Suddenly, Hera's pace slowed down, and Eric looked at her questioningly. He followed her gaze and found Clara White speaking to a girl. She was standing in their way, and as soon as her eyes fell on Eric, she quickly tried to move away. In her haste, her foot faltered, and she fell, her books scattering on the ground.
Hera rushed forward to offer help. It was more of a reflex. But soon froze on her spot and retracted her hand. Hera turned around to look at Eric. As she'd feared, she found him glaring at her with his jaw set in a hard line. His fingers tightened around the strap of Hera's backpack on his shoulder. He too was rooted in his tracks. Biting her lip nervously, Hera pleaded with her eyes.
His chest would expand with every intake of breath, and Hera could tell how angry he was.. Despite all that, Hera took her chance and decided to help her ex-best friend.
Hera crouched down, and with a little hesitation, she touched Clara's elbow to help her onto her feet. But it seemed to be a mistake. As soon as Hera placed her hand, Clara shrugged it off very rudely and took the other girl's help instead. Though the rejection stung a little, Hera didn't mind it and helped her pick up the books. With gritted teeth, Clara muttered in reply, "Don't pretend as if you care."
Before Hera could say something, Clara snatched her books from Hera's hands and briskly walked away, but not before casting one last look at Eric.
"Are we done?" Hera heard Eric snapping in anger and silently followed as he walked past her. The silence felt suffocatingly uncomfortable. Hera realised she couldn't afford to upset him at the moment. But she didn't know how to wield the situation without triggering his temper. To her benefit, Eric spoke first.
"You need to learn how and where to limit your charity, Pixie. Why do you even bother when you know how she's going to react?" He asked, scolding her in a disapproving tone. Hera glared in return. "Well, can I blame her, though?" She asked rhetorically. Eric came to an abrupt stop and looked her in the eyes. Every trace of softness gone now, he looked dead serious.
"Pixie, you're breaking the rules, and it'll only bring you trouble. Don't test your luck, especially for that girl. She's not worth it," he stated and resumed his walk. Hera sighed in annoyance. The tone he used to say 'That girl' irked Hera more. "Do you know something, Eric? You're her first crush. She liked you, as in not like a silly teenage crush. She liked you like crazy," Hera revealed only to get zero reaction from him.
'Why do I even bother?'
Hera shook her head in disappointment. It was all in the past, and she shouldn't be eating her poor brain over this now.
'Clara must hate him now as much as he hates her. You were to blame Hera Hunter.'
Hera scowled at herself. She couldn't deny that truth.
"Rest well, Pixie and don't waste your time thinking about worthless people. We'll speak about it tomorrow. Remember your promise," Eric said after dropping her to her room. Hera held his hands in hers and thanked him for understanding. "Please promise me you won't tell him, right?" Hera asked nervously, tone unsure. Eric inclined his head once in response, his eyes dropping to her hands.
Hera didn't miss how his gaze darkened with anger. His eyes seemed apologetic for something he's not responsible for. Hera feared he might change his mind and tell Hunter.
Kissing the crown of her head, Eric asked her to stay safe and left.
First thing Hera did after entering her room was to shower. She cleaned herself while wishing to wash out the memories as well. She didn't go for dinner that night. She wasn't ready to face Hunter yet. Her friends asked if something was wrong and she faked a headache. Because revealing the truth wasn't that easy. And what could she have said? That one of her best friends attempted to molest her or forced himself on her?
Could she even go for the word molester while addressing the issue about Andrew? It didn't feel right to accuse him. Sure, he was at fault, but Hera wasn't angry at Andrew. She couldn't blame him because she's familiar with the pain of heartbreak. He wasn't evil or immoral as a person. He was hurt and wasn't in his right mind, and Hera had already forgiven him for hurting her.
It's the curse that broke her heart. She couldn't forget what Andrew had said, that she would never find her happy ending, that she would lose Hunter because of his curse. The thought of losing Hunter again scared her.
'How will I survive if his curse came true?'
Hera crawled under the comforter and snuggled deep into her pillow. She pretended to be asleep when her friends asked her to go for dinner.
LATER AT NIGHT, somewhere around ten o'clock, the door handle rattled twice, then a few seconds later fingers rapped on the locked door, an impatient rhythm of a rat-a-tat. Hillary, Hera's sixth roommate, a girl with a medium height, opened the door. Her surprised gasp was loud enough to miss, and Hera heard it.
A few seconds later, she took Hera's name, calling for attention and informed that she had a visitor.
Alarmed, Hera jumped out of bed and ran to the bathroom to fix her eyes, or hair or whatever on her face could give away the truth, she's trying so desperately to cover up because she knew, who's waiting on the other side of the door.
'A visitor at this hour means, it's undoubtedly Mr Hunter.'
When she checked the mirror, for sure, her hair was a mess, and she managed to tame it to some extent by running her fingers through it. She splashed water on her face to soften the swell of her red-rimmed eyes and blew her nose to be on the safer side.
She remembered to check if the long sleeves of her night attire, a baby blue, floral pyjama set managed to hide the bruises on her wrists and thankfully it did. Wiping her face in haste, Hera made it to the door.
She smiled as wide as she could when Hunter's angelic, beautiful face came into view. She pulled the door shut behind her before placing her palms flat on his chest. Hunter quietly laughed as she pushed him, forcing him to walk backwards until his back touched railings behind him.
"I could guess what you're here for, but still I'll be polite and let you explain yourself," Hera said, standing on her toes to greet him with a soft soundless kiss on his cheek. Hunter smiled when she sniffed, inhaling his scent. He noticed her bare feet when she pulled away. But didn't have the heart to scold her for her carelessness at the moment. She looked tired enough to make him want to take care of her.
"You didn't come for dinner," he stated, scowling in disapproval. Hera playfully rolled her eyes. "I wasn't hungry and didn't I say I was tired? I slept off," she reasoned before feigning a compliment that he disturbed her peaceful slumber.
"Come with me," he said, and Hera nodded without the slightest hesitation. She moved a foot away and made a dramatic hand gesture to imply an 'After you.'
Annoyed, Hunter sighed tiredly. She didn't even think of going back inside her room to put on a slipper. Shaking his head in disapproval, he bent forward before placing a finger on his lips, signalling her to be quiet. But Hera still managed to squeal in surprise when he lifted her into his arms in bridal style. It was cold as ice outside, but he made her feel warm. Hera wrapped her arms around his neck, resting her head on his chest.
'Home, sweet home.'
She closed her eyes, enjoying the warmth and sighed in satisfaction while he walked to wherever he's taking her.
A few minutes later, Hera felt him placing her on a cold bench, and she opened her eyes to find themselves in the school's prayer hall. She smiled at the small crucifix above her on the wall and joined her fingers bowing in respect. That small prayer hall held so many beautiful memories.
Before she could walk on the path of those memories, a rustling sound beside her demanded attention, and Hera turned to see Hunter, taking off his black jacket, revealing a round neck, full-sleeved olive green plain sweatshirt inside. He gestured to her to stand up, and she obeyed as he placed the jacket around her and helped her put it on.
Hera smiled in gratitude. It's a blissful feeling to know he'd come prepared to keep her safe in the harsh cold. A knowledge that no one ever cared for her more than he does.
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