Erina's Curse (ENGLISH VERSION)

Chapter 25

News do travel fast.

As the stolen pictures surfaced the internet, the general public’s opinion quickly shifted. The bosses immediately called for a meeting in a desperate attempt to cover the mess up. But no matter what we do now, it was already revealed. That Erina Leila Castelo Lee is not the woman they think she is. She is no more than a cunning sociopath b***h who used Silas Henry Kim for her own benefits and decided to discard him after.

It is like those Cinderella stories, but I am not the protagonist. I was branded as the evil and jealous sister who would do anything to get what they want. Made up stories about my character also fueled the fire. I was slandered, deeply humiliated by people who believe that I was in the wrong. And I believed them too, and I think that is what caused my downfall.

I moved to turn off the television, but Kesha beat me to it. Every channel we can think of is filled with my face and my sins. And every reporter says the same thing, Erina the evil witch, or Erina the sluttiest slut.

And everything is scary. But what scared me more is the fact that I don’t even feel anything anymore. I just felt hollow, empty, pale. I feel like dying and no one can do anything about it.

“Stop watching those, Erina!” I heard Leina talk.

I feel so bad for them because they were being dragged because of the issue that I was the only one involved. People started slandering them too. Thankfully, my face really angers the public which gets their attention. They don’t have time to hurt anyone because all they want is to butcher me.  

“Let’s just sleep, Erina. You need to rest, please.”

Without answering Raqi, I stood and walked silently to the bedroom. As I covered my whole body with the comforter, I heard the door open, a sign that they are also inside. They didn’t try talking to me again. thankfully. Because I really didn’t want to talk to anyone about anything.

All I want is to sleep. But every time I close my eyes, I remember the things I’ve done to Silas. The words I didn’t mean to say to the love of my life. Words that I know I would regret. Or maybe I am regretting it now. Because at this very moment, where everyone hates, where everyone wants me gone, all I want is to be with him. To feel his warm embrace, to feel his safe arms.

And I did pray. I prayed really hard for all of this to be just a dream. I prayed to all the gods to let me be with him again. For everything to be okay. For everything to be simple again. but I guess the gods didn’t hear my prayers, because even after I shed countless tears, everything is still not the same. Pain still wakes me up every morning. Tears still fill my cheeks and my heart still sank with the memory of him.

“We need to go. Are you really sure you’re okay here?”

Sassy worriedly asked. They’re needed for work, but they didn’t want to leave me here. Why? I’m not going to hurt myself. It’s not like I can still feel anything.

“I’m okay,” I answered dryly.

“Sir Leo will be here soon, okay? We’ll be fast. We’ll be here in no time,” she added in which I didn’t respond.

When they left, I locked myself inside the bedroom. I didn’t know how long I’ve been staring at the ceiling when I heard a knock on the door.

“Erina? I cooked something; you should eat,” I heard Sir Leo. He was even wearing an apron which almost made me smiled but the situation where I’m in keeps bugging me, preventing me to be happy.

“Come on. I cooked a really delicious rich soup,” he added as he walked near me to pull me out of bed.

I was too weak to refuse as he pulled me in the dining room. The food looks delicious but I’m really in no mood to eat or even do anything.

“Just try it please. Kesha told me you haven’t eaten a decent meal yet.”

“Tell me, what do you want to eat? I’ll get it for you, I promise.”

We stared at each other. Him waiting for my response and me thinking that he wouldn’t let me go unless I eat and so I told him what I want. “Ramen,” Sir Leo smiled as he heard me speak. “Okay.”

He moved to get up from the chair and walked towards the kitchen. I heard him opening cabinets after cabinets and after just a few seconds he came back.

“You have no ramen in this house,” he said while shaking his head. “Okay,” he said as he removed his apron. “I’ll buy you ramen. I’ll be quick okay? Can you wait?” he asked in which I nodded.

He immediately went out of the door while I sit in the dining. I was supposed to just stare at the wall or at the table as I wait for Sir Leo to come back. But then I felt a vibration, and when I look to the left, I saw Sir Leo’s phone. I was about to ignore it when an idea popped in my mind.

I took his phone and went straight to the bedroom. Fortunately, he didn’t put a password on it, so I easily opened the phone. I went straight to social media sites that he uses. This is my only chance to check what’s happening outside because the girls didn’t let me. All the gadgets in this house were taken away. Even the television is not working.

When I checked twitter, my name is still trending. I tried to stop myself from being curious because I know that I would be immensely hurt with what I’m about to read, but the curiosity got the better of me.

‘I can’t believe I idolized the kind of b***h as Erina.’

‘She’s such a good actress. She acts all innocent, but the truth is, she’s a cunning slut.’

‘How did even Silas liked someone like her?’

‘She doesn’t deserve to be a member of GreyArea. She will just pull them down!’

‘H&H Entertainment removed Erina from your company!

’She’s not even that talented, why are you all so into her?’

‘I don’t have to unstan because I didn’t stan her in the first place.’

‘To the fans who still support Erina, I hope you open your eyes to your idols true identity.’

I didn’t know I was already sobbing hard until Sir Leo grabs the phone from my hands.

“We told you to not read any of these! Stop hurting yourself more, Erina!”

I was about to answer him, but I can’t because of the uncontrollable sobs. I heard him sprint and after just a second a glass of water is already in front of me. I grab the glass for him and immediately drink but I choked and started sobbing again.

“Erina!” I heard Sir Leo’s voice as he caressed my back to ease my coughs and sobs.

“Don’t listen to those people. Don’t dwell on them. They don’t know who you really are, you understand? They don’t have the right to do this to you. Don’t let them get to you.”

“I-I want my mom,” I tried hard to form a sentence despite the sobs. “I just want my mom, please.”

I didn’t know what happened, but I found myself laying on my bed covered with comforter. I saw from the clock across the room that’s its already late, but the girls are still not around.

I went out of the room and in the living room I saw them. Raqi motioned me to come closer, so I did.

“Sir Leo called your mom. They’ll be here tomorrow,” Kesha smiled at me.

And for the first time in a long time, I smiled back. “Really?” I asked to make sure that I heard it right. “Really,” they all hug me tight in which I returned.

“Thank you so much!”

“Anything for you, Erina,” Sassy said.

They made me eat before going to bed. And maybe because I was still elated and happy that I actually ate a lot. I tried sleeping but I was just really excited that I couldn’t even blink. But because of exhaustion and the though of finally meeting my family tomorrow, I fell asleep.

I was awakened by Kesha as she taps my arm. When I remembered what’s happening today, I immediately stood up to prepare. But just as I was excited to went out of the front door. Raqi blocked my way.

“You’re not coming with us.”

“What? What do you mean? I need to see them.”

“We’ll take care of them. And as soon as they reached the airport, we’ll bring them straight to you. We don’t want to risk anyone recognizing you in the airport,” Kesha explained but I couldn’t seem to understand.

“I’ll wear a disguise. No one would even suspect that it’s me. Just please, let me come with you.”

“Erina, please,” Leina pleaded with her eyes.

“No! who would even suspect that I’ll go out of this house? No one! Just please let me come. I needed to see my family.”

Maybe it was desperation, but they agreed. In one condition, I’ll wait in the car and will wait for them there. And I was keen in doing what I promise but my bladder wasn’t.

Maybe it was because I’m nervous and also excited, but I couldn’t stop my pee anymore. I immediately went out of the car and run towards the nearest bathroom. All is going well. I was able to pee wand was about to go back in the car when a woman’s scream immediately filled my ears.

“It’s Erina!”

I made a move to sprint as fast as I can but there were too many of them to even make a step. I felt someone pulling my hair and another scratching my arm. They were pulling at me so hard that they almost ripped my shirt if not for the sweater that I was wearing. Someone tackled me on the floor, and they all went all over me. I thought I was going to die but the people above me started to move away.

I felt someone helping me to stand but I couldn’t see clearly because of the bruises in my face and in my eye. But because of her voice, I recognized that it was Kesha and so I cling onto her like a tarsier desperate to survive and leave the place.

They were not hurting me physically now. But their words are sharper than their nails.

‘Die Erina!’

‘Just die! We hate you so much!’