The Morrow's Yesterday

Chapter 3: Time Capsule

Chrysan’s POV

I was galloping like a kid when someone spoke from behind. I stopped what I’m doing and my eyes widened when I looked at my back, there I saw the raising eyebrows of one of my beloved friends― Daphne Hollows.

“That’s very unusual for you,” she commented and planted a kiss on my cheek. I gave her a small smile and slowly caressed the cheek that she kissed.

Her lips are soft.

“No, it’s nothing. I just feel…” I didn’t finish what I was saying while searching the words that could fit in my sentence.

“You feel what?” Daphne asked, followed by a soft chuckle. She put her arms over my shoulders and pulled me closer to her when I almost stamp a puddle of water.

“I feel loved,” I unconsciously said.

I was taken aback when Daphne removed her hands from my shoulders and faced me while raising her brows. She put her arms on her waist and looked at me as if I made a crime. I raised my two hands and let out an affiliative smile, to ensure her that I’m not hiding anything. Knowing her, based on her actions, I doubt that she’s not doubting.

“You feel loved by whom?” she asked, dubiety in her voice.

“By you guys,” I confidently said, holding my head up high.

She put her hands down and looked at me lifelessly. My eyes widened when she suddenly ran towards the area where my friends and I were supposed to meet.

“Uh-oh,” I gasped when I processed what was going to happen any minute from now.

“Guys!” Daphne yelled loudly while running, people’s eyes here in the nature park where we’re at are on Daphne who’s running rapidly.

I didn’t waste any second and followed Daphne immediately to stop her plans as soon as possible. From here, I can see my friends laying the red picnic cloth with white checkered on the green grass. Our spot is near an acacia tree, it giving us shade while we’re busy talking about our lives.

“What’s the matter, Mommy Daph?” Vane teased Daphne as soon as he saw her. Daphne hates to call her ‘Mom’ even though she’s acting being one. She’s the mother of the group after all.

Daphne just ignored what Vane said and intentionally hitting him hard on the back. When I reached our spot, Vane looked at me as if he was begging for some help, but like what Daphne did, I ignored him. From the corner of my right eye, I saw how he dramatically held his chest while motioning his hand to reach me.

I just shook my head when I saw Jairo approached Vane, worriedness in his eyes. There they are again.

“Sythel, girl! You won’t believe what I’m about to say!” Daphne exclaimed making my eyes widened. No, not to Sythel.

A girl with blonde wavy hair looked in Daphne’s direction while holding her favorite matte lipstick. Only half of her pouty lips had been covered by her lipstick, while the other one remained pale. Even Keith, the bad boy type, looked at us, curiosity in his eyes. He was facing Sythel as if they're doing some kind of stuff.

“Spill the tea, sis,” Sythel motioned her hand that holds the lipstick and faced Keith who’s still looking at us.

“Look at here!” Sythel irritatedly said, making us flinch.

Keith raised his upper lip and faced Sythel again, annoyingly. I tip-toed to see what they’re doing. It turns out that Sythel was looking at Keith’s steel necklace with a rectangle bar, reflecting our gorgeous friend. I see, she’s making it as her mirror.

“I’m the one who told Sy about that trick.” I almost jumped when someone spoke beside me. My lips immediately formed a smile when I saw who she is.

“Yeah, yeah. And thanks to you, I’m stuck with this Chihuahua,” Keith sarcastically spoke while glaring at Sy who’s busy putting mascara on her eyelashes. She unconsciously stopped what she’s doing and responded to Keith’s sharp gaze.

“Hey! I’m not a Chihuahua! I’m a drop-dead gorgeous human being,” she said with full of confidence while flipping her long and wavy blonde hair to the left and right.

Keith put his hand around his neck and acted like he was going to puke because of what our dear Sythel said. We took a step back without thinking when Jairo rushed in front of us while holding a paper bag and he didn’t hesitate to place it directly on Keith’s mouth, making us restraining our laughter. His face was painted with worriedness.

“Keith Seinberg! Are you okay? Do we need to call an ambulance?” he asked concernedly but Keith just flicked Jairo’s forehead making him drop the paper bag he’s been holding.

“You really don’t get sarcasm, do you?” Keith spoke in a monotone voice. We followed him with a look when he got up from sitting on the green grass. He looked at us one by one and raised his right hand.

“I’m out of here,” he emotionlessly said and turned his back around us and started walking away.

“Hey, wait!” Sythel yelled at Keith but he just pretended to be deaf that he didn’t hear what Sy said.

When I feel that everything’s okay now, I didn’t waste a second and jumped a hug towards Rei. I felt her eyes widened because of my unusual actions.

“Reikkie! You’re back,” I exclaimed her name like a kid making her roll her eyes and f*rced to hug me back.

“I missed you!” I exclaimed once again and hugged her even tighter. Among my friends here, she’s my closest. After she said goodbye to us a few months ago because of her trip to Australia, I can’t help but feel blue. But now, she’s back!

“Whoa, whoa! Hang in there, young lady. Why are you so hyper?” Reikkie asked while raising her hands in the air after she loosen up from our hug.

“Because she’s in love!” My eyes widened when Daphne spoke between my conversation with Reikkie. I was taken aback because of what she said.

The environment literally went silent and the only things we can hear are just the birds singing and the whispers of the wind. They all looked at me, being surprised by their looks as if I made another achievement in my life. I raised my both hands and shook them while looking at them one by one.

“No, that’s n-not what you think,” I mouthed while biting my lower lip and inhaled deeply, and looked at them once again.

Keith stopped from walking as if Daphne’s words caught his attention. So as Sythel, her mouth was agape, and being surprised was really in her eyes. Jairo was blinking faster than his normal one― he can’t digest what Daphne said. I looked at Reikkie, she’s just raising both of her brows while her hand was under her chin. I looked at Daphne, begging for her help, but she just stuck her tongue out and mouthed the word ‘sorry’, without making any sound.

I let out a sigh and I was about to speak when a familiar voice preceded me. I turned my back and there I saw Xyxo, carrying a picnic basket. He waved his hand up high and let out a wide grin.

“Wassup, fellas?” he greeted but no one responded making him raise both if his brows.

“Wassup, Xyxo,” he replied to himself unenthusiastically followed by an awkward laugh, and carefully put the basket on the picnic cloth and joined us in our awkward conversation.

“Yow, guys! There’s no cola available― whoa!” Vane blurted out when he noticed the serious atmosphere enveloping us.

I gulped many many times, praying that I wish I could return home. Daphne’s just letting out a hypothesis without enough research or evidence. The worst part is, my chums bought it. Fudge!

Xyxo, Vane, help me, please!

“Speak, Chrysanthemum,” Reikkie said in a serious tone, making me gulp for the nth time.

“Who’s that lucky guy? Omg!” Sythel exclaimed while linking her hands on Keith’s arm.

“Are you okay, Chrys? Do I need to call an ambulance?” Jairo concernedly asked. I just let out a small smile and shook my head a little, making him sigh in relief.

“Tell me the exact name, address, his parent’s name, school, age, and his net worth. Xyxo, take notes of every word she says. Vane, you conduct the research. And I’ll be the one who’ll visit that man,” Keith instructed the newly arrived boys while rolling up the sleeves of his sage green polo as if he’s preparing for something.

“Wait, what’s happening?” Xyxo confusedly asked while looking at us one by one.

No one paid attention to him. Daphne walked beside me and put her hand and over my shoulders and pinched my cheeks, making me flinch.

“Our baby is already a lady. She’s in love!” Daphne happily announced. I furrowed because of what she said. I took her hand off my cheek and cleared my throat. I need to end this.

“I just want to clarify things. First, I’m not in love. Second, I don’t see any valid reason to be in love. Third, my dad will kill me if I’m in love,” I casually said and let out a dry smile.

They all sighed. They didn’t sigh because they were disappointed with the thought that I’m not in love. They sighed in relief because I’m not. They didn’t want me to feel that butterflies in the stomach thingy, because they didn’t want me to feel the ice picks in your heart too. I know, they’re just protecting me. Like how my father protects me.

“That’s good, Chrysy,” Daphne said in a gentle voice. She caressed my back and smiled at me.

“Do you remember what we taught you? The 7B's?” Reikkie asked while raising both of her brows and her arms on her waist as she fixes her glasses.

“Books before boys because boys bring bullshits!” me and Daphne exclaimed.

Reikkie proudly nodded and pat the top of our heads. We need to bow a little because she’s not that blessed when it comes to height.

“Ouch!” Xyxo and Vane both held their chest dramatically as if our words are like daggers to them.

“Do I need to call an ambulance?!” Jairo hysterically asked while holding his phone, acting like he’s going to contact the ambulance now.

“Yes, please. My heart’s going to burst!” Vane continued their drama. I just shook my head because of their craziness.

“And why are you manipulating my Baby Bubu Chrysan here?” Sythel spoke to me like a baby. I just blinked a few times because of the awkwardness.

My eyes widened when she squeezed my cheeks using her hand. My eyes widened more when I saw how sharp her nails are.

“Sythel the Chihuahua, Chrys’ being hurt,” Keith told Sy. I saw how her face softened and released my cheeks. I opened and closed my mouth to exercise it. I hope I don’t get my jaw locked.

“One scratch on Chrysan, friendship over, Sy,” Xyxo smirked while eating a burrito.

“Did you guys dig already?” Daphne asked when she saw the shovel leaning on the trunk of the acacia tree.

“Huh? Dug? Are you going to bury someone?!” Jairo overreacted while his eyes are as wide as an owl’s.

“Oh, shut up. Jairy,” Sythel boringly said and gave him her purse. He received it as if he was her personal assistant or something.

“Don’t tell me you forgot to bring your letter and one of your valuable things?” Reikkie asked while moving her eyebrows up and down.

“Of course not!” Jairo defensively answered, making us chuckle.

Keith and Xyxo carefully took the picnic blanket on the ground, revealing a medium-sized hole with a steel box in it. It’s just exact for our belongings and some letters. I took the letter in my pocket behind my pants and one of the most valuable things for me.

“Who’s going to drop his things first?” Xyxo asked while grinning.

After that, he burped loudly. We turned our gazes away from him while fanning the air using our hands. He’s disgusting.

“Me! Me!” Vane actively volunteered while raising his hand that’s holding a paper bag.

“What’s inside of it?” I curiously asked. He just winked at me and didn’t even bother to answer.

Wow, nice response.

Vane kissed the paper bag before he dropped it in the steel box on the ground that Keith made a few days ago, to ensure the belongings that we can take in the near future.

“Who’s next?” Xyxo asked again.

“It’s your mommy’s time to shine, kiddos!” Daphne exclaimed and walked like a Victoria's Secret model while holding a pink Louis Vuitton handbag.

“Rich kid,” Reikkie commented while shaking her head.

“Next!”

“In another life, baby,” Sythel let out a tear as she dropped her favorite lipstick, together with a red envelope in the box.

“Jairy, you’re next,” Sy said when she passed by Jairo.

Jairo exhaled as if he was defeated by a final boss. Our eyes widened when he dropped a basketball. He silently turned his back on us but he slowly turned ahead when he felt that all eyes are on him.

“You’re playing basketball?!” all of us exclaimed. Jairo shifted his gaze and held his nape while restraining his self to smile.

“Yeah, it’s been 9 years,” he mumbled making us agape our mouth because of amazement.

Who would’ve thought?!

“I hope this won’t expire,” Xyxo chuckled as he put a box of pizza in the steel box.

“I’ll be the next one then,” Reikkie said and didn’t hesitate to drop her all-time favorite book― Where all life begins.

“I’ll use this in the future,” Keith stated and put his stainless earrings in the box.

“Chrys, you’re next,” Daphne said. I just nodded and walked towards the hole―where our things were.

I sighed as I dropped a white envelope with a withered white daisy attached to it. I heard them gasp, realizing how special that daisy is.

“Omg, Chrysy! You’re making me cry,” Sy whined as she wiped the corner of her eyes using a tissue.

“That daisy…” Reikkie didn’t finish her sentence when a tear fell from her left eye. Daphne hugged her while her tears are rolling down her cheeks too.

“That’s the daisy she gave you before that happened,” Jairo mumbled as his voice squeaked, on the urge of crying.

“You kept it?” Xyxo unbelievably asked. I gave him a small smile and nodded as a response.

“Even though I know that that daisy is special, it still hurts,” Vane sobbed while pointing his heart.

“That daisy was the last thing she gave,” Keith whispered while leaning his arms on the acacia tree. Tears from his eyes didn’t escape my sight.

He’s crying. Everybody was. Except for me. I clenched my fist as I remembered how her death happened before my eyes 8 years ago.

I wish I could turn back the time.