Underneath The Riptide

Chapter Four Part: 1

I scan the two tickets with the band's logo as a seal. My smile just couldn't be drawn away from my face thinking how things suddenly works. I was just looking up at them last night and now, I will be seeing them two weeks from now.

Damn, I even feel so envious last night because I couldn't see them for the first time now that they are back in the country. In my five years of living with their music and those boys, I haven't got the chance to take a peek of them and got no choice but to stare at them on my phone's screen.

What can I do? I was jailed in my whole life and I haven't got the freedom to be a normal teen. I was trying to enjoy myself inside our huge house and without anything nor someone I can address as a shoulder to lean on.

But then, I got friends in college already unlike highschool — Meriam is the only person I've got that time and Jeannette happened.

"Jeannette..." I made a crying face while still scanning the tickets back to back. "How could you... these are very expensive!"

She held me by my hand so I turn to look up at her. Jeanette is smiling widely and I got confuse when I saw tears forming on her own eyes. "Hey..." I said.

She shake hear head and wipe the tears eventually, laughing while looking around the vicinity. "I am so absurd for tearing outside the university," she said before sniffing. "people may think that I fail to pass my exam." She even kidded.

I also laugh because of her remarks but turn to stare at her face for a second. "Seriously, why are you crying?"

She shook her head once more. "Nah."

I sigh and pull her to the corner for us to grab a lesser attention from the other students and few vehicle riders. I put few strands of her hair at the back of her ear and cup my friend's face. "Is there a problem at home again?"

My brows furrowed whe she immediately shakes her head. "What? No! It's not like that." She pulled away from my hold and pouted while looking at me. "I am just worried these past few days. You seems worried and sad and it made me think that you are still not over with your Dad. Maybe you feel so lost also, considering that you are left with your sister and I am still even mad at your relatives for not helping you out. I mean, why are they like that? It's not that you are going to ask their help for the rest of your life? Aren't they even aware of the word 'helping'?"

I do not know but I couldn't hear the other words Jeanette was saying. My tongue automatically twitches upon mentioning the word Dad and I even can't accept Jeanette's assumptions that I am not over with my Dad's lost.

I actually want it. Why are these people kept on saying I am mourning over my Dad's loss? And right, they aren't aware what's our story. And relatives? They left when they discovered how cruel that man is. He's the very top reason why I am like this and he's the number one at fault that no one stayed with us throughout his lost. That man is such a beast hiding in a fortunate life of a human being. I swear, losing that man is the greatest thing happened in my life.

It sounds so cruel to hear but who cares? No one knows after all. Everything is just in my thoughts and that is so sad — I can't even produce a sound to voice my cries out.

"Argh, my mood is already ruined and I wanna eat something cold today. Brie,"

I look at Jeannette and stare at her own eyes. I smirk.

I saw another clueless pair of eyes.

"Hey, you are idling again."

"Huh?"

My friend groaned and then pull me away. Jeannette is holding me on my wrist while heading towards the direction of the park.

"You really need to take a break, Brie." Jeanette said and walk towards a stall where it sells so many drinks and frappes. "Hello, two Milo Dinosaur please, and please do add some sinkers, ow wait, a whip cream will do."

She look and wink at me. "You need something to get you sane." Jeanette playfully whispered.

"It's one hundred and seventy pesos, Miss." The woman informed Jeanette.

The latter then grab her own clutch and gave two one hundred paper bills. "Alright, here." She then smiled and also grab the tiny paper that the woman offered for us to write our own name and order.

We waited outside the stall and find a perfect spot where we can see everyone in the park.

"You know," she opened up while smiling— eyes are busy scanning the kids playing to and fro. "When I was a kid, I am so insecure about those kids who got to spend their Sunday with their parents."

I look at her and felt bad about my friend. We only knew each other during our first year in college but I haven't know so much thing about her. We seems to share the same pains but unlike me, she knows how to speak up and tell everyone that she isn't alright. That's the thing I envy the most about her. She's too strong to show the world how her life has been giving her so many struggles. But it's not just the thing why I am feeling this way. I felt bad about myself for just hearing my own voice inside but it never did cross my mind about Jeanette's pains.

I only know her struggles when she will tell us but not the whole cries.

Am I so unfair?

She cleared her throat. "At least I still have Michael with me." She then added.

Michael is her older brother and currently working in a law firm. He was a law student and now a great public prosecutor who eventually became the voice of those incapable. I am so glad he chooses to be a person with a heart. He chose to be a human despite being raised by a cold and money possessed mankind.

"And oh by the way, speaking of Michael," she said and was about to speak again when a man's voice cut her off.

"Excuse me, Mrs. Klein and Mrs. Cua?"

Jeanette squeal. "Oh, yes, thank you."

My forehead creases. "Come again?"

The man seems confuse at me but my friend is just laughing while grabbing the drinks from the man. "Don't mind her. She got married last week and she still can't believe she is. Married jitters, perhaps?"

The man chuckle and bow a little then walk away. I push Jeanette on her shoulder after I realized things out.

"You are obsessed!" I exclaimed and grab the other cup from her. "I was like, man, what the freak are you talking about?"

"I was so slow not realizing it's their last names and you even have the guts to introduce ourselves as their wives!" I laughed.

Jeanette sips on her own chocolate drink before laughing again. "I am just too excited for next week. Finally, we'll finally have the chance to hold them! Thanks to Michael."

Ha! Perks of being a fangirl. And wait, Michael gave us the tickets?

"But you know what, if it weren't about them, I feel all be lonely and insane." She started again.

I played the tip of my straw and watch those kids running from time to time, laughing as they are chase by their own friends.

"I've been supporting them since their first year and I found hope from them. All my life, I've been asking for an attention from my parents. I was so lonely before that's why when I reach college, I tried breaking free. And I didn't regret going out from my comfort zone."

I sip another from my cup and bow a little.

I heard my friend sigh before smiling. "I've got a story to tell..."