- 2 days ago
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00:00After finishing the exam, my three childhood suitemates and and I had planned an overseas trip together.
00:06The day before we were supposed to leave, though, Raphael Allison demanded that I give up my spot for Lisa
00:12McPherson.
00:13When I refused, he stormed off in a fury.
00:17In the end, I caved and let her have all of them.
00:20But later, why did they come crying, begging me to turn back?
00:26Melba, you've been abroad tons of times already.
00:29You can go whenever you feel like it.
00:32Raphael asked me to give my plane ticket to Elise.
00:35I barely knew Elise. We'd hardly exchanged a word.
00:38Why should I hand over the trip I'd spent three months planning, or the ticket and hotel I'd bought with
00:43my own pocket money?
00:44Raphael's expression soured.
00:46He seemed to have forgotten the promise we'd made back in our first year of high school.
00:51If we all got into the same university, we'd head to Estaville together,
00:55to catch the massive fireworks festival, to soak in those steaming hot springs.
00:59I crumshilled the adentinary in my hand into a tight ball.
01:02My other two childhood friends, Curtis and Darnall, squeezed my hands to comfort me.
01:08After a tense standoff, Raphael came over, crouched down in front of me without a word,
01:13and looked up at me.
01:15You really mad?
01:16His voice softened.
01:17I didn't mean it like that.
01:19I just figured, she's a girl from a rough background, tough as nails,
01:23scraping by with part-time jobs to get through school.
01:26It's not easy for her.
01:27I wanted to show her a bit of the world.
01:29I only wanted to bring her along, but I couldn't snag another ticket.
01:32So that's why, what I said before, I didn't think about how you'd feel.
01:36Elise,
01:37She's pretty upset too.
01:39She's been out there apologizing non-stop.
01:43Melba, I know you're the kindest person around.
01:46What if you reschedule your ticket?
01:48We could push back a day, grab extras, and she could join us.
01:52He knew damn well that our planned departure date
01:55was the opening night of Estaville's fireworks festival,
01:58and, more importantly, the 10th anniversary of the day the four of us first met.
02:02If your heart's bleeding for her, that's on you.
02:05Don't rope me into it.
02:07Raphael's voice rose.
02:08Melba, I'm trying to talk this out with you.
02:12Do you have to put it like that?
02:13Keep it up, and I'm not going tomorrow either!
02:16I paused, suddenly feeling like the whole thing was just pointless.
02:20I pointed at the door.
02:22Get out.
02:23I don't want to see you right now.
02:27He slammed the door hard on his way out,
02:30even though I didn't know Elise personally.
02:32This wasn't my first brush with her.
02:35The day our exam scores came out,
02:37when we found out we could all apply to the same university like we'd hoped,
02:41Raphael was more pumped than I was.
02:43He insisted on handling my application for him.
02:46He even knew my logon details.
02:48But on the very last day of the submission deadline,
02:50I happened to check the page and saw
02:52that my choice wasn't our agreed upon Higang University.
02:56It was Vlofield, thousands of miles away.
03:00I tried calling Raphael, but it wouldn't connect,
03:03so I called Curtis instead.
03:06We all picked Gagan, didn't you?
03:10I assumed Raphael had messed up by accident and quickly fixed it.
03:14Once the dust settled, I hurried over to his place to get the story straight,
03:19but around the corner, I overheard him talking to Elise.
03:23Sorry, Raphael, I accidentally switched Melba's choice to Vlofield.
03:28Is that really okay?
03:29It's fine.
03:31Melba's so clingy, there's no way she'd end up at a different school from us.
03:35Once she spots it, she'll change it back herself.
03:38But what if she...
03:39Doesn't notice, he reassured her patiently.
03:42Curtis and Dale are around too.
03:43It's no big deal.
03:45It's not like it can't be undone.
03:46Elise murmured in agreement, but she sounded a little disappointed.
03:50Even though Raphael had nailed my reaction spotly,
03:53it still left a sour taste in my mouth.
03:55I never mentioned it, but that that didn't mean I was okay with it.
03:59I just put more weight on our years of friendship.
04:02I was so furious.
04:04I didn't even want to go to Esseblen anymore.
04:06Curtis and Darnan stayed right by my side,
04:08doing their best to cheer me up.
04:10Seeing the sincerity in their eyes, I eventually gave in.
04:14The next day, I arrived at the airport two hours early,
04:18only to discover the three of them had gotten there even sooner.
04:22From afar, I saw them gather around,
04:25a girl in a pink dress, laughing and chatting like they'd known each other forever.
04:29It was Elise.
04:31As I approached, her smile disappeared in a flash,
04:35and she greeted me tindedly.
04:37Immediately, she adopted this pitiful, aggrieved expression and hid behind Raphael,
04:41but he tugged her back out.
04:42Stand tall.
04:43You're every bit as good as anyone.
04:45Only then did Elise lift her gaze to meet mine,
04:48her voice soft and wispy.
04:51Melba, mind if I call you that?
04:53Before I could respond,
04:56she checked her watch and added,
04:58with an innocent tone laced with reparoach.
05:02We've been waiting nearly an hour.
05:04We were starting to think you bailed.
05:07Girls always have a ton to pack for trips, right?
05:10Not me.
05:11One little suit taste does the trick.
05:13I forced a tight smile.
05:16Yeah, unlike certain people who get roped in last second and don't have much to prepare anyway.
05:23Elise's face drained of color, her eyes turning red-rinned.
05:27Raphael scowled.
05:29Melba, do you have to be so cutting?
05:31What has Elise done to deserve this?
05:34Right, everyone's wrong, except her.
05:38I just want to know,
05:39what's she doing here?
05:41I-
05:42Raphael faltered, then plunged ahead,
05:44pulling a ticket from his pocket.
05:46Why shouldn't she be?
05:47I spent my entire allowance,
05:49paid ten times the going rate to buy the piss off someone.
05:52Satisfied now?
05:53But it's an aisle seat.
05:55Melba,
05:56if you hadn't insisted on today,
05:58never mind, skip the apology.
06:00Just trade spots with Elise.
06:01She's never flown, wants a window view.
06:04Darniel has a window seat too, why ask him?
06:07Darniel nodded vigorously.
06:09But Elise plucked at Raphael's sleeve,
06:11her eyes full of needy reliance.
06:13It's okay, Raphael, any seat's fine.
06:15It's my first light, though,
06:16and I'm kinda scared.
06:18If possible, I'd feel safer next to you.
06:21Raphael softened instantly.
06:23Melba,
06:24aren't you being a little over the top?
06:26Let it go,
06:27just this once.
06:28Next time and every time after,
06:31I'll be glued to your side, okay?
06:32That snapped my last thread of patience.
06:36I fetched my ticket from my bag
06:38and flung it at his chest.
06:41Then you two enjoy sitting together!
06:43I'm done!
06:45Tears precking at my eyes,
06:46but I forced them back.
06:48I whirled around and marched off.
06:50From behind came Raphael's stunned,
06:52enraged yells,
06:53mingled with Elise's weepy.
06:56Darniel panted,
06:57sweating profusely in his urgency.
06:59Mela, don't go!
07:01Raphael's an idiot,
07:02but we're not like that!
07:03If you don't feel like going to USAF,
07:05screw it!
07:06Name the place,
07:07and we'll come with you!
07:09In the end,
07:09we went nowhere.
07:11Raphael, meanwhile,
07:13boarded the plane with Elisa.
07:15Soon after,
07:16he updated his social media
07:18with a photo from the flight.
07:20The strongest,
07:22most sensible girl,
07:23taking to the skies for the first time.
07:25Some beauties are worth sharing.
07:27Calls from Curtis and Darnin
07:29lit up phones simultaneously.
07:31That idiot!
07:32I'm gonna beat his ass!
07:34Melba,
07:35steer clear of social media.
07:36It'll just piss you off.
07:38I hung up,
07:39staring downward.
07:41The blue foo,
07:42sky,
07:42and white clouds outside
07:44felt glaringly harsh.
07:46That summer,
07:47I didn't see Ravame at all.
07:50Curtis, Darniniel,
07:51and I breezed through our driving test.
07:56The university wasn't too far from home,
07:59so we'd planned to go
08:00to drive there together
08:01for move-in day.
08:04But when I came downstairs,
08:05there was Elisa.
08:07Raphael and Curtis
08:08were standing on either side of her,
08:10while Darnin's was pulling
08:11a pink suitcase.
08:13The second our eyes clocked,
08:15he dropped it like hot potato.
08:18I spun around
08:19and stormed off.
08:20Darnin chased after me.
08:22Melba, what's the matter?
08:26When we got here,
08:28Raphael had already shown with Elisa.
08:30Classes kick off tomorrow.
08:31It's way too late to rearrange anything now.
08:34Being late for orientation isn't ideal.
08:36Just act like they're invisible during the drive,
08:38yeah?
08:38Come on, for me?
08:39Don't stay pissed.
08:40He fluttered his eyelashes
08:42and tugged at my arm.
08:43Eventually, I headed back.
08:45My eyes fell on Raphael's familiar SUV.
08:48Through the open window,
08:50I could tell,
08:51the passenger seat had gotten a complete makeover.
08:53The Melby's seat sticker he'd slapped on was history,
08:57swapped for a cartoon of some pretty anime girl.
09:00The fluffy cushion I'd gotten him
09:02was replaced with a coat-maining pink one.
09:05The car fresh I'd gifted was gone too.
09:07In favor of a wobbly little bobblehead.
09:10Raphael was a year ahead of us
09:12and had snagged his license early.
09:15He'd picked up this big SUV specifically for us.
09:19During senior year,
09:20he'd ferry us around all the time.
09:22Since I got car sick easily,
09:24the front seat had always been my spot.
09:27No questions asked.
09:29Catching my gaze,
09:31Rapiel froze for a beat,
09:32then stubbornly averted his eyes.
09:35Darnian jumped in with forced cheer
09:37to lighten the mood.
09:38Hey, gang's all here.
09:40Let's roll.
09:41Raphael didn't brudge an inch.
09:42Instead, he swung open the passenger door for leans.
09:45Is this really all right?
09:46What if Melba gets mad?
09:47Don't sweat it.
09:48Just trust me.
09:49Elise closed the door
09:50and thanked him bushably.
09:52You've been amazing these last few weeks,
09:54driving me around to unwind
09:56and letting me redo your passenger seat
09:59any way I liked it.
10:00Then she gave him a cheeky wink.
10:02And shout out to Darnal and Curtis
10:05for grabbing my luggage earlier.
10:08Darnan darted a desperate glass my way
10:10like he was dying to explain,
10:12but he came up empty.
10:14The ride was stone cold silent
10:16until we pulled up to campus.
10:18The moment we parked,
10:20I snatched my suit taste
10:21and headed straight for the dorms
10:23without looking back.
10:24On the way,
10:25a couple of help upperclassmen
10:27offered to carry my stuff,
10:28but Curtis and Darnian,
10:30who'd caught up,
10:31shooed them away.
10:34Chill out.
10:35Raphael's bound to regret this eventually.
10:39I'll corner him later
10:40and get him to apologize.
10:42I blew right past them
10:44and kept going.
10:45Elise blocked the guy's path.
10:47Melba just struggling
10:48to accept me in the mix.
10:51She's jealous, you know?
10:53I'm a girl.
10:54I know how we tick.
10:56Let me smooth things over with her.
10:57In a flash,
10:58she zip ahead and blocked my way.
11:00I tried to dodge around her,
11:01but as we passed,
11:02her face changed.
11:03In a whisper,
11:04only I could hear.
11:05Want to find out
11:05who's actually more important to them?
11:09Before I could process it,
11:11Elise hit the ground hard.
11:13Three pairs of feet
11:14rushed up from behind.
11:16Raphael got there first,
11:18pulling her to her feet.
11:21Melba, if you're not cool,
11:22they're fine,
11:23but did you really have to
11:23shove her around?
11:25Alyssa, you all right?
11:26Freshmen bustling about for check-on
11:28all stopped to gawk.
11:30Elise leaned on Framere
11:31as she stood,
11:32letting out our sharp gaps of pain.
11:34When our eyes met,
11:36she zipped her lips
11:37like she'd been zipped.
11:38She had on a skirt,
11:39so her bare leg
11:41had grazed the rough concrete.
11:42The scrape looked nasty.
11:44She mumbled shickily,
11:46I'm okay.
11:47Doesn't hurt a bit.
11:49Really.
11:50She didn't accuse me directly,
11:51but her whole brave and mature act
11:53nailed the guilt right to me.
11:55Raphael passed her to Duren for support,
11:57his expression stormy,
11:59as he closed in on me,
12:01one step at a time.
12:02Don't you have anything to say?
12:04You hurt her this bad
12:05and can't even apologize?
12:07I locked eyes with him.
12:09If I'd done it,
12:10I'd admit it.
12:11But no one's pinning this on me
12:13if it's not true.
12:14Raphael stared like
12:15he couldn't believe his ears.
12:17Melba, what happened to you?
12:18Ask Curtis and Daramel,
12:20do they think you are not in the wrong?
12:22I glanced over where he was looking.
12:24Downen's expression
12:25was full of obvious disapproval.
12:27And Curtis,
12:29the one who was always so rational,
12:31wouldn't even meet my gaze.
12:32Rage boiled up inside me.
12:35I drew in a deep breath.
12:37Elise was smart about it.
12:38She hadn't uttered a peep,
12:40yet she'd manipulated that fool Romeo
12:42into doing her dirty work.
12:43Curtis stepped in.
12:45Drop it.
12:46Let's get her to a doctor first.
12:48Raphael's chest was rising and downing hard.
12:51He shoved past me
12:53and snatched up my suit taste.
12:54Handle your own check-in!
12:56He hurled it through the air.
12:58It smashed into the ground.
12:59Lashes bursting open.
13:01Clothes, books,
13:02everyday essentials.
13:03Everything tumbled out in a jumbled heap.
13:06The worst part?
13:07Those brand new black lace bras
13:09sprawled across the pavement.
13:11I'd always gone for pastels.
13:13Mom kept insisting.
13:14I was an adult now
13:16and should branch out to edgier looks.
13:18She picked up a few sets for me
13:19for me over the summer.
13:21I'd been too embarrassed to include them,
13:22but apparently she'd slipped them behind my back.
13:26Before I could even process it,
13:27a strong gust kicked up
13:29flinging my things all over the place.
13:33Whoa, is she a total player?
13:35Hoarding all that black lace?
13:36You don't know.
13:37That's the innocent yet tempting style.
13:39Those girls are the ones
13:40who really know how to have fun.
13:42Raphael gawked at the mess,
13:44rooted to the spot.
13:45I swallowed back the tears welling up
13:47and knelt down,
13:48trying to salvage whatever scraps of pride I had left.
13:52But the wind was out to get me.
13:54Another whoosh,
13:55and one bra drifted up,
13:56plopping right onto some guy's head.
13:58The group burst into laughs and hoots like,
14:01Damn, manna from heaven!
14:02Regret flashed across Raphael's face.
14:04He shuffled forward awkwardly to help me up,
14:06but I slapped his hand away.
14:08Right then,
14:09Elise started sucking in air through her teeth,
14:11winzing loudly.
14:12It jolted Raphael back.
14:13Melby, all your stuff.
14:14I'll buy you new ones.
14:15I need to get Elise to the hospital now.
14:17And just like that,
14:18he and Daniel prompt her up
14:19and rushed off.
14:20Curtis wordlessly gathered my key dog Yance
14:23and passed them to me.
14:25He studied me for what felt like forever.
14:28Then finally asked,
14:30Melba,
14:31be straight with me.
14:32You didn't push her,
14:33did you?
14:34Even he doubted me.
14:36From that day forward,
14:37my reputation went straight down the drain.
14:40People were pointing and whispering
14:41everywhere I went.
14:43and I picked up a new nickname,
14:45Black Lace Campus Beauty.
14:47Naturally,
14:48I fought back.
14:52I spotted a security camera
14:54on a nearby lamppost
14:55that might have caught the whole scene.
14:57I hounded the Adron office for days,
15:00begging and badgering,
15:02until they finally handed over
15:04the footage from that afternoon.
15:10It showed crystal clear
15:12that I hadn't laid a fender on a lace.
15:15I shared the video in our group chat.
15:17Raphael responded first.
15:21I'd already suspected explanations
15:23were a waste of time,
15:25but it still stung.
15:27I took the $30,000 he transferred me
15:30in a private message
15:31as compensation,
15:32then blocked him.
15:33There'd been a time
15:34when all that special treatment
15:35and shielding was reserved for me.
15:37Having experienced it once
15:39only made it hit harder,
15:41that it was gone for good.
15:42I thought back to when we were kids,
15:44visiting this super strict relative's house.
15:46Out of sheer curiosity,
15:47I'd snuck into the studio
15:48and fiddled with an antique cello,
15:50accidentally snapping a string.
15:55That cello was the guy's absolute treasure.
15:58Everyone lost it.
15:59When he stormed in,
16:01demanding to know who'd done it,
16:03Raphael was the first to own up.
16:05Sorry, it was me.
16:06I was curious about how the cello was built
16:08and broke the string by mistake.
16:10Uncle, it's my fault!
16:11Curtis and tiled on immediately,
16:13chiming in together.
16:14It was all three of us!
16:17Melba's such a scaredy cat.
16:18She's already in tears
16:20from us freaking her out.
16:22Afterward,
16:23their parents gave them all a good spanking,
16:25but not one of them ratted me out.
16:27Back then,
16:28I'd struck up a friendship
16:29with a new guy at school.
16:30We'd hang out constantly,
16:31and sometimes I'd blow off the others.
16:33They'd take turns cornering me,
16:35asking if I'd ditch them for good.
16:37I just found it hilarious at the time.
16:39But after that mess,
16:41I slowly pulled away from the boy.
16:43My nose started to sting with the memory.
16:46The truth had never been the key factor, anyway.
16:49If the truth doesn't matter,
16:51then what does?
16:53My college roommate wasn't buying it at all.
16:55The second she saw the proof,
16:57she blasted it across the camp's forum.
17:01She even snipped out Elise's snug taunt
17:03right before the fall,
17:04side by side with her award-winning act afterward,
17:07and posted the comparison on the campus board.
17:09The title cut right to the chaste.
17:11Cheap tricks, but they work.
17:13The tide of opinion turned in a flash.
17:15Most folks couldn't stomach
17:16that sort of manipulative, bitchy nonsense.
17:19So Elise scored her own moniker.
17:21Bitch.
17:21She hogged the limelight entirely,
17:24leaving me in the dust.
17:25That day, Darnie ambushed me.
17:27He fidgeted and stalled forever,
17:29before finally saying,
17:31Melba, can't you two quit
17:32tearing each other down?
17:34Elise has had it rough, you know.
17:36When he saw my stone-faced reaction,
17:38he rushed to elaborate.
17:40She grew up with just her grandpa
17:41in some really harsh spot.
17:44But she stayed so kind,
17:46always tackling life head-on with a smile.
17:49How would you know?
17:50You've been there yourself?
17:52He blanked out,
17:53muttered inquirantly for a minute,
17:55then admitted it was just a hunch.
17:57Then he mumbled about having somewhere to be
17:59and took off.
18:02Curtis tracked me down later,
18:04explaining that Darnie was blunt,
18:05often shot his mouth off without thinking.
18:08I fixed him with a stare.
18:10You were in on whatever he did.
18:12You tagged along, didn't you?
18:14His expression shifted.
18:17Darnie had always followed Curtis' lead like a puppy.
18:21No chance Curtis was out of the lunk on this.
18:27After that,
18:28I started dodging Curtis and Dallon
18:30every time they tried to catch up with me.
18:33The school had an overseas exchange program,
18:36and I'd just gotten accepted.
18:38Melba, you're a rock star!
18:40My roommate was even more pumped than I was,
18:42instantly deciding we'd celebrate
18:44at the trendiest bar near campus.
18:46We're partying till we drop!
18:48She leaned in close, all secretive.
18:50And listen,
18:51my brother's doing his PhD
18:53right at the uni you're going to.
18:55I've already given him the heads up.
18:57He'll have your back once you land there.
18:59Oh, that's too much.
19:01I'd hate to impose.
19:03Oh, come on.
19:04No need to polite with me.
19:05Brushed it off would be polite with me.
19:07If anything,
19:08I should be the one apologizing.
19:10My bro's actually back home today for some stuff,
19:12so I roped him into coming out.
19:14Thought you two could meet ahead of time,
19:15break the ice.
19:16That way,
19:17you're not flying solo and strand overseas.
19:20I laughed and gave her forehead a playful poke.
19:23We grabbed Othu at the bar,
19:25and my roommate ordered up some custom fruit juices.
19:29Minutes later,
19:31familiar face showed up with a tray.
19:33Elise decked out in a server's outfit.
19:36She plumped down a few vibrant drinks on the table.
19:39Her eyes darted when she saw me,
19:41but she spun around and walked off without a peep.
19:44My roommate snatched one,
19:46took a whiff.
19:47Hey, wait,
19:48and scrunched up her nose.
19:51This isn't right.
19:52We asked for triple orange.
19:54Why is it all peach?
19:56She turned toward me,
19:57her face going white.
19:58Melba,
19:59you're allergic to peaches.
20:02Elise whirled back at that,
20:04wearing her signature look of flustered ret.
20:06I'm so sorry.
20:08I was slammed and mixed up the orders.
20:10Melby,
20:11can you cut me a break?
20:12If the boss here's off to cover these drinks,
20:15plus a fine.
20:15Her eyes brimmed with tears as she spoke,
20:18her voice turning wobbly.
20:22I'm busting my butt with these gigs just to get by.
20:25It's brutal.
20:26Take pity on me,
20:27please.
20:28My roommate lost it right then and there.
20:30This is on you.
20:32Why should we pay for your mistake?
20:34And if I hadn't caught a whiff first in this crappy lighting,
20:38what if Melba chugged it without thinking?
20:40That could have been fatal.
20:42You ready to own that?
20:44Elise clammed up,
20:45tears brimming as she galled at us.
20:48I...
20:49Do you really have to act this way?
20:51Always ganging up on me?
20:53The words were barely out when a tall guy materialized next to the booth.
20:58Raphael,
20:58spotting her tears,
21:00he immediately stepped in.
21:01Hey,
21:02what's going on,
21:03Elise?
21:03I warned you about working in a dive like this.
21:06It's crawling with creeps.
21:08If we weren't swinging by every day to keep an eye on you,
21:11who'd step up if some jerk gave you grief?
21:13He clocked who was sitting in the booth.
21:15Me.
21:16He went roger,
21:17right on cue.
21:17Curtis and Darnance chammed in from behind.
21:20Who's hashing Elise?
21:22My hot-tempered roommate dove straight in,
21:24spilling the entire saga from top to bottom.
21:27Raphael took it in,
21:29then gave me a disapproving side-eye.
21:31Melba,
21:32it's a couple of drinks.
21:34Do you have to blow it out of proportion?
21:35I'll foot the bill for her.
21:37Happy?
21:37It's not the cash!
21:39She brought over something that could have straight up killed someone!
21:43Raphael's expression turned stormy.
21:45It wasn't on purpose,
21:47and no harm done.
21:48Ease up on the attack mode.
21:50Curtis and Darnion hung back,
21:52one with a furrowed brow,
21:53the other dodging eye contact,
21:55both keeping mum.
21:56I got to my feet,
21:57my tone frosty.
21:59Fine,
21:59if I'm the bully here,
22:01let's drag the manager in and let them decide.
22:04With that,
22:04I moved to slip past them,
22:06toward the front.
22:07Raphael lunged forward to cut me off.
22:10Melba,
22:10not the drama!
22:13Darnion reflectly blocked my path, too.
22:16Melba,
22:16just drop it.
22:17It's no biggie.
22:19In the scramble,
22:20somebody bumped a tray off the bar.
22:22A full cup of peach juice dumped straight onto me,
22:26drenching me head on.
22:27The cold liquid soaked through my dress.
22:31Seconds later,
22:32a fiery burn kicked in.
22:34My face and neck puffed up before my eyes,
22:37and soon my throat tightened like a viced.
22:40Each breath a struggle.
22:43Melba!
22:43My roommate shrieked in horror.
22:45The three guys freaked out, too.
22:48Hurry!
22:48Call an ambulance!
22:51Curtis yanked out his phone,
22:52but his shaky hands botched the dial a few times,
22:55before nailing it.
22:56All the while,
22:57Raphael was consoling a hysterical,
23:00sobbing Elise.
23:01Just as I figured,
23:02this was it for me.
23:03A steady,
23:04authoritative voice
23:05slighted through the pandemium.
23:06Step back,
23:07all of you!
23:08A tall man in a white shirt charged in.
23:11Bro,
23:12say Melba!
23:12She's allergic to peaches,
23:14and got doused in peach juice!
23:16He glanced once,
23:17and clocked the emergency right away.
23:19Anaphylactic shock!
23:21No hesitation,
23:21he grabbed a small kit from his backpack,
23:24whipped out an EpiPen,
23:25and plunged it in the outer side of my thigh.
23:27He murmured reassuringly,
23:29It's alright.
23:30I deal with a killer allergy myself.
23:32This'll turn things around quick.
23:34The choking sensation let up a little,
23:36and my sight began to sharpen.
23:38I gazed at his tizzled features,
23:41an odd familiarity bubbling up.
23:43They clicked with a fuzzy outline buried in my memories.
23:46The third grade kid who'd always tag along behind me,
23:49the one Raphael and the others dubbed Snot Nose.
23:51We'd been inseparable,
23:52yakking non-stop about out there comics,
23:54geeking out over remote control car engines,
23:57we could talk forever,
23:58and we'd even pinky promised to launch the ultimate toy ambice one day.
24:01But thanks to Raph Mayo and the crew,
24:03I began dinsting myself.
24:05Class gossip kicked off
24:07that he was off in the head,
24:08explaining why I'd ghost him out of nowhere.
24:12Soon enough,
24:13the whole class shunned him.
24:15I recalled the day before his transfer.
24:17He'd gotten trapped in the school's old unused bathroom all night.
24:21Come morning,
24:22his seat was ancient.
24:24It dawned me.
24:25His name was Bart.
24:26Guilt and remorse crashed over me like a tsunami.
24:28With my fading energy,
24:30I'm sorry.
24:32He froze for a second,
24:34emotion swirling his eyes,
24:35before replying softly,
24:37Stay alive first.
24:38Then we'll talk apologies.
24:40Those were the final words I caught,
24:42before the world faded out.
24:44When I came to,
24:46I was in a hospital bed.
24:47Bart sat nearby,
24:49purring an apple.
24:50I...
24:51Throat scratched like sandpaper.
24:53He paused right away and passed me a cup of water.
24:55Once I'd sipped it down,
24:57I mustered every ounce of nerve and met his eyes.
25:00I'm sorry.
25:01For everything back when we were kids.
25:04Skip the apology.
25:05His voice was even cued.
25:07If this were some revenge plot in a book,
25:09I'd be here to settle scores.
25:11My face must have gone ashen with fear,
25:14because he broke into a quiet laugh.
25:16Kidding.
25:17We were just dumb kids.
25:19Everyone screws us up.
25:21But acting like it never happened,
25:23and letting you off the hook that easy?
25:25Not gonna fly.
25:27So what'll it take for you to forgive me?
25:30He sidestepped the question,
25:32carving the apple into neat bites,
25:34took one,
25:35and handing it over.
25:36Deal with those three lurking outside first.
25:39He jerked his chan toward the door.
25:41Only then did I spot the three silhouettes
25:43pacing beyond the glass panel,
25:45regret written all over their faces.
25:47I got the bar manager to grab the security cams.
25:50That spill from Elise during the mess?
25:52Totally on purpose.
25:53I called the cops on her,
25:55for reckless endangerment causing serious injury.
25:57They hauled her off just now.
25:59He looked at me,
26:00hesitated for a moment,
26:01and held out a phone.
26:04There's something else.
26:05When the police handled the report,
26:06they went through her phone in Cloud's Corridge.
26:08You,
26:09you probably need to see this.
26:10I took the phone.
26:11On screen was a video
26:13time span to Tulak the previous morning,
26:15the night before I'd ended up in the hospital,
26:18after being doused with peach juice.
26:20In the video,
26:22Elise wore a semi-sheer white slip dress with no bra,
26:25under the dim lighting,
26:26nearly everything visible.
26:28Music,
26:28in the living room,
26:29as she danced slowly among Raphael,
26:31Curtis,
26:32and Darniel.
26:33She walked over to Raphael,
26:35dropped her knees,
26:36tilted her face up toward him,
26:37and slid her hands slowly up his knee.
26:40Raphael gripped her chin,
26:41pulled her to her feet,
26:42and kissed her.
26:43Curtis came up behind her,
26:45wrapped both arms around her waist,
26:47and pressed his lips to the nafe of her neck.
26:50Elise hooked one hand around Curtis's neck,
26:53while still holding onto Raphael with the other.
26:57Darniel sat on the sofa,
26:58lost in thought.
27:00Elise held out a hand toward him.
27:02Darniel,
27:03come here.
27:04Darniel walked over,
27:05and Elise guided his hand to her chest.
27:08The four of them tangled together in the dim living room.
27:11Towards the end of the video,
27:12Elise lifted her eyes straight to the camera.
27:14She knew it was rolling,
27:15and she might even have set the phone up herself.
27:18She smiled at the lens and mouthed two words.
27:21When I finished watching,
27:22I handed the phone back without a single word.
27:26It was not shock.
27:27It was that feeling.
27:29You think you've hit rock bottom,
27:30only for someone to tell you
27:32there are 18 more floors beneath it.
27:34She filmed it on purpose,
27:36likely meant to keep it as blackmail material,
27:38or maybe she's simply in toying
27:40with three men at her mercy.
27:42I laughed,
27:43a cold laugh that even I could feel.
27:44Ten years.
27:46I'd known all of them for ten years.
27:48I thought they were merely misled,
27:49merely foolish,
27:50merely unable to tell right from wrong.
27:52But that was not the case.
27:54They knew everything,
27:55and they had done everything.
27:57Those three men outside,
27:59Bart glanced toward the hospital room door,
28:01have been waiting for over an hour.
28:02They say they want to apologize.
28:04He paused,
28:05leaving the choice entirely to me.
28:07It's up to you whether you see them.
28:09Let them in.
28:10If they want to put on a show,
28:12I will play along.
28:13To the very end.
28:15The door swung open,
28:16and Raphael, Curtis, and Darnin
28:18shuffled in single file.
28:20They lingered a few feet away,
28:22none willing to speak up first.
28:23The tension in the hospital room
28:25was so heavy it felt like
28:26the air might solidify.
28:28At last,
28:29Raphael stammered out the first words.
28:31The cocky confidence from before
28:33was nowhere to be seen.
28:34Melba,
28:35we're sorry, we...
28:36He took a deep breath
28:37like he was stealing himself,
28:39but what came next
28:40was still him
28:41advocating for her.
28:43Elise,
28:44she didn't do it on purpose.
28:46Her family's flat broke.
28:48If this sticks her with a record,
28:49her life's ruined.
28:50Can you cut her some slack
28:51just this once?
28:52When I didn't budge,
28:53he dropped the bombshell
28:55in desperation.
28:56Actually,
28:56Elise and I
28:57were engaged.
28:58Her grandpa saved
28:59my grandpa's life way back,
29:01and the old guys arranged
29:02a baby marriage right then.
29:04Elise lost her parents young,
29:05and her grandpa only trusted her
29:07to our family
29:07when he was on his deathbed,
29:09and she's never played
29:10the guilt card.
29:11The minute she arrived,
29:12she wanted to scrap
29:13the engagement
29:13and refused any handouts,
29:15insisting on working
29:16her way through school.
29:17She's so headstrong,
29:19so sensitive.
29:20I just want to make it up
29:21to her by being nicers.
29:23Melba, I promise,
29:23if you drop this with Elise,
29:25I'll keep my distance
29:26from now on.
29:27We can pick up
29:28where we left off, okay?
29:29I just looked at him quietly,
29:30this guy I'd known
29:31for more than ten years
29:32who now felt like
29:33I'd got cider.
29:33I lifted my gaze,
29:35sweeping over
29:35all three of them,
29:36and laid it out
29:37plain and slow,
29:38every word crystal clear.
29:41We're done.
29:42No more friends.
29:44Raphael and Darnell
29:45blanched on the spot,
29:47Curtis's voice
29:47worse with strain.
29:48Melba,
29:49I know we screwed up.
29:51Let me stick around
29:52and look after you,
29:53at least until
29:54you're feeling better.
29:55I was ready
29:56to shut him down,
29:57but Bart cut in casually
29:59from beside me.
30:00Sure,
30:01stay if you want,
30:02but how do you plan
30:03to cover
30:04the hostile bills,
30:05recovery,
30:06and pain and suffering?
30:08Mistakes come
30:09with consequences.
30:10Pay up with money
30:11or sweat it out.
30:13Your choice.
30:14Curtis faltered,
30:15caught completely off guard.
30:17I shot Bart a quick look
30:18and abruptly switched gears.
30:20Fine,
30:20you can stay.
30:21A spark of surprised relief
30:23lit up Curtis' face,
30:24but my follow-up
30:24dropped like a lead weight.
30:25You can run downstairs
30:26daily for payments,
30:28queue up for meds,
30:29and fetch our three meals.
30:30I gestured at Bart.
30:31He'll be the one
30:32keeping me company here.
30:34Curtis' face twisted,
30:35his voice thick with hurt.
30:37Melba,
30:38are you really going
30:38to be this ruthless?
30:40You'd take a stranger's word
30:41over mine now?
30:42I stared back,
30:43a bitter laugh
30:44bubbling up inside,
30:46equal parts absurd
30:47and heartbreaking.
30:48You beg to stay,
30:49then grump about it.
30:51You want out,
30:52and that stings even worse.
30:53Curtis,
30:54make up your damn mind.
30:55If that's too much,
30:56just leave with the rest.
30:57I averted my eyes,
30:59finished with him.
31:00He lingered in heavy silence
31:02for what felt like forever,
31:04then turned and treaded out of the room,
31:06looking utterly defeated.
31:07I spent the next week stuck in the hospital.
31:10Bart actually hung around.
31:11He tackled his own stuff by day,
31:13and fired up his laptop at night,
31:15to tutor me through the backlog of lessons.
31:18His breakdowns were spot on,
31:20clearer than,
31:21any prof I'd had.
31:22On my first midterm post-charge,
31:25I nailed it.
31:26First in,
31:27in the entire program,
31:29a total shocker.
31:30To atone for the crap I'd pulled on him as a kid,
31:33and to repay him for literally saving my ass,
31:36I made a big declaration.
31:38I'd grant him three wishes.
31:40He mulled it over briefly,
31:41and his first one was simple.
31:43Join him for a day at the amusement park.
31:46Under the cool autumn sky,
31:48we wandered with cotton candy in hand,
31:50horsing around by the go-around.
31:53That was when we bumped into,
31:55the last people I wanted to see,
31:57Raphael,
31:58Curtis,
31:59Darnan,
31:59and Elise tagging along.
32:01I hadn't let her off the hook.
32:02With ironclad proof of assault,
32:04she'd scored three days in lockup,
32:06and a fat black mark from the school.
32:08She looked ragged now,
32:09shadowing them like a lost puppy.
32:10As he caught sight of Bart and me all chummy,
32:14Raphael's expression soured fast.
32:17Melba,
32:17what are you doing with him?
32:19Mind your own business.
32:21Bart fired back,
32:22not pulling any hummers.
32:23The test-stirring-fueled standoff
32:26blew up in a flash.
32:27Raphael and Darnell lunge forward,
32:29gearing up to swing at Bart.
32:31What the fuck?
32:32You looking for a brawl?
32:33I jumped between them on instinct,
32:35brandishing my cotton candy stick like a weapon.
32:38In the frenzy,
32:39Bart tugged me aside,
32:41but took a shove from Darnal,
32:42reeling back into the fence.
32:44He let out a muffled groan,
32:46grimacing.
32:47You all right?
32:49Where does it hurt?
32:50Darlan gaped at his own hands,
32:52like he couldn't fathom what he'd done,
32:54totally rattled.
32:55Propping up Bart,
32:56I fixed the three of them with an icy glare.
32:59Fancy matching your pal's detention vibe?
33:01I'll dial the cops now,
33:03get you all booked for a group session.
33:05The ultimate squad use.
33:07Their faces crumbled with shock and betrayal.
33:10Melby,
33:11it was an accident!
33:12We're your friends!
33:13I tuned him out,
33:15stayed at Bart,
33:16and strode off.
33:17I forcibly dragged him to a hotel near the amusement park,
33:20and booked a room.
33:25Inside the bathroom,
33:26he sat on the edge of the bathtub with his back to me.
33:29I knelt down to help him take off his shirt.
33:32The fabric was stuck to his blood,
33:34and he let out a muffled groan as I pulled it free.
33:36The moment the shirt came off,
33:38I froze.
33:39He was far more muscular than I had imagined.
33:42Broad-shouldered and narrow-waisted,
33:44that gank sliced diagonally from his shoulder blade down to his hip,
33:47a horrifying sight.
33:49Don't look.
33:50Stay still.
33:51I pressed my hand against his shoulder
33:52and dabbed at the wound slowly with an iodine-soaked cotton squab.
33:56My hands were shaking,
33:57not from fear of blood,
33:58but because the muscles beneath my fingertip tense
34:00with every touch coiling tighter each time I made contact.
34:04Once I had cleaned the injury,
34:05I was pressed almost flush against his chest,
34:07and I could hear his heart thundering fast.
34:09He reached out to stable my waist so I would not stumble.
34:12I lifted my gaze and met his eyes.
34:15Melba.
34:15He said my name in a low voice.
34:17Hmm?
34:17He said nothing more and leaned down to kiss me.
34:20The kiss taste of blood and his ragged breathing.
34:22One arm curled around my waist
34:24while his other hand cupped the back of my neck,
34:26drawing me toward him.
34:27I wrapped both arms around his neck,
34:28clung to him.
34:29His hand slid down my waist,
34:31came to rest on my hip and squeezed hard.
34:33I gasped,
34:34and he took the chance to slip his tongue into my mouth.
34:36He only pulled away when we were both gasping for air.
34:39He buried his face in the kirk of my neck
34:41and bit gently at my earlobe.
34:44My back hurts.
34:45Then why can't you behave?
34:47I can't behave when you're in my arms.
34:50He lifted me to set me on the bathroom counter,
34:53standing between my legs.
34:55Is this all right?
34:56He murmured,
34:57his lips brushing my neck.
35:00Go easy.
35:01Don't tear your wound open.
35:03He smiled,
35:04pressed a kiss to my neck,
35:05and kept moving his hand upward.
35:07A shiver ran through me,
35:09and I dug my fingers into his shoulders,
35:11heaped together,
35:12and lowered his head.
35:13I leaned my head back against the mirror,
35:16tangled my hands in his hair,
35:17and could not hold back small sounds.
35:20Shh.
35:21People are in the next room.
35:24Then slow down.
35:25He did not slow down.
35:27He went faster instead.
35:30Later, he carried me over to the bed.
35:32I lay draped across his chest,
35:34listening as his heartbeat gradually steadied.
35:37His hand trades slow circles over my back,
35:40his chin resting on the top of my head.
35:42Those three guys from earlier,
35:44they must be kicking themselves.
35:48Why do you care how they feel?
35:50I don't care about them.
35:52He held me tighter.
35:53I only care that you're mine,
35:55right now.
35:56We never went back to school that night.
35:59The next morning,
36:00my legs still wobbled when I walked.
36:02He stood beside me with that insufferable grin,
36:04so I pinched him several times.
36:06As for Ruffer Eye Anderson and his team,
36:09since that day onward,
36:10they pulled out all the stops,
36:12trying every angle
36:14to slide back into my world.
36:16Curtis ambushed me on the path one day.
36:18He claimed he'd done some serious soul-searching,
36:21from way back then to now.
36:24His concern and protectness for me had never faltered.
36:27But Bart would throw himself in front of me without a second thought,
36:30while you'd stand off to the side.
36:33Rationally'd be baiting if I should calm my eyes.
36:36Before long, Raffer Eye turned up too.
36:38He'd lost weight,
36:39his eyes ring with red from lack of sleep.
36:41He admitted it was all on him.
36:43He'd been blind to people,
36:45foolously buying into Elise's scheming as pure innocence.
36:48He insisted he was the source of every screw-up.
36:51And if I'd just forgive him,
36:53he'd jump through any hoop.
36:55My sole demand,
36:57leave me alone from here on out.
37:00Darnan was the most persistent.
37:01He wouldn't show his face directly,
37:03always skulking around,
37:05dropping off a hot coffee at my regular library spot,
37:08trailing me from afar on my walk back to the dorm.
37:11It drove me nuts,
37:12so I rang Curtis directly.
37:14Keep your guy in check.
37:16One more sighting,
37:17and I'll report him for stalking.
37:18Sure enough,
37:19Darnan disappeared after that.
37:21I thought things might finally calm down for real.
37:24That was,
37:25until my airport departure day,
37:27when Elise cut me off.
37:28She bowed,
37:29tears streaming like a waterfall.
37:31Melba,
37:31I'm begging you,
37:32stop being angry.
37:34The three of them have cut me off completely.
37:36My grandpa's dead.
37:37I truly have nothing left.
37:39Please talk to them.
37:40Get them to take me back.
37:41That's your mess,
37:43not mine.
37:44I dodge around her to keep moving.
37:47But she clamped onto my suit taste,
37:50like a lifeline.
37:52I whipped out my phone and called Curtis.
37:54Moments later,
37:55the trio arrived,
37:56huffing and puffing.
37:57As they spotted her bowing,
37:59their expressions turned stormy.
38:01Raphael broke ice first.
38:03We dug into it.
38:04You're not the granddaughter of my grandpa's savior at all.
38:07You're some far-flung cousin
38:09who caught wind of the rescue story.
38:11You prayed on his late-stage dementia
38:12to fabricate your origins.
38:14He signed over your care to our family
38:16just before he died from his illness.
38:19Raphael iced it out.
38:20Back off from Melba
38:21and stay out of our sight,
38:23or else every penny we've sunk into you lately,
38:26I'll claw it back.
38:27Plus interest.
38:29Elise shattered, howling.
38:30My parents died young.
38:32I grew enduring constant scorn and abuse.
38:34If I'd been some wide-eyed innocent,
38:36I'd have been devoured whole ages ago.
38:38I just wanted a shot at something better.
38:40What's the crime in that?
38:42Her wails were so gut-wrenching
38:44that Raphael and Curtis clammed up.
38:47You know,
38:48she really does seem pitiful.
38:51Bart, lingering nearby,
38:52stepped up and loomed over her.
38:54Aiming for a better life isn't the issue,
38:56but you can't build yours
38:57by tearing down someone else's.
38:59With that,
39:00he snagged my suit taste.
39:02Let's go.
39:03Planes waiting.
39:09I touched down in Entomeree smoothly
39:11and kicked off my exchange adventure.
39:15Bart sorted out all the setup for me,
39:17and before bouncing,
39:19he said he'd drop by regularly,
39:21since his path crossed it nearby.
39:23My roommate jetted over for hangs every so often too,
39:27always shooting us knowing winks
39:29and ribbing us about Bart.
39:30He'd never clap back,
39:32just flush a bit at the tips of his ears.
39:36Days flowed easy and bright.
39:38Those old headaches
39:39were nearly erased from my head.