Ink Cursed

Chapter 13

Ink Cursed

Chapter 13

  In the morning, I half-expected my chin to return to normal before I looked at my reflection. Sadly, the other half of the feeling came true. No matter how many positions I take in the mirror, the bruise is still there and still very alive. My jaw hurts even more today.

My whole body is screaming pain. It feels as if I fell down countless staircases of steep stairs. My neck pulses, shooting pain throughout my body.

My eyes are red, and it looks like I’m having a hangover. When Sam wakes up, she’s going to look horrified. Even I’m getting scared looking at myself.

The early morning includes singing birds and bright light. I close my eyes and allow myself to enter a serene, calming environment. All I’m asking for is a second. . .

“Morning, Kam,” Sam mumbles, waking up. I walk over to the bed and sit on it. “What time is it?” She stuffs her face back into my pillow after looking straight at the sun.

“Too early,” I whisper back, smoothing her hair down with my fingers. Her locks feel so soft and healthy. Her face is that of an angel’s with its stunning features. “Do you feel okay after all that junk last night?” She raises her finger and keeps it there.

“Junk talk or junk food?” I laugh.

“Food. The food.” Her finger falls, and she yawns while stretching. When she’s about to reply, she freezes as we meet eyes. “What?” Then I remember about my physical appearance. Oh, no.

“What the hell happened to your face, Kam.” I don’t answer. Instead, I look away and step off the bed. Sam gets out of bed too, looking at me again. Her eyes study my face. “Did you pick a fight last night after I fell asleep?”

“Sam, it’s nothing. I got it wh—”

“Chase? He did this to you?” I crease my eyebrows, mumbling a “no”. “Then what happened?”

“I hit myself last night. No biggie.”

“You’re hiding something from me.” Oh, yes I am. I shake my head, looking perplexed. She crosses her arms across her chest. “And I have the right to know.”

I huff and grab my hair. What am I supposed to do?

“Sam. I’m sorry. It’s something I can’t tell you, but please understand.” If I were Sam, I would slap myself upright in the face. Her eyes aren’t calm but demanding. She turns away from me quickly and tugs on her jeans. “Sam?”

“Can we please not talk right now?” My heart breaks. Sam has never told me something like that with such a sincere tone. I let out a breath. She continues to groggily stuff her belongings into her backpack. She stashes her pajamas in there too.

“Where are you going?” I pout, feeling like a wreck.

She zips up her backpack and looks me in the eye. “Home.”

She leaves my room, and I don’t like this feeling at all. I can’t tell her everything, but she doesn’t know that. She doesn’t know anything. As she walks away, I start to maybe think that it’ll be better if she just walks away, leaving me be. This way I can keep the secret to myself.

It’s depressing to see her close the front door this weekday morning. This ink-cursing is breaking me and Sam’s friendship. I turn back to my room, giving up. It seems the only person I have left is Chase.

Surprisingly, Jared picks me up for school. I attempt my best smile and best mood even though it’s quite hard to in this state. His car is heated and his face straight.