11 The Start of the Bleeding of Her Heart

"What proposal?! I don't want to hear it. I am leaving." I said to them then started walking past them.

Jade held my hand firmly that made me stop. I looked at her and I saw that she's smirking, as well as her friends.

"I said I don't want to talk to you about anything! Let go of my hand!" I shouted at her. She then immediately put her hands away from me.

She stepped backwards, away from me. Her friends did the same and they put their hands behind them.

"We are not going to hurt you, so don't worry. Trust us," she said, giving me an assuring smile. I knew immediately it was fake.

But I need to know if they are going to do something to Sarah or to me. I need to hear their proposal. I just need to bear talking to them.

"What do you want to talk about?" I said to them in a serious tone. The distance betweem us is three meters. That's what it should be.

"It's simple. We just want to give you a deal to end this battle between us," she said, smiling. I looked at her with confusion written on my eyes.

"Deal? What are you talking about?! I will not fall for that!" I said to her with my face frowning. She then laughed because of what I said.

"Just like what I expected from you! You are really something! That is why I like you!" She answered. Her friends are laughing too. Are they idiots?

"I don't care if you like me or what. Does it have to do with Sarah?" I asked them straight. Their laughing faces turned into a serious one.

"Yeah, it does. This will help you especially your dear friend, Sarah." Jade said with a blank expression. I sighed after that.

This must be a trap. There is no way that they will help us. I'm sure there will be worse conditions exchange of their proposal.

"Tell me. What is this proposal you are talking about?" I asked in a serious tone. They smiled after hearing my respond.

I need to stoically listen to them. I need to know this proposal for me to prepare if this is something that will surely make our lives harder.

"Before I tell you the proposal, I need to know how important Sarah is to you," she said, smirking. I look at them with a blank expression.

"She is more important than your pitiful lives." I said to them without any single emotion written on my face. They were shocked, it made them silent.

"I will let that slip away. Going back, do you agree to do anything for this dear friend of yours?" She said with a dead expression. I swallowed hard, but still wearing a poker face.

I knew it! They will make sure that I will agree to their agreements and use my answers as blackmail. They are truly evils!

"I will do anything. Now, tell me the proposal. I will not entertain more other questions." I said to them in a serious tone. She laughed because of what I said.

"I guess, that's enough." We both looked at each other without blinking, I'm waiting for her to talk.

"I want you to be the one who will bully Sarah from now on," she said with smirk on her face, like she said something funny.

What did she just say? Me?! This is ridiculous!

"Are you stupid?! Why would I do such thing?!" I shouted at her with full of anger. She just sighed heavily.

"You told me earlier that Sarah is important to you, am I right?" She asked with her one eyebrow rose up.

"Yes! And that is why I am asking you why would I do what you are saying?!" I shouted again at her.

"Well, it's okay for me if you will not follow my deal. However, make sure that you can carry that choice you have made," she said in a terrifying tone.

"What will happen to us if I don't accept your proposal?" I asked in a serious tone, without any scared emotions.

"Starting tomorrow, we will do even worse to the both of you." They all gave me a dead expressions. I was shocked but I didn't show it.

"Do what you want. But I will not let you hurt her. I will never betray my best friend. I refuse." I said to her before leaving.

I didn't look back but I know they are staring at me, wishing I was dead. But I don't care.

They could stare at me whenever they want, but I will never do that to my best friend.

"Good morning, Katrina! What do yo want to do this weekend?" She said as she approached me after entered the academy. I smiled at her as always.

"Good morning! I don't know. Do you want to go to the Zoo?" I asked her. Her eyes immediately sparkled because of what I suggested.

"I'm in! Let's go to the Zoo! I want to see the pandas!" She chuckled as we continue walking. I looked around and I saw them.

They are standing beside a tree, staring directly at me. They are smirking and I know what that means.

I need to be beside Sarah always.

"Hey! I'm talking to you, Katrina! You're spacing out!" Sarah suddenly shouted at me. I looked at her, confused.

"Why? I'm sorry." I told her. I massaged my temples to keep my mind focus.

We are at the rooftop right now but I don't know why I'm feeling something bad is going to happen.

"Is there something that is bothering you? Do you have any problem? You can always talk to me," she said concernedly. I gave her an assuring smile then shook my head.

"It's nothing. Don't mind me. Maybe I'm just tired because of the exams yesterday." I lied to her. She sighed before resting her head on my shoulder.

"I told you don't force yourself too much. Just chill. Grades are just numbers," she sarcastically said. We both laughed because of what she said.

"You are saying grades are just numbers but you're always crying because of the same thing." I said to her then rolled my eyes. She laughed harder.

"My bad! My bad! Anyway, which Zoo are we visitin-"

"Oh, what a lovely best friends we have here! They should be entitled as the most heartwarming best fri—nerds of the year!" Jade suddenly said, emphasizing the word nerds.

How did they get here? How did they know about this place? Could it be? They are following us!

"What are you doing here?! How did you find this place?!" I continuously asked her. She smirked at us.

"That's nonw of your business, Katrina Laveste," she answered before gesturing her quacklings to hold us.

We tried to resist but it's four versus two, we have no match to them. Jade walked in front of me after her goons take a hold of us.

"Hey Katrina, I'm pretty sure you still remember what we talked about last night, right?" She said as she wander her fingers on my cheeks.

"Curse you! You're as evil as the unlawful politicians!" I shouted at her. Sarah's staring at me, confused.

"Oh, are you referring to my Dad?" She asked while her hands are pressed on her chest, acting shocked.

"You already know what I'm talking about." I looked at her with my raging eyes.

"Your Dad used his power as a senator to cover up everything that you did to those students who left this school!" I shouted at her. My blood is boiling right now, I feel like I'm about to explode.

"You demons should leave this worl-"

Jade slapped my left cheek really hard. I feel like my face is getting numb. I'm sure the mark of her palm is there.

"Anyway, let's go back to the topic. Shall we, Katrina?" She said sarcasticallu, teasing me. I looked at Sarah. Her expression is the combination of fear and confusion.

We're facing each other that's why I can see what reaction she's giving. They made us kneel on the floor.

"What is she talking about, Katrina?! What did you talked about last night?!" Sarah asked eagerly.

They put tape on her mouth to make her stop talking. I was about to say something but my mouth is aching because of the slap.

"I will give you another chance to accept my proposal, Katrina," she said then grabbed my face, holding my cheeks with her one hand.

"Will you accept it or not?" She asked with a blank expression.

"Never." I answered her, using the same tone she used. She smirked before ordering something to her ugly goblins.

The two of them held Sarah's arms behind her so she couldn't resist while tye other two are holding her head.

"Okay, let's start! I hope you will enjoy the show, Katrina! Look closely, this is what you have chosen!" She said then laughed like an idiot.

She punched Sarah's stomach and it got me shocked. She punched it again two times before she stopped. Sarah's eyes are slowly closing.

Sarah...

They hurt Sarah...

"Sarah, open your eyes..." I couldn't move because they tied me. All I can do is talk to her.

"Please... Keep your eyes open..." I added, my voice is slowly fading. I can't take it.

"We are just starting, Katrina!" She said then she punched Sarah again, but this time, on the face. Her lower lip immediately bleed.

"Sarah... Hang in there..." I told weakly her but I don't know if she can still hear me.

What should I do? I need to save her. What do I have to do? I need to think what's best for her. There's no other choice.

"I will give you one last chance, Katrina. Will you accept it or no-"

"I will do it..." I said to them in a cold tone. I felt like all the bones in my body broke.

I felt like I betrayed her. Well, I really did betray her. I feel like I just want to disappear. This is heartbraking.

Glad, she didn't hear all of it. It's better for her not to know any single thing about this.

"Good! Give me your number and I'll just message you about the things you need to do." I nodded and gave her my number.

"And also, before she wake up, you need to leave and never show your face again to her. This is the last time she will see you," she said in a dead tone. I just nodded.

I can't do anything. If we try to complain to the higher-ups, we will just end up like those three students.

This is the only choice I have.

Before they left, they removed the binding of my hands, as well as Sarah. I immediately took her and let her rest on my lap.

She's still asleep. Maybe she didn't manage to bear the pain they gave her. But still, I think she was brave at that time.

"I'm sorry, I couldn't do anything..." I told her as I look at her face. She's like an angel sleeping.

The tears started falling from eyes like a waterfall. The emotion I hid earlier, rushed like a raging flow of a river. Continuously.

"This is the last time I could hold you... The next time we meet, I will be your enemy... Just like your favorite novel, right?... Wherein the devil and the angel are both best friends..."

"Sarah, you are a strong person... Don't forget everything I taught you... You are my best friend... and will always be..." I said before leaning her against the wall while sitting.

I left her. Alone. This is the toughest choice I have ever done. But a choice that will keep her living. Without me.

"Are you serious? You're coming with me?" Dad asked with his one eyebrow rose up.

"Yeah. I have nothing to do here so I'll just go with you." I said before going upstairs to my room. I locked it.

I took my phone and to look at Sarah's messages to me because I left the academy but we still have classes.

Of course, I ignored it. I will bear with it. I will try my best because I need to.

Jade texted me that in the second semester, I need to disguise as a new student at the academy. I just agreed to her.

"You like fashion now?" Dad asked while laughing at me. I looked at him dead in the eyes so he stopped.

After we landed here at the California, I told him that I want to go shopping. I also told him that I will change my name in the second semester.

"Why would you change your name?" Mom asked confusingly after we got back in the Philppines.

I told Dad about this in California but he said that Mom will decide everything. He's always afraid to Mom.

"I want to start a new life this next semester." I explained to her. She looked at me, worried.

"How about Sarah? Did you tell her about this?" Mom asked concernedly. My body froze when I heard her name.

"Yeah. Don't worry, she knows already." I lied to her. She sighec before nodding.

"Okay. We will take care of that. For now, take a rest," she answered. I hugged her tight before going to my room.

The truth is, I ignored all of Sarah's messages to me. Her messages about going to the Zoo and everything.

I just shed tears every time to make myself occupied. It became my hobby.

"Welcome back to the Richster Academy!" Jade greeted me as soon as I entered the university.

All the students are staring at me like I'm a celebrity from a foreign country. So this is how fame, huh?

I don't want it.

"You look so beautiful!" One of Jade's ugly ducklings complimented me. zi just gave her a fake smile.

We went to the back of the fourth year building to talk about the deal. She smirked at me when we got here.

"Welcome back, Katrina Laveste, or should I say, Pauline Veronica Villard." I gave her a blank expression.

This is the start of the battle I have never imagined. The battle that I know I couldn't win.

The start of the nightmares I have made that day.

The day I left her alone.