I looked down at my hands shaking so much. I enclasped both my hands to stop them from trembling but they trembled even more so I just put them on my lap.
I want to explode. I don’t know if in anger or in pain. As far as I know, I want to scream and explode. I want to release the pain I’m feeling right now because it seems to be killing me little by little.
“Speak up, Rae. We’re your family now,” Maxim uttered.
“I… I was so scared and I don’t know what to do. I-it was so... unexpected…” I couldn’t stop my sobs when I remembered that night again.
I almost went crazy with so much pain and anger.
“I-It was the night when Levi went to the hospital because Mother Mel had a heart attack. H-he approached me all of a sudden and of course… I trusted him! I trusted him and… I-I don't know. Why did this happen to me?” I continued and sobbed hardly.
I was covered all over my face with shame that everyone could see how weak I was now — which I shouldn't be, but I couldn't do anything!
“But why didn't you tell us right away? You should have spoken right away,” Uncle Saldy said to me again so I was shaken.
"S-sorry, uncle… I'm so scared and… and he said no one would believe me once I speak up," I replied tremblingly.
Suddenly Levi stood up again and cussed violently multiple times.
“Fuck it! Why did you believe in him instead of yourself? You should’ve told me right away so that I could have broken his face early! And one more thing, someone saw it, Astraea! That’s why I found out because someone told me!” He shouted again and cursed again and again.
I bit my lower lip when I heard that. I couldn't answer again because I really couldn't. My chest was so tight that I couldn't even speak.
Later, Maxim leaned over me and I felt her caress my back.
“I understand you, Rae, for not saying anything at first. That idiot will pay for what he did to you,” she whispered to me.
“And why did you rush to him right away? We can file a case against him without him piercing you, Levi. Well, it looks like you've already beaten that man," I heard Uncle Saldy preach to his son.
Levi laughed sarcastically.
“Who wouldn’t do that, Dad? I respect Astraea so much then he will just fucking disrespect her? If I could just kill him, I would! That’s why I told you to stop talking to him, Lumiere because that’s who he is but you didn’t even listen,” he said firmly to me so I cried even more.
Why didn't I listen to him? He told me several times to stay away from that man but I did not listen to him. It’s because I was fucking curious about their friendship and why it was over. And now my curiosity put me into danger again. Always, Rae.
“Stop shouting, son. Clean yourself and we’ll talk to our lawyer about this before you are preceded by the Alegres,” I heard Aunt Criselda command him.
When I glanced at Levi, he stared at me for a while and then stared blankly.
“Even if they get ahead of me, I don't care. I can spend my money just to imprison that fucktard,” he said before we were finally left there.
For a few more minutes, the surroundings became quiet and only my faint sobs could be heard. Sometime later, I felt someone sitting next to me. When I looked back at it, my mouth watered when I saw Aunt Criselda.
“Call Attorney Narvaza, hun. Let’s meet him today as soon as possible,” she ordered Uncle Saldy before finally turning to me.
She stared at me until her expression softened completely. Sometime later, she took my hands still shaking to this day.
"These hands are so pure and precious, you need to take care of these so that the tremor can be reduced," she began.
My eyes started to water again because of what she said. I didn’t know how I would react so I just kept looking at her.
She’s still stunningly beautiful…
"If Amalia is still alive, maybe she will be the first to run for you to tell her what happened to you…" she continued. “… But I want you to know that I’m here, willing to be your second mom. Don't hold back everything, he needs to be punished,” she added so I kept crying again.
That same day, we went straight to the precinct to file a case with their family lawyer. I could hardly recognize Noah when I saw his picture when Atty. Alexander Narvaza showed it to us. Its face was cracked. I don’t know if Levi just used his fist to punch him here but it’s hard to recognize Noah now.
His face is ruined.
"I will make sure that Levi will be imprisoned. He ruined Noah’s face!”
I looked at the speaker just because of what she said. My eyes caught sight of an old woman who also snatched up being social and beautiful. I’m sure this is Noah’s mom.
“Your son will pay for everything, aunt. He will never be able to escape this time. If then, he was able to get through his case, now is different, not anymore,” Levi muttered so I just shook my head.
It sat down next to me again. When I looked into his eyes, it was full of questions.
"Why didn't you say everything right away?" He asked me softly
If only it were that easy, I would have told you a long time ago. The case is not.
“I was afraid that you might not believe me because as far as I know, no one has seen it,” I explained to him.
He bit his lower lip and gently licked it while his forehead furrowed as if suppressing his own anger again.
“Why would I do that to you? Don’t you trust me, Rae? Everything you say is accepted and I believe especially in such things,” he replied and shook his head.
I averted my eyes from him because of the conscience I felt. I also don’t know what went into my mind why I thought he wouldn’t believe me. This is Levi, my Levi. Why would I really think that he wouldn’t believe me? Stop it, Rae.
I bit my lower lip.
“What did you do to Noah? Why does he look like that?” I change the subject.
When I looked at it, I was stunned by it and stared at the emptiness.
“I beat his motherfucker ass to death. I was in a meeting when Mira called me to tell me what happened to you. It was good timing because he went to the Empire.” Was his simple answer as if nothing had happened to him.
“You shouldn't have done that, Lev. What if you were imprisoned?” I couldn't help but question him.
It tilted its head to look at me. His eyes were still closed and then he shook.
"That will never happen, Lumiere, and if it does, I can spend my money on him so that he can rot in jail," he replied emphatically to me so I lost all hope of reasoning.
Even before he stood up to visit Alexander because he was about to finish talking to his mom and dad, I immediately grabbed him by the hem of his shirt causing him to look at me.
"What?" This question is rude to me.
“What did Noah do to you? Why did you say he did it before but he just escaped?”
It stared at me for a few more minutes before violently sighing. He stared at me and gently kissed my head then hugged me.
"He almost killed me…" He uttered which made my heart beat faster.
What the hell?