#12. My

"You were so cool back there, Reina." Jade squeals as we leave the once the final bell rings.

I can't wait to go home and tell Olivia everything that happened. She will probably scream to the point my ears fall out and book a flight from Canada to come see me!

I smile at the thought "Huh? Are you even listening to what I'm saying?" Jade asks snapping me out of my thoughts.

"Oh. Umm. Thank you." Her face falls showing me she is saddened by my response.

"Thank you so much Jade. I mean it." I stop walking and turn to look at her. Her face lights up like that of a little child given candy.

I chuckle at her antics "You're cute."

She laughs it off and playfully shoves my hand away. "Don't say that. You're embarrassing me."

I raise my hands in defense.

Approaching my locker, I see two familiar figures. I relax my shoulders and let out my breath after realizing they are Chris and Justin. I might have been brave back there but I was dying of fear on the inside, and always watching my back.

My phone dings, snapping me back to the present. I open the text immediately as it was from Dad.

'I'll be late today. Will you be alright coming home yourself?'

I sigh. Dad had done enough for me. I didn't want to bother him further. After all, kids my age walk to and from school unaccompanied.

I walk up to the three of them as Jade had left me to join them.

Chris wraps his hands into a fist and points them towards me. "Fist bump?" He smiles and I realize this is the first time I have seen him smile.

"I'm waiting. That was one feisty comeback. I'm so proud of you." He says as we fist bump.

I turn to look at Justin. He's smiling at me like he has won a trophy.

"You're a fighter." He mouths, leaning against my locker. A look of admiration rests in his eyes.

My face grows warm and red.

"Ugh. I can't stand this. You two are making it so obvious." Jade groans.

I roll my eyes, opening my locker, and placing my belongings inside.

"Remember. Tomorrow? We'll meet at the park." Chris says while swinging his bag over his shoulder.

"Yeah. Tomorrow." Justin hugs him goodbye. Chris leaves.

"Bye Reina, I'll chat you up later." Jade pulls me into a hug and hurriedly leaves.

How did she get my number?

"Aren't you going home?" Justin asks, reminding me he was still there.

"I could ask the same thing." I say while walking away.

"I'm going home myself just for today." I shrug as he catches up with me.

He lets out a low triumph of happiness. "May I have the honor of walking you home, ma'am?" He playfully bows, stretching out his hand for me to take.

I hesitate a bit. I'm about to place my hands on his when his phone rings! He withdraws his hands immediately so he can take the call.

He steps aside for a minute and comes back with a disturbed look on his face.

"I'm so sorry, Reina." He apologizes, "I promise I'll walk you home next time."

I send him a small smile. "It's okay." I pause, "I hope everything we'll be fine soon."

He nods, sending me a small smile, one that contains a lot of things he wants to say.

"I'll see you tomorrow." He yells, running off in the opposite direction, leaving me all by myself.

I sigh and keep on walking to my destination – home.

***

Olivia screams, "Marcus book the first flight. I need to congratulate Reina in person."

Marcus groans "Help me, Reina. She keeps on screaming like this."

I laugh at their bickering.

"You should calm down, Olivia. The amount of energy you give off, could light up the entire planet." I say, reducing the volume of my laptop as I needed to focus more on my assignment.

"No, Reina." She finally seems to be cooling off a bit. "I'm so proud of you. I should've been there to see the look in his face."

I nod in response, engrossed in my activity.

"Hey, Reina. Are you even listening?" Olivia asks.

"She's busy. Can't you see? Let's call her back some other time." Marcus says.

I glance up at my screen, to see Olivia pouting.

"I'll call you back tomorrow. I promise." I say, this time paying attention to her.

"Wear something cute to your date tomorrow, okay?" Olivia winks at me, attempting to tease me.

"For the billionth time, it's not a date. Jade and Chris are also going to be there." I whine in a defensive manner.

"Oh. So, it's a double date then." Olivia teases even further.

"You know what? Bye. Love you." I blurt out, hurriedly ending the video call.

I bring my hands to touch my face. It's hot. Olivia has a way of twisting things. I mean, it isn't a date. Jade and Chris will also be there. But then again would that make it a double date?

***

"Reina?" Mom calls out my name, jolting me awake from my nap.

I check the time on my phone, and I realize it's ten minutes past ten. I overslept and now I have limited to get ready!

I hurriedly get out of bed and start putting my things together. Mom calls out my name again.

"Someone is here to see you." Mom informs me from outside my room.

I pause, confused. Who could it be? Justin didn't know my house, neither did Jade and Chris, who could it be?

I ignore the gut-wrenching feeling in my chest and head out to meet my uninvited guest.

I wish I never did. All my progress went back to square one when I saw my whole world crashing before my eyes.

***

She laughs coldly and pulls my hair "You thought you could run from us?"

"Man, I thought you would know better." She tightens her grip on my hair "You can't escape, because no one will help a looser like you. See your own parents couldn't even save you." She cackles evilly, stomping on my hand to the point where I begin to feel no pain.

I whimper in pain "Just kill me already. I would rather die than submit to you!"

Someone pushes her aside and his face comes into view "No. Then what would be the fun in that?" He jerks my face up, my face becomes a dark shade of red due to the numerous times he slaps me.

"Just wait a little bit longer, baby." He cups my face in his hands "You'll soon disappear off the face of the earth and no one will notice or care. Why? Because you're just a pathetic loser."

I bite my lips in anger "I don't know what you guys want from me, but I'm very sure I don't have it." I say in anger.

"That's where you're mistaking. Your soul. I want break your soul so bad that even dying wouldn't make you feel better."

I stare at the girl who used to be my best friend. She turned into someone I couldn't recognize.