[ Chapter 14 ]
"Rita!! Are you okay??"
"Rome .. run!! Just run .. please! I don't want them to jail you!"
"NO! I won't leave you!"
"Just listen to me please .. just go. Please .. I'm begging you .."
"But--"
"No buts, just go!"
"I-I will come back and save you! Please wait for me!"
Rome never stopped running since then. The trees in the wood looked scarier than usual, like they were going to capture him and return him back to the police. He didnt't noticed it though. Maybe, he just didn't bother caring anymore. His legs were doing the job for him, for his mind was pondering too far. He felt like he couldn't hear her heartbeat anymore. Being too far apart from here is just unbearable, especially the part having to leave her. That's not the worse part yet, he's afraid that the police would really send Rita back to her so-called-family.
His heart told him to stop, asking him to run back to Rita. Who cares if he gets jailed? He only wanted to be with her. At least, letting her know that he would always be there for her. Was he being selfish for leaving her? He hope not. He did that because Rita wanted him to do so. This hatred that he had for Rita's family was too much, that it started to give him a headache. His legs automatically stopped itself from running. Rome was till panting, he kneeled down with both his hands on his knees. He was now at the side of a river.
"Huh .. huh .. huh .. huh .."
Still panting, he forced himself to breathe. He thought it had started to rain but he was wrong. Those 'rain' was actually his own sweat. It was dripping one by one from his forehead till it fell the ground. His whole shirt was soaked with it. Not wanting to catch cold, he unbuttoned his shirt and threw it into the river; revealing his well-toned body.
Arghh .. I shouldn't have left you !!
Damn! Damn! Damn! Damn!
Why must everything turn out to be like this?!?
Rome was really annoyed. He balled up his fist and started punching the tree trunk. One punch after another, both of his fist started to bleed. Not planning to stop, he walked towards the river and jumped into the water. He was not going to commit suicide, rather trying to find a peace of mind. He stayed down there for quite some time ..
I'm coming .. love.
--
Back at the hospital, there were not many audience to the incident. Considering the fact tha it was a mental hospital, most patients are in their designated room while the doctors and nurses are too busy to even have any knowledge about the incident itself. Rita, with both her hand still cuffed, we escorted to the police cruiser. Before she was forced to enter the car, she managed to catch a glimpse of a familiar face. She was almost a family to her, Donna. Just from Donna's facial expression, she saw how worried she was. Not wanting to burden the caring doctor anymore, she gave out a smile. Telling her that, she's ok .. don't worry too much. Her smile was too fake, it clearly didn't work.
"Sir, where are you taking me to?"
Rita asked both of the police officer who were seating in front of her. They looked at each other, then the one on the driver seat spoke while looking at her through the car mirror.
"Miss Rita, we'll be heading back to the police station .."
" .."
"Be assured though, your family is waiting for you eagerly there."
"That's what I'm worried about .." She said it so soft, it almost sounded like a whisper.
"Excuse me?"
"Nothing .."
Few hours past before they reached the police station. Different from the previous experience with Rome, this time .. she didn't sleep at all. She was escorted into the police station again where she saw two satan waiting for her. They looked as if they were so worried and happy that she's finally 'found'. She knew it better than anyone else in the world, that was all an act. An act to deceive the police. When the police finally uncuffed her, they gave her back to her family -- where her brother kindly took her and hugged her. She tried to struggle but then he whispered ..
"You try to be funny .. and I'll kill both you and mum, together."