Throughout the day, the crowd only gathering around her were boys promising to provide comfort which was a load of crap. They were actually nuisances, she believes. In fact, with their company, she was lonelier than ever.
Every now and then, she glances up at each lecture room she sits in as though she was hoping for a certain person to arrive. In the end, she went home accompanied by a different set of bodyguards. Oh right, she realized. Teddy and Harris took a day off as per her order earlier this morning. A part of her regretted it because she felt unsafe now that they neared their household. But, if she won't come home, where will she go?
"Home sweet home." Ena greeted with a perfect smile that crept her out.
What's up with the flute on the palm of her hand?
NVM, she dismissed.
She completely walked past her, no peck on the cheek nor courtesy greetings.
Grr, grr, grr!
Sounds of aggressive growls alerted her senses. Upon turning around, a pack of rottweilers were standing proud beside her Momma. They showed their full teeth while their vicious eyes seethed violence. Slowly, she gulped the lump on her throat as she kept a straight face… barely.
"You can't be serious, Momma." She managed to say in a steady voice close to stutter.
With few strides, Ena bridged their distance then stroked her silky golden hair using her delicate fingers. Care trembled in spite of her gentle caress. The thumping of her heart had gone crazy to the point wherein her chest pains became unbearable.
"Hush, hush, dear. This is for your sake. I'll discipline you again towards perfection. Now, run, my barbie doll."
Overcome by fear, she shook her head instead of trying to verbalize her refusal.
"RUN!" Ena screamed, agitating her haywire state of mind.
She headed straight to their big lawn, tumbling on the steps of the porch in the process. With her knees turned jelly, she really was bound to lose balance. Thus, she tripped a couple more times before she heard the solfege.
Little did she know, it was Ena who played the flute creating a simple melody of do, re, mi. It signalled the rottweilers to follow after her. They jumped at her in less than a minute because her body was in no condition for a survival game. To describe her terrified is an understatement at that point. Her high spirits were crushed beyond recovery.
"Fa, so, la..." Ena continued.
Within a split-second, the rabid dogs ripped her shirt, jeans and shoes without biting her skin as if torturing is the new sport. She fought back in utter vain. Well, what do her weak shaking hands amount to against their strong jaws and muscular builds?
"Someone, anybody... Help me, please! Help!" she cried out.
Helpers either went inside or averted their eyes from her pitiful sight.
"AAARGH!" she whimpered in pain as their teeth dug in her flesh be it arms, hips or legs.
"Ti, do!"
They halted their movements leaving her a chance to flee. Ergo, she crawled her way out despite being drenched in mud. Attempting to stand became an impossible task since her knees went numb.
"Do, re, mi!"
The rottweilers caught up again bridging the little distance between them she desperately tried to achieve.
"... Fa, so, la!"
They attacked in an encircled formation. With five big mouths upon her, she was nothing but a prey.
"Momma, I'm sorry! I... I-'m so.. sorry! I'll say sorry to Mandy. I'd be p-perfect!" she mumbled in hysterics.
"Ti, do!"
In her hazy daze, she understood the essence of syllables of solfege played by her Momma. Do, re, mi - chase... Fa, so, la - bite... Ti, do - stop!
How sadistic!
"Scram before I let them devour you. At least, somebody might take you in tonight in exchange for that face. Be a one night tramp, who cares!" Ena declared.
The bodyguards escorted her outside without the luxury of choices. Each man held her in one arm till they reached the gates. They would have extended a bit of compassion. However, since the mistress of the household was watching, they literally threw her out and shut the gates right after.
Exactly when Care was about to close her eyes, never minding if she was lying on dirt, Aster appeared before her. Her friend covered her mouth in shock, tears streamed from her eyes like falls.
"Care, you were..."
It felt surreal for Aster no matter how many times she blinked. Ragged clothes, dirtied shoes, bruised knees and elbows, face soiled with tears mixing in with mud... The Caress Aragon in front of her now is nothing compared to the lady everybody envied. Scratch that, maybe this was her hiding from layers of deceitful facades.
All her actions, words and emotions earlier finally made sense to Aster. Care actually bested her in suffering in silence.
Was Care mad because she saw herself in Aster?
The revelations were too much. Aster struggled to breathe as she dropped on the ground.
"No, no! Don't look at me!" Care begged so painfully.
She quickly covered her face as though ashamed to be discovered in such a vulnerable and awful state. The shuddering of her body was a great torture to witness. Confidence has definitely left her whereas her pride was just not there to begin with.
Truly, the prettier the lie, the uglier truth.