~●Alleisa's Point Of View●~
As I went into the school compound, I realised how silly I'm behaving. First crying for a boy who doesn't even know me and then falling into the arms of a boy whom I'm not even that close to do so. I must be really out of my mind. I let myself off guard in front of people yet again when I was used to control my breakdowns, but what happened that I let myself get caught off guard in front of Van? What has made me fall into his trance? Questions were running through my mind at much faster pace than my pulse. I'll have to train myself better, hit myself over and over again until I can bear the worst. Because the irony of this world is weaker people weaken more and stronger people strengthen. For me, I cannot show off my weakness to the world, I cannot let people take advantage of it. I know Van would never take advantage of my weakness,but what if other people around us did? I'm always insecure of attacks like this because you cannot control them, people will just come and make fun of you and then go like nothing happened. And that is what I cannot afford to bear. As an introvert, I'm always stuck in my mind and always find it difficult to share feelings and talk them out. I often tend to overthink things over and over again and thus I fall into the vicious cycle. It feels like my brain is a whole another person who controls me but in reverse I do not have any control over it. Breakdowns are signs that show off my vulnerability at its peak. I need to catch hold of my being and try to make it more sane. Today was just a mere warning that this might happen often in future and I need to resist it. Anyways, Van calmed me a lot today. I do not know if it was a moment of impulse or something but at that moment I could think of nothing but hugging Van and embracing his warmth. I felt like pouring so much out after so long, I never had cried in anybody's lap or shoulder and this was my first time. There was that feeling of an unfamiliar warmth and care, that I literally melted at his arms. I must have soaked his shirt, how silly am I? He must have thought that I'm out of my mind or something. But how did he know I was here and crying on my own?
_________
I went for the rest of the classes. I was later relieved to see Robin all treated in his injured places. He must have fought a lot. I felt my heart clenching in pain but I let go of it. I had a more important task that is to thank Van. At the end of the day, as I was exiting the school gate, I found Van in the student parking lot. I called him out gently, "Van..." .
He immediately turned my way and beamed lightly. I took my steps towards him and approached him, "So, I wanted to talk about the event that happened in the noon, I..." . b
Before I could finish my sentence I was interrupted by him, "Alleisa, you really need not to be sorry or feel embarrassed of it. I thought nothing of it and what I did was just a gesture of our friendship."
"No I'm not here to apologize to you but thank you. In that moment I must have been kind of intimidating, but I never happened to ever feel this way. You were the first one in front of whom I let myself breakdown and fall into your arms. Since childhood I never had anyone to lay my head in their shoulder or lap to cry, but this was the first time I cried in someone's arm and I felt so relieved and relaxed. I want to really thank you for being there for me and supporting me in my weak times. I really appreciate your gesture", I explained and smiled gently at him.
He was startled, as if he was not expecting me to say this words. I gently patted his shoulders and started walked away as I heard him, "Thank you Alleisa, for letting me be the first person in whose arms you had cried upon.Thank you for understanding that I'll always be your side and thank you for feeling the way you did", he said as I turned back to look at him. His look has softened and his eyes convey strong determination and gratitude, but of what exactly? I don't know but someday maybe I will. But then it suddenly hit my head, so I asked him "By the way, how did you know I was there in the playground bench?"
I could see the question caught him quite off-guard.
"I just saw while having lunch that you were running out of the school compound crying so I went to check if you were alright", he replied.
He actually cared to check on me when I was worried. That made me really emotionally and my gratitude for him increased twice as much as of that before.
"Thank You Van", I muttered emotionally. I guess it was inaudible to him.
As we parted and smiled to each other to take turn in our respective way, my phone ringed and I picked up the phone. But it was an unknown caller. I still picked it up and as I heard my Uncle's worried voice, my heart starts beating at an alarming rate.
"Alleisa, it's me your uncle. I'm calling from the City Hospital's telephone. Please hurry over here, your father is admitted in the Critical Care Room".
As those words reached my ears, the phone dropped from my hand. Van saw that and rushed over to me. I started panicking and crying,
"No, no this could not be real. He has to be fine. I'll have to go now", I said to myself.
"Where do you need to go and why?", enquired Van.
"To the City Hospital. My father is admitted in Critical Care Room"
"Then I'll take you there. Get on my car quickly."
At that moment my father was much important than anything so I agreed and then drove off to the City Hospital.
Please Dad hold on, I'll be right there. I cannot afford to let something happen to you.
I'll be there for you.