COLD SUMMER

Cold (1) She threw a stone into the water and wondered what brought her there in the first place. Who is she running from?. No one, no one dared to make her trip this much. She pursed her lips and tried not to ponder about anything, everything. The wave had a beautiful view, she noted that. She opened her bag, brought out her drawing materials to sketch something out. Not so good, never really worked on her artistry but she never stopped making a nuisance of her pencil and drawing pad. She sketched out the sight before her and smiled. Not so perfect but nature knew that she’d drawn her own version of it. She packed up her things, stood up and gave the sky a kiss before walking away, barefooted. She never really cared much about anything or anybody’s opinion about her, she’s just the b***h. She walked past people and to her…motorcycle. What were you expecting, a car?. She’s psychotic at times. She hopped on it, placed on her helment and zoomed out. She sat on her chair and watched her latest interview. She picked up the book and looked through it. Sighing, she picked up her glass of wine and emptied the content in her mouth. Wine, wine always gives her a go. A bottle is always too small for her and that’s why she takes at least 3 in a day and she likes it blue. She took a deep sip, blocking out the human radio at her back. Men, oh men, how they make her day tiring and yet, she’s surrounded by so many of them. So many times she’s asked herself, ‘when are you getting married’ and she answered her own questions ‘my business’. “Nothing” A voice said but she didn’t turn, she hardly turns to things that doesn’t move her “Nothing Becca, why would you say you’re going on a break. Writing is who you are” “Really?, I’m a big pen and a giant book” Rebecca asked the person “I don’t know, I’m not you” Rebecca turned to look at him “Are you here to annoy me?” she gave him the look “I’m your best friend, Rebecca and what you’re doing is not making any sense” “I don’t have a best friend” she said as she stood up to refill her glass. He wasn’t surprised, she’s always been like that, pushing everyone that tries to come close, most especially men. Sometimes he wondered if she was born to have them around but not to herself. He groaned She was not going to let him off so easily, she’s going to give him a miserable day. “I know you don’t have a best friend my dear Queen but you need to start writing again.” Rebecca pursed her lips and stared at him over the rim of her wine glass. He hated it whenever she does that, it’s like she’s trying to look into his soul. Her eyes sometimes gives this witch vibe and that sends cold chills down his spine. “Kill me then” she said and finished her drink “The white crown deserves a part 2. I was told that if we could do that, we might end up with another movie deal like Blue storm” “lo” she called with her attention straight at the mini bar in her study “Becca, I’m right here and all ears” “I didn’t ask for blue storm to be acted, did I?. I haven’t even published ricochet yet” “people loved the movie, Rebecca. Ricochet can wait” She looked at him before answering “I am not interested in any movie deal and Boaz knows that. Let them rack things out themselves and they steal my work, I sue them asses. We good” “becca, try to understand…” she cuts him off “Are we good, lo?” she asked “yeah, we good” he said She picked up herself and headed to her room He looked around and only saw one of his family and that’s his step sister but she stood at a distance. He wasn’t sure why he was still standing at the site. He was alone and his step sister was already leaving the grounds. He should go to her and thank her for coming but he doesn’t have the strength to. His mind was too weak for all the pleasantries and he’s so sure that she doesn’t need it. None of them needed it, not his father, mother or step siblings. He knew that they’ve already heard about the passing of his child and none could send their condolences or try to visit him. Now, his step sister stood at a distance and couldn’t even come to him even though they were the only ones left. He threw the flower in and left, he solves his problem by eating first and right now, he’s damn hungry. “he’s too arrogant to call and apologize to father. Father’s perfect son is now living as a poor man” one of his elder brother said “I don’t really care about what Alex choose to do with his life. I still relish the memory of how father threw him out of the house and had cut him off from the Burnham’s name” “I wish I was there, Bruce. I regret it everytime. It hurts me more that he didn’t encounter a bigger shame, thanks to his mother” “you’re so right Kai. Everything about Alex’s life had always been private and quiet. Only few people knew about him.” They were quiet for a while before Bruce added “Yna isn’t taking sides. Not us, not Alex” “Yna is not our sister, she’s Alex’s sister, Bruce” Kai said as he drank his beer “Yna doesn’t talk to Alex, either” Bruce said “but she cares so much for him” “That, I know” Bruce said and they were quiet for a while “Father will pass on soon Bruce, I overheard Armando telling him that he has a year left to live and that’s is if he’s avoiding stress” “A year, just a year brother and that old man would finally leave, he’ll leave all his properties to us” Bruce said with so much happiness radiating all over him “When father is gone, I will be taking over the company as the 1st son” “Father doesn’t say much to us, Kai” Bruce said “He’s never a fan. Yna was his precious and later Alex. Yna’s not interested in the company or his money, he’s chased Alex out and had cut him off” Kai said and licked his lips “We’re all he has left” he added Alex entered his house to see his wife (Laurel) packing up her things. He had smelt it from far away but never really bugged about it until their son died and all hell broke loose “Laurel, what are you doing?, Why are you doing this?” She didn’t respond but went upstairs to bring down her 3rd box “Laurel, you can’t leave me and our daughter” “Im taking Teresa with me and I’m leaving your sorry ass. I can’t do this anymore, I’m tired of you, I’m tired of this marriage” “Laurel, you promised to be with me forever, we swore an oath” “that’s why there’s something called divorce to break it” she said and was about to pick up a box when she stopped “You know what, my father warned me not to marry you, he never agreed to this s**t. You’re good for nothing, Alex. Even your family has rejected you” “Leave my family out of our marriage. This is about us, Laurel. We are married, we solve our problems” “we couldn’t even get money to pay up our bills, no insurance. We always at a dead end and here we are Alex, Wave’s dead” “Laurel, you’re my wife, you’re supposed to support me. Help me and not leave me” “I was supporting you when I left wealthy men and my wealthy family to marry your broke self. I was helping you when I married you and had children for you but look here Alex, I am done, DONE” A man came in to help her carry her things, another, which was her brother, came in too “finally came to your senses Laurel” he said “im out of here Rico, I’m done” she went out, leaving Rico and Alex “poor you Alex, you’re all alone with so many debts on your neck” Alex didn’t respond. There hasn’t been a good relationship between him and her brothers, even though one of them is married to Yna, their presence only drives him nuts. Instead of responding, he went out, flagged down a taxi and was taken to McDonald’s. He’s hungry and troubled but it’s solving one at a time, right?. He always solves his hunger 1st. “2 hams please and Pepsi” he said to the waitress He picked up his phone and checked the time. Maybe he should lodge in an hotel for the night, spend the remaining money on him very well and then kill himself. Teresa is with her mother and her well to do family, wave is dead, he’s broke and he can’t pay all the money he owe in the next 3months. Dying is the only option for him at the moment, eat and rest in pieces, there’s no peace for a debtor. They brought his order and he smiled “please can I get two more with fries, ketchup and one extra Pepsi.” He got a weird look from her and he grinned. Sure, she can’t deny that she wasn’t staring at an handsome man. Even with the beards, there’s a beauty behind it. “coming right up” she left and he turned to his order “great heavens, I’m about to eat and die, receive your son whole heartedly. Treat me to a nice heaven meal 1st before sending me to hell for suicide. I’ll really love a tour with Micheal, he’s my role model, Amen” He picked up his ham and ate it, he moaned…heavens “this is so delicious” he took another bite and munched with relish. He should probably pick up pizza and ice cream next. Then what?...He finished the ham and she returned with his 2nd order. He gave her a tip before she left and smiled at the hams before him. “I’m gonna die happily” He picked up the fries and started eating them. She began to look through her phone gallery, going through her wedding pictures. She did and truly loved Alex but she can’t cope any longer. She began to delete all the pictures one after the other and then sighed. She knows him too well, he’s probably eating somewhere. Well, not a probability, he is eating, he always eats. She smiled for a while and it slowly wiped off, she pursed her lips instead. He solves his problems by eating 1st. Then, he sits to think of what he should do. She wondered, what he would do after eating this time. She looked at the picture of her children and smiled, one thing she’s never regretted, her children. “What’s next?” She looked at Rico “meaning” she asked, giving him one of her nasty looks “when you start living as your old self, the rich and only daughter of sir Liam Brian” “Rico, I believe that you should save your energy for your wife and kids cause I don’t need it. I just wanna think” “You coming to live with me and you don’t expect me to be concerned” “I wanted to rent an apartment with the money I saved” “And where would that be, in another slum” “I have enough money to rent a good home and feed for a month” “And…” “mum is gonna help me. She had always been helping me” “Why didn’t you reach out to her when wave fell sick” “I did but…” “she decided to obey father than help you and your miserable husband” “she secretly sent me money, Rico but…” “but, you didn’t use it for wave or to help Alex, you saved it for yourself” “Im not a bad mother or wife. I knew that Alex will find a way around it, he always does” “The super husband of my Lil sister. The man that couldn’t give her a good life” “shut up Rico, shut the f**k up” she said with finality in her tone, she was done talking. She thought of her conversation with Lo and the reminiscing wasn’t helping her sour mood. She took up her glass and poured herself another drink, this time, she filled the glass to it’s brim. Just then, her phone rang… “What did she say?” Lo smiled and looked at the other guy like he had something on his head “Are you asking me that?” The other guy pursed his lips and gave Lo a weird look “Are we more than 2 here or do you now see ghosts” “You know Rebecca, she’s stubborn” he sighed “she doesn’t want to write anymore and I don’t know why” “Why?..” Lo turned and gave him the deadliest look ever “I just said I don’t know why, poop face” “Should I visit her?” “And do what, Arman?, Spoil her mood the more and make her murder us in our sleep” “Yikes, what a woman. She’s a moving storm. She’s the one meant for the role she-hulk, she’s too tough” Arman said “and I like her just the way she is” Lo said “How come you’ve chosen to change my wine to red this evening” she said to the person on the other side - How r u doing Rebecca? - “great, you” - I saw your Interview- “Here we go again” She thought and wondered how many more will call and bash her like it’s aint her life to live. “You were saying?” - Did you zone out on me?, Was I blabbering?, Was I talking to the air?- “Probably” Rebecca thought and smiled sheepishly - Rebecca!- “what?, What is it?” - Really, Rebecca really – - “look, if it’s about me not writing again just forget it, you can’t persuade me. I need a break” Rebecca said with finality in her tone “I might drop by soon but not today, there’s too much to sort out, starting with my head” - Have mercy on her O God- “I know, I always ask for it every single day of my life, his mercy” Rebecca thought “see ya, I’ll probably come by any day you see me” - Sure, I’ll remember you said that – Rebecca smiled and ended the call. She knew she was going nowhere and yeah, she’s already said anyday. So, may God spare them till then. Alex groaned as he rested back on the chair, maybe he has over fed himself or he’s already tired of eating, he couldn’t decipher what exactly is wrong with him. At that moment, he was extremely grateful cause he had no worries except from how he was going to get to his house. He sure has money on him to spend and die, he didn’t get the chance to have a bucket list. He suddenly laughed out loud and that got him weird stares and psychotic looks, he smiled “im alright” he said to them and they minded their business “its such a good day to die” he told himself and stood up “what a good day to pass on” he repeated and left the spot. When he got out, he wondered where he should head next, he doesn’t even have a car, what a life. He flagged down a taxi and got in “where to sir?” The driver said to him and Alex just grinned “Sir, where are you heading to?, Are you drunk?” “yeah, drunk on 2 Pepsi and a handful of burgers and chips” “you alright then, probably sick in the head” “and your British accent sounds like a broken record” Alex said looking out “I should just drive you to your death” the man said “What is your name, young fellow?” “im old enough to be your father, young man” “trust me old man, you don’t want to be my father. Like you said, drive me to my death, I was going to die anyways” “I’ll just drive you to a cliff, makes things easy for you” “Thank you so much, you’re God sent” Alex said and passed out The man shaked his head and started the cab and drove away. He wondered why a fine handsome young man would want to kill himself.