Chapter 22

Laura's POV.


"The thought of the situation kept echoing painfully in my mind, and my stomach growled loudly, a sharp reminder that made me clutch my abdomen to try and ease the discomfort. 'Is this cramp?' I wondered, quickly scanning my calendar with a sense of dread. 1, 2, 3,... I groaned in frustration, realizing my period was due again. The familiar aches and pains shifted to my lower back, feeling heavy and oppressive."

"My loud scream from the room echoed through the house, alerting my aunt in the kitchen. "Laura, are you okay?" she asked, her voice filled with concern. She called out again, "Laura?" but I remained silent, the pain washing over me like a flood of memories from my past."

"I'm fine, Aunty," I replied, my voice strained, "just a bit of sour pain in my abdomen." I burrowed deeper into my duvet, trying to escape the discomfort. But my phone's ringing tone cut through the air, a harsh reminder that I had skipped class because of Clara. The ringing stopped, only to start again, and I groaned in frustration, "Ouch..." I buried my face in my throw pillow, the pain and annoyance overwhelming me.

"Aunty, can you please get me some pain relievers?" I called out, my voice muffled by the pillow. "Of course, dear," she replied, her footsteps heading towards the kitchen. "I'll get you some ibuprofen and a heating pad."

I nodded, even though she couldn't see me. I heard her rummaging through the cabinets, followed by the sound of water running and a microwave beeping.

"Here you go," she said, entering my room with a glass of water and a steaming hot water bottle wrapped in a towel. "Take these and try to relax."

I sat up, taking the glass and pills from her. "Thanks, Aunty," I said, downing the pills and handing the glass back to her.

As my aunt left the room, I closed my eyes and focused on my breathing, willing the pain to subside. It slowly receded, leaving a dull ache in its wake. I knew I had to confront Clara eventually, but for now, I just wanted to escape into a pain-free world.

Just then, my phone vibrated on the table, shrill and insistent. I hesitated for a moment before answering, my movements slow and deliberate as I reached for the phone and dragged myself up to lean against the bed cabinet. Hello?

"Laura, Laura," the voice called out again, twice, as if trying to rouse me from a trance. I remained silent, my mind racing to place the voice, but it refused to trigger any sense of recognition or humor. The silence stretched out, heavy with anticipation, until finally, the voice spoke again, its tone laced with concern.

"Laura, please answer me! Are you okay?" The voice was laced with worry now, and I could sense her frustration at my silence.

I took a deep breath, trying to gather my thoughts. "I'm fine," I said finally, my voice flat.

There was a pause on the other end. "What's going on, Laura? You're not yourself. Did something happen?"

I hesitated, my hand instinctively brushing my hair behind my ear. "Who's on the line, please?" I asked, trying to sound calm despite the turmoil brewing inside.

There was a brief pause before the voice responded, "It's Frank, Laura. I'm sorry for hiding my identity earlier. I know I shouldn't have, but I needed to talk to you without you hanging up on me."

My heart skipped a beat as I froze, my mind racing to process the revelation. Frank, the last person I expected to hear from, was on the other end of the line, apologizing for his deception. My thoughts swirled with questions and emotions, leaving me speechless.

"What do you want, Frank?" I asked finally, my voice guarded.

"I want to explain," he said, his tone sincere. "I know I hurt you, Laura. I was a coward; I couldn't stop Clara from saying those hurtful words to you. But I need you to know that my feelings for you are real. I was just so scared that you would keep rejecting me."

I scoffed, my defenses still high. "Save it, Frank. You had your chance to be honest with me, but I don't want to be your mate, Luna."

"I know I did," he said, his voice heavy with regret. "But I can't move on without making things right between us. Can we meet in person? Please, Laura?"

My anger boiled over at his persistent pleading, and the memory of Damian's rejection was still fresh in my mind. "Frank!" I screamed into the phone, my voice loud enough to make him flinch. "I don't want to see you around me; stay away from me! Don't ever call me again!" I slammed my finger onto the screen, ending the call abruptly.

The silence that followed was deafening. I was breathing heavily, my heart racing with anger and frustration. I felt a sense of satisfaction at having stood up for myself, but also a lingering fear that I might have just made a mistake. I tried to shake off the feeling, telling myself I was better off without him. But the memory of our conversation lingered, refusing to be dismissed.

A surge of anger coursed through me, and I shot up from bed, my movements sudden and jerky. The sheets were stained with blood, a stark reminder of my pain. I stumbled, my vision blurring, and grasped the cabinet to steady myself. My fists clenched, and I slammed them into the wall, the sound echoing through the room.

The outburst was cathartic, but it also sent a shockwave of fear through my aunt, who rushed in, her face etched with worry. She enveloped me in a tight hug, holding me close as I trembled with rage and frustration.

"Laura, Laura, it's okay," she whispered, her voice soothing. "Let it out, sweetie. I'm here for you."

I buried my face in her shoulder, the tears finally flowing as the dam broke. The pain, the anger, the frustration—it all poured out in that moment, leaving me spent but somehow lighter.