SOUL DORM

54

Tears on my pillow...

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CHAPTER 54:

STRAWBERRY MILK

I was determined to spend the day in my room. With my swollen lip and the bruises on my wrist, I was in no shape to see anyone. I couldn't even look at myself in the mirror. After showering, I put on a long-sleeve sweater to cover my arms. As if the nightmare with Bong wasn't enough, there was also the disaster I'd caused myself. Thankfully, I didn't completely remember what happened after I stole Mars's cigarette.

I only cracked open my door to take in Tarben's basket. It was filled with all sorts of snacks, both sweet and savory. He was right; I was starving. I attacked the bread like a mad person. I nibbled on a piece of cheese, then stuffed grapes into my mouth. And, of course, Trouble was right there beside me. We devoured everything as if emerging from a famine. My hand repeatedly reached for the pastries and sugary treats, with each bite only making me hungrier.

After I had overcome the first crisis, my reason must have kicked in because I thought I should thank the boy who had been so kind to me. I wasn't sure if Tarben was in his room, so I used one of the special seals Ursa taught me to ensure my note reached him. My message was brief and to the point.

Thanks for putting up with me. Promise, no more craziness. – Olive

He responded so quickly that I hadn't even moved away from the mailbox.

Don't ever scare me like that again. I want no other promise from you.

My heart clenched. The memory of Tarben's reaction to Mars was more explicit than anything else, likely because I was finally sobering up. I had truly frightened and angered him. Reflecting on it, I realized it was the first time I had seen Tarben truly angry with someone. I felt myself shrink on the spot. How had everything spiraled so disastrously out of control? If only I had been in my right mind, I could have explained everything properly, but I had failed to. Who knows what terrible things Tarben might think Mars had done to me?

Mars... When his face flashed before my eyes, I pressed my palms against them. Shame was seeping out of every pore. The foolish words I had spoken, the ridiculous ways I had acted—all haunted me. I couldn't imagine facing him again. Even if he hadn't mocked me yesterday, I was sure he would remind me of last night for the rest of my days and make my life miserable.

I still didn't understand how he had not just opened the door and thrown me off the cable car. Initially, he had helped me out of pity, but why endure an entire night of my chaos? Why hadn't he just left me alone in a corner? Could it have been because of the promise I had coerced from him? I laughed bitterly at the thought. Such a trivial promise—why would it matter to Mars? Why would I matter? His actions had demonstrated the contrary, time and again.

Yet, Mars was the one who pulled me away from Bong. When I was scared, he was the one holding my hand. Even though he was mad, he tolerated my craziness and helped calm me down when I got too wild. He had stayed by my side to the end. Even when Tarben wrongly blamed him, Mars kept quiet, protecting me by keeping what happened a secret.

Sigh...

I strolled to the desk and grabbed a fresh sheet of paper. Holding the pen, I considered my response. The smart choice would have been a lengthy apology to Tarben. But as I began to scribble, the emerging words were meant for someone else.

You're not Gargamel, no matter how grumpy you try to look... Thanks! - Oliver

I smiled at my silly note and the deliberately misspelled name. Mars probably wouldn't respond. Maybe I was giving him another card to mock me with. Yet still, I affixed the stamp to the envelope and placed it in the mailbox.