"Hey, where are you going?"
I froze then typed fast to send a text.
"Don't you know how those greedy pig authorities extorted our money?"
"Damn, that money was even the last left from my supposed tuition."
"Dude, it's nothing compared to me. Don't you know how I begged my sister just to get that much?"
Seeing them lost to their stories. I took my chance and ran away.
"Hey! She's running!"
Seeing them chasing me, I couldn't pretend that I'm calm anymore and my body started to react. This is the trauma I got from being harassed several times. Why did I even went out alone? Today, I really lose my mind...!
"Why did she leave?"
"Why would I know why she left? Girl! We're not going to do anything! Can't we just talk?"
"I won't blame you! I just want to build a good relationship between us, don't make it awkward!" They followed me as they yelled.
Their words were friendly but I couldn't make myself believe them. They talked excitedly as if they were playing a game. They are horrifying under the dim light. I thought that I could overrun them but that thought disappeared when someone grabbed me by my hair.
"This bitch must think she can get away after what they've done to us." He's drunk. I can smell the strong alcohol.
"What do you need from me? I can pay you back for your money." I tried to negotiate.
"Hahaha, we don't want that. From the very first time, isn't it obvious?" Pushing me with my face on the ground, they pinned my arms to my back.
"For all the trouble that you guys caused us, we can at least do this much, right?" They started touching me.
"Get off of me!" I shouted. The physical contact made my trembling worse.
"Don't shout! What if someone heard us?!"
"Dude, behind the boulder."
No! Please, someone help! Dragging me, I did my best to struggle. I scratched anything I could touch, including his face.
"Ouch! You bitch! That fucking hurts." He slapped me. I tasted blood in my mouth.
"It's such a waste to put harm on your pretty face, but you leave me no choi--"
Pakk! Suddenly, I saw him falling down. He was thrown like a piece of paper. And Dani... she looked a mighty woman in her dark profile. Her features are sharper than ever in the dark. She always appear when I'm in serious trouble.
Relief and joy overwhelmed me at the same time. But it didn't last long. In a split second, she approached the guy she had knocked down, grabbed his collar and mercilessly threw another punch.
Pak, Pak, Pak.... The sound is ringing in my ears. She threw and threw another punch. The guy struggled but he's like a helpless child. His arms limp, losing their strength.
I can't move because I'm speechless. Or is it because of fear? Seeing that she has no plan to stop, I came to my senses.
"What are you doing, Dani?" I said, but I doubt that she heard my voice.
"Hey, is he even alive?"
I heard a low murmur and noticed him. I forgot his presence because of the undescribable things happening in front of me. One of the guys who showed his arrogant face is now trembling. It seems he's awakened from his drunken state.
"Hey, is she crazy?! What is she doing? I bet she's really going to kill him!"
"Dani, stop please." I gathered my courage to approach her.
When she turned her head, I had a clear view of her face. Under the moonlight, her face looked violent. And she feels menacing, not in her usual laid-back demeanor. It was still the same as earlier. But when I saw the guy's face that she was holding, I gasped.
"Dani!! You? What are you doing?!"
I cover my lips with my hand. It's unbelievable. The man who harassed me has a face I couldn't recognize anymore. His face was red and blue covered with blood. He was unconscious! That's when I realized that the guy was no longer fighting back, he'd long passed out! It's night and the moonlight is only giving a little light. Now that I'm closer to her, I can see everything. I felt a chill.
"But I'm really going to kill him?"
Her response made me instinctively took a step back. She said it with a serious face! She then carelessly dragged the body.
"Ah, there's still one left. I have to finish this quickly."
Why? What is she doing? It seems like she's going to toss him into the water!
"Crazy! Crazy!" The other guy shouted loudly and crazily ran but he kept stumbling.
"This is an attempted murder! I--I'm g--going to r-report you to p--police!"
What he said alarmed me that I hurriedly chased after Dani. "Dani stop!"
She didn't even turn around despite my cries. What's strange is that I recall her being adamant about not getting in the water before. But now, she shows no signs of slowing down.
"Please..... Stop.... Dani,"
"Stop now, please."
I hugged her tight from the back. She came to a halt as a result of my actions, highlighting how shaky I was. And then I realized I was crying. I'm not sure why I'm crying, but one thing is certain: I don't want to see her like this. Its not the Dani that I know.
"Stop crying," Her voice is commanding but still gentle.
"No! Let go of him first..."
"Are you ordering me right now!?"
Suddenly, she angrily snapped at me. The gentleness in her voice is gone like an illusion. It's like I pressed the wrong switch. To make matters worst, I just sobbed uncontrollably. I wanted to stop crying, but my tears just won't stop. In the end, I'm nothing but a coward. Doing nothing but to cry. She then moved out of my grasp, carelessly tossing the body and paying it no mind.
"You're afraid of me now."
She then stood there and stared at me. It's a statement, not a question. I'm unable to refute because it's true. But her following remarks made my lips open in a hurry.
"So don't approach me ever again."
"What? I can't do that! It's true that I'm afraid of you now, but..."
"I'm more afraid when you're pushing me away."
"And I hate it when you treat me like this..."
I wasn't sure if she comprehended anything from my rumblings. When I looked at her face, however, her eyes were wide with surprise. Today, she's surprisingly expressive.
"And I don't like to see you like this." At my last remark, her face became dark. What's wrong?
"You don't like it when I'm like this? But what can you do? This is the real me!" I flinched at her outburst.
"Hah... someone just denied me again." She added with a smile but with red-rimmed eyes, it looked like she was about to cry. My chest tightened from seeing it.
I have no time to carefully choose what I'm saying but it came from the bottom of my heart, "Dani, I didn't mean it like that! It's fine just the way you are!"
"Shut up, you don't know anything."
Her eyes are enough to silence me. The usual dead eyes are swirling with different emotions, making them look alive. But they were full of negativity such as hatred and malice. As if that wasn't enough, she spat out those cruel words before turning her back.
It's true. So far, this is the most frightening day of my life.