Just Friends? by Marinette Hart (great books to read txt) 📕

"I AM GOING TO KILL YOU, how could you even think about talking about her in such a way?" I howled. Hunter had pushed me off him and against the wall, starting to punch my stomach.

"That hoe must have been sleeping around. I won't make any difference to her list," he insulted. I grabbed hunter and threw him to the floor kicking him.

"YOU PIECE OF SHIT. HOW DARE YOU CALL CRYS A HOE," I roared. Hunter managed to get up and push me out of the room as he locked the door.

"Watch what I do to your Crys now!" he threatened. I tried breaking the door, but it wouldn't break. I could hear Crystal screaming in pain.

"Ivaaan, help." I heard the bed moving viciously. Hunted had gone into her and she couldn't take it. I grabbed a hammer and broke the lock. I pushed him off the bed to the floor. I gave the blanket on Crystal and got on Hunter, punching his face. Anger rushed through my vanes. I was so mad.

"You were my best friend. How could you do such a thing to the girl I love," I yelled.

"The girl you love is a whore," he abused. I got angrier. Moments later the police came in and yelled "hands up." I got pulled off Hunter by an officer since I wasn't getting off Hunter. The other grabbed onto Hunter. Someone in the neighbourhood had informed the officers about the noises.

"He raped my best friend, I am going to kill him," I yelled as I tried getting forward to hit Hunter but the officer pulled me back.

"Sir, please calm down," The officer said. He looked at Hunter and handcuffed him.

"Further investigation will occur when the victim is awake, until then the accused is in custody," the officers said as they left. I ran to Crystal who was lying on the bed unconscious. I wrapped her up and rushed her to the hospital. 

They took her in and told me to wait outside. The doctor came out and told me to get some clothes for her that covered her private parts only. Her body had been injured and they needed to treat it. I quickly drove home and grabbed a green crop top with black mini shorts. I quickly drove back to the hospital and gave the clothes to the doctor. I had been waiting for hours and at last they let me see her. I went into her private ward and stood there in shock. Her whole body had bruises and hickeys.

"She has been involved in regular intercourse and has been injured severely all over her body. There's chances that she has PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) because she was acting up during our processes," the doctor informed. I was so hurt to see her like that.

"It's preferred that she sees a psycatrist for her mental health. Other than that we have to cancel her medications because her body is really weak,” he continued.

“Medications? What medications?” I asked. I wasn’t in knowledge of any such thing.

“She's been taking heavy doses of sleeping pills and other iron tablets without proper dietary," the doctor continued. I couldn't believe what I was hearing.

"We will try our best to heal her but please convince her to see a psycatrist," he urged.

"I will," I agreed. The doctor left the room and I sat on the stool next to Crystal as I waited for her to wake up.

*the next day*

Crystal was still unconscious. I wanted to hear her voice. I sat there staring at her. Tears started falling out of my eyes. I couldn't lose her. I had finally found someone who was with me. Loneliness ate me. I couldn't afford losing Crystal.

"Please... don't... hurt... Ivan," she started mumbling as she slowly opened her eyes. I moved her head towards me and saw me. She tried getting up but couldn't.

"Ivan are you okay? Hunter was.." she gasped as she looked around with fear. I grabbed onto her hand and she started panicking.

"Don't touch me!" she yelled as she ran off the bed into a corner of the ward. I followed her and tried to calm her down. She had her hands to her head and eyes closed.

"Stop it," she cried.

"Crystal, it's me, Ivan," I told but she didn't listen. I pulled her to my chest and hugged her tightly as she slowly calm down.

"Ivan," I said. She looked up to my face and hugged me.

"You're finally here. Please don't leave me," she cried.

"I promise that I will never leave you," I promised. I picked her up and sat her on the bed. I grabbed the stool and sat in front of her.

 "Crystal, look here," I said. "You have to tell me everything," I begged but she kept on crying.

"He lied to you. The day he came, he made me feel uncomfortable and looked at me with dirty eyes. He wouldn't let go of my hand," she started. "When I got home, I heard noises during the night. I went downstairs to see who it was and it was Hunter," she cried. She had started breathing heavier and shaking. I got up and sat on the bed next to her as I hugged her.

"I tried to get away from him but he still got to me. He forced himself on me that night. I begged so much but he didn't listen. That wasn't even enough for him. He came every night and tortured me. If I didn't listen he would hit me," she cried.

I pulled her away and asked, "why didn't you tell me the first time?"

"He said that you wouldn't listen to me. You would think I was the one who manipulated him," she sobbed.

"Oh Crystal, I would never think that. I know how you are," I said as I pulled her back to my chest. She kept on crying. "Shhh, calm down. Everything is fine now. He's in jail and he'll be getting his punishment soon," I informed. "I will always be with you. But you have to listen to me," I ordered.

"I'll do everything you say, just don't leave me please," she solicited.

"You have to see a psycatrist," I said. She got out of my arms and looked at me. I cupped her face with my hands and wiped her tears.

"You want to get rid of the memories. You don't want them to haunt you anymore right?" I manipulated. She nodded her head as she started crying again and hugged me.

"I want them to go Ivan. My head hurts so much when I think of Hunter.” She got out of my arms and started rubbing her hands on her body as she cried "his touch.. I feel it all the time. My body feels gross. I want his touch to go." I could not see Crystal like that. I gave her a glass of water as she calmed down.

"Hunter will be punished and I will make sure he doesn't get out alive out of jail," I swore to Crystal as I looked into her eyes. There was so much pain in them.

"Now you have to eat something. You haven't eaten properly in ages. I am going to go to the cafeteria and get us food," I said as I got up.

"No Ivan, don't leave please," Crystal requested. She was terrified.

"Lock the door whilst I am gone and when I come back I will say 'chocolate' 3 times then you open the door," I suggested.

“No! I said don’t fucking leave me,” she screamed as her eyes started tearing up. She hugged me tight so I wouldn’t leave.

“Okay, okay, I’m here with you,” I said. I texted Alina and told her that I was in the hospital with Crystal. She rushed to the hospital. It had been a very long time and Crystal had fell asleep in my arms. I tried moving but her sense grabbed on tighter. Alina walked in the ward calling out Crystal’s name.

“Shhh,” I whispered.

“Sorry,” she apologised. She stared at her bruised body in shock. “How did this happen?” she asked.

“Long story but right now she won’t let me go but she needs to eat something. Her body is really weak,” I told.

“I’ll go down to the cafeteria and get you both food,” Alina whispered. She came back with 2 plates of chicken rice and juice poppers. The doctor entered the room as Alina was setting up the food.

“I’m sorry Ivan but one of you have to leave, visiting hours are over. Since Crystal’s condition is not stable I’ve got permission for only one person to stay,” he informed.

“I’ll leave,” Alina said. “Crystal needs you Ivan,” she said as she held my shoulder. She left the ward with the doctor. I woke up Crystal and walked her to the couch for the food. She relaxed her arms on the couch as she stared at the food. She couldn’t lift them. I grabbed Crystal’s plate of food and started feeding her.

“Ivan it’s fine I’ll eat myself. You must have not ate either. You eat yours,” she insisted.

“Crystal, I know your body is paining and I will not let you go away from me now. As soon as you get better, you’re moving to my house and that’s final. I have talked to your mum and she has no problem. In fact she is really worried and upset that all this has happened to you. So now, you’re going to listen to me. You know why? Because I love you, since the day we met you stole my heart. You solved all my problems, you became my everything. I can’t stop thinking about you. The fear of loosing you petrifies me,” I lectured.

Crystal sat there and listened. There was a big silence before she spoke. “I love you too Ivan,” she started. My neck turned around to face her really fast. My heart filled with excitement.

“I’ve never felt comfortable in any guy’s arms the way I feel in yours. I was so scared of loosing you, but my life is so fucked up. I didn’t want my life to interfere with yours but it is. I want to see you happy even if that meant I had to separate myself from you,” she expressed.

“We can fix this Crystal. The doctor said you can get better. You have to see a physiatrist to get better. Your brain is really disturbed. We will fix this together. I promise. Just agree to see a physiatrist with me please,” I said. She looked at me with a no face and she rejected. She wanted isolation, her heart was done for good. I convinced her to my best and she finally agreed.