Saving Justice

Chapter Twelve

Cole and I decided to eat dinner outside with Aubrey when he picked us up at the center. While eating, we briefed her about Justice's condition. As much as possible, although she needed to form a bond with Justice first to learn all about these things, I wanted her to have a good background. She looked serious as she jotted down notes on her notepad while simultaneously listening to me and eating her pasta.

"She has a lot of improvements, too," I tell her. "Before, she would only lurk inside her room for the whole day, except whenever she went to school. If not for meals, she wouldn't even come out. She also didn't like talking to strangers. But after a few sessions, she finally went out of her comfort zone. And after their graduation, she found a job with Natalie at a local café. At first, I was worried because her social anxieties may act up, but she can already manage."

Nodding her head, Aubrey continues to write.

"But she told me after we got back from Miami that she only wants to work because of me..." I'm embarrassed and worried to admit that. "She wants to earn money to surprise me with a bridal shower using the money she earned."

Aubrey's brows furrow, but she doesn't say anything.

Beside me, Cole shifts from his seat and faces me. "She did?"

I bite my lower lip and nod my head. "Yes..." I reply and look at Aubrey again. "She actually got sad and frustrated because she saw the pictures from our Miami trip. She cried because you and Saddie already threw me a bridal shower. And yesterday, during our session, I think she was mad at me because I canceled our supposed plans to go to the mall and watch a movie in the theatre. She didn't cooperate with me at all."

"More than emotionally dependent, I think she's obsessed with you already," Aubrey comments on it, mocking Justice's behavior.

"Aubrey!"

That's not a nice thing to say, more importantly, because we should be the ones sympathizing with her emotions. After all, it's our job to understand her and not ridicule her.

She just shrugs her shoulders. "I'm sorry. I just can't help but think that way, Ven," she tells me. "She's close to having OLD already."

"Aubrey..." I use my warning tone already.

"Okay, okay..." She raises her hands as a sign of surrender. "Anyway, what did Dra. Olsen say?"

"Her last visit was almost two months ago, but she didn't increase the dosage of her SSRI and told me that we should focus on the therapy more," I tell her what she needs to know. "She doesn't have to go on checkups every month regularly. But next week, she has to go back for another appointment."

"So, that means I'll be the one taking her to Dra. Olsen, am I right?"

Nodding my head, I answer, "Yes."

She nods her head back, but I suddenly feel guilty.

"But I can come with you two if―"

"You won't!" Aubrey and Cole say in unison.

I'm taken aback by how they want me to stay away from Justice. Cole rests his hand on my thigh to get my attention, so I turn my head to face him.

"Just let Aubrey do what she needs to do, and we'll focus on our wedding preparations, okay?" he says. "We only have two months left."

It's really overwhelming how fast time flies. We're only two months away from our wedding day, so we are also packed with appointments left and right. I hate to admit it, but it will be much easier for me without my therapy sessions with Justice during weekends.

Next Sunday, I'll have the first fitting of my wedding gown. The designer wants to know if there is an alteration that needs to be done. 

I'm actually thankful for Eleanor because she volunteers to take care of the catering by coordinating with Emily.

Aubrey's phone rings when we're about to enter Cole's car after we finish eating dinner. Seeing the name of the incoming caller, she sighs. "Timothy's calling me. Let me take this call first. Excuse me."

She takes a few steps away to answer the call while Cole and I enter the car to give her some privacy.

Cole starts the car's engine to turn on the AC before speaking to me. "So, you're going to move to Aubrey's apartment tomorrow?"

"Yup," I say. "I will stay there with her until our apartment is ready."

Pursing his lips while nodding his head, I can tell that Cole is thinking hard about something. Before I can even ask him, though, he already tells me what's on his mind. "I'll see if I can reschedule our meeting tomorrow for the next day so that I can help you move out."

"There's no need to do that." I shake my head to stop him from doing something unprofessional just because he wants to help me move my things. "It's not even that hard. I'll just take my clothes and other important stuff with me. That's just two pieces of luggage. Aubrey and I can manage."

"Well, it's also just a meeting with my team because we're preparing for my one-month break," he explains. "It's okay if I move it."

Cole was granted a one-month break after finishing his recent major project with his team. His break will run from October 27 up to November 27. I also did not accept any therapy appointments on those dates because we will have our honeymoon in Bali for a week after our wedding. Afterward, we will visit and stay with my family in Denver for another week. We will enjoy our lives as newly married couples for the remaining days.

Now that I think of it, it is truly a great idea to ask Aubrey to step in as Justice's new therapist because I'll be gone for a month. Everything's good until I remember that she's planning to move to Singapore to be with Timothy.

Why did she accept the job to be Justice's therapist?

Aubrey finally returns and gets in the car after her call with Timothy with that thought in my head. Cole also starts driving home.

"Have you all eaten dinner already?" Eleanor asks us, thrilled to have a familiar visitor in the house. "I made burger steak and clam chowder for dinner. You guys might want to eat."

"We just ate, mom," Cole answers and kisses his mom on her cheek.

"Sorry, Eleanor. Thanks for the offer, though." Aubrey smiles apologetically.

Eleanor chuckles. "No worries," she says and turns to me. "Justice's inside her room. She just ate dinner and took her medicine."

Justice is still giving me the cold shoulder for canceling plans with her. Instead of watching the movie with Natalie as I suggested, Natalie told me that she had just locked herself inside her room that day. And while eating breakfast this morning, she wouldn't even spare me a glance and just focused on her food.

I nod at Eleanor and face my friend. "Let's go upstairs before she falls asleep."

"Excuse us." Aubrey gives a warm smile to Ronan and Eleanor, then follows me.

With the hopes that she's not sleeping yet, I knock on her door and call her name. Aubrey and I patiently and quietly wait outside. I'm actually worried that Justice might not open the door because she still has a grudge against me, but I feel relieved to hear the doorknob turning.

The door creaks as it slowly opens. Justice takes a peek from the small opening. It's like we're going back to the way it was before.

As gentle as I can, I smile at her. "Hello," I greet her. "I'm with my friend. Can we come in?"

Her eyes move to look at Aubrey behind me. I just hope that Aubrey's not scowling or something. She can be super intimidating, and it might make Justice feel uncomfortable.

Thinking deeply, Justice purses her lips. It takes almost a minute before she steps back and opens the door.

"Thank you," I tell her, but she just turns her back on me to sit on her bed.

Yes, she still has hard feelings for me.

I feel Aubrey leans behind me to whisper. "She has quite an attitude, huh?"

I frown at Aubrey. She shrugs her shoulders and enters the room casually. I follow her right away and close the door.

Aubrey starts to observe the room while I walk near Justice to converse with her. This is actually unnerving. I don't know how Justice will react once I tell her that Aubrey will be her new therapist, but I know she won't take it lightly.

"Did you buy a new book?" I ask her when I see the book she's currently reading. It's a newly released book, so I guess that she just bought it.

"Yes..." she answers in a quiet voice.

"By the way, I'd like you to meet my best friend." I try to sound jolly as much as I can. "Aubrey, come here!" I turn to Aubrey, and she puts Justice's sketch pad down on the study table before she moves closer. "Justice, this is Aubrey, my best friend."

"Nice to meet you, Justice." Aubrey offers her hand. I feel relieved to see her smiling in front of Justice instead of wearing her iconic resting b***h face. "I'm Aubrey Brown."

Justice looks so offended. She pouts her lips, not paying attention to Aubrey's hand hanging in the air. "She's one of your friends in the picture..." she says, talking about the picture she found on social media to which I was mentioned.

Aubrey slowly clenches her fist and brings her hand down when she realizes that Justice doesn't want to do a handshake with her.

"Yes, uhm... She has been my best friend since I moved here to Illinois," I tell her. "She is also a psychotherapist like me."

Justice frowns.

I take a deep breath and finally tell her what she needs to know. "Actually, I brought her here with me because I want you two to be introduced to each other," I say and reach out for her hand. I hold it tightly. "She's going to be conducting your therapies starting next week instead of me."

Like she just had the biggest shock of her life, she violently retrieves her hand. She looks so horrified. "No, no, no..." she whispers until her voice gets louder. "No! I don't want a new therapist! No!"

My lips part, not knowing what to do with her sudden aggressive outburst.

"No! You promised me!" she cries out. "You promised me that you'll be my therapist! No! No! I don't want this. I don't want this!"

"I-I'm sorry, Justice, I... I just can't commit anymore because I'm busy―"

"No!" she cuts me off. "No, please, Venice, don't drop me... I don't need anyone else. Please, Venice... Please... I need you, Venice... No... This can't be happening..."

Her violent cries can probably be heard outside because I hear the door open, and the next thing I know, Cole is already holding off Justice to stop her from throwing tantrums.

"What happened?" Cole asks, panicking.

I open my mouth to try and answer Cole's question, but no words come out. Aubrey is the one who feeds him the information he wants to know.

"Venice told her that I'd be her new therapist, then she starts bawling out."

Still stunned by Justice's reaction, I remain frozen while Cole tries to calm her down. I expect that she will be adamant about it, but I did not think she would act this way.

"Venice doesn't want me anymore... She doesn't like me anymore..." Justice cries her heart out in Cole's arms.

Cole looks up at me with a troubled look. Aubrey sighs and holds my hand to take me away from Justice. She drags me out of her room while Natalie also steps inside to help her brother calm their cousin.

I put my hand against my chest, feeling the abnormal beat of my heart. Justice's emotional dependence on me is terrifying. It is beyond what I expected. Like what Aubrey said earlier that I dismissed, it seems like Justice really is obsessed with me.

•••

Aubrey left the house after she talked to me about what happened. I wanted Cole and me to drive her home, but to be honest, I was still feeling lost. She rejected my offer and went home alone.

Cole told me that Natalie stayed to be with Justice. But not long after, Natalie visited our room to tell us that Justice was already sleeping.

That put my mind at ease a bit. Cole hugged me to sleep, trying to comfort me, and it worked.

"Venice..."

I stir up from my sleep when I hear someone calling my name.

"Venice... Venice..."

Realizing whose voice it belongs to, my eyes go wide open. I was right! I'm alarmed to see Justice crying while looking at me and calling my name.

"Justice!" I immediately sit up.

Cole also wakes up. "What the..." He stops himself from cursing.

He goes out of the bed to turn on the light.

I see Justice holding on to a bottle of a hard alcoholic drink. That's when I smell the alcohol from her. She looks so devastated with her messy hair and tears streaming down her face.

She's drunk! 

"Where did you get this from?" Cole steals the bottle from her hand.

Justice only stares at me and ignores Cole's question.

"Venice..." she calls my name with so much passion. "Do you hate me now? You don't want to be my friend anymore?"

Panicking, I shake my head and hold her hand. "Of course, I don't hate you..." I assure her.

"B-but why will you leave me here?" she asks, crying. "Why did you get a new therapist for me?"

Lost for words, I turn to Cole instead of answering Justice's questions. I need to talk to Justice alone. "Babe, can you cook soup for Justice?" I ask Cole. "Bring it to her room along with a glass of water. She's drunk."

I can see in Cole's eyes that he doesn't want to leave me alone with Justice, but my pleading eyes get him to act on my request. "Okay..." he says under his breath. "I'll be quick. Call me right away if you need me."

Nodding my head, I smile at him. "Thank you."

Though he hesitates, he leaves the room with the bottle in his hand while I avert my gaze back to Justice.

"Let's go back to your room," I say.

She shakes her head frantically. "No... I don't want to go back..."

"Don't worry, Justice. I'll come with you."

Her eyes twinkle, changing her expression so quickly. "Really?" she asks. "You will come with me?"

"Y-yes, I will..." I stutter.

And because of that, I manage to bring her back to her room. She holds my hand so tightly. I'm surprised to see two more empty bottles beside her bed. She must be really drunk.

I tuck Justice in her bed, and she closes her eyes but does not let go of my hand. When I feel her breathing stabilizing after a few minutes, I slowly try to free myself from her hold, but then she suddenly opens her eyes.

"Are you gonna leave me?" she asks me as tears start to pool inside her eyes again.

"I-I'm just going to check if Cole―"

"Are you scared of me?" She does not let me finish talking to ask another question.

"J-Justice―"

"Are you scared of me because I killed my brother?"

My heart pounds on my chest because of fear. I don't want to admit it, but she's actually scaring me right now.

Why the hell is she bringing that up again?

"Don't be scared of me, please..." she begs me. "I won't hurt you like I hurt Justin. Just don't leave me..."

She smiles, then closes her eyes once again for the last time, and finally sets my hand free.

My hands are shaking. My lips are trembling.

I struggle to run out of her room quickly, trying to get away from her as fast as possible.

What the hell?