Chapter eleven

As the word goes, what goes up always comes back around. Ian's condition started to worsen with each passing day and he resulted to drugs again. When exam period for their year eleven came, the school reunited as expelled people like Ian returned for the exam and on the other hand Toriah. What Ian did to Toriah haunted him. He tried to speak to her but she had nothing to do with him. After everything, they graduated. Not to mention, Ian's moods worsened.

It is now exactly a week since the Toriah's graduated. The scene starts with Toriah and Suge seated at café. Toriah started to associate online until they set up the meeting.

"Hey. You're Suge, right?"

"And you're Toriah."

"Yes. Nice to meet you." For some reason, Toriah doesn't really feel right. She senses something's up.

"Likewise. Alright, am here to talk about someone."

"Ok…" Toriah isn't sure anymore.

"I'm Ian's cousin."

Again, Toriah sees her world trembling down and she starts to pack up her stuff.

"No. Don't leave. Just have a seat please. I promise this is really important."

"Go on." Feeling impatient, Toriah takes her seat and look away.

"Ian really loves you."

"You done?" Toriah full of rage looks at Suge.

"Just listen to what I have to say."

"Oh, so he sent you?"

"Toriah…Ian never sent me to speak for him. The thing is…. his condition is getting worse."

"Really" Toriah chuckles while shaking her head.

"Just get back in his life."

"You're really expecting me to do that, after what he did to me?"

"Toriah…"

"Your cousin played me."

"Calm down."

"How d'you expect me to calm down?"

"Okay. Just forgive him. Right now, I know you're hurt but he's also hurting. Look, just forgive him, please." Suge was done to his knees and helpless. Toriah could also see it.

"Okay." Toriah, not knowing what to do walks away.

Ian hasn't really been doing too well. While the medicine was acting up, drugs also contributed making his bipolar worse. Not knowing what to do, Suge invited Mady over. Seeing his condition, she rushed to his bed and placing his head on her thighs.

"Hey. How you feeling?" Mady, her eyes full of pity looked at Ian's which were half-closed and weak.

"Better." Ian's voice is as weak as he looks.

"It's okay. Whatever happened, we can work it out." Mady sniffs while placing her fingers in his silky, soft hair.

Ian slowly closes his eyes as he falls into a deep sleep and Mady sleeps by his side.

"Toriah…" With Ian's eyes still closed, he manages to mention Toriah's name. Mady wakes up upon hearing Ian mentions the name. He continuously mentions Toriah's name, making Mady panic.

"Ian…Ian…Ian!" Mady screams up Ian's name while shaking him and he wakes up. He seems to be confused.

"It's ok." Mady wraps Ian into a hug, almost crying.

"Fuck, what happened?"

"Nothing. Just forget it."

Mady bumps into Suge while heading to the kitchen.

"How's he?" Suge curiously ask while throwing his eyes at Ian's room.

"He's normal for now but he kept mentioning Toriah. I honestly don't know what to do right now."

"Don't worry. He'll be okay."

"You met Toriah, right? Why didn't she come?"

"She refused."

It is a busy day for Toriah. She is ironing and folding up her clothes. The door clicks open and Hale walks in.

"Your friends are here."

"Am coming." Puzzled of which friends they are talking about; Toriah walks down to the living room finding two unpleasant people.

"Hie." Mady in all smiles gets up from the couch.

"What are you doing here?" Toriah vividly looks at Mady and Suge who is still on the couch.

"Toriah…" Mady places her hand on Toriah's shoulder and Toriah quickly removes it in a not so friendly way.

"Don't touch me." Toriah is evidently full of anger.

"You okay?" Suge gets up and stands with Mady.

"Am fine. Look, I wronged you and I'm really sorry." Mady looks at Toriah, her eyes full of pity.

"Really?" Toriah chuckles.

"Can we talk to you?" Suge jumps in.

"Look at who wants to speak to me." Toriah looks at Suge, all challenging.

"Ian is sick." Mady comments.

"And how is that my concern? You're his girlfriend, right? I have nothing to do with him." Toriah clicks her tongue as she mocks her.

"Ian broke up with me." Mady admits.

"Ok. But I don't care." Toriah places her hands crossed.

"Toriah, don't you get it?!" Mady was starting to lose it.

"Why are you yelling?" Toriah commands. She is enjoying it.

"Mady, calm down." Suge moves Mady from Toriah's sight.

"I have failed." Mady sits on the couch, looking so exhausted.

"What do you want me to do?" Toriah sits down, picks up some clothes and folds them.

"Ian…"

"Look, Toriah. Ian's sick. Since you two separated, he's been on drugs. And these past days he's been mentioning your name in his sleep. His condition's getting worse."

"He's hurting." Mady adds.

"That's your fault." Toriah concludes.

"Toriah, you have to get back with him, please." Suge suggests and Toriah declines the request. They try everything and Toriah gives out a deep breath.

"Okay, I'll be there at six." Toriah can finally see a smile on Suge and Mady's face.

"Are you leaving?" Suge curiously asks as he looks at the clothes Toriah is folding.

"Yeah. But not today so I'll see you."

The sun sets and the moon lights up the evening. The compound is filled with all sorts of beautiful laughter and cheerful moments. Everyone all dressed and enjoying a meal at the Deo compound where a table has been set by the pool. Everything is normal and Toriah can already notice how happy Ian is while standing from a far. Her first thought is that she is not needed there as Ian looks normal. Still debating on whether to walk in or leave, someone shows up.

"Glad you're here. Come on." Suge grabs Toriah's hand and take her to the table. Ian looks at her with no much attention.

"Do you need anything?" Suge asks Toriah.

"Only a drink." As soon as Suge left, Toriah moved her chair close to Ian."

"Hey." She didn't really know what to say to him.

"Heard you were mad at me. You still mad?" Ian looks at Toriah who smiles and shakes her head.

"Not anymore." Toriah almost cries. Seeing Ian look at her in that manner once again has made her heart melt. She has finally forgiven him.

The two wrap each other into a hug. They have a lot to talk about and they chat as usual. Suge brings in shots of alcohol making the Ian get wasted. Toriah didn't take up any alcohol. When Ian got so high, he slept on Toriah lap and started crying. He told her he loved her and he really meant it. Toriah also got emotional and they were both crying. The two fell asleep. After sometime, Toriah got a hold of herself and made Ian some lemon juice to make him sober. She made Ian drink it and he was better.

"You're awake." Toriah smiles at Ian who is laying on her lap.

"What happened?" Ian gets up to sit upright while touching his head.

"You were drunk. You spoke pretty much. Anyway, I have to leave."

"So soon? Look, I meant what I said. I love you, Toriah. I mean it."

"We can only be friends, Ian." Toriah finally decides having a playback of what Ian did to her.

"Look, am sorry for playing you. I don't know what got into me, I never thought it would end like this. Am helplessly falling for you, please." Ian wraps Toriah into a hug.

"I'll always visit you, as a friend."

"Don't you dare forget me.

Toriah starts to leave, all emotional. She bumps into Suge whom she wants to ignore.

"Toriah, wait." Suge walks up to Toriah with a smile on his face.

"What?" Toriah wipes of her tears as Suge walks up to her.

"Thanks man, I don't really know what we'd have done."

"Am leaving next week." Toriah walks away.

A door thuds close, Ian walks in all angry and Suge follows him into the living room. Ian has found out the news that everyone has been hiding from him.

"Ian…!" Suge pushes Ian, trying to get him back to his senses. "What do you think you're doing with yourself?"

"Why didn't you tell me that Ian's leaving?! Answer me!" Ian finally storms at Suge.

"Because she didn't want you to know. Do you have anything to tell her? It's too late Ian, Toriah has already left. You're following a shadow."

Ian pushes Suge, helpless. He doesn't know what to do and he's in a very bad state. Ian just walks away. Moments later, Ian takes a sit and Suge's phone beeps. Before Suge can see it, Ian views the message. It is from Toriah and she is leaving just now.

Toriah is at the backseat with her mother by her side and the driver in front driving. She leans on Hale as she reflects on how life has been. She sighs and gives out a sigh, excited of this new chapter. The two get at the airport. Toriah's phone rings just as her mom is sorting out their papers. She leaves to answer the call.

"Toriah…"

"Hello. Ian, what's wrong?" Toriah notices something wrong in Ian's voice.

"Where are you?"

"I…I'm at the airport. Why?" Now Toriah was starting to panic.

"Come at my home right now. Otherwise, you'll never hear of me again."

"What?!" Toriah's heart completely skips as fear covers her entire body.

"I swear. I'll kill myself."

"Ian, no!" Toriah exclaims in fear as she is about to cry.

"Just five minutes."

Ian hangs up. Toriah returns back to her seat all shivering. She remembers Ian's phone call; it totally haunts her. She later walks to her mom.

"Are you okay?" Hale's smile fades as she notices the sweat on Toriah's head.

"Well, I've forgotten my diary." Toriah tries her best to act so normal.

"Is it really that important?"

"Yes…my results are in there." Toriah was clearly making up stuff. She never told Hale anything about Ian and now was the worst time to say anything as things had already turned bad. Toriah nodes her head.

"Alright. Be here in 30minutes time."

Toriah runs out as though her life depends on it. She gets a hold of the taxi and gives it direction. There's a que on the road and delay is inevitable. Toriah keeps trying Ian's phone just to find out it's off. She tries Suge's phone just to hear it ringing with no response. Toriah tells herself Ian can't die because of her and keeps fighting to get to Ian. After everything, Toriah arrives at Ian's places where she is welcomed by an unusual wind. Terrified…she runs into a living room. She tries to call Ian's name just to be swallowed by quietness. Toriah climbs up the stairs and gets to Ian's room. She slowly opens the room just to be hit by reality. A chilling view of Ian lying in a pool of blood.

"Ian!" Toriah screams on top of her voice with tears freely flowing down her cheeks.