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7. Truce
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2021-10-03 08:15:47Related chapters
Love and Letters: Dina & David's Story 8. Revelation
I stretch my arms up overhead, trying to soothe the tension in my shoulders. I am holed up in my room, trying to prepare for an English quiz that I do not even care about. But I need to get into my Mom's good graces. I need her permission to visit my Dad, since I'm having no luck finding Uncle Fern. I have so many questions for him. Starting with his name randomly tucked in David's wallet. As if summoned by my thoughts, I hear Mom's characteristic knock on my door. "Come in," I call out. I know from the tired look on her face that she just got off the phone with Dad. She always ends up this way whenever she has to interact with him. It's been years since their divorce, but they still can't deal with each other. "Did you talk to him? Can I see him now?" I ask Mom as she enters. "Come on. It's Saturday." "Don't you have a quiz you're studying for?" Mom inquires, glancing at the mess on my desk. "I'm already halfway done. I'll finish the rest of the coverage when I get home." I
Last Updated : 2021-10-08Love and Letters: Dina & David's Story 9. I found you
"Not going to happen," I tell Boi, my mother's younger brother. He's knocking loudly on my old bedroom door, and it's not helping my mood. After visiting Dad, I couldn't bring myself to face David, so I escaped from him and immediately headed to our old apartment, which Boi now occupies after Mom and I moved in with Arnold. "Dina. I swear to God I will break down this door. I need to change. That's not your room anymore, remember? " Boi says from the other side of the door, his voice faint. Sighing heavily, I slowly drag myself out of bed. I open the door an inch, peering at my uncle. "You look like hell," he observes. I ignore him and open the door wider, gesturing for him to come inside. I try to step out to give him space. But I am reminded of my dilemma again, so I end up flopping back down on the bed. "Dina Marie. I said I need to change." Boi looks down at me reproachfully. He has a towel wrapped around his lower body and another around his head. His dark skin glistens with
Last Updated : 2021-10-09Love and Letters: Dina & David's Story 10. The Amusement Park
"Dina?" David asks softly, rousing me from sleep. I feel his hand gently touch my cheek and I lean into it. He caresses my nose and my lips, coaxing the drowsiness out of me."Hey. We're here." "Aaagh!" I scramble out of my bed, almost falling painfully to the floor. Damn it. Of all the things that I can dream about, it had to be about David. I wipe the dirt from my eyes and stretched my sore muscles, thinking of bumping my head into the wall, too. What the hell is wrong with me? Is this what it feels like to be in love? Because this is just stupid. Whatever. I need to prepare for school (and leave before David arrives), but before that, I need to do an early morning check of the mail, too, which will not be easy. I have to sneak past Arnold and Mom, who has a clear view of the door from the breakfast table. Thankfully, with my feet on the slightest of tiptoes, I manage to pass that hurdle and make it out of the door without Arnold noticing me. I had trouble opening the massive g
Last Updated : 2021-10-10Love and Letters: Dina & David's Story 11. Do you feel better now?
The Amusement Park. That's the name of the amusement park here on the island. I look up at the gigantic sign in front of me, a bit slighted. I've been doing my head in thinking which amusement park they meant. Whoever thought of this name, he's not funny at all. "Dina! Come on." Ari calls me, gesturing for me to come with her inside Richie's, a fancy-looking diner near the entrance of the park. David and the others are already inside. I hang back a little, thinking if I should come with them. It doesn't take me long to decide though. It's not like I know anyone else in this school. Plus, there's David. He's been doing a pretty good job trying to convince everyone that he's okay, but anyone can see that whatever condition his Grandma is in, it's taking a toll on him. I'm worried. "Incoming!" Brad yells just as soon as I enter the cafe, missing me by just a few inches as he rides his electric scooter around the place. I scoff at him, but then gawk at the scene before me. What in the c
Last Updated : 2021-10-17Love and Letters: Dina & David's Story 12. You're not good enough for him
"Dina, come on. Look at me." David tells me, pulling my arms away from my face. My elbow hurt. I must've hit it somewhere when I stumbled out of the haunted house, just right after kissing him and shoving him forcefully to the side to fight off my embarrassment. I grip my spinning head. I want to run away from him again, but my weak legs won't let me. So now I'm stuck in this position, trying to save the rest of my dignity. "You know it's only going to get awkward if you act awkward," David says, attempting to meet my eyes again. I look further down. I don't know what to tell him. Frankly, I don't even remember what I was thinking when I did that. Kiss him, I mean. But I do remember the feeling, and it's scaring the hell out of me. "L--let go of me," I tell him weakly. Heaving, I feel my stomach churn, and I immediately turn towards the side, ready to let it all out. But David pulls me back. "Oh no. You're going to run away from me again," David says, keeping a tight grip on my wr
Last Updated : 2021-10-19Love and Letters: Dina & David's Story 13. Just friends
"Please don't look at me like that," Ari tells me as she enters my room. She has my letter in her hand. As instructed, I wrote her a letter as soon as I got to the hotel room and snuck it under her hotel room door. "You're really mean," she observes as I continue to glare at her. "No, you're mean. You tricked me again." I answer, referring to her plan to bring me on this island without my knowing. "Oh, come on. I just thought you might need a break. David said you were really sad after visiting your Dad." Ari tells me. "David really needs this too. He's been feeling stressed since Grandma fell ill. But not even Grandpa could convince him. It was only when we promised we'd make sure you go that he agreed." I pause, suddenly self-conscious. I don't know what to think about David taking the initiative to cheer me up. "Where is he now, by the way? I haven't seen him since--" I start to ask Ari, but I catch myself. "He's at our favorite place here at the hotel, along with our other fri
Last Updated : 2021-10-23Love and Letters: Dina & David's Story 14. Run, Dina, Run
"Oh no. Hell no!" I exclaim as I examine the vast golf course in front of me. I was peacefully sleeping when Ari came barging into my hotel room so early in the morning to tell me about a field day. Apparently, it's every year level against each other for HPH's Foundation Week, and I'm one of the Junior representatives for track and field. Without my consent. What the hell is wrong with these people? "Not my idea. David signed you up for this." Ari tells me. "He did what?" I scan around the people around me, trying to spot the traitor. "Come on. It's perfect for you." I hear his amused voice behind me. "You like to run, don't you?" My hands curl into fists, "David. I swear to God." I turn towards him and felt equal parts frustration and admiration. He looks good, as always. His skin is a bit tanned from standing on the ship's deck for hours yesterday. His eyes are alert, despite the glare of the early morning sun around us. Also, I don't know which games he's assigned to, but judg
Last Updated : 2021-10-25Love and Letters: Dina & David's Story 15. Is everything okay?
"Um...what should I call you, sir?" I ask after an awkward silence with David's grandpa. I still can't believe I'm in the hospital cafeteria, having lunch with him. I toy with the food on my plate, wishing he'd stop being so kind. Ever since we started eating, he has been refilling my plate non-stop. He reminds me so much of David, always thinking of those around him. "Oh, just call me Gramps. All of Dave's friends do," he tells me, smiling warmly. He scarfs down his rice. One might think he's too hungry and cheerful for someone whose wife is in the hospital. But we all cope in different ways. "Those kids are wonderful." I beg to differ, but I nod in agreement. "The food here is good, huh?" he tells me, and I nod again. It is good. I've eaten quite a lot myself. "Though we probably should slow down a bit, or we'll be done before Dave gets here." "Should we call him?" I ask. "Nah, he'll be down in a minute." Gramps says, "Why don't you tell me about yourself? Dave has told me about
Last Updated : 2021-10-30
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Love and Letters: Dina & David's Story 36. Home
"I still don't get why you're leaving." Boi is leaning against the doorway, arms crossed. I barely look at him as I continue to pack up my things. Looking around, I feel a creeping sadness. I will miss this apartment. I can't count the times in which I sulked here, hidden away from the world. I look at the things I stashed in here over the years. "I'm really tempted to tell your Mom," Boi comments after I mee him with my silence. But I know he won't do such a thing. I had a long talk with him about my decision, and our agreement about keeping each other's secrets still stands. "Feel free to sell any of this stuff," I tell him, stretching. I finally finish packing. And now, on to the thing that I dread doing. I look at the pen and paper on the table. I plan on writing a letter to David. He had asked me once why I wouldn't write a letter to him. I told him it was because I didn't feel the need to. I wouldn't admit it to him, but as soon as I bought my first pho
Love and Letters: Dina & David's Story 35. Tragic
As soon as Jon throws me to the ground, I hide behind a wall and shot at him, though he was also quick enough to hide.A shoot-out with Jon. I can't help but smirk. "Are you sure you want to do guns with me, Jon? You know I'm better at it than you.""Shut up, Dina.""I won't go easy on you this time either, you murderer," I tell him.Jon laughs, "Oh, you're such a softie, Dina. Don't tell me that was the first time you saw someone die in this line of work."It wasn't. I saw a lot of people die while she was with Black Dawn. But they were mostly adults, though, not a kid like that. Someone who had his whole life in front of him. There is no way I can forgive Jon for that."You're going to pay for what you did, Jon. All of you." I sneer.I can practically hear him scoff, even though he's several steps in front of me, "This innocent act is really getting on my nerves, Dina.""Oh, is it, now?" I reply, "I never claimed to be innoce
Love and Letters: Dina & David's Story 34. Pandemonium
"No," I murmur in disbelief. Dad and David both look at me, their eyes heavy with concern as if I am the one bound and gagged in front of them. Their bodies are bloodied and scratched, and God only knows what they must have gone through in Black Dawn's hands. I spot the men behind Dad and David, there are about five of them, all wearing identical expressions of danger."Yes, Dina. We got them." Jon laughs maniacally."Jesus, Jonathan. Your laugh is not at all pleasant to the ears, is it?" Uncle Fern enters the room, shedding his jacket off and handing it to the boy beside him. He casually kicks my Dad's side and I let out a yell as my poor father doubles over in pain."You look well, Matthews. For a traitor who is about to bite the dust." Uncle Fern spits at my Dad."Let him go!" I shout."Which one, darling? Your Dad or your boyfriend?" Uncle Fern looks over at me, a sinister smile on his face."You won't get away with this." I threaten, my
Love and Letters: Dina & David's Story 33. Trap
I was told by some random Sophomore that the student council officers are helping the Drama Club with set preparations for their play. I don't know why exactly, but I don't care to know. I'm just here to look for David. I don't even know why I have to. It's kind of weird that he suddenly just disappeared out of my sight after hounding me the whole day. Whatever. I'll just get this over with.I step inside the theater then, where a flying tree branch almost hit me in the head."Get away from me!" Ari shouts at someone to my left, completely ignoring the fact that she almost just murdered me with a prop."You are so frustrating! Why won't you talk to me?" Sebastian answers. I sigh at their spat. Great. So they're even taking their weird fight her."I just don't want to, okay?" Ari yells, her face getting redder by the second. "Seb, just get away from me!"She disappears backstage and Sebastian followed. There is a pause and I hear a crash from the di
Love and Letters: Dina & David's Story 32. Secret
"Hey, guys. What's up?"In interrupt David and Ari's moment, and the two break apart guiltily. I narrow my eyes at them."Dina." David says. He moved to kiss me on the cheek. I let him, but I do not offer him a smile as usual. He clears his throat at my coldness."What's going on? is there something wrong?""N-nothing." Ari responds with a smile, but it is forced and I swear I can see her wipe a tear from her eyes. My suspicion goes up a notch as she starts walking away from us, "Um...I better get back. I think I'm missing the good parts.""Oh, not really--" I try to stop her but she's already gone. I turn to David. "What are you doing here? I thought you also went out with the boys."Something is obviously worng. Horrible enough for David to not be able to hide it from his face.Damn it. Is he cheating on me with Ari? Is this what it is? Should I just ask him?"Y-yeah. It kinda ended in a disaster. So I thought I'd dropped by
Love and Letters: Dina & David's Story 31. We just got you back
I slam my plate on the table. All around me, the party's alive. People that I came to know and like nodding at me in acknowledgment. But I can't enjoy my own party, as I've just been wracking her brains figuring out why my parents wouldn't tell me about Dad escaping prison. They obviously still have trouble trusting me, and that hurst most of all. "Dina, I'm so sorry you had to find out like this. I'm sure your parents have a good reason for hiding it from you." David tells me, probably getting alarmed by my silently aggressive behavior. I open my mouth to reply, but I see Kier approach us. "Dina, can I talk to you for a second, please?" he asks me. "Now's not a good time, Kier," David says, frowning at his friend. "It's fine. Go ahead. What do you need?" I tell Kier. Kier says awkwardly, "That day before you suddenly disappeared, you said something about me having the key in front of me all along. What do you mean by that?" I blink at
Love and Letters: Dina & David's Story 30. Escape
"You don't have anything to add, Ms. Matthews?"I sigh tiredly, "Nothing more. That's really all I know." I tell them.For the past hour, I have been wracking my brain about what Black Dawn has been up to for the past few weeks. I thought it was going to be okay at first, but it turned out to be harder than I thought. The things I've seen...the crimes I was forced to do...they weren't exactly things that I wanted to remember."Thank you for your cooperation." one of the officers says, "As for your being complicit to crimes committed by the gang during your time with them...we'll talk to our superiors about it. We understand the situation you were in. Hopefully, your confession is enough for them to reconsider.""Thank you, officer."The police start to leave, but I stop them."Wait. Um...there was a kid with us that day. He--" I swallow weakly, "He lost his life trying to stop Jon from shooting me. David said you found his body. Do we
Love and Letters: Dina & David's Story 29. Dirty Work
It's been two weeks since I've been with Black Dawn. The snow had fallen two days ago and now everyday is as cold as shit, I can feel the ice forming around my heart too. I miss everyone and I wish I can just talk to them even just for a minute. Surreptitiously, I look at my phone. I managed to swipe it last night from where Uncle Fern had hidden it and with my luck, it had run out of juice."He's not here yet, is he?" I ask the kid, the only person with me in this shithole of an apartment, enduring a stakeout that we're tasked to do."Not yet, Ma'am." the kid replies, spreading the takeout that he had just brought in on the table between us. He's a tall, lanky teen, who couldn't have been more than twelve or thirteen. I want to ask his name, but he was probably forbidden to tell me."How the fuck did you end up here?" I ask him instead, hoping at least to fill the silence between us."Sorry, I don't know what you mean." the kid replies, uneasy. I can tel
Love and Letters: Dina & David's Story 28. Trouble will always find you
"What? Dave, what the hell is going on?" Brad asks as the police escort David and me out of the classroom."You guys stay here," David says."But--" Ari starts to protest, but David gently pushes her back inside."Ari. We'll deal with this, okay? Stay inside.""You guys are not in trouble, are you?" Calvin asks from across the room."No. It's going to be okay, Calvin." I tell him, even though I don't believe my own words for a second. I meet David's eyes, knowing that he knows what I'm thinking. We follow the police to the principal's office silently, leaving our friends behind.***David's grandfather and my parents are in the office. My anxiety goes up a notch. What the hell is going on?"Haraboji?" David greets Gramps with an expression that mirrors mine. He grips my hand tighter."Arnold, Mom. What are you doing here?" I ask my parents."Dina, why didn't you tell us about Fernando being here?" Mom tells me. Fr
