My Hater, My Lover (Book One)

Chapter 32 - Too many tears in one day (Miguel)

The doctor said, I was lucky, I had no broken bones, just really bruised.

 "Do you want to press charges?" he asked.

I shook my head. I was going to get revenge on my own terms. 

 I sat on the examination table, and pulled on my shirt.

"Don't tell my mom," I said. She had already worried enough.

 "You should tell her, you know," Robert said, leaning against the wall.

I shook my head. I went to my pocket and realized with a sinking sensation, my phone was gone. It must have fallen out.  I stared glumly at Robert.

 "Don't...just don't say it," I said, my fists clenching white.

 Robert just looked at me with his serious brown eyes. "Not so glamerous is it now? Dating an ex bully? It was only a matter of time before your past caught up with you."

 I finally snapped. "What do you want to hear? That you were right? Cuz you're right! You're always right!" I yelled. I was so angry I couldn't even look at him.

 I felt a hand on the top of my head. I felt Robert pat my head several times.

I raised my head and Robert could see my eyes brimming.

Robert grinned. "Yes, I wanted to hear I was right."

 I coughed and laughed, as tears came down my face. God, I hated Robert sometimes...

 "Don't cry," Robert said, patting my head again.

 "I can cry if I want to," I puffed.

"Cry then. That's why you got your ass kicked today. You gotta toughen up. What do you think would have happened if I hadn't shown up? Good thing I happened to change my mind and went to martial arts class," he said under his breath.

 I was silent. 

"Eron keeps things from me," I finally said.

 "I doubt that's your biggest worry right now," Robert said. "How about we figure out why those losers came back to find you, first."

 "I dunno. That short girl said that I was blacking mailing Eron...I don't even know how they knew I came to our school."

 Robert was thoughtful. "That many kids used to pick on you? Jesus..."

 I shook my head. "I didn't know who that kid was, the one with the red dyed hair."

 Robert raised his eyebrow and laughed. "Now you gettin picked on by strangers? How unpopular were you back then?"

 I grit my teeth. "That's not funny. I've never seen that asshole before in my life- No wait, yes I have! He works at McDonalds!" I exclaimed.

Robert looked surprised. "That's the Miguel I know! Okay, let's wait till you get better, and then let's beat that punk till he squeals."

I blinked. 

Robert was scary when he was on a mission. Usually I would say, that's wrong to hurt others but not this time. I was done being a punching bag. If that little punk had answers, I wanted them.

I nodded my head. Revenge was a dish best served cold.

Robert took me home and explained to my mom that a sparring match had gotten out of hand and that's why I looked as messed up as I did.

My mother scolded me, telling me I wasn't allowed to go back to martial arts class. I didn't have any energy to fight back.

"Thank you again, Robert, for always taking care of him," my mother said, smiling gratefully at him.

 "Don't mention it, Mrs. Lopez, someone has to take care of him," Robert said, winking at me.

I blushed. I quickly told myself, it's only because Robert looked so cool as he saved my sorry ass. I was just so grateful for all this help.

Robert left and my mom and I sat in the living room.

"Miguel, Mi Hejo, what's going on?..." she asked, worriedly. "Is school being hard again?" she asked, not able to bring herself to ask if I was getting bullied again.

 I shrugged my shoulders up and down weakly. My ribs and chest still hurt.

 "Mom...I..."I wanted to tell her, I had fallen in love with my own bully and it was causing me more pain than I could handle alone.

 "Yes?" she asked, worriedly.

 "I can handle it," I finally said. She looked heart-broken and disappointed.

 "Last time you held it in, you almost left me alone. Mi hejo, you're all I have. Please don't hold all the burden by yourself. If you need to move schools again, there's no shame, we can do that. We can seek police help, Mi hejo, you don't need to feel afraid," she offered desperately.

 "Mom-" I said strained. "Mom, it's not like that. I'm just having a lot of drama at school, but at's all. Really. Do you believe me?" I begged, my eyes searching hers.

She smiled sadly. "Yes, you know I believe you," she said, stroking my hair. Her hand paused over my eyes.

"Let's go put some ice on that face of yours. You don't need to go to school tomorrow if you don't want. I'll be at work, just take the day off and relax at home". I nodded and followed her to the kitchen. My mom put ice on my eye, and I started to cry.  She said nothing but held me and let me cry.