The Reincarnated

Chapter 12: Love and Hatred

Warning! Warning! Warning!

I feel like a robot going overdrive and burning in intense heat under his gaze. It's quite ironic now that I'm wishing that I was back in my alcoholic state and the world didn't make any sense, but now it's crystal clear that tonight has turned gruesome and deadly awful. At least it was for me.

Everything happened in a flash as I stood there frozen to my place with that dumbstruck expression. There was no stopping Damien. There was no denying the fact that he was really upset. I've never seen him like this before, nor have I thought that I ever will. He was mad and angry... because of me. You've broken him... a voice keeps repeating on my mind and I couldn't stand it.

He rushed in between us and threw a big score on Lance without a single word, which directly sent his face crashing to the ground. He deserved it...he was at fault, you were the victim... my head keeps on defending, but somehow my heart just couldn't accept it. I've hurt him... Deep down, I knew it was the truth.

I noticed people gathering around, looking bewildered at the sudden brawl. Whispers filled the room. Two men prevented Damien from doing further hits on Lance and one of them was Alex. They caught him by the shoulders and muttered words to calm him down, but their efforts were failing. I don't even think that he can hear them at all. His eyes were focused on Lance and to him alone. They were filled with so much disgust and hatred. There's no telling what he could do to him.

You uncaged this terror in him... the voices just won't stop from making me feel completely horrible.

"You bastard!" Damien spat on his face. "Who do you think you are? Huh!"

He wildly pushed the two men away and went closer to his prey. I have to do something...

"Damien, stop it!" I went in between them before he can throw another punch on his face. He stopped abruptly at my interference. I wasn't afraid of the hurt he could do to Lance; right now my mind won't just register any mercy left for that jerk; I was afraid for Damien and what people would think about him.  His actions could destroy him and his reputation. People watching would think he is violent and dangerous because of this rare display and those words are the last thing that you could ever describe him. I knew I had to take responsibility of it.

The look of betrayal in his eyes broke me apart.

When Damien finally turned his attention to me, I couldn't really describe how much hurt and damage I added to his rage. My realization hit me like a canon and I suffered a millennia of seconds from it. He thought I was defending him! He thought I was defending that damn prick who kissed me!

I wanted to protest, but there were no words of apology that could erase the insurmountable agony I've caused him, and something tells me that this scar might be permanent.

He turned away from me and looked back at Lance who was still weak on the ground.

"Don't you ever touch her again," he hissed each word with hints of deadly threats.

Nobody dared follow him when he slammed the door open and went out. A part of me wished to feel his pain and make me suffer like I deserved with his venomous words of his hatred for me, but none came. He left me without a single word and it stung me even more.

The room went so silent that even the background music was muted. A group of men helped Lance up on his feet and took him out of the hall, probably to tend and examine injuries. Now that the two men were out, everyone was looking at me like I was some endangered species in the room. I spotted Jillian with them, looking at me oddly with wide eyes. Even she didn't want to approach me. I saw her went out and follow the people taking care of Lance instead. How did it come to this?