CHAPTER 2: News Flash

Hale's POV

I woke up hearing my alarm clock. I looked at the time, it's already 7:00 am. Usually, I'm already awake by 5:30 am to write an update to my novel but things changed and I couldn't do it now. I can't keep on writing novels now. I will just remember my family if I keep on doing that 'cause my mom used to make a breakfast for me and serve it to my room while my dad used to buy me unique pens for my notes and my little twin brothers used to annoy me first thing in the morning.

Now, remembering all that makes me wanna strangle my neck. I am always saying that I must not think about it but here I am, enumerating all that stuffs.

I sighed and started doing my morning rituals. After making myself presentable, I got my bag, and put on some lipgloss. I don't need a dark makeup 'cause I'm already gorgeously beautiful.

I got my reading eyeglass and wear my shoes.

I am currently working as a proofreader in a publishing house.

After I left the house, I went straight to the coffee shop to have my breakfast. But what happened the time my foot stepped in the door shocked me I couldn't even move my foot to run.

Flashes of cameras greeted me and the pestering voices of the news anchors and journalists consumed my ears. This is illegal! They got me into ambushed interview! F*ck them I am not a celebrity!

"Ms, Haleza Jouxe, is it true that you're one of the victims of the beaten city? What exactly happened that day?"

"Is it true that the government caused the downfall of the beaten city, Ms. Jouxe?"

"We've heard that you're the only survivor in your family? How did you survive in the havoc on that beaten city?"

"Who do you think did that madness?"

So, they've got a mockery name in our city? Did they think what happened was just a big joke? F*ck them.

I didn't bother to answer their nonsense questions. Instead, I keep on protecting myself from them and hiding my face behind my hand. I don't know what to do. They cornered me, I couldn't escape.

They're unknowingly hurting me.

But they really are persistent in having my words.

"Stop... please, stop." I pleaded them as I kept my eyes closed.

Seemingly, they have heard nothing.

I'm in the verge of tears when suddenly, the people around me silenced. The whole cafè went too silent.

Out of confusion, I opened my eyes just to see the handsome and bluish gray eyes of a familiar man.

He's standing in front of me, looks like he's protecting me from the people. I looked up to him and saw him staring at me with an unknown emotion on his captivating eyes. We stared at each other's eyes for awhile until I avoided his gaze. It's too powerful to stare at.

"Tss, woman." he said with a sighed.

He then faced the crowds while he's hiding me from his masculine back. I saw him put his hands in his side pockets.

I heard him sighed before speaking. "You guys are professionals and educated people so act like one. What you are doing is not right. You're ambushing her by your unending and repeated questions. Have you ever thought how painful it is for her to lose her whole family? Tss. What a toxic economy we have."

Seems like the journalists got scared to his cold and expressionless voice.

"What are you waiting for? Christmas? Tss! Get out." few words but it makes every journalists leave the cafè.

When they're finally gone, he faced me again and hold my arms then started checking on something.

My brows creased. "W-what are you doing?"

"Checking if you're okay.." he said while still checking me.

I can't take the strange feelings by his hand holding my arms so I abruptly grabbed my arms from his hold. "I'm okay."

"You sure?" he faced me.

"Yeah. Wait, why are you here? Are you stalking me?" I asked without any intention to mock.

He laughed upon hearing my questions. "You're too full of yourself, woman. I'm just here to have my breakfast."

"Oh.." I avoided his gaze and gulped. Okay, I'm a bit assuming.

"Have breakfast with me?" he invited me.

"No, thanks. I gotta go. And don't talk to me, you're still a stranger to me." I said and started walking outside.

"But we aren't strangers anymore! I just saved you and you should be grateful to me!" He shouted while I am already halfway through the door.

"Whatever, stranger." I whispered and didn't even glanced back at him.

——

Without thinking anything, I kept on walking 'til my foot brought me to my usual place, the park near the river. I sat on my favorite bench and stared at the crystal clear water. This park and river serves as my company for the past year until now. I can only find my comfort on this place.

I bowed my head down when for the nth time, I felt my tears streaming down again it sucks. I want to forget the past. I badly want to.

"Seems like I am right. You're here." I heard the familiar voice kf the meddler stranger who just sat beside me.

"You again?" I said while remained my head bowed.

"Yeah, the most handsome man alive." he said, playfully.

Only if he feel this pain I am carrying. Would he be able to joke like that. Tss. I bet not.

"Psh! Stop the boastfulness, will you?" I said while secretly wiping my tears.

But I stopped when he placed his hand in front of my face with a handkerchief. He wiped my tears when I didn't move a bit.

He hold my chin to lift up my head and properly wipe my tears. I was just staring at him the whole time, feeling my heart beat raced.

He smiled when my tears were finally gone, reason why I avoided my gaze at him. I felt really awkward. I mean—we're not even friends. We're strangers to each other. He shouldn't act that way.

I sighed to release the tension building inside me.

"Anyway, why are you here? To try to hurt yourself again?"

I loked at the river to get rid of this strange feelings. This is new to me. After my family's death, all I can feel are pain and anger. "I'm not hurting myself. I was saving myself from pain. I just want to end this f*cked up life."

He snorted. "Suicide isn't the best choice if you want to escape pain, moving on is."

I glared at him. "Suicide may not be the best choice but it is the easiest way. Moving on is the hardest of all. So why would I choose the hardest one if I can choose the easiest way?"

"What about your family? Have you thought of them before you leave this world?" Seemingly, he's annoyed with me being defiant.

"That's my point. They're always in my heart. I can't survive without them so I just wanna go where they are... out of this world. They're already gone and so as my significance to live." And again, my tears flowed. I immediately wiped it with my own hand.

He sighed, silently thinking. Maybe he got curious. "What happened to them? I mean—if it's okay for you to say. I wouldn't mind if you don't though."

"Haven't you heard the journalists in that cafè? I'm a victim of evilness." I looked at him straight to the eyes. "Our city was long gone together with our family, with our lives."

He then avoided my gaze and gulped. "I'm sorry for that.."

My brows creased. "What for?"

He shrugged his shoulders. "Nothin' I just feel like saying it after hearing what you've been through."

"Whatever, stranger." I rolled my eyes at him.

"I have a name. It's Ace." he said, irritated.

So he doesn't want to be called stranger huh?

"And I don't care."

Minutes of silenced before he speaks again.

"But seriously, why don't you just have an interview even just once. If you do, maybe the reporters will stop pestering you. Maybe they just wanna hear the whole story from you." He said, trying to convince me.

"For what? To increase their ratings? If I will have an interview, they will just pester me even more. They will ask more and more questions."

"Just try it. Think about it. It's also for you."

"Why would I listen to you? You're still the stranger who almost killed me."

Seeing the shock in his eyes, my brows creased. "Playing innocent huh?"

"Wait—what are you saying? We haven't met before." he said with confusion in his eyes.

"Oh really? Tss. Why is that? You had your accident and then now suffering from amnesia? Wow!" sarcasm is visible in my words.

"I'm serious. We haven't met before. I just know you as the suicidal crazy woman here in the park." He insisted.

"Yeah whatever. Remember the woman at the side of the street at the Linkton City which is the known beaten city now?"

Then his eyes widened. Seems like the meddler stranger remember me.

"Oh sh*t! Its you?! What the hell?! I'm sorry. I'm so stupid that time."

"Yeah, you said sorry but blame the fault on me. Yeah, you're so stupid." I said sarcastically.

IT'S ALREADY midnight but I'm on my room, staring at my ceiling, thinking of the things happened today.

Why do I have to suffer like this? I didn't do something wrong with people. All my life, I've been a good daughter. Why does it have to be me?

A lone tear escape from my eyes. Oh how I hate crying. But I just can't help it. It feels like my daily routine is crying.

I just let myself cry. I felt pity for myself.

Then his boice popped up in my mind.

"But seriously, why don't you just have an interview even just once. If you do, maybe the reporters will stop pestering you. Maybe they just wanna hear the whole story from you."

"Will I try it? Will they stop pestering me if I talk?" I sighed out of irritation. "I'll try... for myself. I'll try."

"WHAT DO you think are the reasons to destroy that city?"

"Ms, Haleza Jouxe, is it true that you're one of the victims of the beaten city? What exactly happened that day?"

"Do you have a problem regarding the economic growth in that city?"

"Is it true that the government caused the downfall of the beaten city, Ms. Jouxe?"

"What can you say to the people who did this?"

"We've heard that you're the only survivor in your family? How did you survive in the havoc on that beaten city?"

Here I am, sitting in front of the media. Flashes of cameras keep distracting my eyes. I want to break down just remembering what happened that day. I badly want to but I don't want them to see me weak. They will just pester me even more.

I sighed and hold my tears back. "The Linkton City was peaceful. That city has no problem at all."

They all went silent when I began to speak. I left no expression on my face. I stared at them blankly.

"The city was bombarded by the government and there is no survivors..." I paused for a while and looked at them. Their faces was full of shock and curiosity. They can't believe what I have said. Well, that's the truth after all. They wanna know? Then let them deal with it.

"That was the last call I received before I saw our city was gone together with our soul."

I am currently having my lunch at my living room while watching TV.

I am having a good time watching my favorite series when suddenly, the news program replaced it. I saw myself surrounded by annoying media. That was my interview a while ago.

"What do you think are the reasons to destroy that city?"

"Ms, Haleza Jouxe, is it true that you're one of the victims of the beaten city? What exactly happened that day?"

"Do you have a problem regarding the economic growth in that city?"

"Is it true that the government caused the downfall of the beaten city, Ms. Jouxe?"

"What can you say to the people who did this?"

"We've heard that you're the only survivor in your family? How did you survive in the havoc on that beaten city?"

"The Linkton City was peaceful. That city has no problem at all."

They all went silent when I began to speak. I left no expression on my face. I stared at them blankly.

"The city was bombarded by the government and there is no survivors... That was the last call I received before I saw our city was gone together with our soul."

Then the reporter appeared on the TV and he's in front of the Feverous Empire, one of the largest empire in the world.

And the big boss of that empire happened to be the evil president of our country. Unluckily, the evil who caused the Linkton people's death... my family's death. That evil creature, how I want to kill and burn him alive for him to feel the pain I am carrying until now.

"Today, I am here outside the Feverous main building to get the side of the son of the president in our country. What is their sentient now that the living victim of the Linkton city is blaming them for the evilness?"

Then my brows creased when that meddler stranger—Ace walking out the building with his formal suit and serious face. Way too far from the meddler stranger that I know.

Then the reporter approached him. "Mr. Feverous, what can you say about what Ms. Jouxe have said in her interview?"

Then Ace looked at the camera with his serious face. "All I can say is that we have no connection to what happened in that city. The government is clean. And for you, Ms. Haleza Jouxe, watch your words."

My jaw dropped when I realized that the meddler stranger who used to annoy and save me from my suicidal ideation... is the son of the evil who killed my family.

Son of the evil, means he's also an evil.

F*ck them.

"What the f*ck... I shouldn't have talked to him. I must hate him. I hate him."