The next day, Mallory looks at the newly polished vase with satisfaction. She wipes some sweat off her brow and checks the list of chores for today. "Alright, next is Axel's room." She stops remembering the events yesterday.
"Why does everyone keeps making a big deal out of our little clubbing yesterday?" She whispers, remembering that Seven even yells at him when they got home. He said it was stupid of her to go out when she's already drunk, to begin with. To be honest, Mallory clearly sees that she's mistaken but she doesn't want to apologize to everyone especially after calling them calling her stupid and idiot.
She starts to clean Axel's room right away. 'Good thing Axel is already out for a movie shoot.' She smiles to herself, opening up a drawer to place some fresh towels. Instead of an empty drawer, she sees a few yellow bottles roll into view. 'Eh! I've seen this bottle before.' She drops the cleaning on the floor to pick up the yellow bottle.
She reads the description label and gets another shock. "These are sleeping pills!" She quickly remembers the times he's hidden something in his pocket. Some nights, Mallory can even catch him eating too many pills in the kitchen. She examines his drawer and sees another bottle, she was about to read the description when Axel asks him.
"What are you doing in my room?" His eyes narrow at the bottle in her hand. "Where did you get that?"
"What is the meaning of this Axel?"
"Give it to me!" He yells. "If you rummage through my stuff again, I won't hesitate to kick you out." The deathly voice made her gulp nervously.
"I-I'm sorry." Axel doesn't say anymore, moving to walk out of his room. There's a nagging feeling that pushes her to ask more but the doorbell rings throughout the house. In a few minutes, Axel came back and holds her wrist.
"Stay here. Don't go out until I say so." He said as his face looks pale.
"What's going on, Axel?"
Axel seriously looks at her, putting his finger between his lips. "Keep your voice down. Don't go out Mallory. I mean it."
She hides silently in her room. "Okay, what is going on?" She puts her ear in the door, trying to listen to their conversation. The moment she hears the front door close, a man starts yelling.
"I heard what happened to Samuel."
"I-I can explain." Axel sounds nervous, the man chuckles before moving closer to him and slapping him hard.
"How can you be so stupid Axel? I can't believe everything you do puts the family to shame."
'What the heck is wrong with this man?'
His voice starts to shake. "I-I'm sorry."
"You should be sorry for yourself, kid." He grabs Axel's hair. "Now tell me, why did you beat the shit out of him? Are you trying to prove you're an idiot?"
The man moves closer to his ear and whispers. "Good job making a fool out of yourself, Axel."
Hearing all those terrible things makes her blood boil but Axel's silence enrages her further. "Come on, Axel. Fight back!" She whispers.
Mallory grips the hem of her shirt tightly, standing up to head for the door but Seven suddenly appears and stops her. "Don't be stupid, Mallory." He spreads his arms in front of the bedroom door.
Mallory tries to push him but Seven stands still. "How can you just stay still, Seven? Aren't you, his best friend? Why can't you help him?" Tears start to form in her eyes, Seven hugs her tightly and covers her ears.
"It's going to be okay. I promise."
"Help him! Please help him, Seven!" She repeats punching his chest. Hearing Axel groan from pain makes her heartbreak especially when she can't do anything but stand like a fool. Scenes keep flashing on her mind as she sees her pathetic self, who lets everyone bullies her. "Come on Axel, fight back!"
After his father leaves, she sees Axel trying to put ointment on his bruised lips. "Sorry, it took longer than expected." She can clearly see that he's trying to act normal even though his hands keep shaking.
Mallory hugs him tightly before speaking. "You can't fool me, Axel. This is your worst performance so you can drop the act."
He quickly raises his eyebrows. "Excuse me? What gives you the right to talk back to your boss?"
"And yet you let your father say means things to you, how ironic."
"My relationship with my father doesn't concern you. You wouldn't even understand, anyway."
"Damn right! I wouldn't since I don't even have one." His eyes widen. "But I'm also sure a father like that isn't supposed to tell his son that his a shame. Why didn't you stand up for yourself?"
Axel slams the coffee table and glares at her, she deliberately squares her shoulders and narrows her eyes. "If you're goddamn strong why didn't you stand up for Samuel yesterday?" He glares at her.
"I have. I even stood up for you at the movie set." She smiles challenging him.
He was about to leave when Mallory throws her a pillow. "Why can't you stand up for yourself Axel? You don't know how long you'll live so why do you keep other people hurt you?" Axel walks out and slams the front door loudly.
After the heated argument, Mallory proceeds to cook breakfast. She jumps when she accidentally cut herself while cooking. "Okay, stop thinking about it, Mallory. You need to focus!" She said to herself before Axel suddenly enters the kitchen.
He heads straight at the fridge and doesn't meet her eyes. She gulps nervously, unsure how to act around him. She doesn't like to be called snob so she tried to put on her brightest smile. "W-What do you like to eat? Are you staying for lunch?"
"Don't bother making any meals for me. I will be late." The coldness of his voice sends a shiver to his spine.
"I-I understand." She whines when she heard the front door closes loudly. "Yup, he's still angry."
"Ouch!" She jumps a little bit when she accidentally touches the boiling pot.
Seven suddenly appears to check her hand and quickly run cold water from the sink over her fingers. "Are you okay?"
"Why can't you be more careful Mallory?"
Tears start to form around her eyes. "S-Sorry!"
"I know you're worried about Axel but please don't hurt yourself."
She tries to argue. "I'm not worried about him!"
His eyes keep piercing through her. "I'm not blind, Mallory." She quickly turns her head to look out the window.
"Do you think he hates me?"
Seven holds her hand. "No. I think he's just upset about what happened a while ago. Besides Axel will never abandon those who are precious to him." Her heart skips a little bit at the word 'precious'.
'There is no way I'm precious to Axel especially after what happened.'
"Do you know Samuel?" She quickly asks.
"Axel's father is running for election that's why he's trying to maintain a perfect image. Samuel's family happens to be influential in politics that's why his father is really mad when he heard his son beat a family friend."
"Wait..." Her eyes widen. "What? Why would he do that?"
"He tried to harass you yesterday, Mallory. And I'm not sure if you know but the guy keeps taking pictures of you all night, planning you to be his next victim. So even I would beat him up."
"Why can't I remember that?"
"Obviously, you're too drunk."
'Now that explains why they are all worried.'
"I-I didn't know. I'm sorry." Seven messes the top of his head.
"Just promise me you'll be careful next time." Mallory made a pinky swear.
"I hope after hearing your words, he'll finally have the courage to fight back."
It's almost midnight when Axel drives in the fast lane. 'Damn late-night shoot.' He thought to himself, shaking off the tiredness.
He curses under his breath. "Everything you do puts the family to shame." He closes his eyes when he remembers what his father told him.
"Leave me alone!" He punches the steering wheel, eyes suddenly widen when he realizes that he's in the other lane and a big truck is approaching his vehicle. He tries to swerve out of the way but his car loses brakes. The next thing he knows his eyes are starting to become heavy and his body is starting to numb in pain.
His eyes start to panic when he catches the smell of smoke and gasoline. "Mallory."
"I'm sorry... for being weak."