We Are Better Together!

Chapter 27 - Enduring The Ordeal

Karasuma's Pov:

While Rhea was cleaning the glass pieces of the lamp, Karma decided to take his leave, Kayano also informed that she couldn't come for the time being.
I stayed in contact with my students because I know they only meant well. Some of them couldn't come due to work, others decided to talk through the phone and a few days passed by.

Everything was a bit steady, in a normal sense. Irina was taking her medicines and most of her wounds were healed, she looked a lot better now and she often comes out of her room nowadays, so much as going to the kitchen to make coffee. I feel relieved seeing her like this, being a little bit back to normal.
I was thinking everything was steady and I realized that I spoke too soon that was until I heard the sound of glass breaking and shattering. It came from the kitchen. For a second I thought it was Rhea, but my breath hitched as I remembered that she had already gone home.

I quickly got up and ran my way to the kitchen. When I reached the kitchen counter, there was no one in sight, I only saw a glass of water shattered on the floor, some pieces of the glass were missing from the look of it and water flowed on the floor. When I followed the water trail, my eyes widened to see a few drops of blood, which then mixed unevenly with the water trail. I looked further to see Irina, cowering beside the fridge, her face buried in her knees as she sat down, wanting to vanish into the wall. She was shaking violently as she clenched the piece of glass in her fist, blood sliding down her wrist, down to the elbow, soaking her sleeve. I could hear her sobbing, praying for someone to not come to her, I couldn't hear her properly.

I quickly rushed to her, but she didn't seem to notice. I slightly raised my hand wanting to make her look at me, when I held her wrist, she suddenly screamed,

"..n-noooo!..." Her voice filled with fear, as she desperately didn't want to look at the person holding her hand, she didn't look at me. Her forehead touched the wall as she sobbed out for me to let her go.

"Irina...leave the glass...you're bleeding..."
I quietly said, but it didn't seem like she was listening.

"p-please...sorry, I-I am sorry... I won't do it a-again...please...."
She cried out, her voice cracking from all the crying as she tried to free herself from my grip, struggling weakly.

"Irina...it's me...look at me!" I said trying to make her look at me, but she won't look. I slowly placed one hand on her cheek in a hope that she will turn.

She turned to me, but her face, her eyes slightly swollen from crying showed so much more than pain, her lips quivering, her tear stained cheeks, as she placed one arm in front of her as if to protect herself from a beating, cowering in the corner, stealing quick glances at me, as if she didn't recognize me....It all made me overwhelmed, I quickly raised my hand, wanting to hug her tightly, but she flinched brutally. She backed away more from me, touching her face lightly, her eyes wide with fear.

"...s-s-sorry...please d-don't hit m-me..."

She whispered in a quivering voice filled with terror. There was blood still seeping from her cuts and I couldn't bare to look at it anymore. I tried to hold her from her shoulders, but she struggled vehemently and kept repeating apologies. I couldn't take it anymore.

"IRINA!" I shouted and she froze, she looked at the floor with wide eyes and after a while looked at me, as more tears rolled down her cheeks.

"...T-Tadaomi?..." She silently whispered.

"Yes? I am here...you're going to be okay..." I said caressing her cheeks and wiping her tears off, but suddenly she threw the pieces of glass on her floor and clasped onto my shirt, clenching it in her fist, worsening her wounds as blood drenched the fabric of my shirt.
I could feel her shaking and her fear of something which wasn't even here.

"...p-please don't let them h-hit me...." She spoke in a panicked voice as I stroked her hair.

"Shhhh, no one's gonna hit you...nobody will hit you...see? I am here right?" I said wanting to reassure her, but that didn't seem to work.

"..no...they will hit me...I-If they s-see this..."
She whispered and I tightened my grip around her. I released her from the hug and picked her up swiftly. I heard a whine of fear coming from her as she latched onto me, quickly burying her face in my neck, her hands trembling as she held the collar of my shirt.

I walked to the bedroom upstairs, placing her down on the bed, she still didn't let go of my collar as I sat there beside her. I poured some water into a glass from the side table and slowly made her drink it, gently caressing her hair. After a while, she calmed down enough to recognize her surroundings. She quietly stole a glance from me nervously and I sighed. I leaned forward and her shoulders tensed, despite that I kissed her forehead,

"I'll bring the first aid box, wait here, okay?" I said and she hesitantly nodded, releasing my collar from her grip. I stood up and walked to the bathroom, bringing the first air box and some tissues. I sat beside her and slowly took her hand in mine. I removed her bloodied wedding ring from her trembling finger gently and placed the ring on the tissue. I forgot for a moment, there was so much of blood on her hands, it needs to be washed first.

haaa...get it together....

I thought to myself. I looked at her and she nervously looked back at me, not knowing what to do, I sighed quietly and felt her flinch. I looked at her panicked expression.

"Let's wash it first, hmm? you have to change your clothes also..."

I made her get up and helped her walk to the bathroom, her legs almost gave out till she reached the basin. I gently washed the blood on her palm and elbow, slowly wiping it with a towel. I quickly ran to the closet to bring a new t-shirt, but instead brought my own in a hurry. I gave it to her and told her to change, as soon as I started to walk out the bathroom, she called out to me in a voice filled with panic,

"...w-wait!..." I stopped and looked behind to see her on the verge of tears again.

"don't g-go..." She whispered. I stood in the bathroom, facing the wall as she changed her t-shirt. It looked so big on her, I almost chuckled. I helped her out of the bathroom and made her sit on the bed, taking some cotton and some antiseptic, I bandaged her wounds as she hissed at the pain. After finishing everything, I just simply looked at her and I think she took it otherwise.

"I am sorry for the glass-"
She started saying, looking down on her lap and I quickly cut her off,

"Do you want to tell me something?"
I asked in a gentle but serious voice and her breath hitched, she looked at me wide eyed and shook her head no before whispering,

"n-no, there's n-nothing..."

"I'll ask again, let me put it this way...is there anything that you want to tell me, Irina?"

Here's the bonus chapter as promised and also the compensation for not updating for so long...💗💗

hope you enjoyed this chapter, happy to tell you that we're back on schedule.😁

See y'll😛