Chapter 20: The Truth Behind Everything

Suzuno ended up in the empty halls of the school. She hid in a corner that was connecting from the hallway to the labs... Suzuno cried with anger and shame.

"Goddamn it..." Suzuno cried as she placed her face on her hands. "If only I kept quiet... This wouldn't happen!"

Suddenly Suzuno paused upon hearing heavy footsteps as if someone were running

"SUZUNO?!" A voice called out.

"...!" Suzuno covered her mouth so she won't be heard.

It was Ludis, she was just behind Suzuno... Suzuno peeked and saw her.

Suzuno gave a slight gasp as her eyes widened and kept her mouth shut.

Ludis turned around in different directions. "I know you're here somewhere."

"..."

"Suzuno... I'm sorry." Ludis said in a soft voice but it echoed through the halls. "Sorry if me and Haiea had abused you, sorry if we were jerks... Sorry if I was..."

Ludis stopped and sighed. "If you're really here and if you can hear me, please forgive me now!"

"..."

"I have nothing to do with this, I swear...! I tried to stop Haiea from doing this to you, but she wouldn't listen to me..." Ludis turned away. "I'm sorry... If I could've done better this wouldn't happen. It's all my fault if only if I chose the right friends as well..."

"..."

"Suzuno... I'm so sorry..." A tear escaped Ludis's eye. "The truth is... I'm adopted too."

"...!"

"When I was a baby, I was found at the streets by a lady and she is known to be my mother. She always scolds me, blames me and abuses me for things I didn't even do. She beated me up because of the incident, when me and Haiea were suspended for a term, my mom kept beating me up once a week or two. But that wasn't the only time. That's why I'm like this... I always end up in anger and I put that anger to people like you, Suzuno. I'm sorry! I've been so careless... This wouldn't happen if I only cared about how people feel... Why does it have to be just now? It's too late..." Ludis cried.

"...Ludis..." Suzuno whispered.

Ludis wiped her tears as she started to walk away and sighed. "Bye, Suzuno..."

"L-Ludis...!" Suzuno stood up and called out.

"Suzuno...?" Ludis turned.

"W-wait!" Suzuno stuttered as she followed Ludis and was finally behind her. "Don't go."

"...Suzuno." Ludis looked down. "I'm so sorry...!"

Ludis bursted in tears as she burried her face in her hands and Suzuno's face was full with pity. Suzuno went closer and opened her arms and wrapped them around Ludis.

"Shh... It's okay." Suzuno patted and rubbed Ludis's back. "I forgive you now, Ludis. I finally understand..."

"T-thank you, Suzuno! Thank you!" Ludis hugged back tightly.

At lunch...

Suzuno and Ludis sat together at a table in the cafeteria.

"Excuse me, Suzuno." Ludis stood up. "I'll just be at the wash room, okay?"

"Okay." Suzuno smiled and went back to eating her lunch.

Haiea from a far saw Ludis leave and aproached Suzuno with anger.

"Hey, you!" Haiea pounded the table with her hands and glared at Suzuno.

"Haiea, please, I don't want to fight anymore." Suzuno told in a soft tone while she was turning away.

"You're such a friend-stealer, Suzuno." Haiea's tone became angrier.

"I didn't steal her, I accepted her." Suzuno turned to Haiea with her cold eyes. "You lost her, and I found her. Ludis was hiding a secret from you all along, you didn't even bother to ask her what were her problems in life. You allowed her anger to be put on others, especially me. She was looking for someone to understand her, turns out that I was the one, but you made her hate me. No offence but all you care is about yourself, you don't care who gets hurt and offended. Ludis was one of them which caused the downfall of you friendship, now ask yourself, what kind of a friend were you?"

"YOU BITCH!" Haiea gave a hard slap on Suzuno's cheek but. "HOW DARE YOU SAY THAT TO ME!"

Suzuno's head was turned down from the impact, then she head tilted showing the cold glare in her eyes. Suzuno's look angered Haiea even more making Haiea suddenly pull Suzuno's hair.

"LET ME GO!" Suzuno screamed which made everyone look.

"YOU BETTER STAY AWAY FROM LUDIS!" Haiea pulled harder.

Ludis came out of the wash room and saw the commotion and quickly rushed to them.

"I SAID STOP IT! THAT HURTS!" Suzuno started to cry.

"I WON'T UNTIL YOU TOOK BACK WHAT YOU SAID OR I'LL-!"

"DIDN'T YOU HEAR HER?!" Ludis shouted from behind. "SHE SAID STOP!"

Haiea suddenly stopped and backed away. Ludis rushed beside Suzuno and comforted her in her arms.

"L-Ludis... I-I...-!"

"WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?! YOU THINK THAT HURTING SUZUNO WILL MAKE ME COME BACK TO YOU?!" Ludis exclaimed. "LEAVE HER ALONE! THAT'S THE LEAST YOU CAN DO FOR ME!"

"..." Haiea stood silent and ran away crying.

Suzuno suddenly started to feel pain and tightening in her chest. She panted heavily, she couldn't breath.

"H-hn...!" Suzuno curled up and held her chest.

"S-Suzuno...?!" Ludis shooked Suzuno a bit. "W-what's-!"

"A-asthma a-attack..." Suzuno stuttered. "D-don't worry..."

Suzuno reached for her pocket and got out her inhaler and puffed it in her mouth. Suzuno sighed in relief and smiled faintly.

"A-are you okay...?" Ludis asked.

"Y-yes..." Suzuno nodded as she inhaled and exhaled slowly.

Ludis stayed beside Suzuno for the rest of the period with her, to make sure that she was okay. Helping her breath normally again.

*The bell rings*

"Oh! That's my queue!" Suzuno stood up slowly and started to walk away.

"H-huh? Where are you going? It's just the warning bell." Ludis told.

"It's my sisters graduation in few hours... I better get excused now." Suzuno turned back to Ludis. "Sorry, Ludis. See you tomorrow!"

Suzuno ran off and exited the cafeteria.

"She's so lucky to have a family that actually loves her back..." Ludis told to herself.

"...I wish mine did too."

-End of Chapter 20-