CHAPTER 6
2008 Words
I didn’t know how long I cried, but Vicentius never ended the call.
He never spoke, never asked what was wrong—just stayed on the other end silently.
If he had said something, anything—scolded me, comforted me, or even just demanded an explanation—it might have been easier. At least then, I could have responded.
But he didn’t.
And somehow, that made it worse.
Because it meant he knew.
He knew I was breaking, and instead of telling me to pull myself together, he let me fall apart.
And that quiet acceptance and his unspoken understanding, felt heavier than any words ever could.
By the time I finally stopped crying, my chest aches and my throat is raw from all the sobs.
I took a shaky breath and wiped my face with my sleeve while my fingers trembled as I pressed the phone closer to my ear.
“I’m sorry for crying,” I whispered.
Vicentius sighed, “You don’t have to apologize for showing your emotions, Clara. Not with me.”
I swallowed hard.
Not with him.
Like it was okay. Like I could still lean on him, even after all these years.
The thought made my chest ache even more.
“I….I want to go home.”
The words slipped out before I could stop them, and once they were out, I knew there was no taking them back.
I know it felt ironic—running back to the very place I had once fought so hard to leave.
After everything I said, after all the pride I carried about standing on my own, here I was, asking to come back.
But right now, it didn’t matter because after everything that happened, I didn’t have any pride left in me. Not even dignity.
And right now, all I wanted was to leave this place.
When I said I wanted to go home, I expected him to ask why.
Maybe even question me, just a little.
But Vicentius didn’t hesitate.
“Of course,” he said softly. “Where are you? I’ll come get you.”
“No.” I shook my head, even though he couldn’t see me. “I know you’re busy. Just send someone.”
I knew Vincentius.
I knew how he thought and how he made decisions.
He wasn’t the type to bend easily. If he said I was going home, then in his mind, that was final.
But then, after what felt like forever, he exhaled—a long, steady sigh.
“Alright,” he finally said. “But you’re not deciding where you’ll stay. I will.”
I blinked, taken aback by how easily he gave in.
"You mean—"
"Don't push it, Clara," he cut in, his voice firm but not unkind. "You're coming back, but under my terms. I’ll send someone to get you. Stay put."
There was no point in arguing as this was how far he can go.
"Okay," I murmured.
A brief silence settled between us before I hesitated, then added, "But….Can you make arrangements for one more person?"
Vicentius didn’t answer right away. I could almost picture him narrowing his eyes, considering my words carefully.
"And who would that be?" he finally asked.
"A friend from university," I said. "When I told her I was leaving, she insisted on coming with me. She doesn’t know who I really am yet.”
After I said that Vicentius didn’t say anything and my grip of the phone tightened
Was he going to scold me for dragging someone else into this?
Would he refuse?
But before my thoughts could stray any further, I finally heard it—a long, drawn-out sigh on the other end
"Alright, send me her details," he said.
Relief flooded through me.
"Thank you, Vince," I whispered.
He didn’t respond, but he didn’t need to because he was already making things happen and I'm grateful for that.
After the call ended and I sent him Lily’s details, I lay in my bed, exhaling a shaky breath.
Relief washed over me—not the kind that soothed, but the kind that came from knowing I was finally leaving this place.
That, at the very least, I wouldn’t have to endure it any longer.
But even with that relief, my heart still ached.
I still couldn’t accept it.
That I had been played for so long. That I had been nothing more than a toy—something to be used, discarded, and laughed at.
And the most disgusting part?
It wasn’t just one person.
So many had taken part in it, watching as I walked blindly into their game.
And why?
Because I am someone that can easily be used?
Because of my physical appearance?
I don’t understand how that became a problem.
How the way I looked, the way I existed, gave them the right to treat me like this.
I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms, but the pain did nothing to steady me.
The more I thought about it, the more it burned—the humiliation, the betrayal, the sheer cruelty of it all.
Why am I the one running away?
Why am I the one crying, drowning in shame, when I’m the victim?
A fresh wave of anger surged through me, sharp and blinding, swallowing the pain for just a moment.
I sat up, wiping the tears from my face with the back of my hand. My entire body trembled, but it wasn’t just from grief anymore.
I hated this feeling.
I hated that they got to walk away without consequences, laughing at how easily they fooled me.
I hated that I had been nothing but a pawn in whatever game they were playing.
But most of all, I hated that I had let them.
But that ends here.
I don’t care how long it takes, how much I have to endure—I’ll make them regret ever thinking they could use me.
I’ll make them realize they chose the wrong person to humiliate.
No more crying for Tyler.
Because I will take my revenge..
Not now. Not while I’m still weak and broken.
But in time.
I swallowed the lump in my throat, inhaling deeply as I forced my thoughts to calm down when I heard a sudden knock on my door followed by Lily’s voice.
“Clara?” she called softly.
I hurriedly wiped my cheeks, forcing out a few steadying breaths before making my way to the door.
The moment I opened it, Lily stood there—her usual bright expression dimmed with concern—but what caught my attention first wasn’t her face.
It was the sheer number of luggages piled beside her in the hallway.
I blinked. “Lily…”
She let out a nervous laugh, shifting on her feet. “Look, I know what you’re thinking, and I really couldn’t do anything about it. My parents only let me go on one condition.”
I raised a brow. “Which was?”
“That they pack for me.” She gestured dramatically to the mountain of luggages.
“This is their way of making sure I ‘stay safe and comfortable.’”
I stared at her. Then at the bags. Then back at her.
Lily gave me a sheepish smile. “I’m sorry.”
A laugh—light and unexpected—bubbled out of me before I could stop it. It wasn’t much, but it was enough to c***k through the suffocating weight in my chest.
Lily’s eyes widened. “Oh, come on! Don’t laugh at my suffering!”
“I am not!” I said defensively, trying to hold back my laughter. “I just didn’t think you’d bring your whole closet with you.”
Lily huffed, pushing past me and collapsing onto my bed with a dramatic sigh.
“Ugh, don’t even start. I tried stopping them, okay? But they wouldn’t budge.”
I shook my head, smiling softly as I closed the door behind us.
“But enough about that,” Lily said, propping herself up on her elbows. “Since we’ve basically decided to graduate ourselves before the university does, do you have any plans aside from just going home?”
“To be honest, Lily, I’m still not sure,” I admitted. “Right now, all I want is to get away from here. So if you wanted to back out—”
“Hey!” Lily interrupted, sitting up straight on the bed.
She pointed a finger at me, eyes narrowing. “Don’t say stuff like that when I literally packed my whole house to come with you! Who cares if you have a plan or not? I’m still sticking with you!”
She declared it so confidently before flopping back onto the bed with a sigh, as if she hadn’t just pledged her full commitment to my mess.
I blinked, then let out a small, genuine laugh—one I hadn’t realized I needed.
As much as I had tried to put on a brave face, the weight of everything was still pressing down on me like a rock.
But here was Lily, throwing herself into this mess without hesitation, making me laugh when I thought I had no laughter left in me.
I swallowed the lump in my throat and my chest filled with so much gratitude for this girl, who didn't hesitate to show up inside that restaurant to just get me out of there, even though she really hated being seen by anyone, she still went there, and her she was running away with me leaving her life here
“Lily,” I said softly.
She peeked at me from under the pillow.
I hesitated for a moment, then sat beside her on the bed.
“Thank you.”
Lily blinked at me, the teasing glint in her eyes dimming just slightly as she sat up. “You don’t have to thank me, you know,” she said, nudging my shoulder. “We’re friends. I wasn’t just going to let you run away on your own.”
I smiled, warmth blooming in my chest.
But then, the warmth faded as the memories of what happened came rushing back
I lowered my gaze, my fingers curling against my palm. “Lily…” I hesitated, my voice quieter now. “There’s something I need to tell you.”
She tilted her head. “What is it?”
I exhaled, steadying myself before looking her in the eye.
“I want revenge.”
For a moment, there was only silence between us.
Then Lily shot up from the bed so fast she nearly tripped over her own legs, backing away as if I had just told her I was about to commit a crime.
“No way, for real?!” she yelped.
I gave her a look. “Why are you acting like I just confessed to murder?”
“Because that was the most serious tone I’ve ever heard from you!” Lily accused, pointing a finger at me. “Wait, hold on—what kind of revenge are we talking about? Because if it’s anything illegal, I need to know now so I can start preparing an alibi.”
I rolled my eyes, crossing my arms. “Relax, I’m not planning anything crazy.”
Lily narrowed her eyes, slowly inching back toward the bed. “Define ‘not crazy.’”
I sighed, running a hand through my hair. “I don’t know yet. I just know I can’t let them get away with this. I can’t let them think they won.”
Lily studied me for a moment before exhaling, rubbing her temples.
“Okay,” she said, dropping back onto the bed.
“This is insane. But fine. If you’re serious about this, you better have a solid plan—because if you go down, I’m not letting you take me with you.”
I smirked, feeling the faintest flicker of determination in my chest.
“Deal.”
- Writer
