One thing I noticed in my two years at Southshire Academy, they don’t take foundation day lightly. Lucas’s grandfather’s monument in front of the main building is newly painted.
“It feels weird staring at that,” Luna mumbled beside me. We’re sitting on the bench in front of the main building. I followed where she’s looking and just like me, she’s staring at the monument of Lucian Southshire, the founder of the school.
“Why?” I asked in confusion.
“It looks like I’m looking at Lucas and it makes me cringe.” She caressed her arms like she really is having goosebumps.
I didn’t mean to but I laughed out loud at what she said. Luna is wearing a yellow sundress like she’s just going to the beach, while I settled for a yellow turtle neck and black dress that flows down my ankle.
“Why yellow?” I asked her, “We look like bunches of baby ducks.”
“I don’t know. I’m just disseminating memos. Better than when we’re sophomores.” She s
Kirian The whole world stopped spinning. My damn heart stopped fucking beating. I always wonder how it feels if things in the past didn’t happen. I always dream about having my brother with me. Akira is five minutes older than me. When we were young, he used to be the protective one. He might be cunning sometimes and the one who is most likely to get in trouble, but he’s sure the best brother anyone can wish for. He’s the cool city kid while I was the cold one. He got more friends because he’s easy to be with but he never treated me as an outcast. He won’t even play with other kids our age if I’m not included. I always crave a brother. We’re supposed to be best friends until we grow old. We dreamed of managing our businesses and become one of the most influential people in the business industry. But everything has changed when he was kidnapped. All this time I thought he’s dead. I fucking grieve for him until now but what the actual f
Hearing that voice again sends memories I tried to forget rushing back to me. The boy we all thought dead is alive all this time—and my dad was the one who helped him.Dad and Mom stay in New Zealand most of the time and we never talked about what happened in that warehouse after I was discharged from the hospital. We all tried to live a new life.Just when I decided to finally move on from the ugly past, why does it has to happen again right now?I have a lot of questions and I don’t even know who to ask them. It feels like I’m in a loop. Why are they after me? Why did Dad help Aki and why didn’t he tell us?We all gathered in the dining area. Dad has left a while ago, telling Mom has no company at home, while Yuan stayed with us.Luna has finally calmed down when she was able to talk to her Mom. While Lucas’s parents assured him that they’re fine. They had to close the school for a while, though. There are no c
Kirian joined me on the veranda after dinner. It’s funny how I easily relax whenever he’s around—like he’s my lifeline.If someone told me a year ago that I’ll feel at ease like this with someone, I’d laugh at their faces.He took the seat beside me and handed me a cup of hot chocolate. I’m not a fan of it but this guy sure is.“Are you okay?” he asked, peering at me behind his cup.“If I tell you I’m not, will it change things?” I countered, staring at my cup.“No, but at least I know what’s running in that beautiful mind of yours.”I blushed with his words. I only know Kirian for a couple of months yet it feels like I’ve known him forever. I’ve been friends with Lucas and Luna first yet strangely, it was Kirian who managed to help me overcome my fears.He has this creepy aura that his presence alone will make you go hi
It’s raining hard when I woke up. I can smell bacon and eggs from the kitchen but I don’t feel like getting out of bed. My room has a floor-to-ceiling glass wall. Maybe I forgot to close the curtains last night when I go to sleep. The rain is making the glass wall blurry. After all the things that happened last night and the revelations, I can’t help myself not to worry. Someone is still hunting me and no matter what I do, I won’t be able to erase the horrible things that happened to me. All I can do now is move on and accept it like it’s one of the ugly things that color my life. A light knock from the door cut my reverie. Yuan, who’s still wearing his grey PJs peeped from the door. His hair is disheveled like he just woke up. “Morning. Breakfast is ready.” He smiled at me like he didn’t reveal his secrets last night. “Mom and Uncle Ronan will arrive this afternoon.” I told him I’ll just wash up and follow them in the dining ar
Kirian “Akira’s flight will be tomorrow morning,” Ronan stated. He’s sitting on the armrest of the settee where his wife is seated. Roux’s mom looks like just her older sister, though she’s slimmer than Roux. They arrived this afternoon just after it stopped raining. Roux’s mother brought dinner for us. She said she cooked it by herself which made Yuan cringe but didn’t say anything. Now that I look at her, I can see the close resemblance she and Roux have. Just like my Mom, Roux’s mother looks like she’s only in her late twenties. They look almost the same except for the fact that Roux’s mother has short hair. “Does he really need to leave again?” Roux asked. I look over Aki who’s sitting on the carpet while eating the girl’s leftover popcorn. He’s sitting pertly like he doesn’t care about the world. “We need to settle things first, honey.” Ronan stated, “They can’t be seen together or else our plan will go to
Kirian “So, you’re leaving again?” I asked while watching Akira pack his bag. I’m standing by his doorway, my back resting on the wall while my ankles crossed together. He glanced at me after putting a sweater in his suitcase. He stopped then nodded. He tapped the bed and I walk towards it. I threw myself on his bed, his clothes falling on the floor. “I’ll be back soon.” He smiled. It still feels weird whenever I look at him and found myself staring at the same face I have. Though Akira has a darker complexion, it’s still hard to see anything which tells who is who. “Kir?” I looked at him and found him fidgeting on the carpet. I smiled inwardly, noting that his mannerism, whenever he’s nervous, is still the same. “Hmm?” “Mom knows.” I stared at him, my poker face turning over. Mom knows. The back of my head tingles and I think all the
Kirian might not say it but I know how hard it is for him to see his brother leave again. They just met a few days ago and here they are again, bidding goodbye to each other. Yuan helped Akira to bring his bags in the van while the twins talk to each other by the staircase. I'm sitting pertly in the living room, pretending to focus on the TV series though I can't even understand anything. Looking at the twin, people might think that the scene is just a normal day for siblings who have to say goodbye to each other. It's heartbreaking and knowing that it's Akira and Kirian makes it more frustrating. I know Kirian doesn't want Akira to leave. Akira doesn't want to, either but they've got no other option. The two of them suffered so much than anyone can imagine. "What are you thinking about?" Luna asked out of the blue. I almost forgot that I'm with h
Kirian“Take care,” I said as I watch Aki hop into the van.He smirked at me and salute.“You should be the one to be careful. Remember what I’ve said, Kir. Keep an eye on Roux. Rick is not the only bad guy here.”You know it’s a serious situation when Aki’s smiley face turned into a grave one. I nodded at him and watch until the van disappeared in my sight.Before we get here, someone was after Roux and according to Aki, it’s the same person who almost gets her killed in that warehouse. Akira doesn’t know his face—because just like Roux, he also suffered from trauma.Akira might look tough on the surface but what happened in OKV back then is still haunting him. He has also undergone therapies and until now, he’s still trying to move on from that horrible past
I perfected the art of pretending I’m fine when in fact, I’m bleeding inside. I perfected the art of not showing that I’m greatly affected by all the things that happened to me. I perfected the art of not showing too much emotion but I still can’t keep the tears rolling down my face while staring at the black dress Yuan put on in my closet last night. Someone knocked on my door but I’m too tired to answer. I smell jasmine filling the air and I slowly look at my mom who’s already in her black dress. Her hair is slightly curled in the end, the small black hat covers half of her head. “Are you okay?” she asked, squeezing my hands lightly. How am I supposed to be fine when the only person I want is not here with me right now? “You think everyone’s going to move on, Mom?” I asked, hoping she has all the answers to my question. “Everything will soon be alright, honey. Time will heal all wounds.” She pulled me for a hug and I
I hate blood. Every time I see blood, I am reminded of the things that happened to me. I hate hospitals. I hate the dull color of the walls and the antiseptic smell of the air. I look down at my trembling hands and find dried blood smeared on my body. Yuan touched my hand, stopping me from drifting back to my nightmares. He forced me to look at him, wiping the tears from my face. “We need to get your wounds treated.” He said softly. I don’t feel my wounds and the burns on my skin. I’m physically numb from everything that happened. I look around the waiting area outside the operating room. Mom is sitting next to Mrs. Sadoche while Dad’s sitting across from them, the nurse checking his wounds. Good thing that the bullet only grazed his skin. “You think they’ll be fine?” I asked him. Yu just smiled at me then squeezed my hands. It’s been almost an hour since they put Kirian and Lucas in the operating room. “They’re strong. Come on, we nee
“Touch my daughter and I’ll kill you.” We all turned to the voice and found Mom standing by the entrance of the warehouse. She’s wearing a peach sundress and her hair is done like she’s attending a party. Everything about her shouts class and sophistication sans her usual whiny act. Right now, she’s standing straight like she’s a boss, her face serious. “Shit, Mom! I told you to stay out of here!” Yuan growled but she just rolled her eyes at him. Mom is usually calm. Gets whiny if she didn’t get what she wanted because Dad spoiled her so much. I remember her almost getting a heart attack when she saw Yuan using his LV wallet as a placemat that she gave as his graduation gift. Right now, I can’t even recognize the woman I’m seeing. “Victoria.” Halliday regarded her like she’s the worst thing he has ever seen. “I’m glad you join our reunion. I see that Mayor Patterson topped his job for making you his trophy wife, huh?” “Watch it,
Yuan “Stop your nonsense now, Rick. I’m here now. Let them go.” Uncle Ronan greeted his teeth. His hands are in his pockets but I know he’s clenching them. Halliday’s laugh echoed in the room. The wine glass snapped when he gripped it too hard. He regarded Uncle Ronan with his hard face. “How does it feel, Ronan? How does it feel to lose someone you love? How does it feel when you know you can’t do anything to save them?” My brow creased. I watch as the two of them have their glaring competition, except only Halliday is the one who’s glaring because Uncle Ronan keeps his cool. “Vicky married you, Rick. She chose you over me but all you did was hurt her.” Uncle Ronan's voice is full of emotion. When it comes to Mom, he suddenly changes into a different person—like he’s willing to unleash hell if it means protecting her. “She did bu
Yuan I flip the bird at the car across me. I’m a fucking doctor and I’m usually cool in front of everyone but I don’t give a shit about anyone else right now. I’m not letting things that happened ten years ago happen again. I never had a perfect childhood—well, not until Celeste Roux Patterson was born. When I first saw her in the hospital, I realized that angels do exist. Mom and Uncle Ronan smiled at me while they hand me, my baby sister. She’s so small I was afraid I might break her. I don’t know how long I held my breath until she smiled—and since that very moment, I promised myself I’ll protect her with all my life. I witnessed how my father ruined our lives for money. We used to be happy. Dad is working in the company of his best friend while Mom stayed home to take care of me. He used to be a good father and a husband—until things went off. He started hitting Mom and w
Kirian“You think she’ll talk to me now?” Lucas asked without looking at me. He’s busy counting the roses he bought in the flower boutique we passed by.“I don’t know. Why ask me? You know your girlfriend more than me.” I tapped on my lap patiently while waiting for Lucas to get into the car. We’ve stayed here longer than I thought. I wasn’t even aware that it has been three hours because this idiotic excuse of a human I’m with can’t even remember his girlfriend’s favorite flower.I got tired of trying to work things between them. Everything that I try only ends up backfiring to me. I’m only being the bestest best friend that I am but it always ends up me and Luna fighting.My heartbeat suddenly sunk as we appro
It’s been three days since Akira left for New Zealand. It’s also been three days since Luna and Lucas had their cold war. Luna keeps on avoiding Lucas and I think Lucas is also doing the same.They even had another fight when we had a barbecue party the night Aki left. It was actually Kirian’s fault because he kept on teasing the two.We got bored in the rest house so we decided to have a night picnic outside and have a bonfire. Yuan went back to the city because he needs to talk to Kori while Mom and Dad are busy. The four of us were the only ones left in the rest house, guarded by Dad’s men.The boys are fueling the car while we’re in the mini grocery store. We run out of food since Lucas and Kirian kept on eating. We planned to make pasta and barbecue so Luna and I are the in-charge of the grocery while the guys will do the cooking tonight.“Are you okay?”
Kirian“Take care,” I said as I watch Aki hop into the van.He smirked at me and salute.“You should be the one to be careful. Remember what I’ve said, Kir. Keep an eye on Roux. Rick is not the only bad guy here.”You know it’s a serious situation when Aki’s smiley face turned into a grave one. I nodded at him and watch until the van disappeared in my sight.Before we get here, someone was after Roux and according to Aki, it’s the same person who almost gets her killed in that warehouse. Akira doesn’t know his face—because just like Roux, he also suffered from trauma.Akira might look tough on the surface but what happened in OKV back then is still haunting him. He has also undergone therapies and until now, he’s still trying to move on from that horrible past
Kirian might not say it but I know how hard it is for him to see his brother leave again. They just met a few days ago and here they are again, bidding goodbye to each other. Yuan helped Akira to bring his bags in the van while the twins talk to each other by the staircase. I'm sitting pertly in the living room, pretending to focus on the TV series though I can't even understand anything. Looking at the twin, people might think that the scene is just a normal day for siblings who have to say goodbye to each other. It's heartbreaking and knowing that it's Akira and Kirian makes it more frustrating. I know Kirian doesn't want Akira to leave. Akira doesn't want to, either but they've got no other option. The two of them suffered so much than anyone can imagine. "What are you thinking about?" Luna asked out of the blue. I almost forgot that I'm with h