Curious

58

"All done." Laila smiles sadly, pecking Juan's cheek gently. "Thanks for saving me." she wraps her arms around Juan's neck tightly. Tears slowly stream down her cheeks when he squeezes her tightly. Aww, he's giving her one of his good hugs. She definitely needs it.

"No problem." after a few more seconds she pulls away. "It's the least I could do after how nice you've been to Adrianna and I." he smiles.

She stands and wipes the corners of her eyes. "Come on, let's get out of here." she looks around the room. "It's so dull in here." 

Juan and I both follow her back into the fresh air and warm breeze. "Juan!" the group of men who helped stop the fight gesture for him to go over to where they are, Laila's dad is behind the bar and the other two men in front. "Come have a drink with us, amigo!"

He looks over at me. "Do you mind?" 

I quickly shake my head. "Not at all. I think I'll go on a walk with Laila." I look over at Laila and smile.

He kisses my temple. "Con cuidado, bonita. Call me if you need anything." 

I nod, pushing him towards the men who are still waiting for him. "Go." I laugh, rolling my eyes. He sticks his tongue out at me before jogging over to the group of men. I turn my attention to Laila. "Lets go on a walk by the ocean?" I ask, taking off my sandals and holding them in my hands.

"Mmhm." she nods. "You guys are probably the best people I've ever met." she laughs after we've been walking for a couple of minutes.

"Yeah?" I ask in amusement. "You're pretty great too." I nudge her with my shoulder. When she winces I remember the huge bruise that's already forming on her arm. "Shit, I'm so sorry!" I cringe at the pain that must've caused.

She shakes her head. "You're fine. You forgot." she shrugs, looking down at her feet as we continue to walk.

I stay silent contemplating whether or not I should ask all of the questions that are racing through my head. "Hey, Laila?" 

"Yeah?"

"Why do you let him do it?" I know I don't have to elaborate on my question, I know she knows what I mean.

She clears her throat. "Uh, I don't know. I thought I loved him and that because I loved him, I should just let it happen. I don't think I love him anymore though, at least not as much as I did when the violence first started." she nods. "So I left him. And then he begged for me back, again and again."

"How many times has this happened?" I ask. "The leaving him and then going back."

She lets out a sigh, shrugging. "I've lost count. Maybe four or five times?" she sounds unsure about her answer. 

"You take him back because you love him?" 

 "Pretty much. He guilts me into taking him back by saying he swears he's never gonna do it again, that he loves me more then anyone in this world, and I believe him. But he just makes me feel so shitty about myself, I know I cant keep doing this to myself. I'm done with him this time." she nods. "Yeah, I'm seriously done this time."

"I really hope you are, Laila. I've only known you for such a little amount of time but it's been enough to let me know that you deserve so much better." I nod. "Anyone deserves better then that, actually."

She sniffles, nodding. "Yeah, I know. I've actually been talking to this guy, he's so great. He's really been helping me get over Kael." even though it's dark, I can see that from the little light the moon is providing for us that she's smiling. "We're not talking anymore right now, actually. I told him that it isn't fair for me to be leading him on when I still have feelings for someone else." she shrugs. "He says he'll wait for me and then I tell him not to, but I know he will."