Mental mess

"Iven?", called a timid voice from behind.

Iven turned around recognizing the voice.

Erica was standing right behind him with a broken expression on her face.

Iven couldn't read it. He just prayed that she won't plead to go home together with Seb or tag along with them to the hospital.

He can't help it though, she's her best friend and has the right to care.

"Hey", he replied back with less enthusiasm.

"I saw you in the stadium, at the front rows", she said.

"I didn't see you, where were you?", Iven asked.

"I was little behind", Erica chuckled,"...also, you seemed pretty engaged in the game".

Iven got embarrassed and rub his head.

"Waiting for Seb?", Erica asked

Iven nodded once.

"Actually, I wanted to talk to you about something...", Erica spoke again after a little pause. Her voice was down. She was introvert indeed, and based on her character it might be something too serious for her to say.

Iven diverted his eyes at her.

"Right now, I actually saw you both by the corner....." Erica started, slowly drifting from the volume.

-What are trying to imply?

-Well, it's not unknown to me....about you and Seb....

-Yes, I wasn't trying to hide it but Seb.

-Honestly, I was little disappointed at the first too.

-Really? Well, it would be a lie if I said it wasn't obvious.

-Was.....I???...Seb knew?

-I don't know about her, but I did. Even if she did, she pretended not to bring it up in case she hurt you.

-I see. But I want you to know that I have already given up, because I want to be happy for Seb. I haven't seen her any more lively than now. So, just for you to know, I hope we can maintain our earlier relationship from before.

-Even if you wouldn't have brought this up, we would've let it pass.

Iven gave a short smile at Erica.

To his politeness, unexpectedly, Erica didn't return it. She looked away and started twitching. It seemed as if she had more to say.

Iven didn't make any initiation and waited.

Finally Erica sighed once and spoke again,"but that wasn't what i wanted to highlight'.

-What is it then?

-You see Iven, Seb is my only friend and we've been together for years. Surely I will want what is the best for her, which will bring her happiness.

-And so?

Iven's voice dropped down from his usual self. Erica flinched but didn't back down.

"I....", she said,"...just saw whatever happened a while ago".

"Out with whatever you want to say!", it sounded like a command when Iven growled.

Erica wasn't meeting his eyes because he was scary for her. But Iven's straight gaze was piercing through her.

"The way you treat her...", Erica said wtih a low voice,"...have you been treating her the same this whole time?"

Iven's eyes were shot open.

What is she saying? She's doubting him? Moreover, is she intervening between his and Seb's relation?

His narrowed his eyes and waited as she continued.

Iven....he was losing his calm.....

"To put it this way....", Erica said gathering up her courage,"....your entry in her life was rather sudden. I don't even know what do you do or where are you from. Often I have noticed bruises on her skin

which she tries hard to hide from me,...are those.....your doing?"

She noticed Iven's pent up stony face and quickly explained it further,"...because before you appeared, I never saw her with such injuries. Even now, I just came to know she is hurt and the first thing I saw was you

harassing her in such a awful manner. Is that a way you treat her, and is she scared that she never mentions it to anyone? what have you done to her?"

Iven was hardening up.

How dare she!!!

She, who knows nothing about them,....how dare she interfere about them!

Is it even her place to talk?

What does she even know about Iven...Seb? To call herself her best friend so boldly???

"Don't you think you ought to show her some tenderness even if I'm wrong about this theory?", Erica still received no hint front the opposite individual," I won't allow her to suffer from the likes of your character if this continues!".

She uttered the last words pretty bravely.

But it also made Iven forget that it was his girlfriend's best friend in front of her.

she out did it!

And he....can't hold back it in anymore.

His facial expression completely changed.

His eyes turned darker than usual.

His smirk appeared which could scare the devil back into it's den.

With that same personality, he approached Erica.

It wasn't Iven this time....it was Lucifer!!!

Erica froze as soon she met those lifeless eyes.

It didn't seem Iven, it is not him!!!

It is not the soft charming boy she knew.

Is this...the real Iven Seb's been dealing with???

Who is he in real???

Iven reached for Erica's chin, grabbed it and lifted it up to make her face his eyes properly.

It was pin weakness for people.

Meeting his eyes means getting hypnotized and mute.

They'll be unable to argue further.

"I am...", Iven started to speak. His voice deep and chilly, giving Erica the shivers back her spine,"....26 years in age, whereas Seb isn't an adult yet. The first time I met her, I sexually abused her in the

most brutal way possible which gave her long term bruises all over her body. I am, a leader of a gang and also beat up people for good. My only relative, kills people and we are in a serious conflict. Seb being

a victim more than once. I keep on abusing Seb if she misbehaves. And even after she is well aware of these things, she chose to be with me but didn't say anything such to you. You still call yourself her friend? Are you in any right

or position to be there??? What do you know about her?...about me??? You really think I will allow it if you just say that you will persuade her to leave me???"

Iven cruelly left and dropped her chin.

Erica kept on gaping.

Iven couldn't hold back. Interference without any knowledge, he hated it!

Specially when it concerned him and Seb.

Even if she was her friend, he put an end to it altogether.

Erica was totally frozen.

The only words Iven spoke, spaced her out completely.

Was this the same person she met a while ago with the sweetest face and words?

Was this what Seb's been hiding?

What did she actually miss?

Why such a drastic change?

"That's..." Iven obliged her with a last line,"...not the real me".

And that's when Erica knew the whole lie she's been living in this time.