Stuck in Reverse (TLS #1)

Chapter 25

This next update took longer than I expected. I'm sorry for the wait huhu things have been really busy. This is actually a short update about Troy and Clarize's past. 

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I loved. It was rainbow after the rain. It was smooth and colorful and—

Let's just say I was at my happiest.

Then they say we can't chase the rainbow's end. I still think I can. Maybe if I am patient enough, if I walked enough, if I just go with it and follow and just walk and walk. I am confident I can reach it because that's where I want to be.

It was one of those days, just a normal Friday for me. I woke up, attended school, eat lunch with Troy and our friends. And meet after the classes dismiss. It was a routine for me and Troy. We were making progress—so I thought.

Kate just had to enter the scene again. I guess what we have was haunted. It's her birthday and we decided to go and visit her. Troy wanted to. It wouldn't hurt i thought. They didn't break up after all.

What does that make me, then?

"Are you sure you're alright? We can—

"It's fine. I've done this lot of times. I appreciate you being here with me." he smiled as he intertwines our hands together.

Since that day, I can see how much he tried, he was really all in for it. He makes effort, he bought me flowers, take me to dinners, some other times we just order take outs and watch movies at home. My brother, well he says "do what you want" I think he's already busy enough to even speak about my business—which is fine.

I looked at him once again, just to study his face, do I need to make him feel better, to validate him, but he seems okay. Different than the last time I saw him crying at the shed. Maybe he's better now. It's almost a year.

We reached her gravestone. It was kept clean unlike the ones around her. She's really loved even when she's gone. I guess some people were lucky. They can't be forgotten.

We stayed there, sat on those fine grasses under that big tree and just let Troy reminisce things about her. I let him. First love niya 'yon e. We were just there holding hands while he has his head leaned on my shoulder, he finds peace like that as he says. He has his eyes closed while I watch leaves fall from the branches like when a voice woke us up in trance as I watched Troy's heart fell in sight too.

"Tita, Tito." he called, immediately removing his body to me as he let go of my hand, standing up straight as if he was caught doing bad things. I can feel the gaze of the people in front of us hence I excused myself. I held and squeezed Troy's hands a little to send my message "I'll be right there."

"Excuse me po." I said as I bowed and took my leave. I looked back one more time to see Troy being embraced by Kate's father. I think it's the first time they have seen each other since Kate's passing. Troy said the guilt was extreme even though both parents don't blame anyone, it was more heartbreaking for him. He took their daughter away, he says. He still feels guilty even now. That's why we're here.

Ayoko pa naman bumalik sa kotse kaya I decided to visit the people who met the same tragedy like her.

"Hey, mom. It's me again. I hope you'll forgive Callahan, he's a little busy with everything." I said as I tried to remove some grass near the gravestone. I can count in my fingers the times I visited here. Unlike the others, I have few memories to reminisce with them. I don't even know what to say at times like this.

After giving myself some time, I heard steps and when I turned around,

"There you are."

"Hey." I greeted him with a smile. Looking for something in his eyes, he cried that's for sure. I got scared, those were the same eyes I've seen before. The saddest ones. Eyes I haven't seen in a while but now.

"You okay?" I can't help but ask.

"Yes. Let's go home? Are you done?"

"Hmm. Tara."

We called his driver and called it a day. We're tired after all.

"Thanks for today. I appreciate you, so much."

That was the last thing he said before disappearing on me. I guess chasing the rainbow's end wouldn't be possible. Troy made it sure.

After that day, everything went wrong. That's when I created bridges and walls for my friends. I ruined it all.

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Note:  I can't help but write this, I feel like I didn't focus much on their love story and kind of created a blind spot of how Clarize saw things with Troy that makes her want him more. So ayan. Back to present na tayo for the next chapter continuation ng nasa  Chapter 22. Clarize ask Akira the question, what do you think his answer would be? 

 Thank you for reading!

- love Archer