Shoulder to Cry On

"Ms. President, is the camp for senior high school students will happen next week?" One of her classmate asked, but she's spacing out—stares at nowhere. "M-Ms. President?"

"We're still not sure if it is next week or next month. Wait for the official announcement." Joshua answer his classmates.

"O-okay,"

After the students went back to their seats while waiting for the teacher to come, Marga turn behind where Georgina sits. She snap her hands in front but no reaction then, wave both hands but still no reaction came out. Her left eyebrow raise and decide to slam both hands on her table. This time it catches her attention, as well as the others around.

"At last, you look at me. What's wrong with you today?" She asked.

"There's nothing wrong. What do you want?"

"I know you Gina. There's no way you can lie to me. Is it Van again?" She whisper, it makes her frown.

"Of course n—"

They startled when the door slam open. A menace aura of Giovanni came out of the door as he walk full of rage towards Georgina's direction. All of their classmates became silent as they stare towards him who stop behind her—stares intense. She winced when he grab her hand, tightened the grip while he drag her outside the room. All the students present inside the room gasps in surprise even Marga couldn't say a single word.

Even in the hallway, students from other section who are still outside their respective rooms look at them in surprise. Georgina shows a pain look on her face while trying to remove his tight grip, but the aura he emits is not a joke. He's serious to death. After a minute of walk, they stop on the backstairs where there's almost no students pass by. He pushes her hard on the wall. It made a powerful impact that she can't help but hold on to her shoulder. The moment she looks towards Giovanni, he's panting—both fists clench as if trying to stop himself from bursting out.

"W-what's wrong with you?" She asked, but he glare back that made her flinch.

"Wrong? You... You and your damn crazy family." He walks straight and punches the wall near her face.

Her body trembles in fears as their gaze met. No words came out of her mouth as she saw the stern look in his eyes.

"Tell me, Gia, what's wrong with your family? Did we do something wrong?" He said with anger in every word.

"I-I don't know... I-I d-don't know what you're talking about..."

"Damn," he whispers. "Stop playing innocent for pete sake, Georgina Alvarez and tell me what do you want from us?" He shout, pinned her on the wall almost crashing her shoulder.

"A-argh! It hurts. Let go of me."

"I'm asking you, what the hell do you want from us?" He shouts again and pushes her on the ground with those ominous stares.

She doesn't know what's going on or what is he talking about, but when he said the word 'family', she knows there's something to do with the witch. They'd come to an agreement way back then, but how come Giovanni acts this way? She clenches both fists, grit her teeth while analyzing the situation.

"I-I don't know what's going on so, tell me everything." She asked.

"Tell you? So, you want to play an innocent role again? Well then, I'll tell you..." He chuckle, squat down to face her. "It's your damn mother. She came to ruin my parents' business. It's a damn small business, but why? Why do you need to ruin everyone's hard work and effort like it is nothing but a mere fantasy?" He raises her chin, gives a death glare.

"W-what? R-Ruin your parents' business?"

"Don't you know how to spend money, or do you have lots of it to ruin others who don't have for entertainment?" He let go of her and turn his back. "I'm telling you to take responsibility for this."

Those words are the last thing he said before he could walk back. She follows him through a look as her tears fall down. 'It's the damn witch fault again,' she thought, tightening her grip. Giovanni's anger, Giovanni's hard time, Giovanni's pain and sorrow — it's all the witch's fault. She bit her lower lip, even felt a taste of blood on it.

"I thought the problem is with both of you, but didn't know it involves your family too." A familiar voice from behind came.

"S-since when did you come? Did you overhear everything?" She asked, wipe her tears away.

"It happens I'm here. I heard everything from the start," he walks towards and helps her to stand. "Are you okay?"

"You don't need to worry about me. I deserve everything. Let's go back. It's almost time."

She's about to walk, but he stops her hand. "Hon. Let's have a date,"

Before she can even react, he drags her somewhere. She tries to stop him, but he's persistent. Besides, even if she goes back inside the room, there's no way her attention will be on their lesson.

***

It's already past school hours when they heard the last bell, a couple of minutes ago from the rooftop where Georgina and Jaceriel stay since morning. For the first time in her school life, she skips classes. Not one but whole school hours and of all people, she did it with Jaceriel Yuson, who annoys her since they met. Despite treating him as a stealer, there's still a part of her mind that tells to trust him. Throughout the school hours, he didn't say a single word but let her cry until it dries out.

"Are you alright, Hon?" He asked, breaks the long silence.

"I don't know. I don't want this kind of feeling," she said, almost a whisper, and look down.

"Feels of what? You're in love with me?"

Georgina gives a death glare at him, but he laughs it off and looks in front. Her glare turn to a soft stare as she looks straight at him. He's innocent and childish, but sometimes he can be mature. Those innocent gazes, genuine smile and playful words he always gives sometimes help her forget anything happened.

All those words he said in the Children Park, she can't forget and keeps replaying on her mind. She's stupid. It's the truth he slaps at her face during that few minutes of talk.

"Hon. I know, I'm handsome, but don't stare too much." He said, turn to her side with a playful smile.

"Dream on." She rolls her eyes, looks away.

"Why are you always giving me that indifferent attitude? Do you still have a grudge because I bought the necklace you want?"

"If you know such trivial things, don't mind asking me anymore. You're annoying,"

"It hurts Hon. After what I did? I almost shower with your tears alone before. You're a heartless girlfriend."

"G-Girlfriend? You're too much playing with your role Mr. Stealer..." She smirk but without warning he caress her cheeks, tucks the strand of hair behind her ears and smile.

"Maybe you're not my official girlfriend, but I'm still your boyfriend. You're free to cry in front of me, act weak or do everything you can't show others." He said. "I can be your shoulder to cry on, so don't think twice to come whenever you can't take anymore pain."

Her tears abruptly fall down even though she thought it's already dry. They look at each other for a few seconds before her body move on its own and hug him. Those words feel a lot to her. It seems like a burden she's been carrying all this time reaches its limits. Pain turns to tears. It's the first time after a long time since someone tells a word of assurance to her.

After a few minutes of cry, the tears turn to anger. She doesn't know how to express it so, before it process to her mind, both hands move on its own to hit his chest. Full of tears and anger, her hands even tremble.

"A-argh! It hurts, your iron hands hurt me..." He stop both her hands.

"What? You said a while ago, I can do everything to you..."

Jace heaves a sigh and pulls her closer to him. "It hurts, Hon. I told you I can be your shoulder to cry on, but not a punching bag of your anger."

"You ruin the mood. Let go of me." She tries to pull her hands from his grip, instead he pulls her closer to him. "W-what are you doing, Mr. Stealer?"

Instead of answering her question, a wide creepy smile escapes his mouth. A chill runs down to her spine. She has a bad instinct about this action. She looks away, but he lifts her chin to face him again.

He's a stealer. A stealer is always a stealer.

"Don't try to ste—" he lean closer to her.

"You're right. I'm a stealer..."

Even though she knows what will happen next, her body didn't move an inch and let him do whatever he wants. Before they knew it, their lips touch. Few seconds past, she's about to push him when she realizes the reality of what they are doing but he pulls her closer and deepened the kiss. Not a smack, but a passionate kiss.

Amidst of what they are doing, a loud slam sound of the door made them separate. They look towards the door with surprise, but no one is there.