Chapter Theme:
Rewrite the stars - Zac Efron & Zendaya
"Mom! Dad!" iyak ni Braylee nang sinalubong niya ito sa airport. Mahigpit ang yakap ng mag-anak sa isa't-isa sa muli nilang pagkikita at panay ang iyakan nila lalo pa't nawalan sila ng isang mahal sa buhay.
"I love you, I love you," paulit-ulit na sambit ng ina ni Braylee sa kanya.
"Don't cry, princess. Your brother doesn't want to see you cry," pakiusap naman ng kanyang ama sa kanya. Dahil sa sinabi ng ama niya, pilit niyang pinigilan ang kanyang mga luha ngunit kahit na anong gawin niya, higit na mas pinangungunahan siya ng sakit na dulot ng pagkawala ng nag-iisang kapatid.
*****
Habang nasa burol ng kapatid, hindi nawala sa tabi ni Braylee ang kanyang mga kaibigan lalo na si Denver. Naging napakahirap para sa kanya ng mga sumunod na araw pero dahil sa presensya ng mga nagmamahal sa kanya, nagawa niyang lagpasan ang mga ito.
"Hindi ba kayo pinapagalitan ng mga guro niyo? Lagi nalang kayong absent dahil sa pagtulong niyo rito," alalang sambit ng ina ni Braylee nang magsalo-salo silang lahat sa isang hapunan.
"Hindi naman po, nagpaalam naman po kami ng maayos at nangakong babawi sa mga subjects namin," paniniguro ni Piper na naging malapit nadin sa mga magulang ng kaibigan.
"Sino pala sa inyo ang boyfriend ng prinsesa ko?" pabirong sambit ng ama ni Braylee sa mga ito. Namumugto man ang mga mata at nagluluksa man, nagagawa parin nitong ngumiti at makipagbiruan. "Ikaw ba?" tanong nito sabay turo kay Warren pero mabilis na tumawa si Warren at umiling.
"Dad naman," reklamo ni Braylee.
"Baka naman ikaw?" tanong nito sabay turo kay Denver bagay na ikinatahimik ng lahat.
Kinabahan bigla si Braylee, kinabahan siya dahil sa magiging reaksyon ng mga magulang niya dahil sasasabihin ni Denver.
"Hindi po," nakangiting sagot ni Denver bagay na ikinagulat ng mga kaibigan niya, lalo na ni Braylee. Pero imbes na ipakita ang nararamdaman, ngumiti na lamang si Braylee.
****
As days passed, the grief became more difficult to handle for Braylee and her family but thanks to her friends and Denver, the pain became bearable. After the funeral, everyone returned back to Filimon Heights, leaving behind Braylee in her hometown with her parents.
8:34 PM
You:
Denbear:
When will u be back here?
You:
I'm not sure anymore
Denbear:
You wont return to Filimon Heights?
You:
I only came to Filimon Heights because my parents aren't around
But now that they're here...
Denbear:
It's okay Teddy
You don't have to return
You:
That's not what I was expecting hahaha
Denbear:
What are you expecting?
You:
You... asking me to return to Filimon Heights.
Denbear:
I won't force you to return
You're free to do whatever you want
You:
Are you in a bad mood?
Denbear:
No. Why?
You:
You don't seem like yourself
Denbear:
I guess i'm just tired from practice
You:
But you quit basketball last month
Denbear:
Goodnight, Teddy
You:
Okay, Goodnight.
And that night, Braylee slept with a heavier heart.
As morning came, Braylee woke up early to tend to her Mother's garden. As she was outside the gate, watering the plants, Braylee is approached by an elderly neighbor. She's upset over a lot of things but right now, Denver's behavior uncanny behavior is bothering her the most.
"Braylee, may boypren ka ba?" the old woman asked with a smile.
"Po?" gulat niyang sambit.
"Yun kasing kotse na kulay pula... gabi-gabi ko laging nakikita rito sa tapat ng bahay niyo. Kagabi andito rin yun. Nilapitan ko kaso agad na umalis. Nakita ko yung mukha, poging bata at mukhang hindi naman akyat-bahay. Baka kako boypren mo," kwento ng matanda kaya kahit papaano'y naibsan ang bigat na nararamdaman ni Braylee at kahit paano'y nagawa niyang ngumiti.
****
2 weeks later
"Nakakasawa kang kasama," reklamo ni Riley kay Piper.
"Dudeee! Ayoko rin sayo!" Reklamo naman ni Piper habang sumusubo ng kanyang tanghalian.
"I miss Wawie, I miss Lucho, and I miss our Dumb Baby," Riley wailed earning him a sigh from Piper.
"Wait, you didn't tell Bray about Lucho's suspension right?" Piper seemed worried.
"She knows. I already told her and she deserves to know," Riley insisted earning him an eye-roll from Piper.
"I still can't believe the school suspended him," Piper said, annoyed at the sanction that his friend received for firing a gun in the campus premises.
"At least our boy wasn't expelled," a familiar voice was heard and it made both Riley and Piper look behind, a big smile immediately formed in their faces.
"Braylee!" Riley and Piper screamed as they both hugged her tight.
"What are you doing here?" Piper said in astonishment.
"I told my parents that I'd love to continue studying here and they were up for a fresh new start so here;s your strong and independent cutie" Braylee proudly flexed her arms.
"Glad to have you back, B!" Riley said, kissing her left cheek.
"Welcome back roomie," Piper said, kissing her right cheek.
Braylee could only smile in delight.
****
9:04 PM
You:
Can we talk?
Denbear:
You're back in Filimon Heights?
You:
Can we talk or not? hahaha
Denbear:
I'm busy with something
You:
Okay what did I even do?
Come on, be honest with me
Did I do something to upset you?
What's with the cold treatment???
Denbear:
Lets meet at the coffee shop outside your campus
BRAYLEE'S POV
I took a deep breath as I got off the taxi. I don't know why but for some reason, I'm worried at seeing Denver again. He's been acting weird for weeks. He's been acting different after my brother's funeral.
As I got inside the coffee shop, I settled my eyes on Denver. He's just sitting on the corner, his head down, looking emotionless. Far from the Denver that I used to know.
I didn't say anything as I sat on the opposite side of the table. Does he even miss me? Because I miss him. I missed him so bad.
"Hey," he looked up at me, his hair is disheveled, and his eyes look tired. He looks like when I first saw him--stressed and emotionless. I couldn't help but worry.
"What's wrong?" I asked.
"Nothing," he shrugged it off.
"Do you still love me, Denver?" I asked, mustering every inch of courage I have.
And at that point, the look on Denver's eyes changed. It felt like I was with the same Denver again. "I love you, Braylee. Nothing will ever going to change that."
I sighed as I clenched my fist, trying hard not to shed a tear. "This is the wrong time to act like a jerk, Denver. I just lost my brother. My heart already feels so heavy,. If I did something wrong, then tell me. I can handle it."
"It's nothing," Denver sighed, shaking his head.
"I've always been honest with you... with how I feel, with how you make me feel. Maybe it's the reason why I love you, because with you I can finally be myself," I felt a tear drop from my eyes so I hurriedly wiped it. "I've always been honest with you, so can you please be honest with me? Please?"
"I love you, it's the truth. It's always been the truth," Denver said as he held my hand tight, looking at me in the eyes. And I could tell he was sincere. That he's telling the truth.
"Then why are you acting like this?" My voice cracked as tears continued to stream down my face. "Why does it feel like your avoiding me? Why do I feel like you're trying to push me away?"
Denver rubbed his temples, looking frustrated. "Because I have to leave,"
"So ano yun? Nagpa-practice kang malayo sakin?" I asked as my lips formed into an uncontrollable pout. "Denver saan ka ba pupunta? Kailangan mo ba talagang umalis?"
Denver held my other hand tight, still looking at me intently in the eyes. "Braylee, I saw how you suffered from losing your brother and I can't let you go through that again because of me. Before I can be with you, I want to make sure if i'm really sick or not. I have to make sure that what I have isn't Fatal Familial Insomnia. My mother was adopted from an orphanage in Australia. I have to go there and look for our biological family. I have to leave to get tests done. I suffered so much when my Mom had FFI, I don't want you to feel the same way I did... I don't want you to suffer again."
All I could do was cry while shaking my head.
Denver cupped my face gently as he wiped my tears using his thumbs. "I have to leave, Braylee... but that doesn't mean I don't love you anymore. I'm leaving because I love you. I'm leaving to make sure that I can really be with you."
"How long will you be gone?" My voice was trembling as my tears continued to fall.
"I don't know," Denver said shaking his head. "But if i'm not sick I will come back and the first thing i'll do is find you."
"Even if you're sick, I want to be with you. I know what I want and that's to be with you," I insisted as I held his hands back.
I saw tears brimming in Denver's eyes as he smiled, shaking his head.
"Then I'll wait for you.. Just please come back," I pleaded.
Denver only smiled as he kissed me.
END OF CHAPTER 55!
Note: Just a quick recap! In chapter 2, Denver self-diagnosed himself with FFI since his Mom died from Fatal Insomnia.
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