Chapter Twenty Eight
I left my favorite spot and decided to go back to our classroom. I glanced at my wristwatch while heading there. Ten minutes left and it's already lunch break. Should I go back to the room or just wander around?
Where's Rocelia now?
I stopped and unconsciously bit the bottom of my lip when I realized I left her in the gymnasium. I can still picture out her worrief face. I wonder she goes.
I stepped upstairs.
"Waaah! Van, I'm so sorry! Sorry I didn't even defend you! Sorry!" A familiar high-pitched voice echoed and the last person I'm looking for have appeared in front of me.
"H-hey---" she jumped and hugged me tightly. I stilled.
She caressed my back."I know you're so hurt right now. I'm sorry for being weak enough, I can't even do something for you to feel light... If I could only ease the heaviness o
Chapter Twenty NineIt is hard to accept the fact that the last family I have didn't even support me. Instead, he chose his new family over me. He always does. How did he forget about his own daughter's another milestone in life?I may be a rebel daughter but deep inside, I'm still simping for the care and support he can give. He's the first person I'm expecting to support me, and other part of me is wondering if he's even proud of me? Like what he is to Akira.Am I that so bad to be discarded? All I want is to have his support because he's the only family left with me. If mom was just alive, I know I have my number one fan beside me. She would also go to school and show me how proud she is.She's my number one supporter.I felt a hot liquid pooling in both corner of my eyes so as the sudden lump stocked on my throat. I closed my eyes and let the morning wind breezed throu
Chapter Thirty|Yukenzo Cabrera|It was sunny morning and everyone's busy with their own duties. And me, as the president of the campus, I'm leading the student council's yearly tradition which is the booths. I was talking to Azelyn who just came here to help us but I know she has her own work to do and I don't want her to rush after. But the more I refused, the more she pushed. So in the end, I let her help us decorating the booths."I'm gonna help Urson there," Vencie tapped my shoulder and he gave me a playful smirk.I tsked and pushed him inside the jail booth. He just laughed but it's already enough to annoy me right at this morning."He really knows how to annoy you," I looked back at Azel and raised brow."Guess that's how his day works." I shrugged and bit the paperclip so I could arrange the pattern of the colored papers in front
Chapter Thirty One|Vanez Arnaez|Cheers and howls were everywhere. While standing at the center stage with Drecco as my partner, holding silly pompoms with a smile glued to my face, I feel different.It's like I'm a new me and I realized this isn't bad at all. I feel so overwhelmed and my heart was continuously melting by their warm welcome. Especially when I tore my gaze upon Rocelia, the only person I knew who's believing and feeding me with her full support."Go, section 8! Go, pretty Van!" Amidst of boos and cheers, I can still hear her tiny voice, clear and coherent.I can feel my lips' nearly going numb because of the smile I plastered since earlier at the back stage, greeting back some participants, showing I'm grateful even I'm really not, accepting their compliments and positive feedbacks even deep inside I know it was all untrue and their unboth
Chapter Thirty Two"Our Mr. and Ms. Fest this year are... Miller Montgomery from star section B and Vanez Arnaez from section 8!" The entire stage bombarded by the loud howls and shierks.I stilled and my jaw dropped."Damn, how is that possible?" I heard Drecco muttered.I can't still process everything. I left in disbelief, other participants congratulated me and we did handshakes. My mind was still stock between reality and the expectation that this is just a dream."Congratulations! I know I did my best and I'm still better than you, but yeah whatever." One of them took my hand for a shake and gave me a nasty grin.The emcee wrapped the title slash around me and even the trophy! Oh... I didn't expect I'll get such recognition like this, simple yet overwhelming. I couldn't express how grateful I am. So, I just bowed my head while clasping my hands while
Chapter Thirty Three"Van, let's go to ferris wheel, please! I wanna try their monster ride, pretty please?" Lia keep on pulling my arms.I took a deep sigh,"But that's not my thing. I prefer riding on a carousel instead..."She pouted more and looked up to the ferris wheel, eyes full of excitement and desire. I felt a little bit guilty, okay, just a little bit. Am I being kill joy, too?"Hey, you two! Wanna ride?" Someone whistled.We both turned to Vencie who's waving cheekily inside the ferris wheel with our other classmates. I noticed Lia's crumpled face and more pouting lips. Vencie keeps on saying how excited he is, so loud and it's obvious he's just making Lia feel insecure.That guy and his boring friend are really such pests.I held Lia's hand then,"What are you waiting for? Go there, don't mind me here. You enjoy the ride, I'm fi
Chapter Thirty FourHe is interested with me?Is he on drugs? What's interesting about me, anyway?I cleared my throat."You're really gone crazy. Stop it now, Miller. You see, I have no time for your silly thoughts and such."He was about to speak but I already waved my hand dismissively. Lia chased me and I readied myself for her never-ending comments on our way to our room."Why so heartless, Van? He's just adoring you, I guess? While you turned him down." She shook her head and pouted.I gave her my unbothered look."If you think I'm heartless because of what I did then, think of it. And what do you want to do? Entertain him? Make him as a friend? Lia, you two are totally opposite. You're not him and he's not you." I said firmly.Her face softened."What if he's true? What if he just wanted to be your friend? Remember, d
Chapter Thirty FiveA batch of knock awakened me from a not so sweet dream. My eyes were still sleepy as I took the comforter and covered my whole body. I curved myself in a fetus style, brows furrowed because someone just dared to ruin my first day of weekend."Go away!" I shouted angrily.Whoever that fvcktard, I'm gonna punch his face when I get fully pissed off.I'm trying to continue my sleep but my mind does not cooperating. I ended up removing the comforter out of my body and threw it. I get up on bed and turned off the air conditioner. I wore my bunny slippers and went near the window to pull up the blinds and open its sill. The peaceful meadow welcomed my eyesight.The knock never stops which caused my brows to form in one line. Who's this persistent whodunit out there?So I opened the door annoyingly only to see Innov's smiling face.
Chapter Thirty Six"You have stain on your lower lip," I paused from eating my ice cream when Innov crouched and suddenly wiped something on my lower lip.My brows furrowed. He gave me a small smile."You're still the careless Vanez I knew, especially in front of the ice cream." He then, added."Are you making fun of me?" My brows furrowed even more.He laughed shortly."You're being grumpy again. Go on, continue eating your ice cream now. I bet you wouldn't like it more if it melts real hard." He motioned my one gallon ice cream."Yeah, right..."I ended up savoring the remaining rocky road, cookies and cream and double dutch ice cream. Like what he said earlier, we bought these to fulfill our cravings first before anything else. Somehow, I felt at ease and calm. I guess my weekend with him isn't that bad, huh.
Final Chapter[A year later...]I put down the flowers on his grave, wiped out some bits of soil covering his name engraved on it.Innov Ymerson Kastle Consuelo"It's been a year. I missed you, my annoying brother." I said, smiling."And you missed some ice cream here..." I felt a hand wrapped around my waist.I chuckled at what Yukenzo said. He's standing beside me, hands inside his pockets. He looked breathtakingly handsome in his dark blue v-neck shirt and faded jeans by the way, and he become taller than me, like way too tall than before. While I'm here, seemed stuck with my previous height those past years."We missed you, Innov. I hope you're happy there..." I looked down and sighed.Because I know your life here isn't that happy at all. Days after he died, we discovered that he fai
Chapter Sixty Nine"Innovvvv! No! My son doesn't deserve this! He's not dead! No!"I was just staring blankly at the coffin in front of us. Only Aunt Sharon's voice full of misery keeps on echoing in the whole corner of the funeral room. She's been crying since yesterday, Dad remained quiet while comforting him but his eyes says it all. I'm beside Yukenzo, behind us are Lia and Vencie, Yukenzo's mother and grandma. She never stopped asking me how am I feeling and I keep saying I'm okay, my body is but not my heart.Everyone's quiet. No one intended to talk. The pain keeps on lingering inside me and my tears seems too shallow to fall in just a matter of seconds. I wiped it eventually but another batch replaced it. I sighed heavily."You can cry..." Yukenzo said and wiped it for me.I nodded and those tears seemed to hear it because right fucking then, they fell continuously
Chapter Sixty Eight|Vanez's POV|My muscles tensed up and my body never stopped trembling because of the cold. I can already taste the blood, it tastes like a metal. I remained lying on the ground but I didn't move even an inch, I didn't crawl. Hell, I won't.I'd rather die than crawl and beg for my life.Akira and Azelyn were now talking after she called the people in the mansion. Up until now, I still can't believe they can do such thing like this. How did they go this far? Are my father's love for Akira's still not enough? What about Yukenzo's genuine treatment to Azelyn? Was it still not enough? What is enough then? What would make it enough?I wonder how will I escape this. For me, they're just weak but their plan is well than what I expected. And... I cannot fight anymore.I'm loosing my strength, slowly..."They ar
Chapter Sixty SevenTwo of them ran to me first. One has a dagger so I needed to avoid it properly, another one is determined to punch me but I ducked and jumped to avoid all their attacks. Another batch ran to join them. I kicked the ass of the two and others' chests. I'm panting after I gave half of my strength. Azelyn and Akira were just watching me fight their men.All of them are fighting me now. They're surrounding me, I jumped and kicked their chest one by one in a circular motion. Groans and growls echoed. I kicked one's face and hit another one's 'down there'. I turned around to punch the one behind me in the face and give him a headbutt. I took the dagger from the one holding it the moment I turned him down, I threw it to the four. Bullseye.I was busy catching my breath, I bit distracted by the fast beat of my heart when I felt a huge impact on my head. I knelt, face crumpled because of the sudd
Chapter Sixty SixIn a slow manner, I opened my eyes. My vision was blurry as I saw a glistening light above me. It took seconds before I finally adjusted it and the unfamiliar surroundings is what I have seen.My brows furrowed and was about to move but then, I realized, I'm being tied up to the chair I'm sitting on."W-what the actual fuck?!"I roamed my eyes around, there's only one light bulb and it's directly on me. Everything is all dark, messy and unpleasant. I can smell disgusting scent that making me want to vomit. I continued moving and shouting."Can someone hear me? Is there anyone here?!" Then, I remembered the last person I saw before I lost my conciousness. I gritted my teeth."Akira! Bitch, show yourself! I know you did this! Don't hide your ass and show me what you got, freaking biatch!"I knew it! She didn't change after all. She's still t
Chapter Sixty FiveHappiness comes in the right time. We just have to wait for it. We need to be patient to feel the content. Because believe me, if you wait patiently, it would be worth it in the end."Happy birthday, my princess..." Dad kissed me on my forehead, he's the first one who greeted me the moment sun rose.I smiled."Thanks, Dad." I hugged him."Where's my gift?" I wiggled my brows and joked.He laughed shortly and handed me a..."A key?!" I shouted in so much shock."Yup. I know you want a car. You can have it now. I won't control you anymore." He said.I'm teary-eyed as I'm staring at the key he gave me. Then, I jumped to hug him, this time, tighter. I'm so happy!"Thank you so much, Dad! I love you!""Anything for you, my princess."I had a literally good morning. I received co
Chapter Sixty FourIt's true that even how much we want to forget those people who did something bad to us, we ended up forgiving them and forgetting the pain they have caused to us instead.Two days after, we got back together. I forgave them and he forgave me. He waited and I took the risk again. I realized that after all we've been through, he's still the only guy who can make my heart beats fast, the only guy who dislikes my bad habits but wiling to embrace those. How ironic right? Years ago, I hated him for being a meddler and he dislikes me for being a bad girl but now..."I'm sorry for the trouble, Martin. Believe me, I didn't know. I didn't know it's your wife he accidentally killed. If I just knew it then, I would give her the justice, immediately and willingly." Yukenzo's mother, Sierra, said to Dad one time he set dinner for all of us.We're sitting in the long table, beside me
Chapter Sixty Three"Is that all?""Yup." I nodded at grandma after she asked few questions about what happened earlier.She loosened her apron and faced me."Hmm, why did you not forgive him?""Huh? I already forgave my father, grandma." I reasoned out, a bit confused.She chuckled and shook her head."Silly. I'm not pertaining to Martin, I mean, your ex-boyfriend. That... what's his name again? Lorenzo?"I put down the bowl I'm holding."Yukenzo." I corrected her."Oh, yeah! I'm happy you can now forgive the people around you. You have learned not to get stuck in the past. But why can't you do the same to this particular boy..." she trailed off.I sighed heavily. I know where this will go. I get her point, too. It's just that... I can take all the risk so fast, like before. I can't be impulsive again. I ne
Chapter Sixty Two"Oh. I gotta leave now..." Innov whistled and tapped my shoulder.I blinked, realizing what he's doing."H-hey!" I tried to stop him and make him stay here but the jerk just waved his hand on me along with his smirking face.Grr! Damn, Innov! I thought we're allies here? Annoying!I slowly faced Yukenzo. His hands were inside his pocket, he didn't even blink after meeting my gaze. Now, how will I deal with this? I need to act calm and still. Things have changed already. It's all different now."What are you doing here?" Thank God, my voice agreed with my terms."I was about to meet Mr. Martin Arnaez..." Oh. I looked away and cleared my throat.Shit! I thought... I just thought...That's so assuming of me. Stupid! Stupid! Of course, you're not the reason of his appearance here! Idiot self,