The Last Letter

36

Chapter XXXVI

August’s POV

I’ve been out of God knows where for a few hours now.

When I realized it was already lunch time, I walked back to the village since I also needed to get some rest before we went on the trip back to the university. I was just nearby, but outside the village premises and I got to tag along with some of my buddies and juniors in my department I saw roaming around.

I also realized that I haven’t talked to Suzanne at all this morning and I didn’t notice that I left without telling anyone where I’ll go. I wonder what she is up to right now. I hope she’s having fun and making friends with our school mates here. I am just a little concerned that she might misunderstand that I don’t want to hang out with her.

I walked back to the inn where we were staying along with some of my friends. As expected, only a few students are here so it will be a good time to take a peaceful nap. I got my lunch in the cafeteria and headed inside our room in the inn since it was so hot outside.

After eating, I made sure that all of my stuff was all in my bag. I felt so much relief as I laid my back on the cold floor. Cold floors are the best to lay on on a hot day like today. I closed my eyes and as usual, I immediately fell asleep.

“August! August! Please wake up!” I felt someone shaking my shoulders so I slowly opened my eyes. I scratched my eyes and gathered my strength to sit. I saw three of my teammates in front of me, looking so worried and anxious.

“Why? What’s wrong?” I asked as I felt that something was going on.

“Suzanne…” she paused.

“Suzanne? Why? What happened to her?” I felt my heart pounding really fast as she said Suzanne’s name. I arched my brows and looked at them very seriously.

“She… I don’t know the whole story but she was bleeding so much. We saw it and we rushed here to tell you the news since you were the closest to her. She’s in the market now.”

I felt like I was splashed with ice cold water. I felt shivers down my spine.

I stood up and stumbled as I felt so weak and dizzy upon hearing such horrifying news. Like a flash, I ran down the stairs without even caring of how messy I look right now. I ran outside as fast as I could and headed to the market. It was quite far and it was even hotter than in the afternoon.

When I got to the market, I saw so many villagers and most of my schoolmates, wanting to get a glimpse of what’s happening. I went past the crowd and I saw Suzanne, in the back of a pickup truck with our professor by her side. She was covered with a blanket and although her head was covered with a piece of cloth, there were traces of blood in it.

She was looking down with her hair covering half of her face. In a matter of seconds, the truck left.

I looked around the crowd and walked to the nearest person I know of, which is our team leader. She was also in a state of panic, talking with her friends and some of our teammates.

I rushed to our team leader and she then looked at me just before I got in front of her.

“I’m so sorry, August. I didn’t know that she walked around alone. I should’ve been with her.” Anyone could tell she was anxious with what happened to our teammate.

“No, it’s my fault. I was the closest to her out of all of us but I left her alone.” I replied in a frustrated voice, biting my lower lip. I scratched the back of my neck and clenched my fist really tight.

“Do you know what happened?” I asked.

“No. I just walked here because of the commotion but then I saw Suzanne and her hands and head was bleeding so much. She was a kid and he was really thin and covered with bruises. That’s just what I saw, August, I’m really sorry.”

I nodded and let out a frustrating sigh. I felt so dizzy so I walked to the nearest bench I could sit on. I feel a huge lump in my throat as my mind is full of negativity. I covered my face with both of my palms as I felt myself tearing up from all this guilt and frustration.

Like a dead person, I walked back to the inn and since it was 2pm now, everyone was busy packing their things. When I reached our room, I just sat by the bed, only thinking about Suzanne. My groupmates bombarded me with so many questions but I didn’t answer any of them. They then stopped, maybe they got the message that I knew nothing about what happened.

Because of this stupid feelings growing up inside that made me uncomfortable around Suzanne, I decided to let her alone even though I know I’m the only one she is close to. I avoided her today and look at everything that happened. It was all, entirely my fault that she got into trouble. If I just stayed with her in the morning, nothing bad might’ve happened. All because of my stupidity and selfishness, a person got hurt, and it was my friend.

At 3 pm, everything went as planned. We left after saying goodbye to the village and they were so sorry for causing trouble to one of the students. Suzanne and our professor are still in the hospital and as much as I wanted to go there to check if Suzanne is okay, the person in charge didn’t let me.

No one announced what really happened but a bunch of rumors circulated around.

Some spread malicious rumors that Suzanne was in a fight with a local when he caught her stealing and some even said that she might’ve trespassed a house that’s why she was beaten up. I looked at them with dead eyes as they talked about those horrible rumors and they froze like a statue on their seats. I may be known to have a kind and nice attitude to everyone but like any other else, I also have my limits.

Well of course I didn’t believe in all those baseless and groundless rumors that other people said. I know Suzanne and we are friends, knowing her, she wouldn’t even hit a mosquito. I witnessed how she worked hard every single day, not accepting help from her family even though they wanted her to live a comfortable college life. And now you’ll tell me she committed a crime of stealing and/or trespassing? What a joke.

Our team leader also clarified to everybody that none of the rumors regarding Suzane are true, we’ll wait for our professor’s call to tell us what really happened. She just had enough of those baseless rumors that they are spreading like a wildfire. I honestly had enough too so I remained quiet for the rest of the trip back to the university.

We got back at around 6pm and the person in charge dismissed us immediately. On my way home, all I could think of was Suzanne and her condition right now. If she is okay or if she is on the way to the university. What happened earlier and how did she get into that mess. I just hope that she’s okay. If not, I’ll never forgive myself for being an i***t and a bad friend.

“Why did you leave her by herself? I trust that you’ll stay with her at all times. Why did this happen, August?” Ben said on the other line.

As soon as I got home, mom and dad noticed that I was kind of out of myself so they just let me go into my room. I took a really cold shower to help me clear out the things in my mind for a while but honestly, it didn’t help at all.

After contemplating whether I should call and tell him about Suzanne or not, I still decided to tell him everything via phone call. I don’t have the courage to face Ben at this point. I’ve done and thought of so many wrong and selfish things.

“I’m so sorry Ben. I just wanted to go and explore on my own. I was so excited. I haven’t realized that I left her by herself.” I said after being in silence for a while. I don’t know what to say so I just made up half truth and half lies.

After pausing for seconds, he let out a long, frustrated sigh.

“Is she okay now? Do you have an update?” He asked.

“No, but our team leader will surely update us if she gets the message from our professor. I’ll wait for her message and tell you as soon as I receive that.” I replied.

“Okay… You should rest, August. I’m sorry, I was just so shocked to hear the news so without much thinking, I directed all the blame to you when it is not even your fault she got into that trouble. I know you are also tired and stressed out by this situation. I’ll go to the university tomorrow and see if she is in the dormitory.”

“Okay.” The only thing I could reply to my friend and then I ended our call, not waiting for what he could say more if I continued our talk.

I took a deep breath a couple of times and leaned my back against the wall. I sat in my room, staring out of the void and darkness surrounding me. I feel so tired and my eyes are itchy but I think I cannot sleep in this kind of situation where I’m not entirely sure if Suzanne is alright.

I just wish… I really wish Suzanne is alright. I let out a loud sigh and closed my eyes.

To be continued…