CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN
ALEX DAVALO
Worried about her? It feels strange!
“Nadia, at the hospital? What happened!?” I asked, stunned. I wasn’t in school the day it happened. I had no idea what had happened to Nadia until Sandro’s girlfriend, Lara, walked over to me that morning after class.
The sun streamed through the large windows of the classroom, casting long shadows across the desks. My classmates were buzzing with gossip, but I had my head buried in my notes, trying to catch up on the classes I missed.
I was still trying to wrap my mind around the fact that Sandro had decided to skip school again; we usually did everything together. Just then, Lara, with her perfectly styled hair and that haughty look on her face, walked up to me.
“Hey, Alex,” she said, her voice sharp enough to cut through my concentration.
“Lara,” I replied, looking up. “What’s up?”
“Have you seen Sandro? I noticed he didn’t show up in class today,” she said, her impatience clear.
I shrugged, glancing around the room as if expecting to see my brother wander in at any moment. “He has some family business to take care of. He should be back tomorrow,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady.
“Tell him not to forget that he’s taking me out for dinner tonight,” she said, flipping her hair over her shoulder as she turned to leave. But then, she paused, clearly thinking of something else. I could see the gears in her mind turning, wondering if she should say more.
“Lara, what is it?” I asked, curious about her sudden hesitation.
She took a step closer, a sinister smile creeping onto her lips. “Did you go to the hospital to make Nadia’s life even more miserable?” she asked, her tone mocking.
“Nadia is at the hospital? What happened?” I asked, my heart dropping. I didn’t know how to feel. I had my fair share of bullying Nadia, along with Sandro. Was she okay?
“Come on, Alex, don’t tell me you didn’t hear what happened to that slut,” Lara said, her eyes wide in mock disbelief. “Everyone in school knows about it.” She chuckled as if she found the situation hilarious.
Confused and a little angry, I replied, “I don’t know what you’re talking about. Fill me in, please.”
Lara leaned against the wall, crossing her arms. “Nadia fainted during a test yesterday,” she explained, a gleam of satisfaction on her face. “She just collapsed in front of everyone. I mean, it’s not like anyone expected her to pass the test anyway. It served her right,” she said dismissively. “I just wish she would die. The sight of her anywhere near me is damn irritating”
At her words, a cold wave of shock washed over me. My breath caught in my throat, and I felt my heart race in my chest. “You can’t be serious,” I stifled a chuckle.
“Why wouldn’t I be? It’s not like she’s important to anyone. She’s just another loser. Besides, she’s always in the way,” Lara said with a sneer, the casual way she dismissed Nadia’s suffering cutting deeper than I thought possible.
I felt a swelling anger rise within me, not just at her, but at the whole situation. How could someone be so cruel? Nadia was just a girl trying to survive another day at school, and here we were, the bullies, creating a nightmare for her. Her health was clearly at risk, and I had been part of that torment.
Wait a minute!
Was this me thinking about that slut!?
Without saying another word, I picked up my bag and walked away from her, my mind racing. “Alex, wait!” Lara called after me, but I didn’t stop. I was too overwhelmed, the different emotions clashing inside me.
I pushed through the hallway, my footsteps echoing as I made my way to her classroom. As I entered the room, I could see her classmates who had been chatting previously come to a halt, their conversations cutting off like a scene from a movie. They turned to look at me, their expressions a mix of surprise and uncertainty.
“Where is Nadia?” I asked my voice firm yet strained, resonating throughout the silence of the room. I felt my heart pound harder as everyone exchanged glances, unsure of whether to speak or not. They were all too scared to!
“I said, where the fuck is Nadia!?,” I let out, nearly losing grip on my emotions.
Finally, a small guy at the back spoke up. “U-uh… she’s at the hospital,” he said, his voice trembling slightly.
I pointed at him, feeling my anger boil over. “You, come over here!” I commanded him, leaving him no room for argument. He came rushing to me, and I dragged him outside.
“Tell me exactly what happened to her!”
He looked terrified, and I realized I might be coming on too strong. But I needed to know. The weight of knowing that I turned a blind eye while she might have been in danger was eating at me. “What happened to Nadia? Did she just faint, or was there more to it?”
“The teacher was there. She just collapsed during the test,” he stammered. “We were all freaked out. They called emergency and took her away. That’s all I know!”
“Where did they take her?” I demanded in frustration.
“I don’t know, I swear! I just know they took her,” the boy replied, backing away from me, clearly wanting to escape my presence.
At that moment, a strange feeling passed over me. I had intended to intimidate him, but now I was reminded of the powerlessness I felt when I bullied Nadia. “Just go back to class,” I told him, my voice softer now, as I realized that terror wouldn’t yield the answers I sought.
He hurried back inside, and I stood there in the hallway, feeling the weight of the world pressing down on my shoulders. I was at a loss for what to do. Just then, Bethany showed up, looking worried. “Hey, Alex, where have you been? I’ve been looking everywhere for you.”
I turned to her, trying to mask my frustration. “I’ve been busy, Bethany. What’s up?”
Bethany’s face relaxed slightly, but she still seemed anxious. “I’m starving. Can you come with me to the cafeteria? I could use some company.”
I sighed, feeling overwhelmed. “I’m really busy right now. I can’t go with you today. Maybe next time?”
Bethany’s eyes widened, and she reached out, taking my hand. “Please, Alex? I promise if you come with me, we can make it up tonight. You know, just us.”
I pulled my hand away, shaking my head. “Bethany, I need some space. I just want to be alone right now.”
She looked hurt, her face flushing with anger. “I see you don’t want me anymore,” she snapped, her voice trembling. “Fine. If you don’t care, then I won’t bother you.”
“No, Bethany, it’s not like that. I just-”
She didn’t wait for me to finish. “You will regret this,” she said sharply and turned on her heel, storming off. I tried to call after her, but she didn’t stop or even look back.
Just as I was about to give up, one of the students from Nadia’s class walked up to me. Her face was pale, and she looked nervous. “What!? Why are you here!?” I shouted, my voice rising.
She flinched but quickly spoke. “I know where Nadia was taken. I can show you if you promise not to hurt me.”
I took a deep breath, trying to calm down. “Okay, I promise I won’t hurt you. Just take me there.”
She nodded and led me outside. We got into my car, and I drove to the hospital. The whole drive felt like torture to me especially as I remembered how Nadia and I sexually abused her countless times.
When we reached the hospital, I went up to the nurse’s desk. “Hi, I need to find Nadia’s room. Can you help me?”
The nurse looked at me curiously. “And who are you to her?”
I hesitated for a moment. “I’m her boyfriend.” Even as I knew how unnecessary my lie was.
The nurse’s expression softened, and she smiled. “Oh, I see. Nadia has been quite lonely since she was brought in. No one has visited her yet.” She gave me the room number and led me to Nadia’s door before walking away.
Standing in front of the door, I felt a wave of doubt. I wasn’t sure if I should go in or not. The thought of facing Nadia, an ordinary girl who had somehow made me feel weak, made me furious. I was angry at myself for letting her and my feelings for her get in the way of my focus.
Without thinking, I turned on my heel and stormed back to my car. I got inside and drove off, determined not to let myself become weak because of her.
After all, I didn’t put her in that mess! I thought.