VALERIE

Chapter 21.5: Here Comes Trouble

Note: If you're a Taylor Swift fan, don't read this chapter. I don't want to offend anyone. Just skip to the next chapter. You can still make sense of the story without reading this part. But if you decide to read, please finish the whole chapter first before you judge. Okay? Thank you! xx

Copyright © zylgnagnaba 2013

When I hear those words slip from her mouth, something inside me click. It’s like I am switched on to a different emotion, a strong one. Rage is surging to every vein in my body, surfacing to my façade. I am trying to hold my grudge but it just doubles when the camera focused on Harry, applauding her while the look on his face looks awkwardly careless. Why do people have to be stupid and make things even worse? For a moment, I admire him for staying cool despite the awkward situation.

I am fully aware that I look at her sternly as she goes back to her seat, still grinning stupidly. Is she even aware that I am also here? She’s lucky we’re in a freaking crowded place, or else I might have her beautiful face crashed and rearranged. Oh yeah, I can do that. I have done even worse.

What?! No, no, no… Valerie, you’re through that. You’ve done a lot of progress, you can’t go back now. What the heck are you thinking?

I shake my head aggressively to throw the thoughts at the bin. I have long tied the villain, controlling her from escaping inside me. And there’s no way I am letting her win now, and let her laugh at me for being so weak. I have been controlling myself for years now, and every time there are people or situations provoking my anger, I do my best to stay still, breathe out and calm down. But when that witch dissed Harry, I know I was turning to a beast once again, but thankfully, I have collected myself. I never knew I could be this affected when it comes to him.

The look on my face washes out when Rhianna turns around to face us saying, “It’s alright, you don’t need that wh*** anyway.” She rolls her eyes, and smiles at the both of us at the end.

I only let out a little smirk at her and I realize that she’s actually recognizing my presence, so my smile grows a little wider. We all return to our seat and look forward for the next performance, but the struggle I have in my chest still doesn’t seem to budge. I am still disturbed. I don’t know how much longer I can handle this anger, that I know would leave me dissatisfied without lashing out on anyone or anything. But I am fighting hard to keep it in. I know I can handle this one.

The rapid rising and falling of my emotion confuses me too. I just hope that I can distract myself so I can focus on something not connected to the anger I am feeling inside. It feels like I am standing in a very thin line. Once something pushes me to either side, it will trigger me to explode and I wouldn’t be able to keep everything in my hands anymore, rather, in the villain’s hands.

Fortunately for me, Harry reaches for my hand and rubs it tenderly. I gaze at him and our eyes meet. His look is as if he knows me and the battle occurring on my chest. He smiles in an ‘it’s okay’ way, and I reciprocated one nicely. He bumps my shoulder playfully with his and I couldn’t help but chuckle – so I guess this is my distraction. I lean in his shoulder for a little while and I let him lay his hand on my waist in a very comforting way. We stay like that for more minutes. The way we hold on to each other and the performances on stage make me forget about the struggle of keeping my anger at bay.

“I think I need to go to the washroom,” I say out of the blue while still snuggled up with him. He tilts his head to look down on me and kiss the side of my forehead.

“Okay, want me to go with you?” He asks me thoughtfully. The smile on my face makes him grow one of his own but I quickly cut it off by saying, “Nah… I can go with Sophia instead.” I just know what’s going on in his coconut of a brain.