Chapter 355 - Hazel Decided To Talk

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When Alex found Hazel again, the girl was alone in the dark. His steps halted as he watched Hazel bent forward with both hands on her knees. Alex blew a breath of relief when he found her safe and sound. He took a step towards her and stopped again, wondering if he should leave her alone. 

He had heard a few words of his classmate's discussion and knew that Hazel was upset.

A few years ago, his mother had once told him about what had happened to Hazel and her family. It was Hazel's parents' death anniversary and he saw how her mood was a little off. Alex was worried about Hazel, and it was at this time that his mother told him that if he really liked Hazel, he has to treat her well and never bully her. Hazel was a pitiful girl and had suffered a lot of grievance from a young age.

When Alex found out how Hazel had lost her parents, he was unable to react.

How old was Hazel when she lost both parents at the same time? 

It was then that recalled their childhood. There was a period when Hazel had not shown up at kindergarten. When she returned, the cheerful Hazel had suddenly become very quiet. It was around this time that the two of them started to be close.

His heart ached when he thought of what happened to Hazel. Fortunately, that man was dead years ago and could no longer harm Hazel or other people.

Standing at the other side, Alex continued to watch Hazel from afar. As long as he was close by, he could always guard her. If something happened, he would reach her in time.

Just then, Hazel stood up straight and started to pace back and forth. Then, she stopped again before she suddenly fell on her bottom. 

Alarmed, Alex ran over to her side only to see that she was hyperventilating. For a few seconds, Alex was a little lost at what he should do. He fell on both knees on the white sand and placed his hands on her shoulders.

"Hazel, are you alright?" 

The girl lifted her head to look at him with a teary face. Hazel tried to open her mouth to speak, but no words came out.

Alex held her face in his hands and forced her to look into his eyes. "Relax. Just focus on me. Take a deep breath."

Hazel whimpered.

"Just follow me, alright? Take a slow, deep breath through your nose." His voice was soft and coaxing. Alex continued to monitor her until she started to breathe as per his instruction. "Now, breathe out slowly through your mouth. Good. Now breath in again." 

Alex continued to assist her until her breathing gradually calm down. "Are you feeling better now?"

Hazel nodded slowly and Alex heaved with relief upon finding that the girl was alright. Slowly, he gathered her in his arms and pulled her into his embrace. His hands started to stroke her back, coaxing her as if she was a child.

"It's alright. It's going to be alright. I'm right here with you."

Hazel nuzzled to find a comfortable place in his arms and closed her eyes as she tried to think of happy things to distract her mind. Suddenly, her eyes shot open. Her head went blank and her body froze momentarily when Hazel felt something warm and wet pressed against her temple.

It did not take her too long to figure out what just happened. 

Did Alex… just kissed her face?

Suddenly, Hazel was unable to react. Previously, her heartbeat had started to calm down after Alex had helped her with the breathing exercise. However, her heartbeat accelerated once again due to his action.

Her face grew slightly hot and Hazel was suddenly at loss. At this time, she did not dare to lift her head and look at his face.

She stayed in his embrace and suddenly thought of how his scent filled her nostrils. Hazel had wanted to pull away, but she was still embarrassed. After staying silent for a while, Hazel began to find that this familiar scent had a calming effect on her. She closed her eyes again and listened to his coaxing.

"Hazel... Don't cry, alright?"

An image of a younger version of Alex saying those words to her appeared in her mind. Hazel finally pulled away from his embrace and wiped her tear-stained face with the back of her hand. "I'm not crying."

His lips turned up into a faint smile. "Okay. If you say that you're not, then, you're not."

Hazel stared at his face and saw the concern on his face. It seemed… as if Alex had not noticed what he had done earlier. Perhaps he was too anxious when he saw her panicking and had only tried to help her to calm down.

There was a brief silence between them before Alex spoke again. "Are you feeling better?"

Hazel replied with a nod. Then, she leaned in and pressed her forehead on his shoulders. Her thought went back towards the scenes that keep on appearing in her nightmares. Now that she was calmer, Hazel was able to think with a clear mind.

At the thought that Hazel was still feeling a bit rattled, Alex stayed still and continued to coax her.

"The murder that your classmates were discussing earlier…" 

Alex paused when he heard her started to speak.

"The person who had murdered those women… had also murdered my parents." Her voice was soft and weak. "They say that my parents had died in an accident, but that's not true. It was that man who had murdered my parents."

Hazel felt his arms tightening around her shoulders. In fact, she had never told anyone about what she had witnessed in the hospital. Perhaps this matter has been bugging her mind for too long. Perhaps she was in a weak state and Alex was someone she trusted. Whatever the reason was, for the first time, Hazel decided to talk about it.

"I have always thought that I was imagining things," Hazel continued. "It was later that I understood what was going on. The scene I saw was not just a dream. Alex… I was at the hospital when that man entered. He did not see me because my grandma had wrapped me in a blanket. But I saw him. That man had someone injected something into the IV drip. The next morning, my parents were gone."

There was a glint in his eyes as Alex continued to listen to Hazel's story. His throat felt a little dry as he tried to imagine what Hazel felt when she was forced to witness such scenes. When her parents passed away.... Hazel was only five!

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