Ivan's P.O.V.

I stared into her green-brown eyes with a hint of golden. Her eyes are damn beautiful. These pair of orbs are attracting me since our first meet. Hazel raised her eyebrows and said, "You said you want to talk".

I nodded and looked away. I was sitting on the bed and she was sitting in front of me on the chair. She placed the plate of apples, I cut for her on the table behind her.

"I have few questions to ask you. I want honest answers", I said.

"You won't like my answers", she said.

"I don't care. I just want answers", I said and she shrugged her shoulders.

"I'll start from the starting", I said.

"What am I getting in return of answering your questions?", She asked rubbing her palms together.

"Why will I give you anything?", I asked.

"Because I'm answering your questions instead of studying and wasting my time on you. My time is my money", she said and I rolled my eyes

Guess she's mean only to me, I thought!!

"What do you want me to do?", I asked and she scratched her chin as if thinking something.

"You've to give me three promises", she said.

"What promises?", I asked.

"In future, I'll ask you three things to do for me and you'll never say NO for them. You've to grant me three wishes", she said.

"I'm not a Santa Clause or any magic man", I said.

"Either my way or take the highway", she said in a bored way and I sighed. This girl is for sure mean and cold to me. She's warm and kind to the whole world except me.

"Fine. I promise", I said and she forwarded her little finger in front of me.

"Pinky promise", she said.

Why is she so annoying?

I walked over to her and held her little finger with mine and she touched our thumbs together. I said, "Whatever".

"I've sealed the promise", she said with a smile and I appreciated it. She looked quite young and innocent when she smiles. She actually looks of her age.

I sat back on my bed and started processing questions in my mind. She stared at me curiously and took a bite of one apple slice. She chews it silently and I took a deep breath.

"What's your real name?", I asked.

"Vena Aniston", she said.

Right. Why do I call her Hazel?, I thought!!

Because you didn't like her name, my mind replied.

Gotcha!!

"Are you really married?", I asked.

"Yes", she said.

"Do you love Ron Hamithway?", I asked and a smile of amusement played over her lips.

"You must hate him way too much", she said.

"What's there to love in him?", I asked.

"Pass", she said.

"What do you mean by Pass?", I frowned.

"The questions I don't want to answer, I'll pass them. I won't lie but I will not answer them too", she said.

She's so difficult!!

"How do you know Joe? When did you meet Ron? How are you related to our lives? I want to know everything. Please tell me. Why do you hate me?", I said and her smile fades away from her face.

"I'll tell you everything but how can I trust that our conversation will stay between us only?", She asked.

"I don't get you", I said.

"Whatever we'll talk must stay between us. You're not allowed to tell it to another soul, not even Joe", she said.

"I can't hide things from Joe", he said.

"Then I can't tell you anything", she said. She hit my weak nerves. I'm just desperate to get my answers but if I won't promise her then I've to die with this curiosity in my heart. I left a heavy sigh.

"Ok", I said. She nodded.

I'm sorry Joe!!

"Four years ago, I was living a normal life. Just any other teenage girl, I too was enjoying my teen life. I had a full-fledged family. I've a mom, a dad, my sister Adrian and our dog, Brun. We lived in Paris", she said and then it hits me that I've never seen her talking to her family since the past six months of her staying here.

"My sister Adrian was eight years older than me. She was in a relationship with a guy whom she met through a common friend. They dated for two years. They're the best example for a long distance relationships. She was happy and I was happy for her. They both decided to get married and seeing her happy my parents said yes to her boyfriend. My sister married the love of her life. She looked so beautiful in her wedding gown. I even envied her a bit because my brother in law was just like my dream boy. I know it was stupid of me to even think that way", she said and a tear escaped her eyes but she was smiling. She was happy thinking about her sister.

"She flew away to New York after marriage but we kept in touch. We talked on video calls and she always flaunted her honeymoon pics and about her life. Seeing her all contended, gave me relief and to my parents too. She joined a school as an English teacher. She was twenty-two at that time", Hazel said and then looked at me.

"And then things started to change. The school my sister taught was DPM International School'', she said and my eyes widened. This was my school. I gaped but words didn't come out of my mouth.

"Did you still not get it? Mrs. Adrian Hamithway, your English teacher. Rang a bell?", She added and a beautiful face flashed across my eyes. Adrian Hamithway, the crush of boys of our school. I looked back at Hazel. I could see the resemblance in their features now. She was the best teacher. Not only she was young but she was the kind-hearted person too. Out of all the teachers, she won to gain my respect for her.

"She was my English teacher", I whispered and Hazel nodded. Her chin puckered and she took a deep sigh. She was fighting back her tears.

"Unfortunately, you and Joe both came into her life through one damn class. Joe was impressed by her way too much. She asked for private tuitions from my sister", Hazel said and I nodded. I know this much. After all, I've been a stalker of Joe. I know about all her tutions and her after school life.

"Everything was going smoothly until and unless Joe gets in a relationship with my brother in law, Ron Hamithway", Hazel added and I'm damn sure my eyes would have been widened as big as a saucer ball. Ron was Hazel's sister's husband.

"After an year and half of their marriage, Adrian filed a divorce. She caught Ron cheating on her with Joe. She couldn't live with him anymore and they both got a divorce. She was broken and she started living in isolation", Hazel said and her eyes were glistening.

"What happened after that?", I asked.

"She told us that Ron cheated on her with a schoolgirl named Joe. I started hating this girl, I never met because she destroyed my sister's life. But god pays mercy to my sister and Dylan came in her life. They both married and after one year, she gave birth to Aiden. He'll three this coming year", she said and I nodded. I felt sympathy for her but I couldn't show this to her. She's a strong person and I'm sure she wouldn't appreciate my sympathy.

"I almost forgot about everything after Aiden was born. Adrian very easily moved on in her life because of Dylan. They're one happy family. It was the summer holidays and I happened to be here in New York to spend some time with my sister and Aiden", She said.

"Things were back to normal. Ron was a past to all of us. Dylan was a family. My sister was happy. We all decided to go to a mall one fine day. That turned to be the black day of our life. Dylan, I, Adrian and Aiden were walking out of the mall after shopping when we saw a girl being physically abused by a guy. The girl was beautiful but her expressions were painful. My heart clenched inside my ribs seeing her pitiful state. The guy who had his back towards us slapped that girl and she falls on the ground. Adrian immediately yelled her name and ran to her. The girl was Joe Ashton and the guy was Ron", she said and then gulped something. Hazel looked for the glass of water and hold it tightly.

"My sister felt bad for her former student. Despite the fact that Joe destroyed her life, she stood for her. She felt that Ron was the culprit and Joe being a gullible one falls for his act. My sister filed a police complaint against Ron. But Joe took away all the charges. My sister tried to help her but she declined all the help", Hazel said.

"One week passed after that incident but my sister started getting threat calls from Ron. Dylan used to stay away from home because of his business purpose. So, I decided to stay with her until Dylan came back. One day, I walked to the nearby park near Dylan's house and saw Joe with another guy. He was forcing himself on her. They fought and the boy walked away leaving her crying. That guy was you", she said with a complaint in her voice. The intensity in her eyes shook me inside out. I felt like she could see my evil side in just one glare. I looked away.

"I also held sympathy for Joe because she was of my age and I know my sister never stand for someone wrong. Joe was a victim of Ron and you", she said and I gulped nervously. My past still haunts me.

"Two days later, Joe called my sister. She was crying profusely. She asked my sister to save her. Adrian didn't listen to me and ran out of the house to save her ex-student. She left Aiden with me and told me the address to Joe's house. I tried to stop.. st", Hazel choked in her words and tears flew down her cheeks. She bites her lips and with shaking hands, she drank the water in the glass in one go. Taking a deep breath, she wiped the tears with the back of her hand.

"I had unsettling feelings inside my stomach. I left Aiden with our neighbours and ran after Adrian. I had the address with me where she was going. I left looking for her after thirty minutes of her leaving the house. I should have followed her immediately that day. I was the bad sister that day. The time I reached the building, I saw you walking out of the building. You had blood oozing out of your arms and your lips were bleeding too. My blood froze in my veins. You walked past me crying. I saw you all depressed but then you sat on your bike and drove away fast", she said and I hold the pillow placed next to me tightly in my hold.

My past, that day was running in front of my eyes. I couldn't tear away my eyes from her face. She was sobbing, she was stuttering, her voice miffed in between her talks and she was wiping her tears again and again.

"I ran inside the building", she said with blurred voice, "I ran to the fifth floor because the lift was not responding. I reached the last staircase and before I could even walk to that room, I saw Ron running out of the room. I immediately hid against the wall. He looked horrified. He was pressing the lift button but after cursing, he ran towards me. He ran so fast that he didn't appreciate my presence even. He was cursing under his breath and his limbs were trembling. I ran to the room and opened the door".

Hazel started shaking by now. She holds the chair tightly and her hands were shaking. She holds her hair and took a long deep breath. I immediately walked over to her and hold her hand. She removed her hand from my hold and wiped her tears.

"The room was dark. I walked inside calling out my sister's name when I stumbled upon something and fall down. I got up and looked for lights. After five minutes of search, I found the light button and as soon as I switched on the light, I found my sister lying dead on the floor. Blood was oozing out of her head. Her eyes were wide open. I screamed", Hazel broke down after that and she started crying. I remember Adrian and I had a fight that night.

"I ran to her. I tried to wake her up but she was dead. Her pulse was... She wasn't bre.. breathing anymore", Hazel said and took a deep breath. "At a few steps away from her, I saw Joe lying on the floor. She was also lying unconscious. She had the same injury as my sister. I ran to her and she was alive. Her pulse was still going on. I called an ambulance and took them to the hospital. The doctors saved Joe's life and announced my sister dead", Hazel said. Her tears dried up by this time.

"I blamed you and Ron for the death of my sister and almost death of Joe. A lot of things happened after that", she said as she slumped her back on the chair. She looked exhausted. I bent down on my knees. I felt guilty, no scratch that. I felt like a bloody murderer.

"I didn't kill your sister", I whispered.

"No. You killed my sister. It was you because of whom she went to meet Joe. Joe called her to save her from you and Ron. If Ron killed her then you do too. You're the sole reason of her walking towards her death", Hazel said with anger bubbling up inside her heart.

"I.. I'm-", I gulped nervously. I couldn't think of a word to speak.

"Get out of my room. I don't want to talk to you", she said and closed her eyes. I felt helpless. I picked up my body and walked out of her room feeling numb. I killed her sister. She was killed that day. I thought of myself as a victim who was framed to be the killer of Joe. I killed two people that day. Adrian's dead because I was a monster back then.

I can relate to how is Hazel feeling right now. When I was told that Joe's dead, I was half dead. It took me three years to get over her depression. I had a family to support me, I had the opportunity to self-pity myself. I didn't act strong. I was weak and I did play the part of a victim but Hazel stood strong. Not only she took care of Aiden, she even protected Joe. If she's not the example of a superwoman, I don't know what can be. Joe's death turned me into a more bitter person but Hazel didn't create any chaos in my life. If I were her, I would have chopped myself down into many pieces. Why did she not take any action against me? Why does she tolerate me?

I came back to my room and lit a cigarette. Tears of helpless ran down my eyes. I felt pitiful again. I want to comfort her and share her pain but I'm responsible for her messed up life. Not only I destroyed my life but I also harmed Joe, Adrian, Hazel, Dylan and that baby Aiden's life. I'm a jerk. I'm a monster. I have no right to live even. But I'm a coward. I can't even die. I laughed out my helplessness. I drank alcohol. I'm gonna drink until and unless I passed out. This pressure of guilt is not bearable to me. I threw my empty bottles until it crashes into pieces.

We are all bad in someone's story and I've so many people in my life who will look at me as the negative person in their life. I killed Aiden's mother, Hazel's sister. Joe suffered in her relationship because of my obsession for her. How can I ask for forgiveness? I was lying on the floor trying to find escape behind the smoke and alcohol. If they could kill me then I'm ready. I have lost faith in living. How will I survive with this burden? I looked up at the ceiling and Adrian's beautiful smile flashed across my eyes.

******************

Flashback;

''You're one handsome student. Why don't you try working on your grades? They'll shine too", Mrs. Hamithway said.

"I've such a beautiful teacher. I'm sure I'll do good next time", I said scratching my back of the neck and she pulled my ear.

"Stop flirting with me. I'm resistant to your charms. You're a kid to me", she said and I pouted.

"Pretty please, Don't call my dad. I'll work hard. I promise", I said and she forwarded her little finger towards me.

"Pinky promise?", She asked and I grinned.

I held her little finger and she placed our thumbs together. I said, "Pinky promise".

"Good boy. Now go to your class", she said and I grinned and walked out saying her a thank you. She smiled brightly at me and ruffled my hair.

I had a crush on my English Teacher!!

**********************

(Present time);

I cried next few hours thinking about her. She wanted me to be a good person and had a great life. I took her life. I'm a pathetic person. I'm a loser. This pain is too much to handle.

"I'm so sorry Mrs. Hamithway", I cried.

Someone, please help me. Someone, please save me, take me away from this pain. Someone please come and hug me. Someone, please tell me that I'm not that worthless, God. This hurts. I might die out of this pain. Someone please come.

A knock on my door diverted my attention but I just gulped down the alcohol down my throat non-stop. I want to pass out. My door was opened and I heard footsteps. I saw Hazel standing in front of me. Her eyes widened. She looked all around me and I saw her walking cautiously towards me.

"Ivan", she whispered kneeling by my side. She took my hands and I noticed blood oozing from my right arm. I noticed a deep cut on my arm and the broken glass of my champagne bottle dug in my arm.

"I killed her. I'm a murderer. I never hated her. I liked her. I didn't kill her", I cried and her eyes held softness for me.

"But she's dead because of me. I destroyed you. You hate me. You must hate me. Please punish me", I pleaded. My throat was dry. I drank again but Hazel took away the bottle from me.

"I liked her. She was my favourite teacher", I said and my throat turned dry.

"I killed her. I killed Aiden's mom", I said and she was busy taking out glass pieces from my hand. I kept on blaming myself and the whole time, she bandaged my injuries.

"I gave you wound and you're healing my injuries", I said. Hazel picked up my head from the floor and kept it on her lap.

"You don't kill her. She never hated you. You don't deserve this. I don't deserve this. The real person who made all of us suffer will get punishment. I promise", she said. Her eyes held mine. Tears rolled down my eyes. She wiped them.

"I want to meet Adrian", I choked as tears rolled down my eyes.

"Sleep now. It's ok. You've a long day", she said and stroked her hands in my hair. I felt my eyes heavy and I slept in her lap.

"Will you forgive me ever, Adrian?", I whispered. I heard a faint voice before passing out and it gave relief to my heart.

"She did".

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