CRUEL

CRUEL|THIRTY-SEVEN

CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

CRUEL

[SEASON THREE]

!WARNING! THE WHOLE CHAPTER IS A TRIGGER WARNING! SENSTIVE TOPICS! SUICIDE! BLOOD! SHARP THINGS! DEPRESSION!

YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.

"Your brother just flew?" Yuna replied, her expression filled with confusion. Arezou hummed, the schoolbag carelessly slung over one shoulder, Jay's jacket inside. She was lost in thoughts about her brother Dom, who once again had left without a word. 

"Isn't the first time. He'll be okay," she said bluntly, confident in her brother's ability to navigate trouble. "That idiot... Still, he isn't answering any of my calls," Yuna complained. "I'm sure he'll call you in no time," Arezou said mischievously, holding a box of food in her hands. Yuna looked at her, flustered, understanding the implication.

Arezou ignored her stare, opening the door for both of them. "Sup, Minu!" she greeted, putting on the best smile she could muster. However, instead of returning her usual warm smile, he just stared at her. His eyes seemed dull and lifeless, a stark contrast to their usual vibrancy. It was something she noticed immediately—hollow eyes staring at her. Arezou let her smile immediately fall. Beside her, Yuna avoided meeting his eyes, heading towards the open window.

"Oh my, the window's open! It's all wet! Zou, could you get me a towel?" Arezou nodded slowly, giving Minu an uneasy side glance before turning towards the bathroom to retrieve a towel. Her hands shook as she held the towel, and she wasn't sure what was happening to her. Glancing at the mirror, she saw beads of sweat rolling down her face, realizing the unease she felt was more than just a passing moment.

(There was something, something about those hollow eyes, the way it stare at her, so familiar, so close, easy to taste the bitter taste, but too far to stop it from spreading-)

As Arezou continued to stare at the mirror, her vision gradually blurred, as if tears were streaming down her face. Her hands aggressively rubbed her eyes, as though she were in the midst of a good cry. Strangely, it wasn't wet—she wasn't crying. However, the sensation of tears lingered, and shaky breaths escaped her mouth as she scrutinized her reflection. "Fuck not now..." She cursed, nails scratching the surface of the porclaine. 

("Arezou? My hope? Could you open your eyes for me?")

Her brown eyes snapped open, fixated on the mirror. No, not on her own reflection. A woman with a gentle smile peered back at her through the mirror. Her breaths quickened, growing faster and faster, yet it was never enough. A hairband pushing back the curles, Oxygen seemed insufficient, and she couldn't bring herself to breathe more slowly. She just couldn't.

("My Ashk. Why are you so scared?")

Unable to control herself, Arezou pressed her ears with her palms, trying to block out the whispering that caused her ears to ache. Rubbing over the shell, leaving burning sensation that should leave her focus on that then her childish images. 

She didn't want to listen. She didn't want to hear her. Go away. Her heart pounded in her chest, screaming to escape her body. Her hands trembled increasingly, and her short fingernails dug into her skin, releasing small red beads. Yet, she didn't care. The pupils of her eyes trembled with either excitement or fear, an unknown presence within her. Cold sweat trickled down her neck, and her hand clenched the fabric of her black pants.

("Did he scream again?")

She bit her lip, attempting to stave off the urge to vomit right then and there.