Violent Love

Chapter20: Behind his dark smile

THICK CLOUDS COVERED the firmament with the wind gently flashes through my skin when I enter the grocery store for our supplies.

Luckily, I am able now to go at the City with Jared's permission. Everything seems to be normal, though.

While picking some organic fruits and vegetables as well, someone calls my name from behind.

"Ms. Sanderstorm?"

Sounds familiar. Turning around, Ms. Vargas is standing there with her eyes filled with mixture of worries and shock.

I smile at her and push my cart to come closer to her. "Ms. Vargas?"

"Are you fine?" she asks, examining my whole.

"Fine? Of course, I am fine."

She looks at me for a couple of seconds as if she is progressing the word fine in her head.

"Would you mind go in a café and let's have some little chats?"

***

Ms. Vargas or Alleli and I stay in a near café just three blocks away from the grocery store.

"So, I heard the news," Alleli begins, sipping her cappuccino. "Jared and you are official, aren't you?"

My eyes stretch so wide, then  shake my head when I twitch my lips into a shy grin. "Well. . . it sounds, yes."

Of course, I won't tell her what happened between us. On how Jared chased me and almost send me to my death. Although, I have little hope that someone may help me to get away from him, I don't understand myself for not telling her. It feels like, it is not needed anymore.

"How's Mr. Leto?" she asks; eyes are firmed and steady.

Clearing my throat, I scoot on my seat and put my arms with fingers clasped together. "Hmm. . . he's fine."

"Does he hurt you?"

Straight forward eh?  "I beg your pardon?"

"Come on, Olivia." Her tone became serious with those eyes carefully darted upon me. "I knew Jared so well. . . I can tell."

"What?"

"Just tell me."

I swallow the bile that forms in my throat and furrow my eyebrows for the though that Ms. Vargas knows something—I don't.

"The truth is. . . Jared loves me. . . he swears," I retort, gluing my eyes on hers. "But, it's just for once. . .he did hurt me for once."

It was a lie of course.

"Come with me, I can help you," Alleli says when she holds my hand; her voice is somewhat soothing.

"N—No. . ."

She frowns. "W—Why?"

"I can't. . ."

"He's not a safe person."

I look away when my gaze becomes restless. "Well, he can, if he tries."

"You should, Olivia. . . you should."

I push the strand of my hair over my ear while  releasing a frustrated sigh. "Look, Ms. Vargas. . . could you please be straight to the point?"

Alleli leans her back against her seat and speaks, "Jared and I were couples before."

I gulped.

"Before I became Principal— at this age— Jared used to be my boyfriend. . . at first, he's so sweet and gentle as every women want. I loved him, yes. . . I did love Jared. Until one day, it felt like my nightmares waved towards me," she exclaims, crossing her arms with a knitted eyebrows like if she brings every pieces together.