"You're fucking crazy."
"I said leave him a—" I ran and stopped Connie by the arms before she hits Forest with her hands. i glared at Connie in disbelief, in confusion, in disgrace, in disgust, in all sorts of emotions I was feeling as soon as I saw her about to hurt Forest. "M-Mark..."
"W-What are you doing to Forest, Connie?" I asked her, releasing her arms from my grip to take Forest behind my back in case Connie comes at her again. I don't like that Connie was hurting Forest - I don't like seeing anyone hurt her.
"Mark..."
When Connie tried to touch me, I stepped back with Forest, gripping her hands tighter to protect her. I shook my head, staring back into her eyes that were full of regret and panic. "You were about to hit Forest." I creased my brows as I asked. "Why would you do that to her?"
"I-It's not what you think..."
"No." I cut her off. "You were about to slap her and you would have done it without hesitation if I hadn't stepped in."
Connie took a step closer to me but I backed away from her terrified. She's not the same girl I could eat with whenever she asked, she's not the innocent girl everyone thought she were because if she was, she wouldn't be doing that to Forest. "I promise you, it's not what you think!"
I creased my brows at her.
"I was just trying to keep you away from her."
Away from me?
"She's a dangerous person, Mark. You don't want to involve yourself with someone like her. She doesn't deserve you!"
"And you do?" I asked in frustration. I was so mad that Connie was telling me all of this and she wasn't even being reasonable. "I stood by her side after finding out every little bit of her side and I accept her and her flaws - I love all of her flaws and her as a person. You can't just say that to me and expect me to listen to you because I won't."
"No, please! Just listen to me! She's not the person you think she is!"
"No, Connie!" I pulled Forest further to my back so she won't get to touch her. "You're the one who isn't who you say you are. If there's one thing I really liked about Forest, it's that she's not a hypocrite like you are."
Connie shook her head, still trying to step closer to us. "Please, Mark..."
"Why—"
"Mark."
I froze when Forest suddenly grabbed my arms.
"Let's just go."
My heart was beating fast. Every time Forest touched me, my heart would go crazy but this time, I was more furious of Connie than I am crazy over Forest.
"She's not worth it."
At that, Forest pulled me away from the hallway and dragged me all the way out of the cafeteria, leaving Connie sobbing for being unable to explain herself. I couldn't hear their entire conversation but I was sure Connie was saying something that I didn't like.
I let forest drag me anywhere she wanted. When she stopped by the middle of the street, I couldn't help but drag her to the sidewalk with me.
She wasn't looking at me. She's not even saying anything. I knew she already knew that she needed to say something to me because she was biting her nails nervously. I couldn't make up of the gesture she was showing but I didn't want her to force herself to tell me anything either.
"Forest—"
"She and I were best friends."
What?
I couldn't even react to what she just said. She and I - Her and Connie. They were best friends. But how? I can't even see any friendly relationship between them. Not once have I seen them together or talking to each other.
"I don't understand." I frowned in confusion. "If you're best friends, why were you two arguing? Why is she hurting you?"
When she sighed, she leaned back to the railing that lined the sidewalk, looking down in dismay. "Eight years ago, Connie was diagnosed with Hepatitis B."
H-Hepatitis B?
"It was a very rare occurrence. Everyone was so shocked of the news but it resulted to liver cancer and her liver was decaying faster. Connie got so upset that she wanted to just end her life. She was really hopeless."
This is too much...
"I figured that since I'm her best friend, it was only right to give her a portion of my liver."
I blinked. I'm not sure I'll be able to take in everything she was telling me all at once. It's hard to believe - it's hard to listen coming from her. I feel like I'm in pain whenever she talked and how sad she's saying it.
"I had to give her sixty percent of mine so she can survive but that was all fine since the doctor said they'd eventually grow back to normal liver."
I stared at Forest who was still fidgeting with her fingers as she spoke. For her to tell me this without forcing her is like a teacher unable to attend class - it's delightful and warming and just replenishing.
"After the transplant, one day, she just started ignoring me, avoiding me - I don't even know what the fuck I did wrong. I saved her fucking ass and this is what she repays me? Bullshit." She looked away, shaking her head in disappointment.
Forest...
"I didn't want to keep pestering her because I feel like if I did that, I'd only disrespect her."
She's always so admirable with everything she does. How can I not fall in love with someone as selfless as her?
"At this point, I just came to accept that I gave my fucking liver to someone who doesn't even give a shit about me."
That...
"You'd think those you donate to would owe you their life but she just got rid of me like I'm some kind of garbage." She scoffed, rolling her eyes and started biting her nails again.
I let out a small smile and pulled her hand away from her mouth so she can stop biting her nails. "Forest." I called and she stopped to glance at me. "I don't even care about Connie or whatever horrible thing she did you."
Her brows creased in question.
"Connie is stupid for treating you that way after she owes you her life, you know that right?"
She doesn't answer but I assume she did in her head.
"Whatever happens, whatever people say about you," I held her tight in my hands. "It will never change how I feel about you."