Black

I caressed the embroidery and didn't care about my tears racing to fall. I hugged the scarf tightly. Why does it feel like I missed a big chance earlier to hug him? Probably because I don't know when will I gonna be able to see him again.

I lie down in my bed and face on the wall near me. I checked my phone to see if he texted me, but I didn't receive one. I sighed and smiled bitterly.

If ever he'll be staying there for good... he can meet someone better than me. He's way too kind, good-looking, and wealthy enough to catch someone's attention. And if that happens, then there'll be no more Atticus bothering me, texting me, and chasing me.

But if he'll be back...

Whether he'll be back or not I need to make up my decision. Which one do I really can't lose? The cruelness of Molly or him? But who am I kidding?

The latter would always be the answer.

"We'll gonna missed you, Dad." We hugged our dad tightly. Today is his flight back to his work. He leans on me and kissed my forehead. "Please watch your mom and siblings for me." He said, caressing my hair.

"I will, dad." I chuckled.

We wave at him as he gets inside the taxi. I even saw him wiped the side of his eyes before closing the door of the taxi, which made my heart overcrowded. We then head back inside the house after he left.

"Ha!" Olivia sighed. "Tomorrow's back to school!" She sat floppily on the couch.

"Oh, school!" Nathan's eyes dilated like he forgot we'll gonna be back at school starting tomorrow. He sighed and headed upstairs quietly.

I already checked his grades last time because mom always brings up his grades every time he's done something wrong. I was so surprised to see that he has no failing grades. Not even once. That's the time mom realized that she's been fooled by Nathan's classmate who told her about it once in the supermarket she's working.

But what makes me rampant about is that after mom knows about it, she just shrugged and said 'good for him. She didn't even think that she has to say sorry to my brother because she hurt him. The words she was throwing before cuts deeper than a knife.

"Seriously, Sienna? You still aren't gonna talk to me even after Christmas?" Mom scoffed.

I acted like I didn't hear anything from her and started to prepare breakfast for my siblings. I take out the milk from the ref and pour it into the bowl of cereals.

"Sienna, talk to me! What do you want?!" Her voice raises a bit.

"I will. But you have to say sorry to Nathan, Mom." I calmly said despite the anger I had inside of me.

"Why are you so overreacting?" She scoffed. "It was just a mistake. He's still young. He doesn't care about it. I'm sure he already-"

I closed my eyes emphatically and turned to her. "Whether he's young or not! Or whatever you're thinking, still you should apologize to him!"

"Are you fighting?"

Olivia suddenly appeared in the kitchen, causing me to stay quiet and walk towards the dining table to place their breakfast and mine. None of us in my mom answered her. I eat up my breakfast as fast as I can and headed to school right away.

I took my seat once I got inside the classroom. I pulled my bottom lip between my teeth as I remembered Atticus. I wonder if he's not back yet or not going to be back again. I took out my phone to text him.

But...

"S-Sienna," Daisy with her trembling voice and pale face, stood up in front of me.

"Oh, Daisy?"

"I-I just want t-to apologized for e-everything I've s-said that day." She looked down, pressing her hand together like she's too nervous right now. I reached for her hand causing her to jumped a bit in shock and rose her gaze on me.

I swallowed hard as I remembered her words that time. It wasn't easy to bare though but forgiving someone after they did something on you is a big relief. It's like you're having stone inside your heart but once you forgive someone whether something he's done is that big or not, surely it'll make your heart light-feeling.

"It's okay. Forget about it." I smiled at her.

She looks at me with eyes dilated in surprise and unbelievable. I just nodded at her. I took out my phone. Whether I'm gonna admit it or not, there's a part of me hoping to see Atticus text today. But I got dismayed when I didn't saw one. I was about to type a message to him when I noticed that Daisy is still standing in front of me.

I looked at her. I scowled when I noticed that her haze aren't on me. It was actually outside of the classroom. She's pale and even trembling while looking there. I followed her gaze and narrowed my eyes when I saw a man with a black hoodie just turned his back. When she noticed that she was still standing near me, she panicked and apologized again. I just watched her, tilting my head wondering why she's acting strange.

I took a deep breath and bit my lower lip as I continue to make my way to Atticus' classroom just to check if... he's back. If this is my usual day, I'd be on my way going back to the house, but since it's not, then here I am. I gasped when I saw his friends stepped out of their classroom. I bit my lower lip as I tried to watch them one by one hoping to see Atticus.

But he wasn't around.

Is he not around or he really stayed in his mom's country for good?

I covered my mouth and ran out on the campus. Tears pooled in my gaze. The more I ran, the more the tears get heavier to bear. I stopped running when it started to fall. I catch my breath as I placed my hands on my knees, bowing a bit. I shook my head.

This isn't a good place to cry!

I ran again only to be almost hit by a car. I closed my eyes emphatically. I heard a long and sharp automobile horn, enough for me to think that the driver was really mad because of it.

What a bad day-

"Jesus, baby, what do you think you are doing?" Then arms wrapped around me.

I don't know how we managed to escape the chaos. The only thing I know is that we headed inside his car. He handed me a bottle of water.

"Are you alright? Are you hurt?" He asked fastly. I just shook my head and gulp the water.

I looked at him unbelievably. I felt the edge of my eyes heated as I felt happiness inside of me shouting. I let it fell and the moment he saw it, he panicked.

"Baby, what's wrong? Where do you feel hurt? Should I drive you to the hospital?"

He started to engine his car. He was about to reach the gear when I held his hand to stop him. He looks at me with eyes dilated. I moved closer to him and hugged him tightly. I felt him stiffened when I did that, but it doesn't stop me.

"I..." I sob. "I thought... I'm not gonna see you anymore."

Then slowly, I felt his arms wrapped around me. He started to caress my back gently.

"I-I'm so sorry for the pain I've caused." I loosened up in our hug and looks at him straightly in his eyes. "I can't afford to lose you too." I weakly said and rested my forehead on his shoulder.

"Shush, baby," he caressed my back. "Damn, you're making my heart explode." He chuckled.

I felt him kissed the top of my head repeatedly. While we're hugging each other, black cloth in the backseat caught my attention. My lips parted when I realized that...

The man I saw outside the classroom earlier was... him?!

I moved backward. "Y-you're the man with a black hoodie-"

He leaned forward to me, leaving just about an inch between us. "Yeah, it was me. Remember when I told you that I'll protect you no matter what? I failed to fulfill that, that time when she humiliated you." He huskily said. "But still... I was able to do something."

I just looked at him unbelievably.

"I'd do anything for you, baby." He said huskily. "If I have to die for you, I will not hesitate to." Then he leans and kissed the tip of my nose.