Limitless

Chapter 13: Softie

Thylane is peacefully reading her notes at the corner of their classroom, she has been preparing for the upcoming exams and for future purposes, she is more than willing to make changes and make a positive result in class, for the reason that she doesn't want Marcus to be the top achiever, she don't want anyone ruin her plans to be always number one. For she knows to well within herself that she can't accept defaults, when Zion ruined the mood.

"Hey, softie!" Zion teases Thylane and grab her notebook, Thylane glared at him.

"Oh! You were reading about our final lectures, you've been studying so hard!"

"Are you preparing for our future?"

"Well you are doing a great job, you have been so good."

"Softie, don't dwell too much in studying, you might miss our precious high school moments." Zion said and he took away her notes, Thylane clenched her jaws and run towards Zion to get her notes, but Zion is fast enough to shift moves, because Zion is much way taller than her, she can't reach her notes.

"Bogo! Give me my notes." she said in her calm voice but she has been pissed off from Zion's attitude, but he is naughty he keep on making fun at Thylane.

"Softie, don't be so rude with your future husband." Zion is doing cute faces and gestures and it just pissing Thylane off. She is now losing her temper and now willing to explode but the moment she decided to do so.

"Zion, Thylane, What's the matter?" Their Science teacher asks them, Zion caught in the act and can't say anything so Thylane took the chance to get her notes.

"Good morning, miss." they greeted their science teacher in unison. the class tempted to laugh but they know their science teacher too well.

"PDA is not allowed in this premises. Ms. Santos you were the student model then be a model." Their science teacher told them as she started to discuss their lessons.

**

Thylane is staring at her newly painted ceiling with the glow in the dark wallpaper. She has been enjoying the view in her room. This is all she wanted, she always wanted to be in the outer space, she always wanted to study physics and ride a spaceship. Thylane was a great dreamer.

"For goddamn, why are doing it again?"

"You haven't said anything!"

"Dad! I told you not be part of that team again, what have you done?"

"Mommy! I can't I am protecting you!"

Protecting from who? from what? I just can't understand my parents especially my dad. Why isn't he accepting mom's opinion. It was never been easy game for me.

"Thylane, I think you need to enroll in Judo and Taekwando. You will need it soon." my dad told me that.

"Why dad?"

"I just want you to become physically fit."

"Does it make me healthy?"

"Ofcourse."

by that I enrolled in both sports. I did everything to make have medals and win.

Thylane’s P.O.V.

I know how frightened Kattie is today, but I still believe that she can do it. Seeing her frightened and afraid a while ago, feels like I want to replace her. But I did not do so. I wanted Kattie to battle with her stage fright, I want her to win against her self-doubt. Kattie has a lot of talents to be known. If only she is not afraid to take the risk, I know in the future if she will continue to take the risk she will get what she wanted. She will be the woman no one thought she would be. I believe in Kattie I hope she will believe in herself too.

The moment I’ve seen their performance I am so proud of her, she really did it. She get herself out of her comfort zone. I was not wrong for believing that Kattie is a talented person herself. She can dance gracefully and she can shine bright with her light make-up. She can be a queen in the future.

After their performance I went outside the hall, I wanted to buy some drinks to ease my tiredness I have been doing schools stuffs since last week and I am feeling week now. Next week would be my competition I having bad thoughts about it. I have been overworked in this school few days ago and it will continue until Friday I do not know if I can still make it next week. I know I won’t win now.

I went back at the stadium and it was already awarding session. I saw how Kattie clapped her hands for the winners. For the intermission performers, I can see how amused is she with the girls around her. Marcus, Marcus never left her side. I am a little bit worried for Kattie being friend with Marcus but I know that they were friends before I came into her life. I have no guts to stop them from having such friendship. I wish these girls who were obsessed with Marcus will thinks the same thing.

I am such a proud, no, a very proud friend when they’ve announced that they are the champion. They deserved it. Some students might not believe on the result but their performance says a lot. It says a lot. That they did their best to win, to be champ in this event.

Kattie invited us in their house the next day. My classmates even went to their house.

“Kattie, why is Marcus not around?” my classmate asked her.

“I think, uhm. They will come here later?” she said not so sure for what is she going to say.

I went near her to talk to her. I even asked her mom.

“Aunt, I want to tell you that you should not tell our classmates that Marcus is your neighbor.”

“Huh? Why? Is there something wrong baby?”

“None, mom, they were liked obsessed with Marcus that they wanted to know his place.”

“Oh my gosh honey, that’s a no! her dad is strict and he can’t let anyone knows where they live. His parents were a huge private people!”

“That’s great aunt.”

“Anyways Thylane, enjoy yourself here. And you should visit here often hmm.” Her mom is very hospitable.

“See I told you, mom really wants that my friends would go here. She would love cooking snacks for us.”

“Uhm. Guys eat while you still can! It is all free.” Her mom shouted when she passed by with us in the living room.

“Kattie, your mom is so cool.” My classmates are giving copliments to her mom. Well seeing Kattie’s mom, it seems like she is the most perfect mother. She can let her daughters friends hangout in their house she can let them I mean she can let us feel at home. She disregarded the norms.

“Yeah, she’s awesome and not a judgmental.”

“Yeah. And she cooks well. Dang I wish to have a mom like yours!”

“Me too.”

“Oh no guys. Mom is like a dinasour sometimes. Don’t wish for it.”

“Well anyways, my mom is the best.”

“Guys! Marcus just arrived and he is with Zion!” my classmate shouted while looking at them in the window.

“Hey, softie!” that freaking Zion called me again. He is giving me names!

“Marcus congrats.” I greeted Marcus the moment they got near to me. I saw how Zion’s face turned sad. Well I don’t care. He started this so I will end this.

“Marcus, I can’t believe you can dance gracefully.” I am giving compliments to him.

“Uhm yeah. I guess… well someone thought me to” he said as he got some sandwich.

“Oh I think he is Marcus!” Kattie’s mom pretended that she doesn’t know him and Marcus got confused.

“Hey Softie what’s going on?” Zion whispered at me.

“Shut up i***t!” I told him and went to the kitchen.

That whole day everyone is having fun at Kattie’s house we were singing on the Kareoke and some were dancing random songs. We even played some kiddie plays.

“Bye Kattie!”

“Bye Aunt thank you for the delicious foods.” Our classmates waved their goodbyes in us.

“Oh, Thylane, who will pick you up?” her mom asks me

“Uh, maybe I can get a taxi nearby.” I told them.

“Uh don’t do that It is dangerous. Marcus will send Zion home, go with him.”

“No, I am okay. I can manage.”

“Don’t be so stubborn, softie.”

“Well bro my driver will send you home. I’ll stay here for a while.”

“Alright. I think he is that right?” Zion is pointing at the red car in front of their gate.

“Yeah, right he is my driver.”

“Bye Kattie.”

“Bye Thylane. Congrats to the both of you.”

We were quiet throughout the ride. Zion is not teasing me nor asking me randome things. That’s great though for I do not want to talk. I am so tired. Tired at school and at home.

“Uhm to the green gate sir.” I said politely to the driver and he stops in front of our gate. I saw that there was no lights on. Meaning mom and dad did not went home again. It was supposed to be my great day today. But they were nowhere to be found as usual.

When I was about to get out of the car Zion hold my wrist, that made me faced him with confused look.

“What?” I asked him emotionless.

“Hmm, Happy birthday.” He said directly staring at my eyes that made me shock. How could he know?

“How did you?” I can’t finish my sentence for I am out of words.

“I just know.” He said as he shrugged and looked away “If you’re along I can be your, get away. Tomorrow will be Saturday, we can stay at the park and pretend that everything is okay.” He said and finally let go of my hand.

I did not say a word and I just left him there. Get away? Why would I need that I am used to it. It has been happening since I was a child. But the moment I opened the door and locked it. I find myself crying.

“Happy birthday to you… happy birthday to you… happy birthday, happy birthday, happy birthday Thylane.” I sang for myself while crying it has been like this since then. I did not know when was the last time someone sing me a happy birthday song. No one even remember my birthday even my parents, I know that Kattie did not know my birthday so it is an exception. Thanks to Zion, he is the only person who remembered to greet me in my so called special day.

“If he is really willing. Then he can be my get away.”

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“Marcus…” Kattie begged at Marcus.

“Kattie, I know what am I doing.” Marcus is giving Kattie assurance.

“But they will hurt me again. And you will be exposed.”

“Kattie. I’ve already composed myself, from now on, no one can dare to hurt you.”

“Marcus you don’t know what they can do.”

“If they like me or if they really admire me. They should respect my choices and privacy.”

“But they just don’t merely like you! They are obsessed with you!”

“If that’s the case, then I myself will get rid of them. Kattie I like you.”

“Marcus don’t play around.”

“I am not playing around. I’ve been feeling for years. I don’t know how and when it all started. All I know is that when you walk away in my life. It feels like there is something missing.”

“Marcus, maybe you just missed me.”

“I hope that I just missed you…”

“Don’t over react with what you feel Marcus, you might hurt yourself.” Kattie told Marcus and walk away.

It is not right to fall, it is not good for us, we’ve been friends for a long time and I am afraid to take the risk. I love Marcus, I love him for being real in me, I care for him but not to the extent that I am falling for him. I know that it may sound unfair but I think he just thought that he like me because I was away from him for so long. Yes, he may be confused.-Kattie

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