A Journey of Two Night Goers: The Other Moment (Journey Series)

Chapter 9

I brought the street foods that I bought then took a ride and went to EVSU Campus, only to find Flo sitting on the grass, drinking a can of soda probably.

I sighed, "You almost gave me a heart attack when you weren't beside me anymore."

"Sorry." She mumbled.

I looked at the environment. Less street lights, more stars. I actually like it. It's perfect for stargazing, "It's okay. I like it here anyways. I can see the stars."

"Right." She said as she gave me a can of beer while I gave her the street food.

"Thanks." I smiled, "Drinking beer now huh."

"Well, what can I say? This is better than cutting."

Woah! What the fuck did I just hear?

"What?" I was surprised, "You cut yourself?"

She sighed, "Can I tell you a secret Michael?"

What she's implying right now is that she's finally telling me the life she has. I'm quite conflicted, wishing that I won't hear it. But she needs a friend at this moment. I need to listen to her.

"Sure. I'll keep it."

She then rolled up her long sleeves to reveal her arms that were full of scars from cutting.

That was another surprise that Flo pulled to me. But this time, it's not a happy surprise. It was a shocking one.

"That's why you wear long sleeves and jacket all the time." I said, "But why? Why would you cut yourself?"

She sighed, "I saw this girl earlier at the plaza. She was explaining her side, probably defending herself. But none would believe her I guess, especially her family. So she left and cried." I then looked at him, "She reminds me of me. You see, when I was young, I follow whatever my family say. I was prim and proper. Until I realized.... I'm not happy anymore. So I changed into this. But I still follow whatever they told me just... I just changed my preferences, character, and stuff."

"What happened?"

She sighed again, "My half-sister left with her boyfriend, causing me to be the eldest now. All expectations and responsibilities she left were now placed to me. They... they wanted me to change into someone prim and proper like her but... I told them I can still do those responsibilities. Yet, they didn't listen. They just scold me, compare me to her, shit like that."

She then looked at her arm full of scars, "I started cutting myself when it once reached the point where they said the words that were the most painful in my life. I just cut and cut and cut to feel the pain until it wasn't good for me anymore. So I started this habit of leaving. It started from leaving to another town, then leaving to another state, then leaving to another country. This is the longest actually. It usually takes me 3 days before I go back. This will take me months probably."

I looked at her, "Do you still love them though?"

"Of course I do." She whispered with tears in her eyes, "I can't even burst in front of them. It's just.... I'm worthless."

"I don't think so." I said, causing her to look at me. I then tried my best to comfort her and tell her what I think of her ever since the time we met, "You are in fact the coolest woman I've met in my life. You deserve the world, just like anybody else. You're totally worth it." I then looked for a handkerchief but realized that I didn't bring one. I wiped her tears with my thumb instead and laughed, "Sorry I forgot my handkerchief."

"It's alright." She smiled weakly, causing me to smile. I did not just hear her giggle, I also saw her smile. I realized that she was actually hurt. She just needed someone to understand her and those giggles and smiles will come back. So far, I'm doing one hell of a job. And it felt rewarding for me since I helped a friend.

"Like I said, you're totally cool."

"Ya think?" She yawned, causing me to lie down on the grass and pat the ground beside me, offering her comfort cuddle to comfort her.

"You want comfort cuddle? You must be tired from all that crying."

"No." She said but she still lied down on the grass beside me.

"Okay. I understand. Let's just watch the stars then. And then Misa de Gallo afterwards." We then watched the stars and just let the cold wind blow. We remained silent I closed my eyes and smiled, feeling the breeze. It's an honor to help Flo unburden herself from all her problems. Sooner, I drifted myself to sleep.