Melting You Softly (Student Series #1)

Chapter 40

Chapter 40

Even when people have done me wrong, I never wish for their death. Death is not always the payment for everything a sinner has committed— because everyone in this world is a sinner, and death remains our final destination.

For all the bad things I did in life, I'm still doing my best to reflect and repent. I might not be able to seek forgiveness directly from the people I've had inflicted any pain, and I might not be a woman of God, but I go straight to Him for atonement... and to redeem myself.

Years ago, when I saw the mixture of pain and concern in my mother's eyes, my father's indifference and upsetting stare on me, and the disappointment in Raghnall's eyes toward me... I already knew I failed as a daughter and a sister. But that night, when I cut myself, it wasn't yet time for a wake-up call. That's how stubborn I was... and perhaps until now.

They were expecting me to tell them my problem because I belong to a family where discussion is always open, but instead, I hid it from them, formulated a foolish decision, and acted recklessly that I intentionally hurt the people around me just to protect them.

My muse of the past volatilized when a palm landed on my cheek, stinging and numbing it in pain.

"Ang kapal ng mukha mong pumunta rito!" Daniah Wang, Dwight's mother, pointed her shaking finger at me with nothing but loathe in her eyes.

Dumalo sa akin si Harley na kasama ko ngayon sa sementeryo kung saan inilibing si Dwight. Her stance screamed protectiveness as she stood in front of me. My chin almost touched my collarbone to avoid everyone's stares at me.

"Mrs. Wang," she calmly said. "Nandito lang ho kami para makiramay at hindi para gumawa ng gulo. Kung ayaw niyo po sa presensiya namin dito, aalis na lang kami."

"Makiramay?!" Daniah Wang exclaimed with sarcasm. "My son trusted you, Izzy! I trusted you, too, and even let you sleep in our house that night! But what did you do, huh? You framed him up! Ikaw ang pumatay sa anak ko!"

I bit my bottom lip and swallowed the lump in my throat. She's a mother, and I know where her hate comes from. Dwight died, and I think it is only natural for a mother who loves her child to be hostile to someone who brought her son six feet under.

"Mrs. Wang, when will it sink into your mind that your beloved son, Dwight, is not just a kidnapper but also a rapist. Your son ought to be in prison because he's a criminal!"

My best friend's head turned sideways after the crispy slap echoed. Hinawakan ko ang braso ni Harley at hinila siya palayo kay Daniah Wang. Bumaling ako sa kanya nang nagsilapitan ang ilang bisita niya para pigilan sa ambang paglapit sa amin.

May dalawa pang lumapit sa amin para hilahin kami palayo sa nanay ni Dwight pero hinampas nang malakas ni Harley ang humawak sa braso ko kaya agad ding napalayo.

"H-how dare you!" Daniah Wang's voice was still shaking, as if barely breathing, and crying. "If I only knew you were nothing but a manipulative bitch behind that pretty face of yours, hindi ko hahayaang tumapak ni isang daliri mo sa paa sa pamamahay ko! You! Killed! My! Son!"

Harley stirred from my touch, and she was about to snap back again, but my words escaped from my mouth faster than hers.

"I understand that you are still mad at me, Mrs. Wang, but I want you to know that Dwight, your son, had done something to me and to our former classmate, Fatima. Nagkausap na po kami noon pa man nang nasa kulungan na siya at humingi na rin siya ng tawad sa ginawa niya. I accepted his apology, but what about what he did to Fatima?"

I let out a shaky breath. Marahang pinisil ni Harley ang aking kamay na nakahawak sa kanyang braso.

"It is true that I lured him to let me stay in your house that night so it would be easy for the authorities to catch him. Alam ko pong mali iyon pero... pero si Dwight na rin po mismo ang umamin na may kasalanan din siya. He had no choice but to confess dahil marami na kaming hawak na ebidensya laban sa kanya."