Words

Never Forget (part 2)

As the wind gently touched her cheeks and made her feel a little bit cold, she walked pass through the street again. The same place and at the same time... hoping that she would be able to meet him again.

She asked herself. "Why do I need to see him?"

She took a deep breath when someone hugged her from behind. Her eyes widened with shock. Maybe this someone behind her is a rapist. She closed her eyes, waiting for something to happen. The truth is, she do not know what to do. She do not know how to defend herself.

What will she do?

"What, is that it? You're not going to react? What's with that defense? Wait, do you even plan to defend yourself?" says Raphael, confused.

Her eyebrows furrowed, when she realized that Raphael is just trying to prank her. "What the hell are you doing?" says Samantha, annoyed as she tries to free herself from his hug. "You nearly killed me!"

Raphael chuckled. "Sorry, sorry. I didn't mean to. But I'm really prepared of the injuries that will be coming from you. I thought you would defend yourself."

They both fell silent, Raphael still hugging her. "Don't tell  me you don't know how to defend yourself," Raphael says, breaking the awkward silence.

"Why do you care?" says Samantha, coldly. "Let go of me."

"No, I won't. Unless you tell me the reason why you're always wandering here in the dark every night," Raphael says, smirking.

Samantha paused for a second. "If I tell you, you would let go of me?"

"If that's what you want, I will," Raphael answered.

"It's because... it's peaceful."

Raphael knitted his eyebrows. "So you go out here in the dark... ALONE every night because it's peaceful? Samantha, you are inviting trouble."

Samantha smiled a little. "I've been doing this for quite some time now. Nothing happened. Unless you are the trouble, Raphael."

Raphael blushed when she called his name. It's the first time she called him using his name. And they are actually having a conversation which is not really normal. Samantha do not talk much in school.

Samantha felt awkward when Raphael isn't responding anymore. "Uhm, Raphael? Can you let go of me now?"

Raphael came back to his senses and did what he promised. "I'm... sorry. I was just taken aback because you suddenly called me by my name," he said, embarrassed.

Samantha was about to say something when her phone rang. She looked at Raphael for permission and he nodded. She fished her phone from her pocket and answered it immediately. "Samantha! Where the heck are you?!" Her brother asked, panic was written all over his voice.

"I'm near at the playground, why? Is there somethi--" before Samantha could finish what she's saying, her brother cut her out.

"It's mom! She collapsed! We're here at the hospital now! She's at the emergency room..." His voice trailed off. She could feel his brother's frustration. "Damn it, Sam. I don't know what to do anymore. Come here, quick." His brother ended the call before she could say anything.

And, for the first time in her life, she didn't know what to do. It gave her a shock. If only she stayed. If only she didn't leave her mom.

Her hands began shaking, her face pale. Her throat is dry and she even forgot how to breathe. "What should I do? What should I do?" she croaked, tears are urging to fall from her eyes. She didn't even notice that someone is looking at her.

Raphael looked at her with amazement. It is the first time he saw her troubled face. But then, he remembered that he shouldn't be doing that but rather, he should try holding her hand. And so he did. Her hands are shaking as he reached for it. He interwined his fingers with hers and gripped it hard so that she would come into her senses.

Samantha was taken aback and didn't know how to react. "Everything will be okay. You will be," Raphael whispered in her ears.

That's when Samantha felt so secured and knew what to do. "I need to see my mom," she finally said and looked at Raphael with determination. "I won't show my mom I'm weak. I don't want to make her worry."

Raphael grinned. "Then go. If you want, I'll go with you."

She will never forget this moment. "Raphael," she called out.

"Hmm?"

"Promise me you won't go away."

Raphael smiled. "Promise."