Chapter 29
I skipped a little as I walked back to my dorm, outings with John were always so wonderful
I was excited until it dawned on me, he was going to be a priest soon. In about two weeks to be precise.
I tried pushing the thought away from my mind. I tried to live in the moment but I couldn’t help the way my heart clenched every time I thought about it.
I made my way through the backyard/hidden exit so nobody would see me. I was in for a shock when I saw Annabelle and Jomar on the bottom staircase. Annabelle’s head was on Jomar’s shoulder as he played the guitar. Jomar’s just full of surprises, isn’t he? I never knew he could sing or play an instrument.
“Hey guys” I greeted
“Hi” they chorused
I joined them. I sat on the last staircase right below them. I noticed a bottle of wine beside Jomar
“What’s this?” I asked him
“Wine for the pain” Jomar said “Help yourself”
I took the bottle and gulped down the wine. I stared at the starlit sky as Jomar hummed an unfamiliar yet soothing tune while playing the guitar.
“I wanna rip Cindy’s head in two” Jomar sang
I laughed
“How are you sure it’s her?” Annabelle asked him
“Can you think of anyone else?”
“True”
“How do you stay strong?” Jomar asked me “Other girls would be bawling their eyes out by now?”
I shrugged
“Staying strong is the only choice I have, I guess”
I couldn’t let bullies bring me down after what happened to my brother and crying wouldn’t solve anything. What’s done is done.
No matter the pain I felt, I couldn’t let myself succumb to it. I have to stay strong for him. I have to stay strong for myself
“Wise words” he said
“Room for one more?” a voice boomed from the top of the staircase
We looked up to see who it was. It was Mary
“Sure” Jomar said
“Thanks”
She hopped down the stairs and settled into the space beside Annabelle
I was in for a great shock when I saw her light a blunt and smoke. She took a sip from her metal flask.
“You smoke?” I couldn’t hide my surprise
She gave me an irritated look
“Please. Don’t act surprised”
With her holier than thou attitude, I thought she could do no wrong. I guess you really shouldn’t judge a book by its cover.
“I’m sorry this happened to you babe” Annabelle sympathized
“Same here” Jomar added
Mary sighed
“This is all my fault” Mary said “If you didn’t stand up for me, she would never have made you a target”
“No” I argued “This is not your fault”
“What’s she talking about?” Annabelle asked
“Yesterday I caught Cindy bullying Mary in the bathroom then I defended her. Cindy told me I’d regret it and she kept her promise”
“Shit”
“Why was Cindy bullying you?” Jomar asked
“This is so embarrassing” Mary mumbled
“You don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to” I told her
“I have to” Mary said “It's stupid but I’ve had a huge crush on Cindy since junior year”
“You’re gay?!” we all shrieked at the same time
“Yeah. Surprising, I know”
Who would have thought?
“Cindy found out about it recently. She kept sending me flirty letters then we began texting bout a month ago. I thought she genuinely liked me, how stupid of me. Things got steamy in our texts so I sent her a couple of nudes not knowing she was playing a twisted bet with her friends about getting the holiest and nerdiest girl in school to fall for her. She told me to meet her in the bathroom yesterday then she and her friends threatened to leak the pictures all over the internet. My dad is a knight in the catholic church, my parents will kill me. I’m practically at her mercy now”
By the time she was done, I was stunned
“I am so sorry” I said
“It’s fine”
“Well, I’ll confess my plight as well. My twin brother committed suicide due to depression. He got bullied because he was gay”
Mary gasped
“Sorry”
“That’s why I couldn’t let Cindy do that to you. If someone stood up for my brother, he would still be here”
Mary wiped the tears from her eyes
“I’m sorry” Jomar said
“I judged you too quickly” Mary sobbed “The truth is, I was jealous. You’re everything, beautiful, rich and popular. My insecurities got the best of me, that’s why I tried to pull you down”
I nodded in understanding
“It’s okay” I assured her
“What’s your brother’s name?” Jomar asked me
“Rainer”
He handed me and Annabelle red cups and poured wine into it.
He raised the bottle
“To Rainer” he said
Annabelle and I clinked our glasses and Mary clinked her flask as we all chorused
“To Rainer”