Happiness

CHAPTER 4

CHAPTER 4

Luan woke up early and prepared herself for the day. She was smiling as she rushed down the stairs, holding her academic gown and hat. 

“Good morning, manang!” She happily greeted their maid and the other server of their household. 

“Miss Luan, you seem to be in a good mood” Their maid exclaimed while pouring her a cup of milk. 

“I’m going to have a graduation photoshoot with my best friend, manang. And then we’ll go ice skating.” Luan was in a very happy mood that it felt surreal. 

“Doesn’t it feel like our old Miss Luan came back?” One of the maids asked. 

Luan tilted her head and looked at the maid questioningly “What do you mean?” She asked while chewing on her sandwich. 

“You were like a bright ball of sunshine back then, Miss Luan. Everyone is always happy seeing your beautiful smile.” 

“This smile?” Then she smiled widely to the point that her eyes couldn't be seen. All of them inside the dining hall laughed at her gummy smile and that made her happy. 

She was giggling when her eyes saw the time on the wall clock. Oh gosh she’s going to be late. 

Luan got up and grabbed another sandwich before heading out to call their driver. 

“Kuya Robin! I’m ready,” she shouted, then her driver went to get the keys and told her to wait at the gate as usual. Seconds later she was about to get into the car when their head maid stopped her 

“What is it, manang?” 

“Oh nothing, I just..want you to be happy, okay? Be free, our little sunshine.” The maid went teary eyed. Manang was one of the people who saw her struggle the most, who saw how she tried so hard in life to the point of breaking herself. Manang was one of the reasons she can still have the warmth of care and love.

Luan placed her gown and bag inside the car before giving their maid a tight hug. “I’ll be happy, manang. Don’t worry.”  She released her from the hug and smiled. 

“I'll get going.” And with that she went back inside the car and closed the door. She texted Ayla that she’s on the road and sent her a selfie. 

It didn’t take them that long to arrive at the hospital. Luan hurriedly went out after thanking the driver, she was impatiently waiting at the front of the elevator door. Minutes later it opened, what she didn’t expect was to see Ayla’s big brother, Cairon Red. 

“Hey,” Cairon said and grabbed all the things she was carrying. 

She gave him a gummy smile. “Thanks” 

Cairon stared at her before clearing his throat. “Yeah. Get in.” 

And she did. Luan was humming as the elevator went up, it wasn’t awkward even when Cairon is a man of few words. They got along when they were kids and there was also a time when she had a crush on him. She giggled when she remembered those times. 

“Why’re you laughing?” Cairon boredly asked her. 

“Oh, I just remembered the time I had a crush on you.” She accidentally blurted out. She blinked many times while processing what she just said. 

Cairon on the other hand, froze. Not talking. Not breathing. Nothing. 

He stood there like a stone until the elevator door opened and he saw how Luan hurriedly got off. Cairon was only back to his senses when he saw the door closing, he stopped it using his feet, then he got off. 

Luan excitedly opened the door to her best friend’s room and saw Ayla getting ready. Aunt Alaina, Ayla’s mother was putting make up on her daughter while smiling. 

“Ayla!!” She screamed before hugging her. “I’m home,” she whispered. 

It’s what she always says to Ayla, she considers her best friend as her home because of her warmth and love for her. By Ayla’s side is the most comfortable place. 

“Welcome home, lulu.” 

Luan pulled from the hug and examined Ayla’s face. “Hmm, you look beautiful. Auntie is really the best” She faced Alaina and gave her a thumbs up. Aunt Alaina then laughed. 

“You ready?” Ayla asked her.

“Wait, my gown.” They looked at the door and saw Cairon still carrying her things. He placed it on the couch and sat there. 

“Kuya, what happened to you?” 

“Almost had a heart attack.” They were all confused by his answer but let him be. But Ayla knew something was up and just smiled. 

Luan shrugged and picked her gown to also get ready. 

The photoshoot will only be inside the private hospital room of Ayla. It was big after all, this way Ayla wouldn’t get too tired to go out. 

They started taking pictures until Felix Red came. He was the father of Ayla. 

“Sorry, I’m late,” Felix said and went to kiss his wife on the forehead. As Luan witnessed that kind gesture of her Uncle a small smile went to her lips. It was a scene she always gets to see when she’s with the Red Family. 

“Luan, looking beautiful today. You two really grew,” Felix jokingly said. 

“Uncle, there really is no need to state our obvious beauty,” she said as a response then minutes later all of them were laughing from the corny jokes Felix had. 

This was the kind of happiness she has whenever she's close to them. It was something she couldn't just let go. 

An hour later they were done taking pictures and now they are on the way to a skating rink. 

Uncle Felix and Aunt Alaina couldn’t come because they had an appointment and so they went out with Cairon, who is driving right now. Luan and Ayla were giggling at the back seat saying Cairon makes a good driver, that he should consider it as his profession. 

“We’re here” Cairon only said and left the car. He opened the door for his sister and assisted her. She also got out and grabbed the things Ayla would need. 

Luan went beside Ayla’s side and held her hand. 

They chatted until they reached the skating rink. The two of them excitedly put on the gears needed for the activity, after that they got on the ice. 

Luan and Ayla were so happy at that moment that they forgot Cairon. He only sighed while putting on the gears then followed the two girls who were giggling to themselves again. It was nice to see her sister smile like that again. 

Cairon took out his phone to take a photograph of his sister’s face that he will forever miss. 

“Isn’t this fun?” Luan asked while nervously laughing. 

Ayla snickered, “Oh please, you’re barely standing.” 

She was on the side trying to stand on her own but she kept failing while Ayla was used to it since she liked ice skating when she was young. Ayla grabbed Luan’s two elbows and guided her as they slid on the ice. 

“Relax, lulu. You’ll get the hang of it in no time.” 

And she did. Minutes later they were side by side gliding on the slippery ice. 

But as they played, Luan noticed that Ayla was having a hard time breathing. She worriedly went to her and grabbed her. “Ayla, it's okay. I'm here.” 

Ayla smiled “I know. I just need to rest.” 

“Alright, let’s go.” They glided through the ice until they’re at the nearest bench outside of the ice. 

She carefully let Ayla sit on the bench and kneeled in front of her. Luan cressed her forehead and noticed something. “I-Is this?” She softly placed her hands on her nape and slid her hands up, it was when Luan confirmed. 

“You’re wearing a wig?” 

“I’m sorry” 

Luan held Ayla’s hand tightly. “No no, don’t apologize. You’ll get better. You’ll be fine. Everything’s going to be fine.” Her tears were already streaming down her cheeks. 

“Let’s go back, Ayla. It’s best for you to get some rest.” She wiped her face and forced a smile. 

“Cairon, let’s go.” 

Cairon who saw everything nodded and helped the two get ready to leave. 

All of them were quiet inside the car. Ayla has her head resting on Luan’s shoulder as they hold hands. It didn’t take long for them to get back to the hospital. They had Ayla to rest on her bed and as Aylas was changing clothes they took off her wig and there she saw her bald head. 

“It’s lung cancer.” Cairon who was by her side said. 

Luan was by the door, she couldn’t take it. She sat outside Ayla’s room and sobbed. She was quietly crying because she might wake her best friend up. 

She was scared, scared to death of being left alone. Her only home, gone. No, she can’t take that kind of pain. It would be like losing everything. 

Luan was shaking as her thoughts went on and on inside her head. Then she felt a pair of strong arms embracing her. 

“Why didn’t you t-tell me? W-Why did I have to wait until she’s in that kind of state?” she asked in between her sobs. Her voice cracked, in her every sob there was immense pain. She thought she already felt all kinds of pain but this was another kind of hurt she’s not sure if she can handle. 

“It was my sister’s request. I only respected her choice.” 

“No..I-I can’t..” 

Cairon pulled back and held her cheeks. “Shh, stop crying. Your graduation is by tomorrow, right? You need to rest.” 

Luan shakes her head. “No, I want to stay. I’ll be by her side, Cairon. I can’t leave.” 

He looked at her puffy eyes and red nose. 

“My sister won’t be happy if you skip your graduation.” He tried convincing her. Anytime soon his sister will need to receive aid and that concludes an apparatus to help her breath, Luan doesn’t need to see that. It would break her heart more. 

Cairon wiped her tears away. “I’ll take you home, hmm?” 

He let out a breath when Luan finally nodded. Before leaving he checked on her sister, she’s still being assisted by the nurses. “Kuya will be back, Ayla my baby.” 

They left after making sure Ayla would be okay. 

While on the road the two of them didn’t speak a word. It was complete silence until Luan’s phone beeped, indicating a message. She opened it and regretted it quickly. 

It was a picture of her boyfriend kissing someone else. The message was from a friend she knows at school, saying, “This is your boyfie, right? He's cheating on you girl.”

Yeah, I can see that. 

Please. She doesn’t even know if she still has any tears left. Luan didn’t know how but she fell asleep after feeling the pain all over again.