Gone Bad

Chapter 27

No one dared to shoot me a stare when I slowly stepped through the aisle. They are all wearing black. There are so many of them, sitting in the elongated chairs. I couldn't recognize their faces at all, but it doesn't feel bewildering. Their eyes are all darted towards a large rectangular object in front, placed between huge bouquets of flowers.

A coffin.

I continued stepping forward as if something was drawing me in it. And when I finally stepped close, I lowered my head to see who was inside.

A young man.

A familiar young man.

My man.

And before I knew it, I was chasing my breath, holding my chest as it tightens, constraints, as if my heart is being wrapped with spiked wires.

Someone stands beside me, but I didn't look. I couldn't divert my eyes away from his gray, lifeless body.

"W-what happened?" I asked.

"Are you seriously asking that?" He calmly questioned back.

"What do you mean?"

"You're the one who killed him, Florianne."

"What?" I finally faced the person standing next to me.

"It's you. It's all your fault," replied the man with darkened eyes and grinning teeth.

I freaked out and stepped back. The regret I was feeling turned into fear. I was about to run when the people in dark clothes, who were peacefully sitting in the chairs suddenly stood up. They were all silent, but they're glaring at me with so much anger in their faces. They slowly moved away from their own chairs, now walking towards my direction.

"It's your fault!" They all kept saying, like a verse repeatedly recited, like a mantra repeatedly spoken.

I looked around. I couldn't find myself a way out. Everyone is blaming me. Everyone is coming for me.

......

"Lori, wake up!"

I heaved for a deep breath as if someone had just suffocated me. Above me was Zuo Hang who looks worried. I couldn't help but tear up when I saw him. Pulling myself up, I hugged him close to me and cried on his shoulders. He was caught off guard for a second but next thing, he caressed my back, allowing his existence to just say that everything is going to be fine.

"Bad dream?" he asks.

"Worst dream, ever." I tightened my hug around him that I could feel his beating heart against mine.
"It looked so real, I had no idea what to do once you're no longer around."

"I'm here, Lori. I'm always here," he spoke so soft that my racing heart paced down. "This will be over soon. On the next few days, maybe we'll be having our date in the funfair. Do you want that?"

I nodded. "But its just a maybe statement."

"But its not impossible." He sounded so firm that his positivity is really exceeding my pessimism.

I loosened my arms wrapping around him and put my head on his lap while he leaned his back on the wall.

"Did I wake you?" I asked. "I'm sorry."

He chuckled. "I didn't even answer yet."

"I knew you were asleep. The day was tiring after all. You must've been exhausted."

"I'm okay with our position right now. It feels a lot more restful."
He played with my hair and used them to cover my neck. "How do you feel? Still cold?"