Chapter 01

The Fall

“Congratulations Penelope!” I immediately turn around and I saw my brother smiling like an idiot

I smiled back at him. My lips almost rip apart because I smiled too much when I saw my younger brother

“Paige!” I said gleefully

I ran towards my brother to hug him. He playfully covered his nose that’s why I laughed “Gosh Astraea you smell awful”

I playfully rolled my eyes, but I know he is just joking “Kiddo stop acting like you don’t smell like this before” I teased

I just finished my performance in ballet; a lot of people greeted me since I am the lead ballet dancer that is why Paige waited long for me

I have the life that everyone would want to have, but I don’t really like my life. My life is too controlled; I need to follow my parents’ order

Lots of people are around me. My mother told me that they are all my friends. I am happy that they are always supporting me; even my father’s business partners are watching my performance. The only problem is I don’t see them as my friend.

I immediately changed my clothes since my brother is complaining. My long brown wavy hair curls down on my back. It is already long so I decided to ponytail it.

I look at my face in the mirror. My brown eyes glitters because of the happiness I feel right now. I am almost perfect if only my lip is red; it always looks so pale so I look lifeless if I will not put lip balm.

When I got finished I left the dressing room. I saw Paige sitting on the side, he looks so problematic.

“Paige let’s go” I said to get his attention

He stands up and handed me a red velvet box. I looked at him with furrowed brows. But he didn’t speak that’s why I chose to open the box only to see two rings inside

“What is this?” I asked

“Obviously it is a ring” he sarcastically said

I rolled my eyes because of irritation “I mean for what?”

A realization hit my mind “oh god! Are you getting married?”

Paige sighed and rolled his eyes “Before you say malicious things why don’t you listen to my answer first? You asked me and yet you didn’t wait for my answer”

“Sorry” I said

“It is my gift for you, look at the rings; inside the rings are our names engrave on it” he said

I smiled at him “how sweet my little brother”

“Maybe you should look the rings first” he said

Both are gold and its design is just simple, yet elegant. The first ring is slimmer than the second so I am hundred percent sure that the first one is mine

I pull the ring out of the box and saw my name engrave inside. My smile faded when I saw my name on it, but it is my second name! For god sake I don’t use my second name!

“Wow Paige, really?” I asked

He laughed like an idiot “hey sis I thought I am sweet huh?”

Astraea, I hate that name. I don’t use it because they can’t remember me by that name. Astraea is a name of a star maiden but I like more my first name, Penelope because that is what people mostly call me

I look at the other ring, and the name engrave on it is Auster which is Paige second name, and just like me he don’t use this name

“You know that we don’t use these names” I said

“That is the point! This is will be our special mark, just in case someone will get lost then we can immediately find each other” he explained

The last thing he said, he sounded like someone will vanish from the two of us. I immediately felt nervous because of his words

“Well we will not vanish or whatsoever, but thanks you bro. I will wear this everyday”

We immediately leave the theater because it is nearly evening, my parents never watch my performance because they are always busy, but it is okay to me. They don’t really like the idea of me being a ballet

We decided to eat in a restaurant and Paige will treat me

“Where do you want to have a vacation Paige” I asked

Our vacation is already near and I am excited for it. I finished all of my requirements and same as Paige.

“We both love books and you are really into Architecture then the perfect place to go is the Tianjin, Binhai Library” he suggested

His idea is lovely but I became silent. It is true that I love architecture but that is not the course I took in my college and somehow I feel bad for it.

“Do you think our parents will say yes if I shift to architecture?’ I asked

“For sure they wouldn’t. You are the successor of our businesses and you are nearly graduating”

I already expected his answers, but I still can’t accept it. Paige notice my sudden stillness, that is why he chose to speak again

“I don’t really like math but in the end I still took accountancy as my course” he said

I laughed a little; well he is telling the truth

“It is just unfair that we don’t really like the course that we are taking” he complained

“Let’s give them what they want, then after that we will do what we want. Stay positive bro” I said

“It is still unfair. This is not their life and yet they are controlling us like a robot. You can say that because you only have one year left while me, I still have four years”

Maybe he is right, I have the gut to say this because I only have one year left. We stopped our discussion when our foods arrived. We ate first then, while we are waiting for our dessert I speak

“You should enter medical school after your accountancy course. I will support you” I said

He smiled at me and nodded. Both of us are totally different to our parents. They are too sophisticated, unlike me and my brother we act like an ordinary citizen.

“Promise me that you will always be at my side, you are the only person who gives me courage in life”

I grabbed his hands and smiled to him “I promise”

I can feel how he really loves me, and to be honest I can’t afford losing him

“Hi miss Penelope” we immediately looked at the person who spoke

“Yes?” we both asked

“Miss penny I am your great fan! Can we take a selfie?’ the girl cheerfully stated that is why I entertained his request

I am not just a ballet dancer; I am also into showbiz, no wonder why she knows me. My mom insisted that I should enter showbiz; they want me to be socialite.

“You are really famous and rich right now that is why you should treat me” he said

“If we are really going to china then it is my treat” I said

Paige smiled like he won from a lottery. Who would not be happy if you are not going to pay anything?

I felt my phone vibrated, I look at it and saw a message from my father. I immediately read it, my eyes grew big because of surprised but I immediately smiled when I realized that the text is real

Penny come here in Isabela; let’s have a celebration here in the morning.

“Paige! Dad texted and he said that we should go in Isabela to celebrate. We should be there in the morning’ I said excitedly

His forehead creased, this is a first! They want us to celebrate with them “Maybe that’s is a prank” he said coldly

“It is not okay! So let’s go!” I said

“But it is too far, and it is already five pm and the way in locos is too long” he complained

“Nah I know a shorter way, it is not that short, but after ten hours we will be in Isabela already” I said

Again, his forehead creased, he is not familiar with the road that I am talking about “We are going to use the route in Sta. Fe. The road is dangerous because it is in the mountain but I think I can mange”

“Really?” he asked

“Yes I can, so let’s go!”

We immediately leave the restaurant. Like what I said it is still too far that is why we reached until night. We are already in Sta. Fe and Paige decided to switch with me on driving so I let him be. I need to sleep

When I woke up Paige is so serious, he looks so tense that is why I called his name “Paige” 

Still no response so I decided to repeat again “PAIGE” I shouted

Finally he faced me “what is it?”

He sound irritated that is why I laughed so hard. His attention is on me, after seconds of laughing I saw a car approaching then I realized it will crash to our car

“Look!” I said

But it is too late. Everything happened fast, I just felt the strong impact then the glass of the car shuttered into pieces. Our car won’t stop rotating around the road and I feel dizzy right now.

I felt a painful feeling on my head so I closed my eyes. The moment I opened my eyes I realized that we are at the edge of the road, in just one wrong move our car will surely fall on the cliff

“Penny” Paige barely said. I turn around and saw him. His face is full of red liquid

“I can’t see anything, whe-where are we?” he stuttered

I felt a hot liquid gushing on my cheeks. I tried to sound calm in able to make him feel safe “re-relax bro, we are still safe”

“Still safe? What do you mean? All I remember is that car crashes on ours then it happen” he said still his eyes are close

“Just don’t move” I said

Even though I told him not to move he still moved, that is why I felt a sudden movement of the car.

“Are we going to die?!” he panicked

He’s searching for my hand so I held his hands to make him feel that I am still here. I want to cry loudly but I can’t, I will just worsen the situation.

“Hey I am still here, don’t worry I will save our lives” I said

I started to look outside the window and I saw the car that crashed down ours. The nerve of the owner! Why can’t he or she help us?

“I need to move the car backwards” I said

I carefully reached the steering wheel while still holding Paige’s hand. Al I need to do is to carefully move it

I needed to be brave. In this situation I should be the person Paige can rely on.

The moment that I moved the car I didn’t notice that a truck is approaching and it hit our car, causing us to fully hang in cliff.

I can’t stop myself on shouting because of fear. I hold Paige’s hand tightly.

I need to think fast on how to save our lives. I want to kick down the door on my side but I felt tired already my body is all sore.

My hope lit up when someone pulled off the door on my side. A guy handed me his hand, without even thinking I grab it

“Hold me tight” he said

My vision is lightly blurred that is why I can’t clearly see his face, but still I managed to nod like a lost kitten to him

I thought I already saved our lives, but the moment he pulled me I lost the gripped on holding Paige’s hand. A horrifying reaction registered on my face when I saw how the car slowly fell on the cliff. I heard how my brother cried calling my name, how scared he is the moment he fell.

“PAIGE!” I shouted

I turn around and pulled the sleeves of the guy who saved me “ple-please help my brother” I pleaded

Because of tiredness I already collapsed on the road, if the guy didn’t support my back I might be laying on the ground already.

“I already called for help, you need to be in the hospital” he said

“NO! We need to save my brother we-“I lost my consciousness without even finishing my statement

I open my eyes and the first thing I saw is a white ceiling. I roam eyes around the room and I am totally not familiar in this room, this is not my room

I saw my parents who look so surprise. But I didn’t see Paige and I started to feel nervous

“Where is Paige?’ I asked

They didn’t answer me, instead they just cried

I look at my dad who looks so horrible right now “dad where is my brother?”

I can see in their eyes that they don’t want to answer my question, it seems like they are hiding something to me

“He’s gone” he said, almost like a whisper

It feels like my life drifted apart from what I heard my whole body felt weak. But I can’t accept it I don’t believe them, maybe I am just hallucinating from what I have heard

“What do you mean?” I asked

“Penny he died from the accident. His body is not yet found from the explosion of the car” my father said in tears

There is a part of me that I cannot still accept that Paige is already dead. I am still hoping that he is alive

And I won’t accept it, no matter what happen I will never accept it.

“I know he is still alive” I said

“The accident happened about two years ago and we can’t still find his body my daughter” dad explained

I look at my father with bloodshot eyes “and you fucking stop searching huh?”

“You are comatose for almost two years penny, for god sake! We don’t even know what to do” my father shouted agitatedly

“If you can’t find my brother then I will fucking search him on my own!” I shouted back

I removed the blanket on my body and try to stand up, but the moment I stand, I immediately collapsed on the floor.

I heard a popping sound on my knees and I started to felt pain on my knees. I scream at the top of my lungs and hold my knees trying to stop the pain

They immediately called a doctor. Good thing that they came right away

Tears rolled down on my cheeks “why I can’t move my feet”

“We will run some test first, for now the only thing that I am sure it is because of your knee injury” the doctor said

They took me out of my room to run some test. After hours of waiting the doctor is here again and he is holding a folder which is obviously the results

“Good news she doesn’t have head injuries” he started

Since there is good news then I expect there is also a bad news

The doctor gave the results to my parents before speaking “the problem is here lower body. Her feet up to her thighs are affected because of the accident. She has nerve damages right now because of trauma.”

“Like what I said she has a knee injury right now, anterior cruciate ligament injury or ACL injury on her left knee and both of her knees have Medial Collateral ligament injury or MCL grade 2 tear. She needs to undergo surgery for al reconstruction but her MCL injury must heal first before proceeding for the surgery

“I also recommend that she must undergo physical therapy. It might take longer to heal since she also has ACL Injury. Here are the medicines that she needs to take” he handed to my parents the list of the medicines that I need

“She needs to wear knee braces for four to six weeks, through physical therapy her nerve damage will lessen but it will affect her for lifetime. Honestly saying it will be hard for her to go back in ballet”

His last statement totally shattered my life, ballet is the only thing I love to do then because of a fucking accident everything vanished, including my brother

I stared at the middle of nowhere trying to process everything. I lost my brother then suddenly I lost my career and totally I lost everything

Just because of one event I wasn’t the same anymore