CCC : Chapter 26 "Vilheimina"

 “If that is the case, both of you already know what is going to happen, right?” The detective says to Jefferson and my brother. Both of them only nod as a response like they don’t care what is going to happen. The moment my brother already tells us all of his reasons, the tears on my face already dry down. “For you two,” the detective looks at my parents' side, “I need to check on your daughter and ask questions about the abusive things, clear?” he says strictly. My parents only stay silent. “The punishment will be based on the wound in your daughter's body and from her answers as well.” The detective continues explaining their condition. “You will pay for this.” My father says furiously on his side. Pay for this? Punishment? I guess there is no more of that now.. Right after my father says that to me, I can hear my brother chuckle. “Heh, our family is so good huh? We will go to jail together!” He says mockingly. That only makes him and Jefferson laugh together in the room while the others still tense up from the atmosphere. Sneg, who is beside me this whole time, is really trying to keep his emotions down even though his face can be read like an open book that he is upset. “Please take these two to court. Don’t forget to handcuff them.” The detective says to the officers beside him. Right before the officers hold them to get up, I raise up my hand, asking permission to speak up. With that, the detective notices it and turns to look at my side. “Yes, Mrs. Vilheimina Valter?” he asks with a comfort voice. Seems like he knows how I feel right now. The pressure inside of me. “Is it alright if I ask my family to stay in this room for a moment?” That is my request to the detective and he looks a bit surprised by it. “May I know what is the purpose of that?” He asks. “Heh.” My brother scoffs “Still wanna play family thingy? Gross.” He says and that only makes the detective glare at him. “I just want to talk with them for a couple minutes. Is that alright?” replying to the detective and stand up from my seat to bow a little “Please.” “Just your family? No guards or officers? Or me too?” He asks again to make it clear of my request. “Only my family.” nodding my head while replying to him. “You do know how your parents treat you? Something might happen if we leave you here alone.” He asks again with full concern in his voice. “Now you really think that we are horrible parents?” My father cuts him off and his voice sounds so irritated. But the detective ignores his words, his focus right now is only at me. “I’m ready for anything that could happen.” I say firmly. From my answer, the detective let out a loud sigh. “Alright then, let’s bring him first.” he’s pointing at Jefferson then the officer grabs his arm “You two, come on.” he says to Sneg and Stam who besides me. “Valter,” Sneg calls me “Are sure you will be alright?” He asks me with full concern just like the detective before. “It’s alright, Sneg. I’ll be fine.” replying to him with a smile on my face. Hope that smile can lessen his worry and concern about me. “Just to let you know, I’m ready to throw a punch to anyone in this room if they touch you, okay?” he says and that successfully makes me laugh a little bit. After hearing my little laugh, I can see the concern on his face has faded away a little bit as well. “Don’t make a fight here.” I say to him. With that, he slowly walks back and leaves the room. Without noticing it again, Stam is holding my hand this whole time. She really tries to calm me down at every moment in this room. “Thank you, Stam.” putting my hand on top of hers “I promise I’ll be fine.” I say to her with a comfort voice. With that she squeezes my hand a little and whispers to my ear. “Thank you for always believing in me too.” with that she stands up and walks to the door. Right before she leaves the room, she turns back and gives me a hand gesture ‘you can do this!’ Now the room is only for us, the Valter family. My parents at my right side and my brother at my left side. “So? Everyone is already left. Just make it quick will you?” My brother says with an irritated voice. This is my first time that he treats me like this. Looking back at our childhood moments, even up that night, he always treats me like I’m still a child and spoils me a lot. “Are you satisfied with what you have done to your parents now? For God's sake.” My father says while crossing his arms. As always, my parents will only put pressure on me. Nothing changes and this happens every time as long as I can remember. “First of all, I want to say sorry to both of you.” I say while turning my face to look at my parents. Their faces already look disbelieving of what I have done to them right now. My mother only shakes her head slightly and slowly brings her hands to cover her face. “Now you’re sorry?” My father scoffs, “You better not say anything to the detective later.” He says with a threatening voice to me. After hearing what he just said to me, I only take a deep breath while closing my eyes then let it out slowly. Putting a smile on my face and looking at my father softly. “Yes, at least I’m saying sorry to my parents who raised me to become a person like this. I won’t say anything to them.” I say softly to both of them. That makes my mother’s hands away from her face and looks at me with relief. My father responds by only clicking his tongue, he still doesn’t like anything that I have done. “That’s why I’m sorry for now because I’m going to show them everything that both of you have done to me.” still saying it with a soft and lovely voice of mine. But their reaction now is the opposite like a second ago. My mother, who just looked at me with a hope in her eyes, suddenly changes to a desperate look and she starts covering her face again. Even though I’m not looking straight at my father's face, I can clearly feel and see how upset he is right now. “As always I will obey all of your orders. That is why I will tell them without letting out a single word and let them judge it.” I say to them and bow lightly. The words that just come out from my mouth confidently, only makes my parents look miserable and shuts their mouths. After telling them what I want to, finally I turn my head to my brother. One and only brother that I have and the one that I always thought will always stay by my side. The one who always cheers me up when I was a kid and weak. The one who always accompanies me when I’m down with my failures or just what my parents said to me. The best older brother figure that I have ever had and always love and be grateful to have him. At this moment, I don’t see that figure anymore, it’s completely gone in my life. What I’m seeing right now is not my brother but just a Nicolaus Valter. Usually he always looks and smiles at me softly but his eyes feel like it’s throwing a dagger from it. “I’ll just say it one more time,” I say softly at him too “So far you have been the best brother that I ever had and be grateful for. Thank you for everything you have done.” saying it with full sincerity. But my words only make my brother’s face look ever more disgusted at me. He even gives me a gesture of spitting at my face. Once again, this is my first time he shows me something like this. “That’s all? What a waste of time.” He says cynically and rolls his eyes. At this moment, a flashback of how he always replies to me with a smile or just laughs at me whenever I say something like this pops out in my head. Seems like that soft side of my brother is completely gone by now. “Thank you for everything, Nicolaus Valter.” replying to him without answering his question “With that, now I know the exact thing to return your kindness this whole time.” I say to him softly as I ever talk to him. This time he doesn’t say anything, only looking at me piercely. “You said you never wanted me to be here in the first place, right? Never want to be born.” I say to him and still no response from it. “That is why I will throw away this family name and leave you as the heir of Valter’s family.” I say to everyone in this room. With that, all eyes are on me right now and leave their mouths open of shock. After a moment, finally my brother manages to laugh at what I just said. “After all you have done now you give me the heir thingy? Unbelievable..” He says while throwing his hand in the air. “Vilheimina,” My mother finally speaks up “Are you trying to abandon us? After everything we have done for you?” her eyes look puffed because she's been crying for quite long. “I’m only returning Nicolaus' kindness and returning both of your favors.” replying to my mother softly “Which means yes, I’m abandoning all of you guys.” say it with a smile on my face. “You piece of shit!” My father suddenly stands up quickly and makes the chair fall down. He rushes to get over me, trying to hit or slap me as always. Thanks again to Stam who taught me how to fight back, I can manage to counterattack my father’s sudden action. The time he throws his hand to my collar, totally can see that coming, I move back a little and catch his hand. After I catch his hand, his face looks shocked by my quick reflex. Without waiting a second, before he gets into his senses, now I’m the one who quickly grabs his collar and pins him down on the table. Looking at my action, my mother only screams in horror and my brother whistles from his seat. Although a moment ago, I know that my action is something he’s not expected before. My father won’t stay silent after getting a shocking move from me. When I manage to pin him down, he tries to move his body but I already lock him. Because of my action, it makes a loud sound and catches the others attention from outside the room. When the two officers from before and the detective get into the room in a rush, they only find my father is pinned down on the table by me and the others stay on their seats. “Vilheimina Valter, please let go of your father slowly.” the detective says and I do it just as it is told. Because of that too, the officers hold all of my family members and pull them out of the room. My brother doesn’t give any responses and only laughs at literally nothing on it. “Vilheimina! I’m sorry! Please forgive me!” My mother says desperately. “You will pay for this, Vilheimina!” My father shouts while he’s trying to escape from the officers who hold him. Slowly, their struggling sounds can no longer be heard and the room becomes calm and quiet.

That's right.. I don't need to kill them physically.. I just need to kill the one that holds me.. Sneg and Stam slowly approach me. Glancing over them, I can see that Stam is no longer handcuffed and she gives me a pat on my back right when she reaches me. After staying there quietly with the two of them, the detective shows up again and starts asking me about my abusive parents. When I look at Stam, she only nods like she’s encouraging me by giving a sign that it’s better for me to show him every wound and scars that I have on my body. With that, I decide to show the detective all about what my parents have done. **** The news about I’m no longer a Valter spread out as easily as it ever could. As always all eyes are still on me but it’s different this time. No one ever greet me like before by calling me as ‘Queen Valter’ Seems like their color changes too, only a few of them are still purple. Because I lost my family name, not lost just to get rid of it, I also got kicked out of school. The only thing I do at school is give back the school properties and say farewell to everyone since Principal Halberd gives me a chance to do so. This feels strange since this is my first time wearing my very casual clothes to school, not even trying to pull elegant style as well. But I guess I will get used to it from now on. After leaving the principal room, Brugière is waiting for me inches away from the door. “Vil, over here!” She calls me over while waving at me. “Hi, Célia! Sorry for the wait.” replying to her call and she greets me with a hug. “No worries! All done?” she says when pulls out from the hug and walks beside me. Nodding my head as a response to her question and she leads me to Léger’s car that is already in front of the school gate. They drive me to somewhere that I haven’t got a chance before, in addition I’m not ready yet to go there. To Colombain’s grave, where Gofar Colombain is resting right now. Arrive at the graveyard, they lead the way to get there. Now I’m right in front of his place and all I can feel right now is sadness and regret but it gets mixed up with relief that I can visit him. Before coming here, I already made a promise to myself that I won't let a single tear come out and mentally prepared what I’m going to say for him. When we arrive there, Célia and Léger leave me alone there and I’m thankful for how thoughtful they are. “Hello, Colombain. Hope I’m not disrupting you or anything there.” That’s my greeting for him. Clearing my throat, this feels so awkward and weird at the same time since it’s my first time anyway. Shaking my head lightly and trying to stay focused again. Take a deep breath and let it out slowly as usual. “Thank you for telling me everything about you, even your biggest secret with Célia and Léger. Oh! You must be surprised that I called her first name, right?” I say with a little bit of a playful voice like I’m teasing anybody. A little smile appears on my face when I remember the exact letter. “To answer your feelings, to be honest I don’t know how to answer that hahaha” Laughing nervously “This is not the first time someone asked me out but somehow I’m nervous to answer yours..” The last sentence comes out a little bit weird than anything I have said before. “I’m not flirting right now! I’m just confused!” Even though I know I’m talking to myself, I still feel flustered about what I’m saying or doing right now. Scratching the back of my neck, seems like I’m just fooling myself. “But one thing from your words that really hit my heart, Colombain.” Take another deep breath “Thank you for loving me as Vilheimina. I’m really, really grateful and thankful for that because this is my first time someone has fallen for the real me. Those are the words that I have planned before visiting him and that is why I feel so much relief and lifts a lot of burden in my chest. Right after I let out those words, a pure and bright smile appears on my face. “Rest well, Colombain. I’ll take my leave now.” With that I give him one last little bow and slowly walk back to where Célia and Léger are waiting right now. When I get close to them, I can see how Célia smiles so widely, more like she’s teasing me from afar. “What was that~?” She says teasingly and nudges me with her elbow. Now I’m feeling embarrassed, realizing that she saw me smile before. Ahh.. did she see that.. “What?” I say to her, pretend I don’t know what she’s talking about. “Duhh.. someone just smiled and looked so lovely before~ or just imagination?” She teases me once again. At this moment, I guess Stam was right, I’m so easily teased by the others. “Shut up!” I raise my voice a little bit because of how embarrassing it is. “Can we go now?” walking towards the car’s door. “Okey dokey~” Célia replies playfully while Léger only stays silent and smiling watching our interaction. This is my last ride with them, hopefully not last forever, only for today. To the hospital, as I have promised to myself that I’m going to tell them everything about me and no more secrets between us. In the car, Célia and Léger keep accompanying me with any kind of conversation and it seems like we become even closer. The time really moves fast because of how much I enjoyed spending time with them. “Ahh.. why do we arrive so fast like this..” Célia whimpers like a little kid. “Alright then. Thank you for all of your help, guys.” I say while picking up my belongings, one big backpack, purse, and a big suitcase Those are things that I need from my house since I’m not living there anymore. “Anytime, Vil! Remember don’t hesitate to contact us, okay!” Célia from outside the car, waiting for me to pack all of my belongings. After checking my belongings inside Léger’s car, I turn around to say a farewell to them. When I turn around, they already look at me softly. Because of that, my smile automatically appears as well. Célia extends her hands out and hugs me one last time again. “Please, keep in touch with us, Vil. Okay?” She says softly while hugging me. “Yes, I promise.” Replying while returning her hug tightly. The time we break the hug is the end of our farewell and I turn around facing the hospital now. Now I’m already in front of the twin room and the thoughts of what is going to happen next is coming through my mind. This might be a lot harder since what I’m going to do now is a farewell with the twins, those who are always by my side. Thinking of how we always used to be and our precious memories since we are kid, make me to rethink my decisions Because of that, I slap my face to stay focused on what I have decided. Get yourself together, Vil. Take another deep breath and encourage myself to knock on the door. Knock.. Knock.. “Yes, Come in!” a very familiar voice from someone that is very precious to me. Opening the door, surprisingly I find Mana who is already sitting up on her bed while Mari tries to feed her a slice of apple. My eyes still lock on Mana and without noticing it Mari already stands up and runs at me. As always, she greets me with a warm hug and that makes me turn away from Mana then hugs Mari back. “You must be surprised, right?!” Mari says excitedly “I planned not to tell you today's surprise!” “Yeah.. you got me there. I’m speechless when I step into this room.” replying to Mari My nervous replies only make Mari giggles. “Hi, Vil.” Mana calls me softly with a smile on her face. “Hi, Mana.” Approaching her then softly hugs her. “How are you feeling?” I ask her when I pull myself away from the hug. “I think I’m doing well? But my back is still so painful and it’s still hard to move..” She says while trying to move even though she just says that it will be hurt. That is why I quickly grab her shoulder and stop her from moving too much. As usual we talk about a lot of things, I tell them the case that I have solved and what I got from it. They look at me with a totally shocked face, jaw dropping to the floor, and eyes wide open. “Then.. you’re no longer in our school..?” Mari says with a sad face on hers. Just as expected, this is the response that I will get which on the other hand I don’t want them to be sad. “Yes.. and about that..” I stop myself in the middle and make them look at me confusedly. This is the hardest part since I know how they will react to it. “I’ve planned to go far.. far, far away from here.” Just from here I can totally see how their faces change. “Somewhere, I will start my second life as a Vilheimina. No one will recognise me as a Valter. Just Vilheimina.” continuing what my plan is for them. Mana looks down to her hands and Mari shakes her head lightly. The silence fills in the room for a second before I speak up again. “And.. since I don’t have somewhere to live right now, I planned to leave this place tonight.” “If that is your plan then.. We are not going to meet you again after this?” Mari says and I totally can feel that there is a lot of sadness in it. “I never planned that..” my chest becomes heavier now and something starts pressing my throat “But I really, really hope that this is not our last meeting.” trying to say it as stable as I could. From here, I can clearly see there is already a pile of tears on their eyes which I believe mine also. Hold it, Vil.. hold it.. You already promised that there would be no more secrets! Saying it to myself while gripping tight my fists. “Then when will it be?” Suddenly Mana speaks up. “About that..” try to reply while looking at her but only to find that Mana’s tears are already falling down from her eyes. Seeing that now feels like something punches my chest really hard and suffocates me. “I hope..” my voice starts cracking up here “in a short time we will meet again..” Just knowing Mana is no longer holding her tears, I believe Mari is already crying right now. She sniffs quietly in front of me, across Mana’s bed. “Vil.” Mari breaks up the silence with a cracked voice which is tightening the pressure in my chest “I don’t want us to split up..” she covers her face with her palms. This is that I’m not ready for which I didn’t expect she would say something like this. Which only makes the wall to hold my tears falling down crumbles in a second. To hide it from them, I quickly look down to my feet and tighten the grips in my fists. “I never want that too..” my voice totally cracked up. Hearing that, I hear footsteps approaching which I know must be Mari who is proceeding to give me a hug. “I’m sorry.. I’m really sorry..” I say sadly while hugging Mari. We stay like that for a couple of minutes then I start to speak up again. “I know this might be disappointing.. But I already made up my mind..” I say firmly but my voice is still cracked up. Mari wipes her tears and looks up before meeting my eyes. After waiting for a couple of seconds, she finally manages to look straight into my eyes. As always, Mari is such a sweet person, she looks and smiles softly at me. Even though her eyes speak differently, she still puts that lovely face on her. Just from the way they always treat me like this, I know that they are the right person. “Promise to always contact us everyday, anytime, and anywhere?” Mari says and raises her pinkie finger. Smiling softly to her, I know how thoughtful they are, intertwining our pinkie fingers together. “Promise.” replying to her. Looking at Mari’s face, I know she still can’t accept my decision but she is still trying to let me go. Now I turn my face to look at Mana who is already waiting for me. Same as Mari, she puts the same expression as her and raises her pinkie finger. With that, I intertwine my pinkie finger with her too and she pulls me to get closer so our foreheads touch. “Remember that we will always be by your side, Vil. Even though we are so far apart, we are still one together.” she says softly with closed eyes. “I know that and I don’t have to remember it since we are already one.” replying to her then proceeds to hug her softly. Mari joins our hug, just like our usual group hug. After that hug and saying goodbye for them, the farewell between me and twins is now over. Only one step out of the room, my chest feels a lot of relief but at the same time still heavy of losing. Not forever but for a long time is enough to feel how heavy it is. Just as my habit to calm myself down, take a deep breath and slowly let it out. Alright. I need to keep going now. Walking out from the hospital, I turn myself to look at the front hospital one last time then finally continue walking away from it. When I arrive at the front gate, someone is already waiting for me. It’s Stam. “So?” She says while approaching me “What are you going to do now?” “I’m leaving tonight, Stam. Now I will just head to the airport.” replying to her with a smile on my face. “Alright then.” She says and turns around to pick up her backpack which makes me look at her confusedly. “Let’s go.” “Wait wait wait! What do you mean let’s go?” I ask her with a lot of questions in my head. “Hm? Let’s go means we go? You’re not that stupid to understand meaning of let’s go, right?” Stam teases me sarcastically. “Of course I know that. But why do you have a backpack on you?” I ask her again. “Seriously? How dumb can you be, Vilheiminaaa..” she replies irritatedly now of how clueless I’m right now. “If I'm going somewhere far away, isn’t it a normal thing to bring my belongings too?” She says with her brow raised. Still looking at her confusedly. Is she planning to go somewhere else too? Stam looks at my expression and she finally lets out a loud sigh. “Now you’re thinking I planned to go somewhere else too, right?” she asks and I instantly answer it with a nod “I’m going with you, idiot!” She says frustratedly. That’s something that I never expected to happen today. Last night, I thought that I’m going to say my farewell to her too. “You’re joking, right?” I say to her, still doubting what I just heard. “Just wait until who is going to sit next to you in the airplane then.” She says irritatedly then walks and leaves me behind. The thought that I’m going to start my second life alone suddenly disappears. With that I rush myself to hug her from behind. “Wha- What are you doing, dumbass?!” She says with a panicked voice. Seems like she’s not used to something like this, just like me before. “Nothing~” I say playfully then let go of the hug “Let’s go then.” I say to her with a wide smile on my face. “You’re such a weirdo..” She replies shyly and there is slightly a pink color on her cheeks The taxi finally arrive in front of us and we proceed to get in there. “Anyway, are you predicting that I’m going to buy you the ticket?” I ask her teasingly. “I’m not that poor.” She replies and punches my shoulder lightly.

To be continued..?