During my ordeal with bullying at school, due to a vile reputation unjustly cast upon me, I reassured myself amid the hostile glares: They were simply misled.
All I needed was to unveil the truth, and they would come to understand.
Yet, how could I withstand the powerful Azure family alone, wielding their vast influence to orchestrate against me?
Each attempt at clarification entangled me in deeper snares.
Helplessly, I watched as misconceptions about me intensified.
"Had you only chosen to speak up for me then. They may not have believed me, but surely, they would have believed you," I stated, tears welling in my eyes, confronting Cyrus with each word.
His hands, trembling, reached out, attempting to touch my head in a familiar gesture, only to be rebuffed by me.
"Your girl friend matters and I am not? Do I deserve to suffer like this?" I asked, my laughter blending with cries.
"I detest you. You pledged to make amends, then vanished, leaving me to fend for myself. You failed both my parents and me."
"Please, no more... I implore you, stop," he begged, curling forward, overcome by fits of coughing, as if wracked with unbearable pain.
I ignored his pleas and pressed on, "You sought to atone openly, to alleviate your guilt, while simultaneously shielding Serena in secrecy. Aiming to satisfy both sides, you failed both. What curse led me to be entangled in the love tale of such a dysfunctional duo?"
In an impulse, I stood and delivered a heavy slap to Cyrus's face.
The impact tilted his head, dislodging his glasses, and imprinted five distinct marks on his pale cheek. His lips quivered, speechless.
In the end, the normally reserved young man lowered his head before me.
Kneeling on the hospital's frigid floor, with a raspy voice, he conceded, "I was wrong, Luna. My desires were too great. I neglected both you and Serena."
As tears streamed from his eyes, he raised his gaze towards me, broken and desperate.
"What can I do... what action can earn your forgiveness? I beg you, Luna. With your parents gone, my sole wish is for you to lead a happy life."
