The Caliginous Villainess

Chapter 40

The past 'me' crouching down at that horrible school trying to bottle up the feelings sat in front of me. This was me back at excruciating-thirteen.

I took a deep breath and offered her my hand.

"Dear Blair of the past, I'm not you anymore. You have no reason to hold back. No one will scold you for being a little selfish and doing what you want. Chase after your dreams. Chase after love. I will not throw you away. I will embrace you so please, let's change for good. Are you with me?" Cliché yes, but, it told me everything I needed to hear back then.

"Do you think that would work?" My past self asked me with a pitiful face.

"I know it will." I reached out my hand to the little me who was suffering. I saw my past hesitate but finally held on to me. I smiled at her. I opened my arms to hug her and she ran towards me.

In a few seconds, the small girl I was hugging vanished into thin air. The guilt I was unconsciously carrying this whole time washed away in a second. Genuine relief flooded over me and enveloped me.

I felt lighter and easier. I felt real warmth from a really long time.

Now, let's solve the other problems. I took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, taking my time.

"I'm not weak or terrible as you think I am. Do you know why? Because you are an illusion. The Alvin, I know, would never spout such nonsense even to a beggar on the road." I smirked at the phantom of Alvin in front of me. It frowned at me but it withdrew the fight and disappeared.

One down!

"I don't care if you think I'm dumb. If you were pitying me, you won't have hugged me while I was crying on the hunting competition. You won't rely on me when you needed help to change your fate. So, buh-bye." I waved at Phantom Carlisa and swished my hair a little to throw her off her game.

"I'm sorry if I end up speaking with disrespect but you have no right to tell me that. I did not take away your daughter. Rather, I helped her build up a more valuable personality. I have nothing to regret about it." I aimed at the phantoms of my parents. I was angry! How dare these phantoms imitate my parents? Who gave them the right to do so? I feel like tearing the one responsible to a gazillion pieces.

Ok, now I feel like a proud and vicious villainess. Who cares either way! I'm not the petty female lead who'll forgive each and everyone around. I'm not that naïve.

"You trusted me with your own decision. I never asked you to join forces with me or treat me nicely. You decided it on your own and I'm forever grateful for all your help. Now then, phantoms just shoo along! I have a bigger problem to solve." I directed at the phantoms of my brothers. They withered away just as the others.

Finally, the core of the problem.

Our Rose.

Little Rose was crying in front of me. I knew what I had to do.

I walked near the crying little Rose and lifted her up in my steady arms. She screamed, flustered, at my sudden action.

"Don't you hate me? I was very mean!" She asked between sobs and a cute hiccup.

"I don't hate you. But, did I really take away your life?" I asked her in a smile.

"You...Yo...I..I.." She stammered while I wiped away her tears.

"Rose, did you know that you were always there with me this whole time?" I told her by keeping my palm on my heart.

"Right there?" She pointed at my heart. I nodded.