The Past Pain

As the door opened with a bang, Isa's and others' eyes flew wide on seeing Aylin standing at the entrance.

Regaining herself, Isa walked to Aylin. "Ayli–"

"Don't. I heard everything."

Isa's eyes widened before a smirk made its way to her lips, "Aylin, you of all people should know that it's not good to eavesdrop on other people's conversation."

"Not when the conversation concerns me," Aylin said and Isa smiled.

"Is it true? Is it..." Aylin laughed, throwing her head back. "Why am I even asking? I heard everything. I'm sure that you would just deny–"

"No. I won't. I won't deny it, I mean... You already heard everything so what's the use of denying it? I might as well use this chance to tell you something I've always wanted to say to you." Isa said, walking closer.

"Aylin, you are pathetic, weak, and stupid. Despite having everything, you never use it to your advantage, you have a stupid kind heart that will one day get you into trouble. You are so dumb to the extent that you didn't even realize that your best friend hates you. Yes, I hate you Aylin, with everything I've got."

"No," Aylin shook her head. "You are just jealous, you are jealous of me Isa, always have been and always will be and you know why? Because despite having all this, I'm still better than you, in Every. Single. Way." Aylin told her.

"Better than me? Oh Aylin, you could never be better than me, never. You will be going to college next year and since you are already an adult, you will have to leave the orphanage. Now the question is, where will you go, with no friends and family, I wonder how you would survive. Tsk, tsk, tsk, and here I was thinking that I could let you stay in of the rooms here–"

"You don't need to worry about me, I don't need your help and I already have everything sorted out. So thank you but I won't be needing your help, not now, not ever." She paused, "One more thing, maybe you should get yourself checked Isa, you're clearly not well. Goodbye Isa, I hope we never meet again because I want nothing to do with a crazy and psychotic greedy bitch like you." And with that, Aylin turned around and left the room.

Aylin rushed through the parlor and out of the mansion. Stepping outside, she saw that it was already nighttime.

A gust of cold wind blew making her shiver. She breathed out, wrapping her arms around herself before she continued walking.

She thought about all the time she had spent with Isa in the orphanage, the time they played and laughed together, and had fun. She couldn't believe that all those were an act, that Isa loathed her. She couldn't believe that the person she called her best friend and loved so much would do such a thing to her. A teardrop fell from her eye and she hurriedly cleaned it, but it didn't stop falling. After walking for some time, she squatted down, held her face in her hands, and cried out loud, her tears rushing forward. Aylin continued crying until she got tired.

Aylin reached the orphanage in an hour, she got down and thanked the cab driver, making her way to the building. She walked through the gates and stood outside, her eyes trailing the building before stepping inside.

The sound of crashing thunder reverberated through the walls of the building as soon as Aylin stepped into the hallway.

It was raining again today.

"Aylin, you are back." Mrs. Walter's relieved voice echoed through the hallway.

"Hmm," Aylin nodded, turning to face her.

"So how did it go?" She asked as she walked closer to Aylin.

Aylin didn't know what to say because she didn't want to lie to the woman and she also didn't want her to worry. "I... It was...Uhm..."

"Aylin! What happened to your eyes!" The woman rushed forward, holding Aylin's face.

"Nothing... I... Something..."

"You cried." The older woman said, gazing worriedly at Aylin. "What happened?"

Aylin couldn't open her mouth to say anything, she only stared at the older woman until a teardrop fell from her eyes, followed by another and another until it turned into a stream of tears falling down her face.

The woman hurriedly hugged her, rubbing her back.

"Aunt Emilia... Isa... She... Isa hates me... Since all these years... She... She hates me..." She said as she continued sobbing loudly, her face buried in the woman's shoulder with her hands clutching the woman's dress.

"Shh... It's okay, it's okay, everything will be alright, don't cry anymore."

Aylin sniffed, "You always say that."

"That's because it's true, everything will be alright one day Aylin."

...

Sighing, Aylin rested her back against the headboard, looking at the widow, which had its thick curtains drawn. Something that Aylin had grown accustomed to whenever it rained.

She had thought that Isa was a friend but she turned out to be a foe, that betrayal turned Aylin into someone who couldn't love and trust others. She had friends and relationships, but those didn't mean anything to her because she didn't love nor trust them. And honestly, she didn't want to. She didn't want to be hurt and betrayed, deceived, to become the girl who trusted blindly, the girl who couldn't fight for herself, the weak girl.

She didn't want to.

That was why she was going to do everything and anything she could to get out of there, even if it was something as absurd and almost impossible as getting 'The Duke' to fall for her, she would do it. Isa had always said that she deserved every bad and unfortunate thing that happened to her, but Aylin knew she didn't deserve it, so she would fight and prove Isa wrong.

Laying still for some minutes, she moved to the side table and her hand reached over, searching for something.

"My phone, where is it?"

And then it hit her, she had left her phone, bag, and shoes beside the pool.

OMG! She had forgotten! But who wouldn't? she was facing a life-or-death situation, of course, her bag, phone, and shoes would be the last thing on her mind!

She would ask Andromeda about it in the morning, hopefully, it wouldn't have been destroyed or thrown away yet.

Suddenly feeling thirsty, she grabbed the covers and flung them away from her body before sliding to the edge of the bed. Her hand reached for the Glass jug which was placed on the bedside table only to find it empty. She closed her eyes and sighed before throwing her head back, letting out a frustrated groan.

Why? Why was she so unlucky? She needed to eat or at least drink something to be able to sleep after the nightmare.

Sighing, she fell back on the bed and turned to her side, staring at the door.

She didn't even know the way to the kitchen and besides it was dark and everyone would be asleep. But...

Getting off the bed, she walked slowly and quietly towards the door and opened it before stepping out of the room, Immediately closing the door behind her.

Her footsteps were silent as she didn't want to make any noise, the chill from the tiled floor seeped beneath her bare foot as she walked.

She had no idea where she was going; all she knew was that she was moving along a hallway because of the moonlight that was shining through the window and illuminating her path.

After walking a little longer, she took a turn and continued walking, her head turning occasionally to look around.

"What are you doing here?" A cold and

a familiar voice startled Aylin who jumped in fear, making her drop the glass jug she held, the sound of glass shattering echoing through the silent hallway.

Aylin cursed and hurriedly turned around, and as soon as she did, the lights turned on.

What the hell! What was he doing here?

"Didn't you hear me?" His cold voice cut through her thoughts as he spoke once again, "What are you doing here and where are you going?" He asked once again.

Can you let me answer one question first?

Aylin sighed deeply before opening her mouth and replying calmly. "No, sorry, I was lost in thought." She replied, making him raise one of his eyebrows.

"What are you doing here in the middle of the night?" He inquired once again as his eyes narrowed a bit suspiciously.

"I... I was looking for the kitchen." She said a little loudly.

"Why?" He asked as he took a step closer.

"Well... I... was feeling very thirsty but there was no water in my room so I thought of getting water from the kitchen even though I don't know where it is." Aylin said the last part in a whisper.

"Even when you don't know where the kitchen is?"

"Well I don't but I thought that if I looked for it, I will find it."

"And why should I believe you?"

"Because I'm telling the truth?" She said it more like a statement than a question.

"You telling the truth doesn't mean I have to believe you, I can choose to believe whatever I want whether or not you are telling the truth. So tell me, why should I believe you?"

"I..." Aylin sighed before meeting his gaze, they stared at each other for what felt like forever, his gaze holding hers—none refusing to let go. "I thought you said you believed me when I told you I wasn't a witch. Since you did then why aren't you believing me now?"

"You don't need to be a witch to be a bad person or to harm others, and just because I believed you once doesn't mean I will believe again, at least not without proof."

"Then I will make you. I will prove to you that I'm completely harmless, someone that wants to only go back home. You won't have any choice but to trust and believe me. So will you at least give me the chance to prove myself?" She asked, her eyes boring into his.

He didn't say anything, he just continued to stare at her, and after some time, he walked toward her.

Now standing before her, he looked down at her and Aylin returned his seemingly unending intense stare. "My Grandmother helped you, and she isn't someone who helps people without getting something in return," He said as he tilted his head to the side, a smirk playing at the corner of his lips.

"Yes you are right, she asked for something in return," Aylin said, trying to focus on their conversation rather than staring at his perfect face.

"I wonder what it is."

"I guess you will just have to continue wondering because I'm not telling you," Aylin told him, making him raise one of his eyebrows, his smirk never leaving his lips.

"Weren't you the one who told me to give you a chance?"

"Yes, but there are other ways I could use to prove to you how completely harmless I am."