The Last Letter

39

Chapter XXXIX

Suzanne’s POV

It was amazing.

I didn't want to let go. I didn't want to leave his warm, comforting arms. I felt like I was flying. I felt fully protected.

It’s difficult to explain the feelings in words, but I was definitely elated. I never realized someone’s hug can make you so happy.

But that really caught me off guard to be honest. When I saw August walking straight towards me and wrapped his arms around my back, I nearly felt like I was going to die of a heart attack. My heart never pounded so much like that before. I was startled but it felt so good. A feeling of longing grew rapidly inside me so I returned his hug and wrapped my arms around his back. It’s now or never, Suzanne.

We stayed like that for minutes without speaking a single word. If he let me go in his arms sooner than that, he would’ve seen how red my face was.

August was my happy crush. A happy crush for 9 months now. Is that even possible?

As much as I want to avoid this feeling of being smitten, August shows me how much of a great person he is. He takes care of me, treats me like his own sister, his family makes me feel at home, he taught me so many things and he is a good brother, friend and senior. How could I possibly not fall in love with a person like that?

“I miss you so much.” He whispered. I felt that familiar feeling of exhilaration. My heart raced with just those simple words. I felt his warm breath on my hair and I already felt like blushing at that moment.

It was the first time that I felt disappointed that I have to go to work. I want to spend more time with August, hug him, hear his beating heart, smell his clothes, feel his warmth… I just want to feel comforted inside his arms. I’m being so different for now that I felt what it feels like to be embraced by someone really special to me. Inside, I feel like I want him all for me. Is it wrong to feel that way? I do not have any experience on something like this so this feeling are all for the first time.

If I could stay a little longer, I definitely would.

After talking briefly, he kissed the top of my head and that made me smile. I find it so sweet and caring.

He walked me to the dorm and we bid goodbyes after that.

The rest of the day, I couldn’t get over that hug. Before sleeping, I replayed it in my head many times and God knows how I rolled over to my bed and giggled with the thought of it. I felt so motivated that day that I didn’t notice it was time to close the restaurant. I wore that smile that tells everyone that something good happened today.

He’s the last thing I thought of before finally going to sleep.

***

The next day, I excitedly and energetically prepared for school. I let my hair down today as opposed to me wearing my high ponytail everyday. I just feel like caring about how I look today, which is so unlike me.

By 6:50 am, I left the dorm and made my way to the university which is just across the street.

It was the last day of finishing the first stage of the proposal so I expect that today will be much busier than the usual days. It is such a shame that I couldn’t participate well in the making of the miniature model since my hands are still wounded. But regardless of that, I do my best to help and I really wish my team would get a place for the second round of the competition.

What happened back in the village last friday?

I got that question a lot since my teammates and schoolmates who witnessed the incident saw me yesterday.

To tell you the truth, it was a hard path to convict that man who abused Joseph, the kid I saved. He wasn’t Joseph’s biological father since his mom dated that man after her husband died in an accident. It was so disgusting that his mom and their neighbors knew all about it but decided to keep their mouth shut to avoid taking part into other’s family matters.

I remember breaking in tears beside Joseph that night we went back to the hospital.

He was so happy when he saw me by the door and he waited to talk to me before going to sleep. How could someone hit a nice and sweet kid like Joseph. He was just the cutest and strongest kid I ever knew, much stronger and optimistic than me when I was his age.

And I know he’ll get better if he’ll eat more because he was underweight and was tiny for his age. He hasn’t got the nutrients he needs to grow bigger. And his bruises are all black and purple, with small injuries everywhere in his tiny body so he still needs to stay here in the hospital.

My professor called my grandpa to update them in my current situation. And when it was my turn to talk to grandpa, he scolded me more than ever. It was the very first time he went all out and lectured me. I just listened and understood him because that’s how I know grandpa and my family cares so much about me.

In the end, grandpa became soft again and told me how proud he is that I stood up for an abused child. But said that I shouldn’t do that again and asked for help first before taking action since no one knows that someone could be more dangerous than we initially thought.

The next morning, it was found that the man had kilos of smuggled drugs hidden inside his home. Beside being an alcoholic and abusive man, he was also using and dealing drugs to more people outside the village. My professor said everyone was so shocked and there was so much commotion because many people were being investigated and interviewed if they know something about the drug and child abuse case.

That morning, I was also fetched in the hospital by my brother and his wife. As expected, they also scolded me for that dangerous stuff I did. But since they lived with grandpa for years now, they adapted his expressions. After scolding in front of my professor and the nurses, they then expressed how worried they were when they heard the news.

My professor said that he’ll update me and wrap things up until he is convicted for his crimes.

Parting ways with Joseph was hard. He was so happy and grateful for me, saving his life from that miserable household. I promised that I will visit him whenever I have free time and I also gave him my email address so he could send me a message if he ever wants to. In a short span of time, we became so close.

He reminds me so much of myself. For that, I hope he’ll have a better life, be it in an orphanage or in another family. I hope his mother will finally come to her senses and give up Joseph to provide him a much better life because he deserves it. If she doesn’t want to give him happiness, she’s far more evil than the man she was dating.

I spent Saturday and Sunday at my brother’s house. My injuries weren’t even that severe and my head CTS showed no result of serious injury so I don’t need to spend more time in a hospital. I was just tasked to properly clean and dress my wounds.

That Saturday night, my grandpa, my brother and his wife, and I had a serious meeting. They wanted me to resign from my job and just focus solely on my studies. They were so worried that I would come home late at night, just riding my bike and that I might stumble in cases like this or far worse. They also questioned how I will work now that I suffered injuries in my hands. I explained myself but they looked like they had made up their minds.

As much as I don’t want to quit my job, I also couldn’t go against them moreover now that they were ever so serious, my grandpa especially. I told them that I’ll think about it even though they know that I wouldn’t go against what my grandpa says.

I slept that night thinking about my work, the restaurant, my ever so loving and caring boss, my diligent and kind workmates and those work nights that I will surely miss. I might have more time in my hands now that I am about to quit my job but how will I adjust to such drastic changes in my everyday routine?

And then suddenly, I remembered August and Benjamin.

I went out of my bed and rummaged in my bag but I can’t seem to find my pager. They might be so worried now. I need to message everyone, especially August and our team leader. My pager is nowhere to be found and I don’t know Benjamin and August’s landline number so I couldn’t message any of them.

I just hope they won't worry so much.

***

I didn’t even know why I hadn't talked to August that monday. I was in guilt when I didn’t greet him properly that morning. Lunch came and we still weren't speaking a single word to each other. When he went out to get some fresh air, I took that as a chance to finally talk to him and apologize for what I did this morning.

I saw him with our team leader in the field and they seemed to get along so well with each other. I bet they were having a good conversation since they were laughing and smiling so much.

Is this that thing called jealousy?I was so disappointed and I don’t ever want to feel this way. August is just a nice and friendly guy. I couldn’t possibly be the only woman he could talk and laugh with, right?

After that, I noticed that he wasn’t in a very good mood all throughout the day. I was scared to even get close to him so the day ended without me and August, speaking to each other.

Thankfully, that next day, everything went back to normal, except that we had our little moment. A very unexpected moment that made me fall deeper into him.

To be continued…