CHAPTER 4

CHAPTER 4

Friso

"Drew, honey... wake up... wake up, sweetheart..." Friso groaned outwardly and yanked his mother's hand that was shaking his arm away softly. After that wild party at Exzur's last night, he thinks he deserves a long rest. School won't be a bother, after all, a thick wad of bucks is enough for an instructor to put his name a check on the record, and he has lots and lots of wads of cash. He kept my eyes closed and continued to delve into his deep slumber.

He heard his mother groaned for the nth time. A ghost smirk crept into his face. His mother, Allison, finally gave up.

"You're not waking up? Fine. I'm taking your phone with me," his eyes popped wide open the moment he heard his mother's statement.

"I'm up! I'm up!" He exclaimed and hastily sat straight. Holding his throbbing head, he looked at his smirking mother, who was holding his newly bought iPhone 11 Pro, with a look of disbelief. Allison's hearty laugh resonated in the four corners of his room, melting his heart, "Good morning, baby," she sat on the side of his bed and leaned to kiss his forehead.

As much as he wanted to turn away, he didn't since he knows she would throw a fit of a tantrum on him, and that means no car keys and credit cards for him until they reconcile, "Mom, I'm already 18," he groaned instead and took the heavy comforter off his body.

She gently placed his phone back on the nightstand, "But you're still my baby," she said with a small pout on her lips. He looked into her eyes and saw them softening. Not again.

"I miss those times when you still sit on my lap and giggle loudly whenever I touch your ticklish spot," she said in a child-like voice as her eyes beginning to get teary. He clandestinely took a huge sigh. There his mother goes again, reminiscing and reminding him the events back then when he was still a baby, knowing that she's fond of toddlers and babies, "And also back then when you were six, you talked to a mannequi--"

"Mom!" he interjected, his cheeks flaring into a deep shade of scarlet red. He doesn't want to be reminded of that! God knows how much he wanted to forget that embarrassing memory— it was even broadcasted on live TV!

"What's going on here?" a powerful, domineering voice asked. Both simultaneously looked at the door and found his father, Hades, standing by the door frame with their pet husky, Jojo standing beside him.

"Jojo!" he called and the dog quickly submitted to him, strutting towards him and jumping on his bed. He ruffled it's glistening fur and embraced it like a newly stuff toy. Jojo was his mother's dog she was in college and has been alongside him since he was born, he considered him as his only best friend. Even though the dog's already as old as a World War Veteran in his dog years, he still moves swiftly and alertly like a youngster.

A faint smack distracted him from cuddling Jojo. He looked at his parents and saw the last thing he wants to see: his parents warming up. Hades' has his hand on Allison's head and his lips pressing on her forehead, their proximity incalculable but can be cited as technically close, "Good morning, love," his father greeted his wife, looking at her with loving eyes, becoming oblivious of his son's presence.

"Good morning," she greeted back and kissed his cheek.

Friso cleared his throat, grabbing his parents' attention, "Good morning, dad," he greeted his father, looking at his father pleadingly to get a room with his mother. Fortunately, Hades got his message and immediately stood straight, "Good morning, son," he eyed his young boy who was wearing a tired face, "You look..."

"I know, I know," he said and motioned Jojo to get off him by tapped the dog's back lightly, "I need to prepare for school, you guys should leave," he went on his feet and made a beeline towards the bathroom.

He was taking his clothes off when he heard a faint sniff, causing his heart to lurch. He halted what he was doing and pressed his ear door, not minding his spiteful action. He was Friso Drew de Vries after all, and he is famous for his principle that bad things are only called bad when you are caught.

"What's wrong, love?" He heard his father asked.

"I want my Drew to shrink back into that cute little baby I used to carry in my arms," came Allison's answer with a faint sniff. Friso clenched his hand into a fist, realizing that he had hurt his mother's feelings.

"We can make another Drew, if you want," Hades suggested. Not long after, he heard a SMACK!

His mother stated in a voice she usually uses when she's on tantrums, "You know what I mean, Hades," then came the sound of a door's creak then a huge banging sound. His father chuckled before Friso heard him leave his room.

He sighed and continued what he was supposed to do, thinking about how to make up to his upset mother.

"Hey, Drew!"

"Hi, Drew!"

"Good morning, baby Drew!"

"How are you, Drew?"

Friso made a small hiss in vexation as he popped his bubble gum while passing by the girls who were greeting him with flirty faces. He hates the attention he gets. He hates it. While many people are willing to die to gain popularity, he was dying to become a nobody. He is the so-called popular guy inside and outside the campus of Trinity Knight High School. He is adored and feared by every student because of every attribute he has that he thinks only as simple skills. If Genies or Santa Claus were true, he would risk his family's fortune to hunt them for only one wish which to: for people to treat him like a normal person. Unfortunately, they were only fictional things made up of the human mind, and the sad reality kicks in all he can do is to tolerate the endless torture. Using his tongue, he garnered the bubble gums sticking on his lips smoothly and chewed it back into his mouth.

"Hey, Drew! Care to hang out with me and my friends this lunch break?" he turned his head to see who was asking. It the campus' platinum blonde beauty and Head Cheerleader, Stacy Wiśniewski looking at him with hopeful eyes while catching up to his huge, long strides. He prevented himself from rolling his eyes in irritation.

"I'd love to, but I gotta meet some classmates for a presentation," he politely dismissed her and hastily walked to a certain spot on the hall where his friends are at, leaving her embarrassed in front of everyone present in the hall. Fortunately, he easily found them, right on the spot, talking and laughing their asses off. There was Gray, Lucien, Toshiro, and Saijou. What's only left was his best friend, Lazarus but he might be busy having sex with random girls in the gym bathroom, as usual.

As he walked closer and closer, he overheard their conversation:

"You've got to be kidding me!"

"So you met this hot girl... and you didn't even manage to ask for her number?"

"Man, get some balls, will you?"

"I could have if you didn't call!"

"What's up, fuckers?" he greeted his pals, blowing his bubble gum once again. Four heads turned simultaneously to his direction, their faces wearing a surprised expression. His brows furrowed at their expression as the atmosphere surrounding them slowly became heavy, they looked like they weren't expecting him.

It was Gray who spoke that broke off the small tension, "And the virgin speaks," sarcastically, trying to create a distraction so the newcomer wouldn't notice that they were talking about something sensitive. Friso popped his bubble gum, sensing that something's definitely off. If it was a normal day, it wouldn't be only Gray saying that but also the others.

"Shut up," he seethed irritatingly and tightened the grip on the strap of his bag, "Is there something that I'm not supposed to hear?" he asked straightforwardly in a cold voice, glaring at them with his set of grey orbs he inherited from his father. His friends were talking about something fun and they're missing him out.

It was Lucien who answered his question. With a playful smile on his lips, he puts a brawny arm around the pale and lanky Toshiro, "You see, our boy met a hot chick yesterday and didn't get her number."

"For real?" he raised his brows at Toshiro, chewing his gum on the left side of his cheek, "Man, where'd you put your manhood at?" he pushes the gum to nack to his tongue for another blow then opened his locker, grabbing his books. The others laughed and Toshiro made an excuse about if Saijou hadn't called, he could've had the girl's number and Saijou poked fun at him saying he was probably scared to ask her number. He smiled, thinking of how more fun it will be if Lazarus is with them, he might probably be flexing about his self-proclaimed hotness.

After grabbing his needed textbooks, he held the corner of the locker door to close it but someone's hand grabbed his joined Toshiro's voice exclaiming, "Hey!"

He looked at his friend who was looking in his locker, "What, you into me now?" he asked jokingly and the others laughed once again.

Toshiro gave him a crunchy, "Fuck you," before looking at his locker and pointed at the only photo he had in there, "That's her."

"Who?" Lucien's head suddenly emerged, taking a peek at Friso's locker that led Saijou and Grey to take a peek also. He immediately removed Toshiro's hand holding his and closed the locker shut. He's fine with people seeing what's inside the locker since the picture was glued on the end and was usually covered by textbooks but he forgot that pulled all his textbooks out, exposing it. He seethed, angry ay himself. He doesn't want anyone seeing the person in that picture, ever.

"The girl I met in the gas station. That's her," Toshiro said, looking at the three.

"What the hell?" Saijou gasped.

"Damn, no cap?" Gay asked, bewildered.

"That chick was pretty hot," Lucien licked his lips like a hungry wolf finally finding a prey.

Stone cold on his spot, Friso said a name: "Vanessa?"

Toshiro shrugged and held his chin, thinking. "She did say her name's Van though."

She's back?

An invisible, sharp needle was fired out from nowhere and hit Friso's chest. Unconsciously, he stopped chewing his gum and loosened his tight grip on his bag's strap, feeling that he lost all his strength after what Toshiro had said. She's back, for real? He badly wanted to hold Toshiro's shoulders tightly and shake him for solid confirmation. He knows that his friends don't lie to him, especially news about her. The only girl in his life. His girl.

"Dude, you know her?" a voice asked but he didn't know who owns it. Everything feels as if he's drowning in water.

The bell rang loudly before he could open his mouth. He shook his head, wavering his thoughts off and said, "Let's head to class," pulling his bag's strap before turning on his back, walking to his first class, leaving his friends dazed.

"Promise me," he said while offering his pinky finger to the little girl who trying at her hardest to create a sandcastle. He observed her, she looked very cute with those electric blue eyes, rosy cheeks, and pink, pouty lips. Much like a porcelain doll with her healthy, wavy blonde hair and milk-white skin. She was the little girl that everyone wants to have, but he wants to have her the most.

The girl refrained from what she was doing and faced him, "Promise you what?" she asked him, confusion laced on her voice and looking at him with innocence covering her eyes.

"That we'll marry, no matter what comes and tries to break us apart," he stated firmly, trying to pour all the embarrassment he was feeling by gripping on the toy shovel he was holding for a long time with his other hand. He wants to have her now, but it's not the right time yet.

The girl put a hand on her chin, her electric blue eyes looking at the sky as if she was thinking, "Does marrying you no matter what means that we can be together forever?" she asked him and he nodded eagerly, "Don't you want to be with me?" he asked, trying to put a small pressure on her. Even though he was still a child, he understands things in a vast way and applies them all the time.

"Of course I do!" she answered. He smiled in content, "Then promise me," he lifted his pinky to her face.

She covered her mouth, giggling, "Okay! I promise you, we will marry no matter what!" then she lifted a hand and knotted her pinky finger with his.

Prrrrrrrrt!

A loud whistle pulled Friso away from his endless reverie. He looked at the direction where the sound came from and realized it was from their Coach, who was marching towards him with the signature expression that he could see all day.

"What on Earth is with you today, de Vries! You're not playing with your usual place and you should be on the way where the ball is lead not the other way around!"  Coach Provido smashed his head with a newly bought newspaper.

Having his senses finally awakened, Friso looked at the other side of the field and saw most of his teammates there, looking at him with weird expressions on their faces, wondering what has gotten into their Captain. He hung his head low in embarrassment m before asking Coach Provido, "Can I take a break?" but before the coach could answer, he already turned on his heel and left the field, leaving everyone dumbfounded.

He never went back to the field again and spent most of his time in the locker room, taking a refreshing shower. He doesn't know how to face the whole team after what happened. For the first time, their Captain, who was always active and attentive has absent-mindedly played in the field. He groaned and smacked a quivering fist on the tiled wall, trying to kill the embarrassment that was invading his system, "Fuck," he cursed.

He doesn't know what he's feeling ever since Toshiro blurted out that she was back. For the first time, Friso felt uneasy. He has been yearning for the news of her return for years, and it finally came. This was finally the time to make amendments to the pain he has caused her three years ago. He clenched his fist tighter. Three years ago.

Friso immediately shook his head, shaking the memory away from his mind. He doesn't want to be reminded of what happened three years ago. The day when he caused her pain, for the very first time. When he smashed his fragile porcelain doll that he has been taking care of for years.

He turned off the shower's knob and grabbed the towel hanging on the door, wrapping it on his slender waist. He inherited his father's gigantic height but never the bulky frame, he was muscular but slender. His mother said that he inherited it from her side; slender but with strong built. He was fine with it though, but he can't help himself but envy his father's buff figure sometimes. He opened the door and left the shower, treading to his locker with wet footsteps.

Once he reached his locker, he unlocked it and grabbed a few of his stored clothes then closed it, which revealed the face of his Spanish comrade who has been waiting to talk to him for hours, Lazarus, "'Yo," greeted the Hispanic teen with playfulness laced on his voice.

"What do you want?" he glumly asked and turned on his back, preparing to wear his clothes. He took out his boxer shorts and wore it effortlessly  taking the towel off.

"Man, you look fucked," his friend stated, humorlessly. The atmosphere suddenly turned into something grave that it was urging Friso to hastily wear his clothes and leave. He only answered Lazarus' statement with a sigh as he took the towel off his torso.

There it goes again, her.

"They told me what happened this morning. She's back?" Lazarus asked but he did not answer, he kept on wearing the rest of his clothes, "Look, I came here to confirm everything. Toshiro is too afraid to come near you because of what you've done this morning. He said he thinks it's fifty-fifty that she is back. Coincidences are freaky and it might just be someone who looks like her.

"Por favor, mi amigo. Don't just mope yet. I know that you have been going through after she left, but if it is true that she has returned then don't be like this. Explain yourself to her," just as Lazarus finished his speech, Friso just finished wearing his shirt and jacket. He grabbed his bag and faced his friend, his lips broken into a bittersweet smile, "Lunatic," he stated before leaving the locker room.

Planning of getting drunk, he grabbed his wallet from his bag's pocket and opened it to check if he still has enough cash for this week, he doesn't want to spend his credit cards over alcohol, his dad will kill him. He was disappointed to see that his money was enough only for a few cans. He sighed. Maybe a few cans are enough to accompany him tonight.

"Good evening," the grocery store's cashier greeted him and he just nodded in response before making his way to the spot where the drinks are usually stored at. He has been familiar with this grocery shop ever since he started drinking, it was the only store that sells good beverage, probably because the owner drinks a lot.

He was on his way to his destination when he felt that something bumped on his torso. He immediately looked down and saw a grocery cart. Slowly, his eyes traced its figure to find out who was pushing it and caught sight of those electric blue eyes. He felt his heart jumped out of his chest when he realized who those eyes belong to.

"...Or not," he heard the eyes' owner mumbled quietly, looking at him with innocent eyes.

So Toshiro wasn't lying, after all, he confirmed. He wanted to reach his arms out and hold her but then, Lazarus' words came across his mind. Explain yourself to her.

He curled his lips to one side into a leer and spoke, "Hello, baby girl."