WHAT COMES AFTER THE END OF THIS

Chapter 33

Chapter 33

Yrene's  PoV

After my command that allows him to come in, a very down looking Raymond enters. I save him the trouble of having to start the conversation by posing a question towards him,

"What is it now Raymond, come to warn me again?"

"What? No! I-"

"You what?" My eyes are slowly brimming with tears as I realise yet again how he has in a manner breached my trust.  

"Nene I'm sorry, I should have told you."

"Yes, you should have Raymond! Goddamit!"

"I'm sorry, please forgive me Yr, I swear I tried to talk them out of it. I really did. Trust me."

"Trust you Raymond? Are you for real? Have I not already suffered the hurt and other consequences of trusting you already?"

"No, Yrene I know that inside even you know and understand that I did try to fight for you!"

"Don't tell me what I think Ray!" 

For the umpteenth time that day my voice breaks and a lone, traitorous tear slides down my cheek. I know he fought for me, after all he was my older brother and in many ways like a father to me but I was just extremely hurt that he didn't tell me when he had the chance that day and it seems to me that he has chosen to be our father's or rather mother's son that day before he chose to be my brother.

 
"No, Yrene, I apologised to you that day too, I promised you I would protect you and I did try my best to do just that."

"Then why did you not tell me Ray? Why?"

"Yrene-"

"Answer me Raymond!"

"They-they um...threatened me that-"

"That what?"

 Now I am confused, what did they threaten him with for him to not tell his sister the outrageous decision her parents had made about her life.

"That they'd separate Michelle and I if I told you beforehand." 

He hangs his head low in what appeared to be shame and I am too shocked to form a proper sentence, shocked that they could stoop so low, shocked that they threatened to snatch their own child's happiness. But I shouldn't be shocked, they stole my happiness and free will too. Did they not? 

My anger dissolves into nothingness and no words are needed between us as I reach out and hug him tightly as he strokes my hair and cries silently into the crook of my neck and I know that they are tears of desperation more than those of sorrow; a desperation for my forgiveness.

"I'm sorry Yr, you're my sister and I hurt you. I'm sorry that they put you through that and I'm sorry I couldn't change their minds. I'm sorry that their manipulation partially convinced me too."

I loosen my grip on him,

"How? How did they convince you that Jason was the right choice for me?"

"Not necessarily them but Jason himself. I know the boy, Yr, he's a good kid and I know he'll never hurt you or do anything to you that will break you." He places his hands on my shoulders, "he'll protect you. I know he will."

I know he is hiding something from me and I have not seen him meet Jason when my parents were out of town. Then how can he say all those things about Jason? Jason Dawfield, the ultimate playboy, how can he say that he'd not break me?

Some piece of information is missing from what he has told me and I can see this in his eyes that were shifting continuously in their orbs. 

"Ray...he's a playboy. You know that right? How can you say he won't hurt me?"