Hidden Hurt

Be mindful of what you see and say; it might hurt others and leave you with regret and sadness.

Laughs filled the sitting room where mock jokes and unserious conversations created an atmosphere of joy and happiness. "Why did the scarecrow win an award? Because he was outstanding in his field!" one of the guests joked, causing a burst of laughter. The situation seemed enjoyable, but Mia was in her room, her fingers trembling as she repeatedly checked the CCTV footage. She had a small hope of finding some useful information. Her eyes were wide, darting back and forth across the screen, her posture bent toward the laptop.

Mia's heart raced with a mix of worry and excitement. She zoomed in on a shadowy figure in the corner of the frame, but it turned out to be nothing. "Why can't I find anything?" she whispered to herself, frustration evident in her voice. She found nothing yet again, and with a sigh of defeat, she slumped onto her bed. Her eyes were full of worry and confusion as she embraced her pillow, trying to calm down.

The sound of her mama's laughter drifted into her room, momentarily breaking her tense focus. She reeled at the peace it brought, smiled, and said, "Mama, please smile more and don't worry. I will do the rest." She became emotional, clutching the pillow so tightly it was almost about to burst.

Mia mumbled to herself, Mama's friends came to keep her company. Haha, they're turning our home into a bar with all the noise. Haha, she laughed quietly, shaking her head. With a silent determination, she climbed off her bed and tiptoed towards the study room, seeking a quiet place to think. Her movements were slow and deliberate, her mind a whirl of confusion and silent resolve as she closed the door behind her and sat down, staring at the wall as if it held the answers she sought.

Sara bumped into Jack and tried to greet him with a handshake, as it would be a long time before they saw each other again due to the half-holiday their campus had given him. Smiling, she said, "Hello, J..."

Jack brusquely brushed past her, his shoulder slamming into hers, leaving her in a confused and annoyed state, questioning why he did what he did.

Alex, on the side of the road, observed them intently, his eyes narrowing with suspicion. He noticed Jack avoiding her but couldn't understand why. The girl, whom he didn't know, seemed all over Jack. He wondered if she was Mia. The situation became more complicated when Sara hugged Jack. Alex, now spying on them from behind a nearby tree, smirked as he walked away with the false impression that Jack liked the girl he was standing with and hugging, even though the reality was different.

As Alex put on his headsets and left, doubt gnawed at him, his mind racing with angry thoughts. After he had gone, Jack remembered to shake Sara's hand off him. He turned with an annoyed and enraged face, his eyes blazing with fury. He roughly pushed her away, his hands shoving her shoulders, causing Sara to stumble back. Fear flashed in her eyes, her stare wide and desperate, searching for answers on Jack's face. Jack, with his expression hardened in anger, didn't bother to say a word. He left, his footsteps echoing in the growing darkness, the cold night air settling in as streetlights flickered on.

It was about 7:00 PM when Jack returned to his dorm, only to find Sara waiting for him. He glared at her with disdain, his fists clenching at his sides. "What are you doing here?" he snapped, his voice dripping with irritation. Sara stepped back, her eyes wide with fear and confusion, but she couldn't find the words to explain. Jack pushed past her without a second glance, leaving her in the cold, unbothered by her presence.

Alex breathed in deeply, his heart pounding with a mix of fear and anger. He thanked God that they didn't seem to like the same girl, but doubt lingered. Was the girl he saw with Jack truly Mia? Holding his chest, he could only hope they were different people, but the fear that his worry might be true made his heart ache intensely. As he walked away, the cold night and the dim streetlights cast long shadows, mirroring the darkness and uncertainty that filled his heart. His fists clenched at his sides, Alex's mind raced with the fear of loving the same girl.

She is not the one I have a crush on, Alex said, trying to ease his worried face by mocking himself with a laugh. But it only worked halfway.

 Alex took the elevator, pressing the buttons with a sigh of relief, hoping his worries would dissipate. As the doors closed, his thoughts continued to swirl. Finally reaching his apartment, he still couldn't shake off his anxiety.

Alex's POV:

I only saved her that night, and now I can't find her anywhere. How will I see her again, God? he wondered, staring at the cold, starry sky. He smiled, remembering her face covered with hair. Even in that state, she didn't want to be helped. Foolish girl, how could she be so foolish and cute at the same time? How did I only see her at our breach? She was the only girl that caught my eye, but I also don't know how. He laughed at his thoughts. Ihave to find her. Will I even manage? She ran away from the hospital before recovering, he chuckled, feeling a mix of worry and excitement. His blush spread across his face, warming the cold night air around him. He stared at the sky, recalling her face and smile, his heart racing with the memory. Tapping on his chest, he felt a sense of hope and determination growing within him.

End of Alex's POV.

Mia was reading a book and making plans to leave their home for somewhere safe. Her priority was to keep her mama safe and happy. Sadness hit her when she heard her mama's laugh. Mama had already made good supportive friends who were even ready to protect her yesterday. She became confused, not knowing what to do.

She stood up and went downstairs, determined to meet her mama's friends, but unsure of how they would react. They looked so alike; it seemed they were twins. No, it was her youthful mama's self, which confused many people and made Mia want to hide herself.

On the stairs, she heard them saying their goodbyes and leaving. However, Mary stayed behind, looking puzzled. She asked if Rosey was okay but stopped mid-sentence and headed out. Then, she paused and hugged Rosey.

"If you need a friend, talk to me," Mary said in a calm, sweet, and light voice. She then went to her home, waved at Rosey, and shut her door.

Rosey was confused by Mary's actions.

Hey mama, close the door and don't worry too much. She only wanted you to feel safe and cared for. I think she saw me burning Papa... what have I said . Mia panicked, her eyes froze, her body shook in terror and worry towards her mama. Sorry, I went out and I burned them all, the ones I found in the TV room, Mia explained, worried, searching her mama's expression, her heart racing in fear, hoping she didn't hurt her mama.

My child, it's late. We should sleep, her mama said, smiling and trying to shake off her worry but failing. She turned back and headed to her bed upstairs, her body shaking so much that she lost her balance but recovered before Mia reached her.

Mia felt a wave of regret for bringing up her father in front of her mama and causing her pain. Guilt weighed heavily on her as she followed her upstairs, ready to be a shield in case her mama lost her balance again. Her worried face and open hands followed her mama's every step until she entered her room. Mia stood by the door for some time, then headed to her own room next door with a heavy, guilty heart. She tapped hard on her chest, crying silently, making the room feel unbearable. Eventually, she walked towards her mama's room and slept on the doorstep.

........