The Girl He Promised To Protect

Someone is dead - 1

Morning came rough for me. I woke up soaked in a cold sweat and a headache. I'm pretty sure I took all the safety measures to avoid getting sick from coming home drenched in rain yesterday. But, I guess the incident messed up my immune system.

I have serial nightmares of Mr. Bong chasing after me, and I couldn't forget his sinister sneers that kept echoing in my mind.

Forcing myself out of bed, I got ready for school.

The whole process takes a ton of my energy. At one moment, I wanted to give up on school today, but then Hansel will be home earlier, and afterward, mom will be restricted from going out to spend time with Hansel.

The therapist said bonding time with Hansel is important for his recovery.

Go to hell with this advice. Hansel would be glad to torture me for the rest of the day, and then mom would come over blaming me for the mess he created. I guess our age gaps make the difference. We can't get along well, no matter how.

I have to get to school no matter what, I told myself, I just have to avoid bumping into Mr. Bong.

Putting my bag on my shoulder, I went down for breakfast.

My family was already seated in their usual place.

"Lana, Samuel said he is going to school with you today. Come have your breakfast faster, it's impolite to let someone wait." Mom said over the table.

What?

I know I didn't listen to it wrong.

Why?

"Just get to your seat and eat. You should have let him know what time you are ready next time. Don't catch a princess's disease. " Mom repeated her order. Annoyed by my ignorance.

"But, mom... "I tried to defend myself. But then, I sigh to no avail, deciding not to because, in the end, it would be hopeless.

Samuel is really someone persistent. I have told him over and over again, dad will be sending me to school.

Oh, that brick head!

"Don't treat him that way, Lana. I'm alright with you and Samuel. You have been a friend for like forever." Dad added. "With him, your future is guaranteed."

"Have they kissed, dad?" Hansel innocently asked, sending pulsating nerves to my temple. My brother is only 10 years old. Where does he learn something like that, huh?

My dad laughed, taking it as a joke. "No, Lana doesn't like him, don't you see."

"You had better improve your grades before you let someone kiss you, Lana. i***t girl will only be a toy for man, nothing special," Mom interfered, bluntly voicing out her cold thoughts.

"Shhh... honey, you shouldn't talk down to your daughter."

"Well, it's true. Look at her grades. Lana isn't fond of studying, if she only cares about falling in love and having babies, this is way too early. We must correct her before she makes the biggest mistake for her future."

"Honey, I haven't even mentioned a baby. Don't say that." Dad objected. "Na-na doesn't need to mind your mom, eat something."

Huh, that is my family. Perhaps I really don't belong to them, since the day Hansel was born I have somehow become a stranger to mom. The rest is history. I don't bother to listen anymore. Ignoring their discussion, I take a piece of toast and gulp it down with a glass of milk.

"I'm going," I said without even looking at them.

"Goodbye, my dear Na-na." Dad grabs me by force and plants a kiss on my forehead.

Dad is the only one that feels at home with me. Dad had been the one who was always been with me when Mom was too occupied with Hansel, but dad never noticed that I had fallen in love a little bit with Samuel. I guess only mom sees it.

"Bye, Dad, " I replied briefly, with a forced smile across my face.

I still can hear mom complaining about my rude manners, yet I just proceeded to the front door, heading towards the same black sedan I got in yesterday.

Samuel is driving today. Pulling down his black-tinted window, he signaled me to sit in front of his side. Being in senior year, we are allowed to drive our own vehicle as long as we get the authorized license.

"Gosh, you look awful. Are you sick?" Samuel runs a scan at me as soon as I get in the car. Casually putting his palm over my forehead, "You got a little feverish. Are you sure you are alright?"

"Halt." Avoiding him from touching me. "I'm fine. I will just take a rest in the infirmary if it gets worse. Don't simply put your hand on me." I warned him, lightly pushing his hand away. His touch might give me a high-grade fever and a heart attack.

"Gosh, you must be really sick. You are unusually this cold to me."

"Sorry, I think because I'm unwell." I tried to say nicely to him through the dizziness that is getting intense now.

Samuel didn't bother to talk more, as if he understood my characteristics.

A piece of soft music fills our silence along the way to school.

He smoothly parked at the designated compound for student vehicles.

Is there any safety drill today? I wondered as I spotted a fleet of police automobiles and an ambulance in our school area.

Coming out of Samuel's sedan, we followed the crowd. It seems like something bigger is happening. I randomly overheard from one of the juniors that someone was dead in our school. I feel uneasy and my heart is uncontrollably beating at a fast pace all of a sudden.

My sixth sense was trying to tell me something related to this...

The situation becomes chaotic for a moment as a team of paramedics pushes a stretcher out from the school's main entrance.

I stopped in my tracks as the paramedics passed us, white linen covered over the body and I could see blood stain marks on it. It's getting uncomfortable inside of me, remembering that I hurt Mr. Bong the day before.

Could it be...

My heart raced to the point that I didn't realize my trembling hand reflex had pulled the white linen over.

Exposing the dead body under it...