Chapter 11: KISS IT BETTER
IT'S A SURPRISE HOW HE MANAGES TO MAKE HER HATE HIM MORE WITH EVERY PASSING DAY
**LAYLA || NOW**
His hands are calloused, with his veins slightly bulging beneath the skin, reflecting a lifestyle that involves hands-on work or physical strength. Layla remembered the reason Kirill and Zaley went to that abandoned building last night. She could imagine him killing a man with the same hands that were now protecting her daughter. The nurse rubbed the spot where the needle pierced his skin, giving extra attention. It has been...what...ten seconds? The nurse is still rubbing his skin. He released an exasperated breath. His face never hid the annoyance, and that made the nurse quickly finish her work and step back.
Raya explained the process to Zaley and the necessary precautions he needed to take during the surgery. They made him sign the consent document and Layla held her breath until the agreement was finalized. He could step back any moment. A mere signed paper wouldn't stop him.
"It is nothing to worry about, Mr. ..." Raya paused.
"It's just Zaley." Kirill who has just joined them told her.
"Yeah, Mr. Zaley. We collect some of your healthy bone marrow tissues, usually from your hip bone. And it is given to Lilly, helping her body to produce the blood cells she needs to get better. You need to spend 3-4 days in the hospital after the procedure. You will fully recover in 2-3 weeks."
"What about the girl?" He questioned Raya, surprising everyone. "What's her name again? Sprinkles?"
"Lilly," Layla answered him.
"Who in their right name will name their daughter, sprinkles?" Kirill muttered from behind.
Layla flushed, feeling embarrassed. That was the nickname Leon gave her. And she gave her daughter the same nickname. It wasn't just a name. It was a phase in her life, a phase of happy moments, and she stupidly believed that little things like this would make her life better.
"It will take several months for Lilly to fully recover," Raya told them and both the men looked blankly at her, feeling nothing.
How is it possible for a heart to become steel, and to kill and maim? They buried a man yesterday and they met her daughter today. The fact alone made her want to hug her daughter and run far away from the city.
"Let's talk," Zaley ordered her, walking out of the lab. His movements are swift and she has to run to catch up with him.
Soon, they both started to catch attention and once again, Zaley stood like a stone like he never cared who photographed him.
"Can we go inside and talk?" She said, hiding her face from a girl who is shamelessly recording both of them on her mobile.
Zaley glared at the girl, and she hurried back from where she stood.
"You can't just glare at people and expect them to vacate the entire place."
To her horror, Zaley exactly did that, his hands shoved into his pockets, and people managed to empty the hospital lobby in two minutes.
"What the...!" To say that her jaw dropped is an understatement. "They are overreacting." She murmured to herself.
"Mamma." She heard Lilly say.
The little girl is rubbing her eyes, looking at her surroundings in confusion. "Where is everyone?" Then she opened her mouth and stared at Kirill in those big blue eyes.
"Two big mans." She said, resting her hand on her chest.
"Men." Layla corrected before she picked her daughter up in her arms. "I told you to stay in your room."
Lilly tilted her head to see Kirill. " I want to see big men."
"Follow me," Zaley ordered again and Layla had no choice but to follow him to his car.
"Can I become that big?" Lilly asked her mom.
"Yes."
"When?"
"When you get better."
"When will I get better?"
"Soon."
"She talks a lot for someone who is so sick," Kirill commented making Layla glare at him.
Kirill did the same until she looked away, focusing on Zaley's broad shoulders and the way he walked with so much confidence.
Once they reached his SUV, Zaley stood there without speaking anything.
"What?" She questioned him, looking at her surroundings. "Why do you bring us here?"
"Just stay here," Kirill ordered her.
Lilly's whole attention was on Kirill's long beard. Like she said, that man is built like a hulk. He is as tall as Zaley but in personality, he is bulkier.
Layla turned her daughter towards Zaley so that she wouldn't do anything that may or may not involve her little hands, grabbing Kirill's moustache. At first, she didn't understand why he brought them there until the worst had happened.
Across the lot, standing beside a Porsche, was Jeremy. Time has changed him; the sharp angles of his face are now softer now, but his presence sent a shiver through her body. Memories flooded back, vivid and uninvited - dark night, cruel words, and a fear that had consumed her.
Layla's heart raced when Jeremy's eyes spotted her. She instinctively tightened her grip around Lilly as if she could protect her just by holding her. The little girl shifted, tension Layla's tension.
"Mamma?" She touched Layla's face with her little hands, pulling her back to the moment.
Jeremy looked at her, confused before he recognised her face. She took a step back, every instinct screaming for her to run. Her back hit something hard. Warmth engulfed her.
Jeremy's eyes widened in apparent shock. Now he is not looking at them. He is looking at something or rather someone behind her. She turned back to find Zaley smirking at Jeremy.
So, it was all his doing. He wants to see their reactions and he got one. Layla stood there, helpless, and weak while Jeremy cursed something and left. She blinked the tears away and her voice shook when Lilly asked her what happened.
"Nothing. We are leaving." She told Lilly, giving Zaley a death glare before she left against Kirill's orders. Bastard.
*
She couldn't erase their touches no matter how much she rubbed her skin. Her skin became red, and it started to swell. But nothing will ever compare to the swell in her heart. How could she do that to her? Then again, that is what she agreed to. Sooner or later, she has to meet Jeremy to do whatever the twisted plan Zaley had in mind. But she wasn't ready.
All she heard were her own screams and Jeremy's evil laugh. It has been years since that night and the memories are fresh like they happened yesterday.
Sitting in the shower, she wept like that eighteen-year-old Layla; always alone and helpless. She has no one to depend on. She fought her battles and she felt tired.
"No more." She prayed to no one. "No more, please. I can't do this anymore."
She hugged her knees, remembering the days when Leon was there. She was seventeen and someone touched her inappropriately. She sobbed in his arms because she didn't feel safe in her own house.
"It's okay, Sprinkles." He told her in a soothing voice.
"I will erase their touch. I will kiss it better."
And he did kiss her everywhere the filthy bastard laid his hands on her. He erased their touches until all she remembers is him and his touch.
"Kiss it better." She whispered to herself. "Please." And she imagined him, a shadow of the past, beside her, taking her in his arms.
"It's okay, Sprinkles." The shadow said. "I am here. I am here for you and our daughter."
She tilted her head, kissing herself on her shoulder, something Leon used to do as a habit. It wasn't enough. It was never enough. She needs him here as much as she needs air.
"I couldn't breathe her." She told the shadow. "This city is suffocating me."
"It's okay. I will take you away from here. We will go to the mountains." The shadow said before it disappeared as fast as it came.
"Mamma. I am hungry." Lilly knocked on her bathroom door.
"Coming," Layla shouted back before she stood up on her shaky legs.
She wiped her tears, scrubbed her skin and practised her smile before she went out. Lilly is watching the Television, lying on the couch.
"Let us eat." She called her to which Lilly smiled.
"Are you alright, mamma?" Lilly questioned her.
"Mom just has a headache."
"Let me kiss it better," Lilly said, giving Layla her little hands.
Tears brimmed in Layla's eyes and she hugged Lilly. Lilly hugged her back before she collapsed in her arms.
"Lilly," Layla screamed.