As Time Passes By

Chapter twenty-four: Months of betrayal

Noelle

February 27th, 2023

These days were tough as fuck ever since the hospital incident happened.

Tables had turned when classmates and schoolmates realized Noah and I weren't friends.

I made a humiliation of myself; sending handwritten letters to Noah saying it was my fault and I should've done better to love him.

I had stopped hanging out with Timmy and most of his friends since they knew what happened to us and why we had stopped becoming the best of friends.

It hurts. It fucking hurts..

I tried apologizing over texting him, but he would just leave me on read and ignore me.

I sacrificed, my behalf was given to Noah. But now, it's motherfucking gone. I lost myself, I lost my own control because of just one guy that I was fucking obsessed with.

Is this who you are now, Noelle? The girl who swore by blood and nature to catch up on her dreams and settling love aside?

Who the hell have I became? Is this really me? Is this really the girl I once was? Have I still known myself by a glimpse in the mirror?

I tossed my keys aside as I walked inside the safe house and entered the study room.

I slumped back to the chair, exhaustion rushing through me. I don't think I can survive being here my whole education.

Not in this situation.

I never knew the Armstrongs were a threat to my family; to my relatives and parents' companies and hard works.

Therefore, I never knew. My eyes were blurred from the truth. I was flung away from the true reality.

My phone buzzed, revealing Kiki sent me a text.

****

Kiki: Hey! It's only 2 days left, and you're turning fourteen. Do you wanna hang out or something? I know it's hard for you since that incident happened in the hospital a month back. And, I just want to comfort you :)

****

A tear escaped from my eye, traveling down to my bottom lip, making me taste its salty taste. Disgusting.

It wasn't only Noah I lost, but also Timmy. The guy who was like my complete reporter since I could remember.

All the things Timmy did to make me and Noah get to know each other more was a permanent mark placed in my heart, reminding the memories of his efforts; now all thrown to the trash bin.

I quickly straighten my composure and make my fingers dance on the keyboard to give Kiki a reply.

****

Me: Sure :) What time?

****

Then, my doorbell rang, making me tense up. I got up from my chair and walked out of the study. My steps are normal but never calm.

It felt like I could see Noah standing out the door, prepared to unlive me once and for all.

I opened the door, revealing Layla, Giselle, Miki, Kiki, Emelia, and the most unexpected person I could lay my eyes on, Rheya.

My eyes widened as I saw the Chinese looking girl standing in front of me. It was Rheya. The girl who vanished onto thin air after she graduated left.

My jaw dropped, and I immediately lunged at her, my arms wrapping her in a tight embrace.

Rheya let out a surprise grunt when I hugged her like a maniac. Both clinginess and desperation were setting in.

"Whoa, whoa, easy there, champ. You're going to squeeze me out of life, woman." Rheya teased, her arms wrapped around me in a response to my embrace.

I loosened my grip on Rheya and invited them all in. But still, the memory and pain I could remember was still fresh up in my mind, making me just want to lose control.

Approximately after six hours, all of them started to leave. Except for Rheya, who insisted on having a sleepover with me for the night.

"So, how are you?" Rheya started, her voice lost in a chinese accent.

I wanted to open up and break down in front of her, but I know it would be making things worse than it ever been.

"I'm fine.." I replied, avoiding her gaze when I noticed my eyes pricking up tears.

Rheya sighed before snaking her arms around in a gentle embrace.

"I heard what happened, Noelle. You don't have to hide it." She spoke up, burying her face onto the crook of my neck.

I couldn't take back the tears inside me anymore, no matter how much I sniffed to hold it back in.

"I can't hold the fact that he knew, Rheya. I couldn't." I sobbed, resting my head on my hands.

"Hey, calm down. We're here. You're here. You're never alone, Elle. Don't forget that." She patted my back, trying to soothe my sobbing.

"I can't, Rheya, even when Nama told me to stay away from him; I can't. I'm fucking obsessed with him already." I cried, tears running down to my chin.

"Do you want to talk about it?" She asked, her voice gentle as ever.

I shook my head, not wanting to make her worry or do something crazy.

****

The next morning were a pain in the ass.

I got up, took a shower, got into my uniform, and left Rheya a note that I already left for class.

The ride was longer than I've ever expected. As if the time stopped in front of me.

My thoughts kept on lingering on Noah. I still couldn't accept the fact that he tried to trick me and use me as a bait.

Will I ever get over it? I guess not..