CHAPTER 37
Nana successfully convinced my brothers to stay in the town of Dusk and Dawn. They also talked about Gelo being my lover. Nana helped to fix Gelo’s image on my brothers. She explained thoroughly that Gelo doesn’t have a bad intention for me. I thought we were going to leave this town. Nana was right. No one can predict and stop what’s going to happen next. It’s like a prophecy.
“I’m sorry,” I told Felix when I entered their room. “I didn’t mean to say those things. We all lost Mom and Dad and I’m the worst person for invalidating your feelings.”
Felix caressed my hair, then he kissed my forehead. “It’s fine. I’m sorry for shouting at you and almost hurting you physically. What you said broke my heart and made me think that I’m a worthless brother to you. All I did was to do my best to protect you.”
“I hate myself.”
“Don’t hate yourself. Love it just like how much we love you.” Felix wrapped his arms around me. “You’re right. The truth lies here. Mom and Dad have a reason why they wanted us to stay here.” I let myself drown in his perfume and presence. I also hugged him back. We’re the best siblings in the whole world.
“Have you guys forgotten about me? I’m also you brother.” Jay pointed himself.
Felix chuckled and harassed us. I hug both of them. My brothers. The best men in my life.
…
“You almost leave this town?” Gwen asked when I told her what happened to my brothers and me. It’s not like I’m looking for someone to side with me. Sometimes, telling things to my friends made me feel better.
“At least, she stayed. You can’t leave us hanging, Cath. We still need you for our Mathematics exam.”
Gwen kicked his knee. “You’re a user, Aki! My friendship with Catherine is genuine and now you’re making it look like a toxic one.” Gwen looked at me and cling her arms to mine. “Don’t listen to Aki. You can always unfriend my best friend. He might also be using me during our English exams.”
“Hey, I’m better at literature and grammar than you!”
“Guys, it’s fine. I didn’t feel that you were using me. Actually, I should be the one to thank both of you. You made me feel that I have friends in this town aside from Gelo’s family. Back then, I really have difficulties making friends. I have trust issues that these people are backstabbing me. And I was right.”
Backstabbing happened to me in my sophomore year. I don’t trust this woman named Tricia after she tried to cling to me as my friend. She copied my homework and I can’t do anything about it. I let myself get controlled by her though I knew what she was doing to me wasn’t right.
I slightly believe that she was my friend when she started to tell me about her relationships. She even provoked me to date one of her exes. I don’t do dates and flirting that’s why I put her offer down.
One day, I saw her with her usual friends. I was behind them and they kept talking. Tricia was telling them that the only reason she made friends with me was that she was going to fail this calculus class if she didn’t. It hurt and broke me that I believed a lie. She never cared about me. She only cared about what was benefiting her.
“Don’t worry, Cath. I’m not like Aki who talks about me in front of his guy friends.” Gwen pretended to roll her eyes over Aki.
“Hey! I don’t have guy friends. Gwen, you know you’re my only friend in this town.”
“I don’t believe you. Last week, when Catherine didn’t attend our class, a group of cool guys approached you to play basketball. You left me hanging in this gazebo and even whispered to me that it’s your dream to be part of the cool guys' clan. I hate you!”
“It’s indeed my dream, but I won’t leave you always. I only accepted their offer because I’ve never had the chance to befriend others. Anyways, they canceled me out.”
“Why?” Gwen and I asked in chorus.
“They lost the game because of me. I don’t know how to play basketball. I thought it was similar to the arcade and virtual ones. I have this game on my phone wherein it’s similar to basketball. I thought it was the same as the real one. But I never shot a goal even once.”
Gwen knocked on Aki’s forehead. “Fool! That’s not how you play basketball. And you deserved to be canceled like that because you left a woman hanging in this gazebo all alone herself.”
“I didn’t mean to do that! I’m sorry, Gwen.”
I laughed at the way Aki tried to please her. They looked like those couples in books where the girl pretends that she’s jealous or hated the guy. And the guy is going to try to adore her as much as possible. I shouldn’t think like this about them. It’s not like they’re in a relationship.
“You look like lovers,” I commented.
“Watch ours for your words, Catherine! It sucks having a lover like Aki. If we became a couple, which is not going to happen, the world will end.”
Aki cupped her cheeks. “Am I that bad for you, Gwen?”
“So bad.”
“Cath, are you going home?” It was Gelo who spoke behind me. He looked good as always with a new hairstyle and backpack. I saw that backpack before used by Sage. He must steal that from his brother.
“Your lover is already here,” Gwen smirked. “Hi, Gelo. You can always take our friend on a date. You don’t need our permission.”
“Shut up!” I gazed at Gwen. “We’re friends so stop shipping us.” I turned to Angelo again. “Yup. Let’s walk together again?”
“Sure!”
I clung to Gelo’s arms and glanced back at my friends. “Have fun with the both of you? Don’t kiss!”
“Fuck you, Catherine!” Aki screamed and attacked me with his middle finger.