Chapter 4

Thea left her house, only with her favorite hoodie, a bag on her back and earbuds in her ears. Her cheeks still hurt from the man's slap. She became someone else in her own house. Even her mother still didn't do anything when the man touched her daughter's face. Getting out of the house was the best choice Thea had at that time.

She was walking on the sidewalk, not knowing where she was going, she just followed in her footsteps. She kept humming, enjoying the night breeze and the ear-sounding song. She wished the night didn't pass quickly, she wanted to enjoy it a little longer.

Thea walked long enough, her legs were starting to feel tired, she stopped in front of a convenience store, she remembered that if she had not eaten that night, she decided to buy instant noodles for dinner.

She sat facing the window, watching the people passing by in front of her. The wind that night was very cold and instant noodles were the best thing to warm up her body, filling her empty stomach.

Thea still didn't have a destiny, she didn't know where she should go, she didn't have anyone at that time. She couldn't possibly sleep in a hotel, she didn't have that lot of money, she also couldn't ride with anyone, she didn't have any friends. She realized that maybe she really needed friends, then she realized again that if she didn't need friends, she could do it herself.

After that simple dinner, Thea continued her footsteps, she kept walking until her steps stopped at a place, Skylight. She saw it from across the street, she was standing at the crossroads and that place was very clear in front of her. It's the most popular bar there. Then she remembered what Noah had said at school. He invited Thea to come there tomorrow, to the busiest place in their city.

But that place wasn't suitable for the type of girl like Thea, the place was very crowded and noisy for her. She won't enjoy anything in there. So she passed that place, and her steps again stopped at a bridge with a river below. The night sky looks very beautiful with the starlight that adorns it.

From where Thea stood, she could see a very beautiful full moon. Even though the moon was alone, its light was the brightest among the others, its light beat hundreds of stars in the sky that night. Thea just smiled, she was sure her father was among the stars, watching her from up there.

"Dad, I'm fine, don't worry about me, I'm still your strong daughter, I promise" Thea screamed with tears on her cheeks.

If her father was still alive, Thea was sure her life would not be as sad as it was at that time. Her father would always protect her from the hands of hypocrites like that man. His father will always be the first protector for Thea. Only his father could do that. Nothing else.

•

The next day, Thea woke up from her sleep, she heard birds chirping which was very clear to her ears. She opened her eyes, she was sleeping in the city park, on a lounger overlooking the river. She slept pretty well that night, she was grateful that no bad person had kidnapped her. Maybe they know Thea doesn't have anything.

That day Thea was supposed to go to school, Friday, the last day before the weekend. But she chose not to come to school and enjoy the day without thinking anything in her head, including about her mother and that guy. Thea went to the public toilet there, of course to clean herself and change clothes.

After changing clothes, Thea opened her purse to see the rest of the money she had, she decided to buy a piece of bread and hot chocolate for breakfast. She didn't know how long she'd be out. So she had to cut expenses.

•

At that time Thea was still in the city park, she was walking on the edge of the river while listening to music in her ears, then she saw a girl, who was standing on the bank of the river, she looked here and there but no one was near them, Thea knew that girl must have bad intentions, Thea ran and pulled the girl before she could jump into the river.

"Are you crazy? If you want to kill yourself, there are many ways besides jumping from here!" Thea said.

"You.."

"Me? What?" Thea said.

"You saved me from Karen at school, do you remember me?" Thea was silent, she looked at the girl's face carefully and yes it was her.

"Yes, I remember, what are you doing here? Did you think death would be better?"

"Is life any better?"

"Living or dying nothing is better, but at least if you live you can make it much more meaningful"

"My life is meaningless"

"What do you mean?" The girl just kept quiet and bowed her head while crying.

"Hey, why are you crying? I didn't do anything to you, don't cry"

"I'm pregnant, I'm 16 years old and I'm pregnant, if my parents know about this they will be very disappointed with me, does my life still have meaning?" Thea was silent and took her to sit down.

"What's your name?" Thea said.

"Milly"

"Okay Milly, I'm Thea, I'm sorry because I didn't know about your problem before, but whatever your problem is death is not the answer. If you say your life has no meaning then what about your baby? Don't you think about that?"

"Then what about my parents?"

"They will understand, the boy will take responsibility, right?"

"He doesn't even know I'm pregnant, he won't be responsible for this baby"

"Why?"

"He raped me, he just wants my body, he doesn't want to know about what happened to me afterwards"

"I'm sorry Milly"

"No, it's okay, I don't know what to do now, I'm afraid to go home, I'm afraid to meet my parents and I'm also afraid to come to school, I don't want to meet that boy"

"Wait, that boy is in the same school as us?" Milly nodded.

"May I know who that boy is?"

"Noah" Thea's eyes widened when she heard that name.

Milly is not a popular student at school, in fact she is often bullied by Karen and her friends and Noah is one of the most handsome guys at school, he is friends with popular people including Ethan. But why does it have to be Milly? Why would he do that with Milly?

"I think you should tell him about this" Thea said.

"He won't to hear it"

"You have to try it, he has to be responsible for what he does"

"Thea, we're still 16 years old, I don't even want to marry him, I don't want to marry just because he got me pregnant. This is my fault, I can't blame him either, I'm stupid, I like him, I thought it was a note from him, he asked me to come to a place, I know it's a hotel, but I didn't think I was just being pranked by them--"

"Them? Who are they?"

"Karen and her friends, they were having a party there, Karen asked me to come in and I did see Noah there, he was with his other friends. And I was there long enough, I know Noah was a little drunk at that time, after talking to Karen, Noah came up to me and took me to another room and it just happened. I tried to fight it I swear, but I can't do anything Thea" Milly lowered her head.

"Milly, it's okay, I'll help you" Thea hugged Milly and rubbed her back, she never did that to anyone, but her father always did that to her every time she cried and it calmed her down.