Being Bad For Good Sake

Unexpected Twist

Luka's POV:

I shrugged off Mari's question, not having a clear answer. I had been busy with concerts over the weekend and hadn't contacted Chloe, so I expected her to scold me. But instead, Chloe was nowhere to be found.

Just as I thought that I spotted Chloe running towards Mari. Wait, that's not fair! I should be the one she greets first! Fake crying As she reached Mari, Chloe raised her right hand and slapped her across the face. What on earth did Mari do to deserve that?

Mari was in shock, dropping her belongings to the floor. Surprisingly, there was no visible reaction on her face, not even a single tear. Meanwhile, Chloe was yelling and screaming at the top of her lungs.

"You bitch, how can you do this? How can you stab me in the back, your friend's back, your best friend's back? You're a traitor. You don't deserve anyone, not me, not him, not love, not even happiness. You're a demon, a monster, a devil. You're the definition and example of everything that's bad and abusive. I can't believe I trusted you. I helped you, and this is how you repay me? Do you think this will break me, break my heart? No. No, it can't. Too bad for you. I never loved him. It was just affection, just a mistake from the past, just like believing in you, loving you, and trusting you. Those were all my mistakes. And I'm sure I won't make them again."

I couldn't understand why Chloe was saying all of this. Did Mari really do something to deserve such treatment? No, I knew Mari better than anyone else. She would never betray anyone. I looked up at Mari, and she was frozen, her body stiff as a rock. There was not a single expression on her face. As I took a step forward towards Chloe, Mari grabbed my hand and looked at me, silently asking me to stop. She wanted to handle this on her own, and she didn't want me to intervene. So, respecting her wishes, I stopped and took a step back, standing right beside Mari, ready to support her silently.

She took a step back, then two steps forward. A smile appeared on her face as she looked at Chloe. And then, she said something completely unexpected. "How do you feel? After slapping me, how did it make you feel?" I was in complete shock. If this was some kind of prank, I swore I would lose it on both of them. Chloe, confused, replied, "Oh, I feel happy and relieved. But why are you asking? Would you let me do it again?" She let out an evil chuckle, confirming that this was not a prank or an act.

I looked at Mari, seeking a response from her, but she whispered something to me. "Luka, promise me that no matter what happens now, you won't intervene or let anyone else intervene. I trust you more than anyone. Please don't break my only trust, because if you do, I won't be able to trust anyone else or forgive you. Swear on my life that you will keep your promise..." Her words struck fear into my heart. I couldn't bear the thought of Mari leaving me, losing her trust. And then, I felt a soft hand on my cheek. It was Mari, gently wiping away my tears. I looked up at her and nodded, but she was waiting for a verbal response. "I swear... on my life, I will fulfill my... promise." Those words felt like they took an eternity to come out. She gave me a gentle kiss on my cheek and then turned to respond to Chloe's question.

"If you feel better, then you can slap me as much as you want..." I couldn't believe she said those words. How could a person love so deeply? How?

But in an instant, Chloe forcefully pushed Mari back and pinned her against the wall. Mari's body went limp as if even a gentle breeze could harm her. She didn't fight back against the force, giving up any resistance. Her back was now pressed against the wall, and her head hit it with a sickening thud. Blood trickled down her face, the warmth of her blood contrasting with Chloe's cold and unyielding expression. And yet, there was no emotion on Mari's face. No fear, no anger, no pain, no regret. Nothing.

My hands were tied by her promise. If only I had known that this would happen, I would never have agreed to her request. But it was too late for regrets.

Chloe continued to slap Mari relentlessly, with all her strength. She cried, yelled, and shook Mari, gripping her T-shirt tightly. "I can't believe in myself. You don't deserve anyone. Your parents sold you because of who you are. Why would anyone want to raise a traitor? Someone who is selfish, a liar, a hater, a betrayer, self-absorbed, a slut, and a monster. You, Marinette Dupain-Cheng, deserve nothing but death."

Oh God, I can't even begin to imagine how Mari must be feeling. I desperately want to stop this right now, but I'm afraid I can't. As Chloe's yelling echoed, everyone in the vicinity gathered in a morbid circle. Teachers and students alike, they stood there, watching as if it were some form of entertainment. And when I say everyone, I mean even the members of Scarface. How could they all stand by and allow this to happen?

Suddenly, a tall man, clearly not from our school, rushed towards the crowd. It was evident that he intended to stop Chloe's assault on Mari. But I had made a promise to Mari, a promise to not let anyone interfere. I stepped in front of him, desperately pleading with my tear-streaked face, "I'm sorry, sir, but I can't allow you to intervene. I made a promise to someone, and it involves both her life and mine."

Amidst the chaos, Mari gave a small smirk and spoke up, "It's alright, Chloe. If it makes you feel better, you can continue. I won't fight back, and it's okay. You're not hurting me. I'm perfectly fine." I couldn't believe how much love Mari had for Chloe, even in the face of pain and hatred. She loved her unconditionally, and in that moment, I realized why I loved Mari. She was unlike anyone else in this entire universe. Her uniqueness, her capacity to love, made her truly extraordinary.

Mari, I love you...

My heart shattered into a million pieces as Chloe's sadistic actions escalated. If she dared to harm Mari once more, I knew deep within me that forgiveness would be forever out of reach, even in the afterlife.

"How sweet of you," Chloe sneered in response to Mari's selfless words. "But as I said, you deserve nothing, not even forgiveness," she added with an evil smile. To my horror, Chloe retrieved a knife and began to inflict cuts on Mari's arms and legs. It was a gruesome sight, and blood spilled onto the floor, staining it crimson.

My body trembled with rage and helplessness as Chloe took things even further. She deliberately cut one of Mari's nerves, causing blood to gush out uncontrollably. Mari's limp form slid down the wall, unconscious and injured. The sight was unbearable, and my heart bled along with her.

To my dismay, the crowd that had gathered responded with laughter and gossip, reveling in the violence before them. Chloe, filled with a twisted satisfaction, made her way to the restroom accompanied by Lie-la, who wore a sinister smirk. Before leaving, Lie-la delivered a final blow, kicking Mari in the stomach. Mari coughed up blood, her condition worsening with each passing moment.

Overwhelmed by despair and desperation, I rushed to Mari's side, tears streaming down my face. With the help of the man who had come forward to intervene, we carried her to the nurse's office. However, to my dismay, the nurse refused to provide any assistance, leaving us in a state of utter disbelief.

Turning to the man, I implored him, "Excuse me, sir. Could you please tell me your name, and do you have any medical knowledge or expertise?" In response, he introduced himself as Timothy Drake and mentioned that he had met Mari at a cafe the previous day. We were merely acquaintances, but he was willing to help in any way he could.

Without hesitation, I entrusted Mari's care to Timothy. He skillfully tended to each of her injuries, providing necessary treatment and administering glucose through saline bottles. He even proceeded to stitch up her major cuts with care and precision. After all the medical attention, Mari lay resting on the bed, still unconscious but in a more stable condition.

My heart ached as I watched her lying there, hoping and praying for her swift recovery. The room was filled with a somber silence, and I couldn't help but feel an overwhelming sense of guilt for not being able to protect her from such cruelty.