Aquiro cannot decide whether to report it to the authorities or not. He doesn't want Alexa to ruin her life.
"Bald, basketball later. Don't forget."
"Yeah, don't worry." He unlocked his locker to get his books but he first noticed a white small envelope in front. Looks like someone secretly put it inside.
'Hm?'
Aquiro opened it and his eyes widened, heart raced, and immediately ran before it's too late.
— —
Dear Aquiro,
I can't say it to you face to face so I just want to tell you what I have in mind. I have a lot actually but I can't voice it out. I'm always grateful that you're always there for me. The first time you approached me, I was irritated because you're annoying haha but it changed one day.
— —
"Move! I said move!" He almost pushed everyone blocking his way. He was running towards her classroom. He was trying to contact her but her phone just rang.
— —
I don't know... my irritation towards you turns into something new. I wasn't familiar with the feeling but if it is called love then let's call it love. I was embarrassed to admit it. I didn't formally apologize for insulting you 'that' day... I mean about your bald head. I'm sorry. I am not perfect... I have a lot of flaws but thank you for liking me... for loving me. I will cherish it even in my next life.
— —
"Alexa!" He stopped at the classroom door and looked for her but she's not there. "Where is Alexa?!"
"We don't know."
"Blair's with her."
"Where?" He asked nervously but the girl shrugged her shoulders.
'Bullsh*t! Where are you Alexa?! This is not funny!'
— —
Something's been going on with me in the past few days and the day you saw the drugs, yes, I admit. I'm using it to forget everything I have in mind. My nightmares, the bad dreams... everything but still, it didn't fade away. I still have it in me... the guilt towards Blair. She shouldn't feel sad, hurt, and depressed because of her parents passing away. Because of my family, she lost them. My family killed them. Someone ordered them to do it but Ferrans as our family friend, it's an absolute betrayal. Please... I'm begging you. Don't tell this to anyone. I trust this one to you. I can't hold it anymore.
— —
"Blair... Blair, please. Answer me." He was running everywhere just to find them. Many what ifs circulated in Aquiro's mind. He's going crazy if something happens.
'What if Alexa confessed to Blair and they argued?'
He was calling Blair when they heard a shout from the rooftop and a noise coming from a car parked beside the building made a disturbance to everyone. Many students went out of their classrooms and curiously checked the car.
— —
I hope you understand that my decision is final. Sorry for being unfair, sorry for choosing my decision over you. I wish that if rebirth is true, I can meet you and tell you that I love you in person. I love you, Aquiro Alfarez. — Your Love, Alexandra Gomez
— —
Aquiro's knees weakened when he saw who's on top of the damaged car. Her blood was dropping and loud cries were heard from every direction but he seemed to hear nothing. He shook his head while looking at the scene.
"A-Alexa... This... is n-not true." The paper in his hand crumpled.
+++
Ferran handled Alexa's case and he was in rage when he found out that Alexa, Blair's best friend, used illegal drugs and eventually made her do that decision.
Alexa's parents were mourning and cannot forgive themselves for not giving their only child enough attention. The school postponed the graduation practice and will move the graduation date in behalf of respecting of of their graduating student who commit suicide in an unknown reason.
It's been a week since Blair sought professional help. She had this trauma and cannot sleep in peace while remembering the scenario. Alexa's burial happened two days ago.
"Blair, please. You need to eat. You're going to get sick." Asyl was very worried about his sister's condition. She couldn't stand the sight of her, suffering from those traumas. She hadn't fully recovered from her parents death and now, her best friend left her too with such a nightmare she could not understand.
"Asyl," Xol knocked at the opened door to get his attention. "I need to tell you something."
"Let's talk outside." Asyl faced his little sister who's silently hugging her legs with tears falling from her eyes. "Blair... please, don't do this to yourself, hm? Kuya will come back, I just need to do something." He kissed her forehead and left her alone.
"What is it? I can't leave Blair alone for too long."
"I found where the drugs came from." Xol showed him the paper.
"What the f*ck?! This can't be!"
"The drug was from us."
"We have a rule that no one will sell it to underaged people! Who the f*ck broke my rules?!"
"The pusher is from San Juan."
"You know what to do to that motherf*cking bullsh*t *sshole. He should pay the price." Xol took his order because even he cannot tolerate the act of breaking their business rules.
+++
"Kuya Aquilo? Kuya Aquilo! Hm..." Cally sighed and looked at his brother. "Maybe, Kuya Aquilo's not home, Kuya?"
'Where are you, Aquiro?' After the incident, Trestan didn't hear about Aquiro. He just knew that Aquiro's not letting anyone in his place. He wanted to be alone but Trestan, being a concerned cousin, cannot let him lock himself. Aquiro's a strong person.
He tried calling Aquiro's friends but even they haven't heard from their dear friend. They respected him and his privacy.
"Let's go." Trestan looked at the empty house and they were about to leave when they heard the breaking of something inside. "Damn... Aquiro! Open the door!"
Trestan breaks the knob and looks for their cousin. He found him on the floor, sitting and had empty bottles of liquor beside him. One of the bottles was broken and some pieces of it injured Aquiro's hand.
"Cally, get outside and call dad on the phone."
"O-Okay." She left with horror in her eyes, seeing Aquiro's hand full of blood scared her.
"What the f*ck are you thinking, Aquiro?! Are you out of your mind?!" Trestan pulled his handkerchief inside his pocket and touched his cousin's bleeding hand. Aquiro immediately pulled it from his grip.
"Leave me alone. I don't need you here."
"Do you think she'll be happy to see you in this state? Damn, cous'. Put yourself together. This is not you."
"It is my fault! I should have... I should have stopped her before it's too late. I'm useless."
"It's no one's fault. Don't blame yourself."
"No... No. It is my fault. I... I know that... Damn it." Aquiro was about to spill the tea but he chose to stand up and went upstairs. Trestan helped him until he got inside his room. He's wasted.
Trestan cleaned Aquiro's wound and put an ointment. He heavily sighed while looking at Aquiro. He's like Blair, they're both mourning. Alexa's death made them suffer from longing and agony. They both blame themselves from the incident they are not involved in.
Trestan planned to leave Aquiro and take care of his mess downstairs but he stepped on something that made him stop. He would have ignored it, but the crumpled paper looks like it contains something important. His eyes widened and his whole body froze for a moment.
He cannot believe what he had just read a while ago.
"Trestan? Aquiro?" Trestan looked at the open door and saw his dad who had just arrived. "Trestan! What happened—Is Aquiro fine?"
"Dad... you need to see this." He handed him the paper and Timotheus had the same reaction after he read the letter.
"This... is bullsh*t."
+++
Graduation practice just ended and Trestan didn't leave Blair's side. He was worried that Blair might do something too if she's gone from his sight. Ferran trusted his niece to Trestan because he can't look after her 24/7.
"I really can't think of a reason. Why? Why did she do it to herself?" She wiped her tears and looked at the sea. They were sitting at the edge of a concrete side. "She was happy seeing her name on the top 10 list. She was happy with Aquiro. She was happy... but after that day..."
Trestan pulled her closer to him and made her head rest on his shoulder. She starts crying again, it pains him but he can do nothing but to give her moral support. He wanted to tell her the truth he found out but considering her status now, Blair can't handle that truth.
It will completely ruin her and that's the last thing he wanted for Blair.
'If only I could do something to remove those pain, I would do it for you. I'm sorry that you have to suffer.'