FATED SEATS

CHAPTER 18 Part 2

ARA'S POV

(Flashback - Several Years Ago)

Ara sat alone in the school cafeteria, trying to ignore the whispers and stares that followed her every move. She had become the target of Ani's wrath, the subject of her relentless bullying. All because of Khen.

Khen, the boy who had captured Ara's heart, had once dated Ani. And even though they had broken up long ago, Ani still saw Ara as a threat, as a rival for Khen's affections.

Ani approached Ara's table, her eyes blazing with anger. She was surrounded by her posse, her loyal followers who were always eager to do her bidding.

"Well, well, well," Ani sneered, her voice dripping with venom. "Look who it is. Little Miss Perfect. Trying to steal my man, are you?"

Ara trembled, trying to remain calm. "I'm not trying to steal anyone, Ani," she said, her voice barely audible.

Ani laughed, a cruel, mocking sound.

"Oh, really?" she said, stepping closer. "Then why is Khen always looking at you? Why is he always smiling at you? You think I'm blind? I see what's going on. You're just a little snake, slithering your way into his heart."

" She leaned in closer, her eyes narrowing. "You're a b***h, you know that? Everyone likes you because you're a b***h. You manipulate people, you lie, you cheat. What a shame. You're insane."

Ani spat on the floor beside Ara's feet, then turned and walked away, her posse following close behind. Ara sat there alone, humiliated and heartbroken, Ani's words echoing in her ears.

"You're a snake… You're a b***h… You're insane…”

End of flashback

After six years, Ani's words still haunted me. They were etched into my memory, burned into my soul. Every time I felt a flicker of attraction towards someone, every time someone showed me kindness, those words would resurface, filling me with doubt and fear.

'You're a snake… You're a b***h… You're insane…'

That's why I was so wary of Zen. He reminded me of Khen, not just in his appearance, but also in his charm, his charisma, his ability to make me feel special. And because of that, I couldn't shake the feeling that he was going to hurt me, just like Khen had.

But it was more than just that. It was the realization that Zen knew Ani, that he was connected to the very person who had inflicted so much pain on me.

It was like the universe was conspiring against me, trying to remind me of my past, trying to punish me for daring to hope for something better.

After Intramurals, I practically sprinted home, desperate to escape the suffocating atmosphere and the haunting gaze of Zen's eyes. But even within the sanctuary of my own room, the memories continued to torment me.

The night was full of silently crying and anxiety attacks, her past pain returned.

I lay in bed, tossing and turning, unable to shake the image of zen's eyes from my mind. They seemed to follow me, burning into my consciousness, stirring up emotions I had long tried to suppress.

The memory of Khen, the pain of his abrupt departure, flooded back with a vengeance. I relived every moment of our brief, unspoken connection, every stolen glance, every whispered rumor.

Everything like the first night she had that pain.

(Flashback - June 28, 2019)

It was June 28, 2019. A sunny Friday afternoon, filled with the anticipation of the weekend and the excitement of PE day. But for Ara, the day would forever be etched in her memory as the day Khen left.

The classroom door creaked open, and Khen walked in, his father standing behind him. A hush fell over the room as everyone realized what was happening.

Ara's heart sank. She knew. She knew Khen was leaving. And she knew, with a cold certainty, that he wasn't going to say goodbye to her.

She sat frozen in her seat, watching as Khen stood before the class, a sad smile on his face.

"Goodbye, guys," he said, his voice tinged with melancholy. "Thank you for the wonderful memories. I will miss you all."

And with that, he turned and walked out the door, his father following close behind. He didn't look back. He didn't acknowledge Ara's existence. He simply disappeared from her life, without a word.

The silence in the classroom was deafening. Everyone was stunned, shocked by the suddenness of his departure.

Then, Ani approached Ara, a cruel smile playing on her lips.

"So," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "What do you have to say about his leaving?"

Ara stared at her, her mind blank, her heart aching. She didn't know what to say. She didn't know how to feel. She was numb, empty.

And then, without thinking, without planning, the words just came out of her mouth.

"Everything is temporary," she said, her voice flat, devoid of emotion.

End of flashback

The heartache, the confusion, the feeling of abandonment… it was all there, as fresh and raw as if it had happened yesterday.

I cried silently, tears streaming down my face, soaking my pillow. My body trembled, wracked with sobs, as I relived the pain of my first heartbreak.

My mind raced, replaying every mistake I had ever made, every reason why I was unlovable. The negative thoughts spiraled, feeding my anxiety and fueling my despair.

I was trapped in a cycle of self-loathing, convinced that I was destined to repeat the mistakes of my past. The thought of opening myself up to someone again, of risking further heartbreak, filled me with terror.

The anxiety attack intensified, my breath coming in short, shallow gasps. My heart pounded in my chest, threatening to burst. I felt like I was suffocating, drowning in a sea of emotions.

I curled up into a fetal position, clutching my chest, desperate to find some relief from the pain. But there was none to be found. The past had returned, its grip tightening around my heart, threatening to crush me completely.

The night was long and agonizing, filled with tears and despair. As the first rays of dawn peeked through my window, I felt utterly exhausted, drained of all hope.

The pain of my past had returned, and I had no idea how to fight it. It felt like a part of me was forever trapped in that moment, the moment Khen left, the moment my heart broke for the first time.

The numbness I had cultivated over the years had vanished, replaced by a raw vulnerability that I couldn't bear to confront. I was exposed, stripped bare, with no defenses against the onslaught of memories and emotions.

I felt like a puppet, controlled by the strings of my past, unable to move forward, unable to escape the pain. The future stretched before me, bleak and uncertain, filled with the threat of further heartbreak and disappointment.

I longed for the numbness to return, for the blessed oblivion that had allowed me to function, to navigate the world without being constantly reminded of my past pain. But the numbness was gone, replaced by a searing awareness of my own vulnerability.

I felt like I was drowning in a sea of despair, with no hope of rescue. The past had returned, and it was determined to consume me entirely. I closed my eyes, surrendering to the darkness, praying for the pain to end.