Clash Of Crowns I: Shadows Of Love And Sacrifices.

XIX || Worried

Please note: This story may contain errors and grammatical mistakes. Your understanding and patience are appreciated as this is a work in progress.

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AIESHA'S POV

Three days had passed since Maxine and her friends had been absent from school, kala nga namin nag drop na sila sa school dahil sa nangyari.

Kaya nagulat kami nang pumasok silang apat kanina sa classroom at tahimik na umupo sa upuan nila.

Lunch came, and I sat with Yves, Shee, and Solace in the cafeteria, picking at my food but barely tasting it.

"Ok ka lang ate aiesha?" tanong sakin shee na nasa tabi ko lang.

Napatingin naman sakin yung dalawa kaya tumango na lang ako bilang sagot dito.

Habang kumakain kami napadako ang tingin ko sa field, dito kasi sa pwesto namin kitang kita ang kabuoan ng field.

I felt my heart drop as I watched the scene unfold. The boys surrounded Maxine and her friends.

Pero sa itsura nila maxine parang wala lang sakanila na pinalilibutan na sila ng grupo nila jeremy.

Nakilala ko yung leader nila dahil sa loob ng three days na wala sila maxine kami ang kinukulit nila, pero wala namang pumapansin samin sa kanila.

Dahil ayaw rin ng girls.

I could see Cole smirking, Gian rolling her eyes, and Skye cracking her knuckles, but Maxine... something was different.

Her usual cool confidence was there, but there was a strain in her movements, a hesitation that was barely noticeable but present.

"What are they doing?" Yves asked, her voice low as we all watched from the cafeteria.

"I don't know," I muttered, standing up. My instincts were telling me something was wrong. I had to get closer.

Just as I went out from the cafeteria, the fight broke out.

Maxine's friends moved like trained fighters, effortlessly blocking punches and kicks, throwing their attackers to the ground without breaking a sweat.

It was almost impressive how they fought with such precision, not a single movement wasted lahat yon ay tama sa kalaban nila.

But Maxine... she was struggling.

Nung una hindi ko napapansin kung bakit nag pipigil siyang kumilos nang sobra sa pakikipag laban, napansin ko na lang na parang pinoprotektahan niya yung tagiliran niya, at dun ko napansin na may dugo na sa damit niya.

My breath caught in my throat. She was hurt. And not just hurt, she was bleeding. Badly....

My heart raced as I watched her fight, each movement slower, more pained than the last. Why was she even out here? Why was she pushing herself like this when she wasn't okay?

I couldn't stand by any longer. My body moved on instinct as I ran across the field, ignoring Yves and the others calling after me.

I could hear the shouts, and the grunts of the boys as they continued to fight, but all I could focus on was Maxine.

Without thinking, I yelled at the top of my lungs, "Stop it! Somebody call the professors!"

I ran straight toward Maxine, my eyes locking onto the blood seeping from her side. She was still fighting, still throwing punches, but her movements were sloppy now, and I could tell she was in pain.

"Maxine!" I shouted, grabbing her arm and pulling her back, ignoring the startled look on her face. "You need to stop!"

Pero nag pumiglas pa siya hanggang samaan ko siya ng tingin at dun lang siya tumigil at napahawak na siya sa sugat niya, she's clearly in pain.

I didn't give her a choice. "Come with me," I ordered, pero bago kami tuluyang maka alis,

Agad na dumating ang mga professor namin at inawat na ang grupo ni maxine at grupo nila jeremy, sila cole na lang ang mga naka tayo dahil bagsak lahat ng mga lalaki.

Hindi ko na sila pinansin at hinatak ko na si maxine paalis sa lugar na yon.

She didn't fight me as I led her away, though I could tell she didn't want to admit how much pain she was in.

I brought her to the back of the school, to the secret place he had found a few days ago the one I had seen her at before. It was quiet here, away from prying eyes.

I let go of her arm and spun around to face her, anger and concern swirling in my chest. "What the hell is wrong with you?" I snapped. "Why were you out there fighting when you're hurt?"

Maxine leaned against the bench, pressing her hand to her side where the blood was now staining her shirt even more.

She looked at me with that same guarded expression she always had, but this time, it was tinged with something else, na para bang ayaw niyang ipakita sakin na nahihirapan siya sa lagay niya.

"It's none of your business," she muttered, trying to brush me off, but I wasn't having it.

"None of my business? You're bleeding, Maxine! I could see it from across the field! Do you want to die?" She looked away, her jaw clenched, but she didn't answer.

I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself down. I didn't know why I was so worked up about this. Why did I care so much?

But I did.

I stepped closer, my voice softer this time. "Let me see."

For a moment, I thought she was going to push me away, but then, with a resigned sigh, she lifted her shirt slightly, revealing the blood-soaked bandage underneath.

I gasped at the sight of it. The wound was deep, and it looked like it had reopened during the fight.

"How long have you had this?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

"Three days," she muttered, wincing as I gently pressed the bandage to stop the bleeding. "It's from... before."

Before. Whatever had happened during those three days she was gone.

I didn't ask any more questions. I didn't need to. All I cared about was getting her patched up.

"Stay here," I told her firmly. "I'll be right back."

Nag mamadali akong tumakbo papunta sa clinic at kumuha nang isang box ng first aid kit.

Nang makabalik ako naabutan ko siyang naka upo na sa bench at nakapikit, mahahalata mo sa pag hinga niya yung pagod at sakit na nararamdaman niya.

I sat beside her, at dahan dahan kong tinanggal yung bandage niya na puno na ng dugo.

She didn't say a word, just sat there, watching me with those dark, intense eyes of hers.

As I finished wrapping the fresh bandage around her waist, I couldn't help but feel the tension between us.

"There," I said softly, my hands lingering on her skin for a moment longer than necessary. "That should hold for now, but you need to take it easy."

Maxine's gaze softened for the briefest moment, and she nodded. "Thanks," she muttered, na halos hindi ko na marinig.

I sat back, letting out a breath I didn't realize I had been holding. "Why didn't you tell anyone you were hurt? Sana hindi ka na lang muna pumasok"

She shrugged, avoiding my eyes. "Didn't think it mattered."

"It matters," I said quietly, feeling a strange ache in my chest. "It matters to me."

She looked at me then, her eyes searching mine like she was trying to figure out what I meant. But before either of us could say anything else, the bell rang, signaling the end of lunch.

"We should get back," I said, standing up and offering her my hand. She hesitated for a second before taking it, and I helped her to her feet.

At sabay na kaming bumalik sa classroom.

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