DISTRESS

CHAPTER 6

Raven's POV

I didn't break eye contact nor stopped glaring at this nosy woman. Even after I appeared for Dawn's sake, she still insisted in applying some ointment on the cut on my lips and wrist as well as my swollen cheek.

I was careless last night and I hate myself for that. I should've taken over when that asshole slapped and even kicked Dawn, maybe then she wouldn't have attempted suicide. I felt the overwhelming anger, fear and pain of Dawn last night. It felt like my heart is being stabbed with a knife. I know she's tired every single day. Her life is like in constant repeat so of course eventually she'll reach her limit. I promised I will protect her but I still can't completely protect her from everything.

If it wasn't for mother and sister. Dawn wouldn't try her hardest to live. Aside from me, mother and sister are the only ones that's keeping her anchored in place. Without them she'll drift aimlessly or worse sink in the abyss of deep despair. With mother and sister gone I'm the only one who can convince her to keep going and fulfill the promise she made. Dawn needs to live and I'll do everything I can to make that happen.

"This might sting." she said, carefully applying some ointment. Sting? I hardly felt any sting at all.

My stoic expression must've confused her a bit. I have a feeling that there are two things going on in her head now. First, is she might think that I'm just putting up a tough front. Second, is she's thinking that I've suffered far painful things than this. I hope she's thinking the former and not the latter.

"Doesn't it hurt?" the principal asked.

'No it doesn't,' I said with a deadpan expression.

She waited for any signs that might show I'm  in pain but when she found none, she eventually gave up, "How did you get injured anyway?" she sighed.

'I agreed to let you tend my wounds but I never said I will give you answers,' I retorted, glaring at her.

"Does your parents even know about this?"

Her questions almost threw me off. 'Not exactly,' I replied, trying my best to keep my cool.

"Where's your mom?" she asked again. Eventhough she's clearly asking out of concern, it still pissed me off.

'Not here,' I replied in restrain.

"What about your dad?" I swear I want to hit her for asking these stupid questions.

'He's somewhere,' I mumbled. Keeping the urge to curse at that asshole.

She sighed, looking even more bothered now that I'm giving her vague responses. After applying ointment on my cheek and lips, the principal moved to the cut on my wrist. The sight of the cut made me angry once again. I'm not sure if this is going to be the last time this happens. Dawn's too vulnerable that if she's under too much pressure there's a huge possibility that she'll resort to suicide again. The thought immediately made me uneasy. It won't be long until she loses herself. That is, if I won't be able to find a way to prevent her from ending her life.

"Please tell me that this isn't what I think it is?" her voice sounded soft and almost pleading when she asked me that while carefully putting a band-aid on my cut.

'And if it is?' I dared, pulling my hand away from her. The look she gave me almost looked hurt and worried at the same time. Her sympathy doesn't move me even a bit. I'm used to being tormented so her kindness doesn't affect me. I know what I'm protecting and that's all I need. 'Just like what Dawn said. We don't need any help from you,'

"Raven. I wasn't lying when I said that you and Dawn can rely on me."

'What's in it for you?'

"Nothing. All I want is to help. That's all," I don't believe what she's saying. There's a possibility that she's just luring us in order for us to open up and depend on her like some helpless child.

'I highly doubt that. We would appreciate it if you could just leave us alone.'

For the rest of the day. All I did was attend class as quiet as possible while actively avoiding any close contact with the principal. My gut tells me that this won't be enough to drive her off and that surely she'll find another means to make us talk. What a bothersome woman. I can see why Dawn hated her presence. She draws people in with her kindness but one things for sure she can't easily pull us in. All the years we've endured to stop relying to anyone is slowly paying off. It would take her a long time to crack open our well built wall.

I'm on my way to the bistro and since Dawn still doesn't feel the need to take over any minute now then I guess I'll work in her behalf. I've done her work from time to time and it's not like she's doing anything difficult or heavy.

Once I've reached the doorknob of the backdoor, I suddenly hesitated for a moment. I have a feeling that they would make a huge fuss about my swollen cheek and busted lips once they see this. Just thinking about their worried faces makes me uneasy. I don't hate them and I know Dawn feels the same way but we don't like them that much either. It's just that we gradually got used to their presence. Though it's still difficult for us to open up eventhough Dawn and I have been with them for months. Not that I wanted to open up or anything, only Dawn has the right to decide whether we open up or not.

"Why aren't you going inside already?" a voice spoke and judging by her cold and stern tone, I know for sure who it belongs to.

'Assistant manager.'

She frowned in annoyance when I turned around to face her. I'm sure her annoyance isn't specifically directed at me. She didn't made any attempt to respond though it's obvious how angry she is, just from the way her face hardened. "Let's put some ointment on that."

'That won't be necessary,' I said, looking straight in her eyes.

"Are you okay?" her question caught me off guard.

'Why wouldn't I be?' it's not completely a lie. There's no reason for me to not be okay. No matter how much that asshole beats me up, I don't care as long as Dawn doesn't suffer the same pain as I do. I exist solely to endure Dawn's pain both physically and mentally from trauma and abuse. So that whenever she takes over she won't be as beat up and in pain as much as I do.

There was a moment of silence between us which was then broken when two excited women clung to me from behind. "Puppy!!" the twins exclaimed excitedly, almost destroying my eardrums in the process.

'Buzz off!' I said, shaking them off with a glare.

"Raven?" the twins spoke in unison but their attention immediately diverted on my cheek. "Don't tell me he did that?" Mina asked.

'Does it matter?'

"You're still a lot more stubborn than Dawn. But puppy is still puppy whether you're Dawn or Raven." Nina said, hugging me tightly which Mina followed suit.

I struggled but these two won't let me go. They're always like this no matter how rude I tried to be towards them. These twins are annoyingly clingy whether towards Dawn or me.

"Knock it off you two. We should get ready now."

"We get it aunt Cielle," the twins teased assistant manager before dashing inside. Assistant manager simply rolled her eyes while shaking her head.

"And you. We still need to put some ointment on that." she said pointing at my cheek before she went inside.

Assistant manager is such a tsundere. But if ai were to choose, I would prefer them over the principal who did nothing but pry about my life. At least here, they know how to respect my privacy. They still openly express their worry towards me but other than that they never push me aside for leaving them in the dark.