"I'm sorry about what he said to you" Noelle said to Valentino when they got into the car. He sighed, turning away from her.
"He wasn't supposed to say that to you...."
"I hate therapists, Noelle. Now, I hate them even more" he said.
"You wouldn't mind me being your therapist?" She asked with a sheepish grimace.
He stared at her, puzzled.
"You aren't serious, are you?" He asked.
"I want you to get better, Val. You can't get better if I don't help you"
He heaved another sigh, rubbing his eyes.
"I don't know, Noelle...."
She squeezed his hand reassuringly and pulled out of the parking lot. When they got to Noelle's home, Valentino inhaled sharply and got out of the car.
"Have you made up your mind yet?" Noelle asked.
"Not yet"
"It's for your own good, just so you know"
As soon as this got in, Noelle froze. Val stared at her confused. Then, he saw exactly what she was looking at. There was a piece of paper on the couch. It had not been there earlier. Valentino moved closer and picked up the folded paper. The distinctive blood stain on the paper had him panicking already.
With shaky hands, he unfolded the paper, dread coursing through his veins when he saw what was written on it.
I FOUND YOU AND YOUR LITTLE BITCH.
LOOKS LIKE YOU'VE LOST BEFORE THE GAME EVEN STARTED.
"W-What is that?" Noelly said as he flopped down on the couch, his energy completely drained.
"It's a threat letter" he croaked.
"W-What? H-how?"
"Apparently, my foster dad has caught up with me" he rasped, burying his head in his hands.
Noelle wasn't saying anything, but he was freaking out. He didn't know when she went to the kitchen to get him a glass of water. She nudged him when she returned and he looked up. "Here's some water, you have to calm down. You're hyperventilating" she said.
He was confused as to how she managed to keep calm when she'd just discovered a threat letter in her sitting room. 'She should be concerned about herself, but she is actually concerned about me' he thought
He gulped down the water, his nerves racing.
"You haven't really told me anything about this foster dad of yours. So, do you want to talk?"
He closed his eyes, rubbing his temples where a raging ache was forming.
"Baron Walter is his name. He always had this sick smile on his face. Each time I returned home, I always had bruises and cuts on my body as a result of bullying. My foster mom was amazing. She was the loving mother I never got the chance to grow up with"
"Did you ever meet your biological mum? Why wasn't she there for you?" Noelle asked, a slight frown on her face.
"I was taken away from her months after I was born. But, she never tried to find me until I had become a rebel. I spent years on the streets, living a hard life. I would stay for weeks without food. I got into random fights and got horrible injuries. I still don't know how I managed to stay alive. I was pissed off when my mom showed up. I was also drunk as hell. I must've pissed her off because she never came back. I thought she would, but she didn't. I felt this hatred burning for everything. I hated myself, I hated school, I hated my life. It was horrible, Noelle
Baron would hit me each time I fell sick. Everyday, he would make sure he hit me to his satisfaction. Then, my foster mom died" he croaked, squeezing his eyes shut.
Noelle felt the tears fill her eyes.
"I didn't need any soothsayer to tell me that she didn't die a natural death. Baron fucking killed her" his voice cracked at the end. Noelle embraced him.
"I'm sorry, Val. I'm so so sorry. You didn't deserve all that. You were just a child"
"Baron didn't spare me. He told me he wanted to make me stronger"
.. Flashback...
"Oh, Vally. Where are you?" Baron sang as he stepped into the quiet house.
He opened the door to seven year old Val's room. The little boy was lying in bed, covered with a lot of blankets. Even while covered with the thickness of the blankets, Val was still shivering badly.
Baron clenched his jaw and yanked the blanket away from his body. He curled up on his side, his skin clammy and pale.
"Get up!" Baron ordered.
Val flinched, opening his eyes tiredly. "Please, dad..." He croaked. Baron grabbed the little boy by his arm and dragged him to the basement where he tied him down.
Val was already sobbing hard by the time Baron took out his whip."Sick people are weak people. I want to help you get strong. Do you understand?" Val nodded frantically, his nose pink. Baron sneered and crashed the whip on his back.
He grinned as he stared down at the little boy. He whipped him over and over until Valentino passed out on the cold floor, blood soaking his shirt and spreading all over the floor. Disgusted, he grabbed the boy and tossed him into a closet, locking the door with the key.
...
Valentino squeezed his eyes shut, burying his face in the crook of Noelle's neck.
"I can't believe that. It's horrible." She croaked.
"I know I'm not a saint either. He made me what he wanted me to be. Baron is after my family"
"You have siblings?"
"We're triplets actually"
"Triplets? Woah"
He sighed.
"Unfortunately.... I tried to kill one of my brothers because Baron asked me to. I'm a monster, Noelle. I horse whipped him and I didn't feel remorse. I pushed him off from the second floor. He would've died because of me. I doubt that he will ever forgive me" Val said, lowering his gaze. He expected Noelle to look at him with disdain and disgust. But, she wrapped her arms around him. She had a sympathetic look in her eyes, it broke him completely. He felt ruined.
Why would she still put up with someone like him? He felt like he didn't deserve it. "Monsters don't feel emotions. They don't feel guilty. They never want to get better. But, you're not a monster, Val. Everyone makes mistakes. You made a mistake, but you can redeem yourself. You have to stop beating yourself up. You're the strongest person I've ever met. I'm here with you now. I'm not going anywhere, Val. We're friends now" she said to him.
He searched her eyes for hesitance or deceit. But, all he found in her beautiful eyes was sincerity.
"And friends look out for each other"
"Friends?" He croaked.
"We're friends now, Val. Let's go out for a walk. Maybe, you'll feel better" she said.
He gave her a half smile, a strange warmness filling his heart.
...
Dominic stepped out of a coffee shop, brushing his hair out of his eyes. He peered at his wrist watch. The time was a few minutes past one. His stomach grumbled and he groaned. He craved Jade's tasty homemade meals. He walked towards his car and got in. Just as he put on his seat belt, he saw a familiar face.... Valentino.
He clenched his jaw, tensed.
Valentino had a ghost of a smile on his face with a red head holding his hand as they walked. He looked so much like Dre. Dominic felt that it was such a pity that he was the bad guy here. But, what was he doing with the girl? What was actually going on? His hard gaze softened when he saw the relaxed expression on his face. He could see his bloodshot eyes and the barely visible tear tracks on his face. Dominic suddenly felt pity for him. He looked very different from the psychopath who'd tried to kill his brother few months back. Dominic couldn't help but feel puzzled.