Lies Written by the Stars

Calm before the Storm

Chapter 9: Calm before the Storm

ELLE’S POV

I found myself tonight at the school campus, specifically at this building, where everything happened. I am walking upstairs, taking my time. I can't explain it but my whole body is hurting, like it is telling me that I should not be here. I try to remember things that happened that night.

"What a slut."

"She's nothing."

I held my head with my left hand, feeling the ache. Breathing in, I continued to walk. Trying to block out their words, the things they have accused me with.

"Fake friend."

"Liar."

"Innocent act."

Stop, please. I halt my steps, covering my ears. As if I am hearing all of this in person again. I feel like I am reliving everything over and over again.

"Stupid."

Stop… please, I can’t bear the hurt anymore. I close my eyes and an image flashed through my head.

I saw a broken glass, blood, and I… running. No. My face, covered in blood and then there is me, smiling.

"I've got her blood on my hands."

I gasped. Breathing heavily, I looked at my surroundings. I am alone. No school building, no roof top or blood. I sighed. Covering face with my hands, I feel my heart racing.

It was the same nightmare I have been having these past few days. It all feels surreal. Everything feels true and false at the same time. And from my memory, I know it really happened but the broken glass and I smiling covered in blood. It was me. Not Chris.

That is a new part of the dream. It usually ends with somebody calling me stupid. I do not understand why this keeps happening. It is like every nightmare I have, something will be adding up sooner or later. I can't remember that part. It was just usually the guy and my traitor friends. That's all.

I shook my head. I hate this part of the day, waking up from something that felt so real, wanting to stay to know the truth but running away because my brain just couldn't handle it. And my body aches, as though a heavy weight is pinning me down. I shivered.

Drenched in sweat, I opted for a cold shower.

"I've got her blood on my hands." I close my eyes.

Feeling the water as it slides down my skin. Chris. I am thinking of him again.

I acted tough yesterday, but I did not know what he meant. Blood, what blood? My blood? How? Is he different from the guy that I saw? I shake my head again and tried to continue my cold shower without having any more thoughts of reality.

I have been home for some days now and my mom especially her cooking has helped me survived the whole weekday at school.

Thankfully, she has not asked anything about the party or maybe she is just really not trying to pry. But if I know any better it seems as if she is the one avoiding it. I know, that is weird and of course, impossible. My mom is the face the problem type. I learned that from her.

Shrugging down that thought and finishing my cold shower, I dressed up on my everyday clothes and sat in front of the electric fan to dry my hair. Don't get me wrong, I have my own blower but I just don not like the idea of heat being placed in my hair. I don't want it to be damaged, that’s all.

I went to grab my phone and play a song. Life Puzzle by Arthur Nery and continued to dry my hair.

Let me dive in to your ocean of emotions

Let me crawl into your senses, love

My thoughts drifted to Chris. His eyes.

Give you truth and my devotion, slow motion

"Start living the truth Elentiya."

Feel your body as I lay you down

The dream of lying down on the cold roof top and my face being held by him flashed in my mind.

*ting*

I received a notification from my messenger, bringing me back to reality.

'Cause I won't really mind if you're

Gonna take all my clothes off (nee-nah-nah)  

Liz the Cutie

"Hey Elle, I'm coming over now, you up?"

I almost forgot that Liz and I are going to watch movies together and do some school works. Since it is the weekend, and we usually spend it together.

To feel loved

Last piece of my life puzzle, you should know that I need ya

I am actually grateful because I would not have to deal with anybody else right now. Especially not him or any thought of him. I shook my head and replied to Liz.

You replied to Liz the Cutie

"Yeah. I'll go and prepare some food. See u!"

So move your body close to mine

I turned off the music. Seriously. Head on the day, Elentiya.

Breathing in, I collect my thoughts and myself. I am done making other people worry about my well-being. I have seen the way Liz and Raph looks at me. It is like they are worried about me all the time. As if I am going to break any second. And I am not. So I have to prove it to everybody, prove that I can handle myself. It is the truth anyway.

I opened the door of my bedroom and was greeted by kisses on my leg.

"Luna! Hiii, good morning baby girl." I sat down in front of the door to play with my little angel.

She is a sweet shih tzu and a she looks like a cotton ball, because of her pure white fur. She is so pure and innocent. I ruffled her fur some more until my mom found us this way by the floor.

"Just what I thought.” She beamed. “You two are at it again. I just knew that is where the noise is coming from."

I laughed and carried Luna in my arms. "Good morning to you too, mom." I kissed her cheeks.

"Breakfast ready?" I hoped.

"Of course, I made some bacon and pancakes. And I bet Liz is also coming over, so I doubled the recipe. Am I wrong?" She asked knowingly.

"Of course not mom, after all, moms knows best!" I joked.

It is true though.

We have been together for the 18 years of existence and it is like she has never run out of wisdom to teach me. I've never been spoiled, even if I am an only child. I am kind of a headache but maybe that is just because I do not deal well with bullies when I was younger so I might have been caught in some fights. Well, before first grade happened.

Then we heard the sound of the doorbell. Liz.

My mom looked at me. Rolling her eyes, but a smile appeared on her face. She loves Liz, but maybe she is just fed up of seeing her a lot. Same mom, same, I feel you.

I smiled sweetly and said, "I'll go make some orange juice. Let’s go and eat, mom."

I put Luna down and ran down the stairs while shouting, "Breakfast is ready, Liz!"

And with a muffled reply from the outside I heard Liz replied, "MOMMY MIN, YOU ARE THE BEST!" I laughed at what she said.

She knows me too well, even though I told her earlier that I will be preparing some food. She knows I am too lazy in the morning to do it. Plus, mom loves cooking for us.

My mom laughed a little too, hearing Liz. This is like a routine, Liz coming over at the weekend and mom bonding with us during the breakfast. Having conversations with the two girls that I love dearly, and just by the thought of that I just know that today is going to be different.

This day is going to be a great day.

We settled on the vacant seats by the dining room. The food smells so good.

“So girls, how’s the second semester? Any boyfriends?” My mom said, wiggling her brows at us.

Liz laughed and I cringed. “Stop that mom, you know we are not interested.” I cringed.

Just the thought of having someone follow you around and invade your privacy makes me want to gag.

“Really, Elle?” Liz raised her brows at me.

I creased my forehead at her. Telling her that I don’t understand what she’s talking about.

“What? You have no idea?” Liz followed.

“Now, I really want to know. Spill it Liz.” My mom encouraged.

I gasped, looking at her in disbelief right now. Seriously, she speaks like a teenager now.

“Whatever Liz, I’m pretty sure you are just bluffing. Don’t listen to her mom.” I took a bite of my pancake, feeling confident.

I was in the midst of drinking my orange juice when Liz spoke.

“Oh you know mommy Min, Elle here has a little crush on our friend Chris.” I coughed.

What the hell? I thought as I was wiping the drip of juice in my mouth.

“See, mom? Guilty.”

Liz calls my mom, mom because she feels at home whenever she’s here and it’s okay, it feels as if we are sisters anyway. Except she might not be my sister anymore for I am pretty sure I want to disown her right now.

“I am not and I do not have a crush on him. He is annoying.” I retorted, crossing my arm.

Liz was about to reply when I widened my eyes at her, and kicked her at the shin; warning her.

“Hmm, I guess my little girl is growing up then.” My mom, teased.

“Mom!!”

“I’m kidding, I’m kidding.” My mom replied, raising her hand.

“Seriously, who’s the real child here?” I said jokingly.

My mom and Liz laughed, and I can’t help but to join them as well.

Silly girls.

We finished our breakfast and mom threw us out of the dining room to go on with our business. We were thrown out of the dining room because Liz and I volunteered to wash the dishes but my mom told us that she can manage. So we went upstairs.

Luna was left behind because she was waiting to be fed. Good girl.

Opening my bedroom door, Liz quickly jumped to my bed. She grabbed my laptop on the side table and opened it.

"Soooo, what movie?"  She looked at me, wiggling her brows.

I smiled at her, "Later."

She pouted her lips to me. How cute. I rolled my eyes, grabbing my lecture notebook.

Squishing beside her I said, "Come on, you can choose the movie later, but first, let's review for the quiz on Monday. I think I would not survive this calculus quiz. Ugh." I complained.

"You should invite Chris, you know. He’s good at this and we both suck at math." Liz suggested.

"Come on, we can do this together, stop looking for a partner in crime." I said, completely ignoring what she said.

Sighing, Liz rolled over to grab her things but ended having her butt hit on the floor. She acted as if she is going to cry and I laughed. 

"Stop playing around!!" I pleaded in between laughs.

Liz laughed as well and stood up, holding her back and walking like an old lady. I shook my head. She’s such a silly crazy girl. She sat beside me and we started making our way through the math problems. Little by little, we answered each problem.

Thankfully, Liz and I were able to make it. We did a couple of mistakes here and there but we were able to see it as we re-check our solutions. I think we are quite ready for the quiz on Monday. We've also read some readings and answered the assignments that were given to us.

I looked at the clock; we've been at it for 3 hours. Of course with a couple of talks about everything under the sun, but especially about this certain KDrama that we just finished last weekend. It's called the Itaewon Class. It is a really nice series though. A series that is full of lessons. And I like the female protagonist there, Jo Yi-Seo. She is a strong independent woman; iconic. And all of the characters within that movie had their own character development.

"Ugh! We're done! FINALLY!! Now let's watch Project Power!" Liz proclaimed to the room, even though I was only right beside her.

I chuckled. She opened the Netflix account on my laptop and leaned her back on the head rest of my bed. I followed suit after cleaning the materials we have used. Grabbing the food my mom made for us for snacks and settled. I rested my head on Liz's shoulder and we watched the movie together. A little pleasure of entertainment for our brains after hours of school works.

Not until Liz started asking me questions.