CHAPTER 44: THE CALM AFTER THE STORM

THE GIRL WHO CAN’T DATE

By Eleventh

CHAPTER 44: THE CALM AFTER THE STORM

2017

“IRA!!!”

Maggie whined as soon as she enters the hospital room, went to check on Ira who is now conscious and sitting well on the bed, and pitied her for the wounds on her head.

Eros was standing in the corner, leaning on the wall with crossed arms.

“I’ll leave you, girls, alone. I’m just gonna be outside.”

As soon as the door closed behind Eros, Maggie whined again, giving Ira a tight hug and shoving her head in her armpit.

“Ow! Maggie, my head! I got wounds there!” Ira complained.

“Oops, sorry!” she replied, letting her go immediately. “Hnnggg! Ira!!! I can’t believe this terrible thing happened to you!”

“I’m fine, Maggie! You don’t have to overreact.”

Maggie stood straight and looked at her friend exasperatedly.

“I am not overreacting, Ira. I am deeply worried about you. You could have died in the hands of that psycho.”

Ira felt Maggie’s genuine concern. She held her hand and gave her a reassuring smile.

“I’m fine now. And safe.”

Maggie grabbed a chair and sat on it. Then she clasped Ira’s hand and with her puppy eyes, she said, “I’m glad that you are. And I am so proud of you for going the extra mile for your students but sometimes… I think you’re a little crazy.”

“Oh, right!” Ira’s face turned to panic when Maggie mentioned the word students, neglecting her comment about her being crazy. “How is Carlos? And Tristan? Are they okay?”

“Yes, they are. We managed to find Carlos’ grandparents and they are looking after him now. Did you know? That after all this time, his grandparents have been estranged from Carlos and his mom because they never visited them once nor invited the old folks to their home? The truth is, that psycho, Mr. Doroja, has been threatening him that he’s gonna hurt them if he tells them about the abuse. He even told lies to Carlos’ Mom about her parents. And, Tristan’s family is determined to put Mr. Doroja in jail. Unfortunately, he escaped.”

Ira was saddened. “If that psycho is still out there, then that means we are not completely safe.”

“You don’t have to worry about that. Tristan’s family was so kind to get Carlos and his old folks some security guards to watch over them. And I have some good news, by the way.”

“What is it?”

“Carlos might be admitted back to Grayson Academy. They’re talking about it. And also, you and Skye are granted leave until the break is over.”

Ira rested her head on the pillow, closed her eyes, and smiled. She has been yearning for rest and finally, it’s granted earlier than expected. They only had a week of rest during the semestral break but to have an additional week, she felt favored.

“By the way…” Maggie continued. “Did Adrielle come to visit?”

Ira looked down. Not even his shadow she didn’t see. She also doubts that he knew what happened to her. That night she stood him up and felt bad that she even forgot to message him.

Ira shook her head gently.

Maggie’s eyebrows crinkled.

“Does he know?”

She shrugged her shoulders. Maggie felt bad and thought that she shouldn’t have brought it up when Ira looked dismayed.

“I think I have to go now. You need to rest.”

“Thank you, Maggie. I appreciate that you came!”

"Gotchu, girl!"

As she was leaving, Ira called her again. "Hey! You're still staying at my house, right?"

"Uh-- erm. Is that alright?"

"Of course! Your parents aren't home yet. It's not safe for you to be alone at your house."

"Right. Thank you, Ira!"

Maggie bid Ira farewell. Eros who was outside waiting with his usual stance met her at the door. His presence was so overwhelming to her as always that she stood there stunned.

“Everything alright?” he asked.

“Ah… uhm, yeah! Ev-evwithing’s awright!” Maggie stuttered.

"Are you going home? At our house?"

Maggie blushed. "Y-yes!"

"Can you wait for me? Let's go home together."

"W-what? How about Ira?"

"Orion is coming."

Eros entered the room and closed the door, sneering at Maggie’s reaction.

"Why so smiling, bruh?" Ira wondered.

“Your friend, Maggie... she's adorable.” He said without pocketing his smile as he leaned on the wall again with crossed arms.

“Eros, I'm warning you. Stay away from her.”

“Why? She seems nice.” Eros replied, very confused with his sister.

“Of course. she is. And she's too good for you.” Eros laughed but Ira stayed serious. “Eros, please. Play anyone's heart but Maggie's.

“You're worried for nothing, little sis.”

Suddenly, the door opened then a limping man entered through it.

“Where are you going?” Ira asked her brother.

“I'm going home. Rion's coming to take the shift tonight. And, you got another visitor. I’ll give you two some privacy.” He said with a wink. Then he turned to Skye with a sour face and said, “Dude, can't you wait till you get better? Look at you having a hard time walking just to see her! Do you miss her that much?”

Skye, dazzled with Ero’s words, looked at him with crinkled eyebrows.

“What are you talking about?”

“I’m talking about… love!”

When Eros muttered the word, he teased the young man with a smile. Skye’s face turned red and so is Ira's.

“STOP SPEWING NONSENSE, YOU CRAZY PUNK,” Ira shouted, throwing a pillow that hit Eros’ head. But her brother just laughed as he stepped outside.

“Please don't mind my brother. He can be very crazy sometimes. How's your leg?”

“It still hurts but I'm doing fine.”

A long silence embraced the two. Ira looked at how in pain his leg was and felt guilty. She blamed herself for what he had been through. If she wasn’t crazy just like what Maggie said, if she hadn’t been reckless and impulsive in going into the house, if she had only waited for the policemen… if she did not let Carlos go, Skye and Tristan, even Carlos, wouldn’t have been hurt.

It was her who put their lives close to death.

“I'm sorry I dragged you into this.” Teary-eyed, she muttered.

His eyes were filled with benevolence when he looked straight into her gaze. Then, he laid his eyes on the wounds on her head, and gently, his fingers traced them.

“When I saw that man drag your unconscious body on the floor like you were a sack of garbage… while your head was bleeding,” Skye closed his fists very firmly. Then his voice began to break and bowed his contrite face. “…I am so disappointed with myself. How could I stay in the dark hiding? Why was I not there to protect you? Why didn’t…”

Ira clasped one of Skye’s fists and comforted him. “Couldn’t protect me? What nonsense are you talking about? You saved me, Skye! If it weren't for you, what worse could have happened to us? To the boys? To me? You saved our lives.”

Then she lifted up his head and reassured him with a smile. However, though he finds her words comforting, he doesn’t feel deserving.

“Come to think of it. You always save me. You always do. Have I ever told you I'm thankful for you?”

Skye finally smiled. “Even if you don't say a thing, I know you are.”

“You're obnoxious. You're brutally honest. And you're always right. And I hate you for that hahaha. But I am very… very thankful for you.”

“Were you hit hard on the head? I mean, look at you getting cheesy.” Skye laughed.

Realizing that she had been holding his hand for a long time, she immediately took it and scowled at him.

“No, I’m not!”

“Yes, you are!”

“I’m not!”

“You are. From now on, I’m calling you cheesecake!”

Ira’s eyebrows crinkled to ponder on the word cheesecake, finding it rather cute than irritating.

[Cheesecake, huh!]