You May Change the Characters but The Ending Will Be the Same
951 Words
One
Friendship causes heartbreaks too.
°°°
"Wake up, son." Mom's soft voice filled my ears. I didn't move, afraid this might be some kind of dream again. "Do you still need time to sleep? Do you want me to just wake you up later?"
Mom caressed my hair like she always does whenever she comes to my room to wake me up.
"Wake up now, you punk! Your Mom and I need to prepare for tonight's dinner, too!"
Dad's voice made me get up immediately.
"You're alive!"
Dad's brows furrowed and he sat on my bed to hit me.
"Of course, we are! You want me dead already you little rascal?"
I pulled them both in a hug. Mom hugged me back but Dad being his typical self tried to get away.
"What's wrong with your son?" Dad asked Mom as if I'm not hearing him.
"I don't know either. He's being extra clingy since last night. Tell me honestly, did you do something wrong?"
I laughed at Mom's accusation.
"Can't I be sweet to my parents or you're starting to get tired of me now?" I pouted.
"Oh dear, look at our son being a baby." Mom chuckled.
"Your friends will arrive in a moment and you haven't even brushed your teeth, yet. You're really such a handful. I wonder where you got that attitude." Dad lectured, making Mom and I laugh.
"He's pertaining to himself, right?" I asked Mom.
Mom nodded in agreement. Dad caught us laughing at him and the cranky old man walked out.
Just as expected, the guys came to celebrate with us. We had fun all day and play until late at night since they decided to have a sleepover.
"Aren't you ashamed of yourselves? You come to my house like you own it." I said while we're having breakfast.
Instead of getting offended like others will, they glared at me as if I'm the bad guy here.
"You and your audacity to tell us that," Sweven said in disgust.
"Did you forget that when you decided to be friends with us, we signed up for this, too?" Gideon threw me a piece of loaf.
"You and your dirty mouth." Martell dissed.
"Shall we tell on him to Mom and Dad?" Malkiel asked them.
I look at each of them in disbelief. Did he just call my parents their "Mom and Dad"?
"Wow." I said in disbelief, "Y'all are impossible."
"Watch your mouth, One. Everything you say may be used against you." Koa said which made Theo happy.
"You're alone, One, just like your name." Theo laughed, "You must consider your next words carefully."
Theo's comment made everyone burst into laughter. I shook my head in disbelief. These people are really unbelievable.
It was Koa and Gideon who went home first. The five of us were still chilling in the family room when Theo and Sweven decided to go ahead, too, since they both have morning shifts.
"Where are the people here?" Malkiel asked when he gets back from the comfort room.
"They already left," Martell answered absentmindedly.
He's too focused on watching the movie with the big bowl of popcorn on his lap. Did I mention we just had our breakfast? The guy surely has a huge appetite.
"Shit." Malkiel cursed as he fished his phone in his pocket. "Something's wrong with Theo's car. I forgot to tell him while we're having breakfast and just remembered it when I was in the bathroom."
"What do you mean?" Martell asked.
I didn't notice him leaving his place. He's now standing beside Malkiel who's still trying to call someone.
"I used his car to buy some groceries last night, right? I heard strange ticking in the machine. I don't think it's safe to drive in that car. Damn it, his phone is off."
Martell hurriedly take his phone from the table and dialed Sweven's number.
"Where are you?" Martell's voice is dead serious anyone who hears it will have goosebumps.
"Good morning to you, too. What's up?" Sweven said in the other line. He put it on the speaker so we can all hear him.
"You're alright?" He asked while walking back and forth.
"Of course, you're talking to me. Do I sound like I'm not?"
"Where's Theo?"
"He just left. Why?"
"Damn it." he cursed again, "Malkiel said something's wrong with his car when he uses it last night. He's about to tell you this morning but wasn't able to because you left already."
My heart started beating so fast like it's doing a cartwheel in my chest.
Martell and Malkiel basically dragged me to the car to go where Theo must be.
The scene I saw in that road flashed before my eyes.
An upside-down car is in front of me. Broken parts of the car and shards of glass are everywhere. I recognize the car but I refuse to believe it.
I froze on my feet when I saw blood oozes in the driver's seat.
"Theo!"
I slowly glance and found Sweven running but before he can reach the car, an explosion sent him back.
There are ambulances at the place when we arrived. We found Sweven being treated by a paramedic. He has cuts in different parts of his body.
Martell tried to talk to him but he seems like he's in shock.
Malkiel tried to talk to one of the paramedics but they're not answering him.
My feet gave away when I saw them carrying Theo in a stretcher. The weird thing is he's covered in a white blanket.
I was able to save my parents and prevent them from dying but Theo was the one who faces death.
- Writer
