountain.
50:44As for me,
50:45I was curled on the sofa,
50:46looking at the man in front of me.
50:49You said before that
50:50you knew about my health?
50:52How?
50:55I sprained my ankle during a game
50:57and ended up in the hospital.
51:01I was in the room next to yours.
51:03I overheard something while walking by,
51:05got curious,
51:05and looked through the glass.
51:12One look,
51:12and I just knew.
51:14He made it sound so casual.
51:15That's it?
51:16I didn't buy it.
51:18Your classmates mentioned something.
51:21My photo is your computer wallpaper,
51:23the one from when I was a sophomore.
51:25I meant the guys who had stopped by my stall for burritos.
51:29Sure enough,
51:30Leonard looked briefly embarrassed.
51:35He was probably cursing them in his head.
51:38Okay, fine.
51:42I was an exchange student at your university
51:44in my freshman year,
51:46doing a photography project.
51:49You were there that day,
51:50so full of life.
51:51I couldn't help but take a picture.
51:53Later,
51:54I heard you were with Roderick.
51:56So,
51:57I kept my distance.
51:58I don't do home wrecking.
52:00He lifted his chin slightly.
52:02It wasn't until I saw you in the hospital
52:04that I realized how stupid I'd been all along.
52:07If I had stepped in back then,
52:09maybe none of this would have happened to you.
52:12After that,
52:13I kept an eye on you,
52:14waiting until the day I ran into you at your stall.
52:16He looked genuinely regortful.
52:18I reached out and hugged him.
52:22Don't blame yourself.
52:23Some things were meant to happen.
52:25It wasn't your fault.
52:27I'd almost missed the chance
52:28to be with someone so wonderful.
52:29But in the end,
52:30nothing was too late.
52:31Other people go to rehab for drugs,
52:34alcohol,
52:34or gambling.
52:35I went to quit loving a man.
52:37In the end,
52:39I didn't just quit him.
52:41I learned to love myself again.
52:43I learned to love myself again.
52:45I learned to love myself again.
Comments