Scar-Crossed

"I Felt Exposed"

TWO WEEKS AFTER THE INCIDENT

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I was sitting in my room, just thinking about my missing best friend. 

Jaro was ALWAYS there for me. 

Jaro was like a brother to me. No wait, He WAS a brother to me. 

He carried me on his back when my feet were tired, and he always stood up for me when others gossiped about me.

I had to find him. I had to save him...because that is what Jaro would do for me. 

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I ran towards the field to look for Jeni. I knew Jeni would help me find him. I knew she always had a crush towards Jaro. When we were younger, we used to sit in the fields while our parents farmed.  She would always talk excitingly about how much she was excited to turn 18, so she could marry him. She would always brush her wavy honey blond hair behind her ear and wear her best clothes when she was with him. She was always sure to show her scar on her shoulder, but Jaro would always act oblivious to it. Jeni had some idea Jaro didn't share the same feelings as her, but it didn't stop her from being his friend. 

When I approached Jeni she sat on the field somber.  Her hair was messy and undone. It hung flat, it almost looked dead. She wore a wrinkled dress and her socks were dirty. She turned her head slowly and look at me. Her hazel eyes stared at me with deadness. "What", she said. 

"Are you okay, Jeni? I'm so sorry for Jaro and all." 

"Fuck off, Pani." 

"No, really..I'm sorry with what happened to Jaro. I tried to help him. Please believe me, Jeni"

"No you didn't, Pani. That's why he came to me. I helped him run away because you were too scared." 

I quickly sat down to her and asked her if she knew where Jaro went. "Why the fuck would I tell you, bitch? You made it clear to him that you didn't want to help." 

"But didn't you like Jaro? Why would you help him elope when you clearly wanted to marry him?"

"Because I wanted him to be happy. Don't get me wrong. I am really upset. I really am, but I knew this was best for him. He would have never fucking loved me anyways."

"I'm so sorry, Jeni." I embraced her in my arms. She laid her head against my chest. We stayed silent for a couple minutes as I felt her warm tears drop on my light tanned legs. 

"He's safe now", said Jeni. "I can't tell you because it's safer for him and Huro if fewer people know."

"Also, Pani, I think I'm pregnant with Jaro's baby."

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I was sitting with my family during dinner. As I was diving into my warm rabbit stew, my mother chirped up. "Pani dear, you know you are turning 18 in two weeks. I think you need to talk to Rono about the marriage now." My dad and I stared blankly at each other. He cleared his throat and stated he agreed with my mom's decision. Because I felt like I had no choice, I agreed. 

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The next morning, my mother and father left the house to work on the fields, so the cabin was left in my care. Rono knocked on the door. "Deep breaths.." I thought. My mother made me wear my best dress. The light blue dress was itchy, but it was the tradition. My brown hair was pinned back and tucked behind my ears. I took a deep breath in and opened the door. 

Rono walked in. He wore his best farmer pants and his dad's hand-me-down shirt. It hung on him as if he were a skeleton. His skinny, lanky, tall body walked in through the door. He looked at me with his green eyes. His ginger hair was combed back and was wet. He took a goofy smile at me and took out his hand towards mine and shook it. "Nice to meet you, Payni." 

"It's Pani, Rono." 

"Sorry, Pani...Can I look at your scar? I'm curious" 

I took the edge of my collar and pulled it down so her can see my shoulder. He looked intensely at it. His eyes widened as he remarked how amazing it is that the government cut it so identical to his. I winced at his social awkwardness, and I knew in the bottom of my heart that I could never marry this man. I started crying and Rono looked at me with worry. 

"Did I do something wrong, Payni?, I'm sorry if I did."

I couldn't answer him. All I could think about was that I was going to marry him, and there was nothing I could do about it. As I start to cover my shoulder back up, he slaps me hard against the face. I look at him and before I can make a move, he grabs my neck and pins me down. He starts sucking the flesh of my neck and kissing me. I try to push him off, but it's too hard. "Relax, Pani. Enjoy it while it lasts. I get you don't like me, but your feelings don't matter. I matter." He pulls down my collar looks at my breast. He laughs and gets back up. I adjusted my collar while he stares and laughs even more. 

I felt so exposed. 

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I ran towards the field and fell down towards the long grass. I fell on my knees, and then my arms, and then my face. I lied there and cried. I cried loudly and couldn't stop. I felt so jealous of Jaro. I felt jealous that he was probably happy with Huro, not giving a damn about the world. Suddenly I heard footsteps coming near me. I tried to control my loud breaths from my crying, but I couldn't do it. Suddenly a hand reaches out and touches my shoulder. I turn around and we meet eye to eye. He was so beautiful. His bright blue eyes pierced through my soul. His shiny black hair was flowing through the windy night and his smile... SWOON. "Are you ok?", the mysterious gentleman asked. His breath smelled like roasted pine cones. I wanted to kiss him so badly. "Yeah", I replied. 

"What's your name?", he asked with his husky deep voice. 

"My name is Pani, what's yours?"

"Ero."

Who told the police about Jaro's marriage?

What is Jeni going to do with the baby?

Will I marry Rono even though he has no respect for me?

Is Ero to be trusted?

Keep reading to find out...