Love, Not War (Book 2)

Chapter 122

Her mother sobbed. "Just do anything at all to help her. You know how important her face is to her. With something this hideous, she will never be able to fulfil her dreams. Rose never told you but we're going bankrupt Felix. We have almost nothing now. Our company has been suffering a lot of damages all these years and I fear we may never recover. Her father and I have tried everything we could. We've gone to everyone we thought could help us but we've fallen so deep that bringing us out will make them lose a lot of money. We can't afford to get Rose a plastic surgeon right now. W-We don't have that kind of money. Please help us Felix"

The memory ended with Felix running out of the room, away from them all.

Flashback ends.

Felix breathed heavily when the intense headache stopped. He was shaking and gasping, his clothes drenched in sweat. He laid on the bed, panting as the headache gradually subsided. The buzzing in his ears stopped and he opened his eyes, staring at the ceiling in a daze.

Felix remembered.

Rose was their life line. Their family was on the verge of ruin but Rose never told any of them. She wanted to shoulder the responsibility of her family all alone. She took extra care of her face because she wanted to be a model. It was her life long dream and some bastard just went ahead and destroyed it for her.

He recalled the horrid cuts on her face and shuddered. Who the hell could have done that? Is that why Rose died? Was it that she couldn't handle the pain of her face being destroyed that she took her own life?

Felix shook his head. With how she was begging him to help her, she wasn't ready to give up on life. Rose wanted to live. She wanted her face to be cured.

But then, why didn't he want to help her? With his family's influence and money, he could get her the best plastic surgeon in the world. Her face could be saved.

Why then? Why didn't he want to help her?

He could recall the blazing fury in his heart. It was so strong that he could still feel the remnants. Like shattered pieces of glass floating in his heart. He didn't know the target of the anger. He just knew that he suddenly felt irritable. A name then popped into his mind.

Aera.

He quickly sat up. He had mentioned her in his memories. He was angry because of her. Or rather, because of what they did to her. She was the girl who's face Rose had cut. Jeongin told him she was his girlfriend and she was bullied by them back then. They had bullied her to the extent that she took her own life.

His girlfriend...

"Fuck" he cursed as he got up and walked towards the bathroom. He needed to get to the bottom of this. He had planned to forget about everything but it seemed like the past wouldn't let go of him after all.

********

Jeongin thought things were becoming more and more troublesome.

They were in a restaurant, having lunch. Well, that wasn't the reason for meeting up. The reason was something Jeongin wished Felix never remembered. Things that led to the truth about Jisung. He preferred Felix having only happy memories about their treacherous friend. That way, Felix wouldn't be sad or heartbroken about him but it seemed like fate was getting in his way.

Felix was remembering everything Al on his own.

Felix was sitting across Jeongin, glaring at him. He was dressed in a pair of ripped denim and a baggy purple hoodie. His brown locks were held in low ponytail by a rubber band with a few loose strands framing his face. He looked so cute that everyone who passed has to turn for a second or third look.
Jeongin was dressed in a pair of green cargo shorts and a black loose shirt. His dark hair was combed backwards, revealing his forehead which made him look even more handsome.

The friends attracted the gazes of many people but they didn't even notice.

One was thinking of a way to explain the past while the other was waiting for the explanation.

"Can I at least eat before we talk?" Jeongin asked, glancing at the meal in front of him. "You dragged me away from work and I haven't had anything since I woke up."

Felix was actually hungry too. "Talk as you eat. I don't have much time. I need to see someone."

"Chan?" Jeongin asked as he dug in. "I thought you two broke up."

"We did" Felix answered as he started eating too. "Not him. Someone else."

Jeongin raised a brow in question but Felix refused to answer. "Dude mind your own business. You still have so much interest in gossip."

"Well old habits die hard" Jeongin chuckled. "What about Chan though? Are you going to forgive him?"

Felix sighed. "I want to hear his side of the story first. Although I still feel nothing can justify what he did, it's better to give him the benefit of doubt. I don't want to regret anything you know."

"That's good" Jeongin nodded. "As long as you're happy and you have no regrets, I will support your decision."

"Thanks man" Felix smiled. "So, who cut Rose's face and how did she die? It had something to do with Aera right?"

Jeongin sighed. "I don't know who did that to her Felix but I do know who killed both her and her mother. The only thing is that you may not believe me."

"Jeongin please, I want to know" Felix pleaded. "At this point I'll believe anything. Just tell me."

"It'll be better if you drop this topic Felix" Jeongin answered. "You won't want to know the truth. I wish you'd just let go of your past and move forward. Thinking about it will only bring you pain."

"But I've tried Jeongin" Felix said, feeling frustrated. "I've tried. I've tried to let go but these memories keep coming and you know I can't just ignore them. This girl, Aera, my girlfriend-"

"Ex-girlfriend" Jeongin corrected.

"Whatever" Felix huffed. "I feel as if her memories do not deserve to be buried. Everytime I remember something that has to do with her, my heart hurts Jeongin. There's this horrible headache and piercing pain in my heart. And then the anger. Fuck, the intensity of emotions I feel is on another level. I need to know what happened, Jeongin. Please, tell me. Maybe something you say will jog my memory and I'll remember everything once and for all."

Jeongin remembered the things he had done, the secrets of his that were buried along with those memories in Felix's brain and he shuddered at the thought of Felix remembering them. If it happens, their relationship will never be the same.

Ever.

He shook his head. "I'm sorry Felix. I can't tell you anything."

He would never let Felix remember the monster that he once was.

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