Chapter 269 - Being Gaslighted
Present-day,
“Hera, wake up.”
“Wake up, Hera, you’re dreaming,” Hera heard someone’s faint voice calling for her.
“I’m sorry, Nate,” Hera kept mumbling in her sleep.
She felt two hands gripping her shoulders and shook hard, pulling her out of her slumber. Hera woke up sobbing, gasping for air. Tears pooled down her cheeks while she frantically looked around, only to find herself in her dorm. She looked at her roommates surrounding her bed, wearing a worried expression on their faces.
“Where’s Nate?” Hera asked before she could think and then realised she was dreaming. Clara brought tissues and offered them to her silently. “It’s okay, Hera. It’s just a bad dream,” Brittany said, giving her a glass of water to drink. Hera looked at the wall clock, and it was quarter past four in the morning.
“I’m sorry I disturbed your sleep,” Hera muttered an apology, feeling embarrassed under the sudden attention. She cleared her sore throat as her voice came out scratchy. “I’m fine. Please go back to sleep,” she said softly. Everyone stayed beside her for a while even though she asked them to go back to their beds.
Hera cleaned the tear tracks from her cheeks and drank sufficient water to ease the soreness.
“I guess you are disturbed by what happened with Noel yesterday. Maybe it triggered the nightmare,” Adelaide said. Surprisingly her voice was filled with concern.
“Don’t worry, Hera. Noel is fine,” Clara said informatively. An awkward silence followed after that. No one mentioned anything about Nathan. Though Hera wanted to speak about him with Clara, she decided against it. She couldn’t dare do it after reliving the incident through her nightmare. She vaguely remembered mumbling an apology to Nathan in her sleep.
After a few minutes, upon Hera’s insistence, they all went back to their beds, and Adelaide switched the lights off.
Hera couldn’t go back to sleep, and her thoughts wandered back to yesterday’s incident. She remembered thinking about Noel and Nathan before falling asleep, and it seemed her subconscious mind had taken her back to the past through her dream.
It wasn’t just a dream but a memory from her past. Everything she witnessed in her nightmare had happened with Nathan in real life about one and a half years ago. Hunter had almost killed Nathan in his madness. When he sent Hera home with the girls, she knew it was just an excuse when he mentioned interrogation.
Hera knew about his wealthy, influential family background. It was apparent that Hunter’s father had the power to pull him out of any dangerous situation. The fact was Hunter would never face any interrogation from anyone. He only wanted Hera to leave Nathan’s side that night.
Bianca had safely parked the car at Hunter’s mansion, much to Hera’s misjudgement about the girl’s driving skills. Hera spent the night curled up on the sofa while waiting for Hunter’s return as she was dying to hear the news of Nathan’s well-being. Though Bianca was on the phone speaking to Hunter every two minutes, she wouldn’t tell Hera anything.
Finally, Evelyn showed mercy on Hera and relayed the news of Nathan’s condition. Hunter had called Mathew as soon as Hera left and had taken Nathan to the hospital as he promised. The doctors had treated his broken bones and put the displaced ones back in place. He had to wear cast and splints and would stay in the hospital for a while. Other than that, he was fine.
Thanks to Mathew, who had taken care of everything. Hera could finally rest in peace and had fallen asleep on the sofa, succumbing to the darkness.
Evelyn had even apologised for her behaviour, and she did it on Hunter’s behalf too. She admitted her friends were wrong for what they did to Nathan, even though it was Nathan’s mistake for provoking Hunter. In Evelyn’s words, the matter shouldn’t have advanced to this level, but her best friend had lost his temper, and it escalated so much.
“Nathan has played his part in it. You can’t simply put all the blame on Ace,” Evelyn had said in Hunter’s defence.
But it didn’t matter to Hera anymore because she knew him better. Whatever Hunter did, it wasn’t because of his anger. He did it because he intended to do it.
It was an unspoken agreement between Hera and Hunter from that day when she complied with his demand and walked out on Nathan. Hera never dared to defy him, afraid he would hurt her friends. If Hunter wanted her to go out with him, she would. If he wanted her to stay in his mansion with him, she would.
Hunter never said anything, but Hera had learnt her lesson. She stayed true to her words and never tried to befriend or date any other boy. Hera herself could bear everything, but she would never want others to suffer because of her.
The only condition Hunter had voiced out for Hera to follow was to cut all ties with Clara. Nathan never came back to school, and Hera never interacted with Clara.
Hera was so young and naive she didn’t know how to tackle the problem. So she danced to Hunter’s tune and became a puppet in his hands. Now that she reflected on all that happened, she wondered if Hunter truly deserved her.
‘Did he deserve this second chance?’
If she were to be in Clara’s shoes, she would want revenge too after what Hunter did to her brother.
Hunter couldn’t differentiate between right and wrong when he was angry.
‘Is this normal to lose his temper to this extent where he doesn’t hesitate before hurting others?’
Hera sighed at the thought.
Her Hunter wasn’t perfect, yet Hera loved him with all his imperfection.
She hated that her mind couldn’t stick to one decision. It constantly kept doubting her judgement. It had been more than two years since their supposed breakup until Hunter asked for a fresh start. Hunter had apologised for cheating on her, promised to mend his ways and had begged for her forgiveness.
Eric, Michael, Danny, Evelyn, all of them had become dear to Hera now. She wouldn’t want to taint their newfound bonding. They all had grown up and were now mature enough to reflect, regret, repent and redeem their ways. Hunter and Hera had talked about it and decided to forgive and forget.
‘Then why can’t I ignore what Noel and Clara said?’
‘Why can’t I move on from the past?’
‘Why does this burden of guilt doesn’t leave me alone?’
‘Why can’t I find peace?’
‘Why are you so difficult to handle, Hunter?’
Hera blinked under the darkness. She wasn’t crying anymore, but her swollen eyelids would sting every time she blinked. Pulling the comforter up to her chin, she closed her eyes, willing the sleep to take over her consciousness.
It had only been a few hours since she saw Hunter, but it felt like a year, and she missed him so much. He hadn’t called her yet. Involuntarily her hand searched for the phone under her pillow.
As if on cue, it vibrated under her pillow. She knew who would reach out to her at this godforsaken hour. The brightness of the screen hurt her eyes when it lit up. She opened the lock to check Hunter’s message. ρꪖꪕᦔꪖꪕꪫꪣꫀꪶ
Devil:
4:46 am
Couldn’t sleep a wink. Missing you, Love.
Hera sighed tiredly after reading the message. He always felt it when she missed him. Their telepathic network never failed to send signals.
There were a few more unread messages that he sent her yesterday.
11:55 pm
Are you still angry with me?
12:31 am
You know I hate it when we fight, especially when I’m not wrong.
1:12 am
Talk to me, Goddess?
1:20 am
Have you packed your luggage yet?
Hera frowned in worry at the mention of packing. She wouldn’t go with him for sure, she had decided. A few thoughtful seconds later, she typed her reply.
Godsess:
What packing? I never said I’m coming with you.
Devil:
Not the right time to piss me off, Hera Hunter.
The reply came instantly, and Hera scowled at his tone. She could envision him clenching his jaw in anger.
‘Did he already forget I’m angry with him?’
Instead of apologising or appeasing, Hunter was still showing attitude.
Devil:
I know you’re saying it because you’re angry with me.
It’s called gaslighting. People around you are manipulating you into doubting your own judgement. Use your brain, Goddess and instead of getting influenced by them and fighting with me, be a little mature and try to talk to me about it.
PS. You’re coming with me.
Hera pursed her lips in annoyance and scowled hard at his last statement. He wasn’t asking her anymore but commanding her to comply with his demand.
‘How Ironic! The master of manipulation is preaching about gaslighting!’
Hera shook her head in disapproval.
She typed the two words in bold capitals. Smirking in satisfaction, she hit it to send.
Goddess ;
FUCK YOU.
Devil:
Sure, Goddess, anytime.
I’m ready whenever you are!
‘Ah! This insufferable Jerk!
‘What am I supposed to do with this rascal?’
His quick, witty comeback irked her more.
Goddess:
Keep aggravating me, Hunter, and you won’t be the first one I fuck.
Hera let out breathy laughter in satisfaction when Hunter took the time to reply. However, her smile dropped when she saw her phone ringing, flashing the name Devil on the screen. Hunter was calling her.
‘Not so soon, Mr Hunter.’
Hera declined the call and switched her phone off.. She knew what to do to cool his anger off.