Behind a facade

16.

“What the hell are you doing here, Tessa Brown?”

Josh raised his voice after releasing Tessa’s arm rough manner. His face was distorted with rage. With a confused groan, Tessa averted her eyes while rubbing her upper arm, which Josh pulled throughout the way when he was dragging her.

The entire Lakeville community was shocked by the news of the tragic car accident which lead to the death of Mr David Kent and Ryker Kent. The Kent family wasn’t the most influential in the town, but everybody knew them and respected them. They had a neutral relationship with everyone in Lakeville. People couldn’t help but talk about the Kent family tragedy, including Mrs Kent, who passed away fourteen years ago because of an illness.

Dakota Kent, as the only remaining member of the Kent family, became the centre of pitiful attention in the small town. People discussed what is going to happen to Dakota, who became an orphan at this young age.

When Tessa heard the news regarding the tragic deaths of David Kent and Ryker Kent, she couldn't absorb the shock that came with it. She felt ashamed of herself. During the entire weekend, while she was hypocritically focusing on herself, Dakota was having the worst time of her life. Then the anger came. The anger was directed towards both herself and her parents. Tessa could guess her parents were already aware of deaths in the Kent family, seeing the adult Lakeville community had known the news since Sunday morning. But her parents never bother to mention it once to her.

According to what Tessa heard from Maddison, David and Ryker Kent had met with an accident on Saturday night when they were on their way to Lakeville. The slippery highway road and the careless truck driver had taken those two wonderful souls away on that cold night.

When she was a child she met David Kent a lot of times whenever she visit Dakota and Ryker. He gave off a totally different vibe compared to Tessa's father. David Kent was a silent person and always gave his children the freedom to follow their own paths. He only guided them. Tessa could remember how she always felt a bit jealous of the Kent siblings having such an understanding and caring father.

She couldn't believe Ryker Kent is no more. He was the closest figure she felt as an older brother. Even though she kept her distance from Ryker and Dakota after she came to high school, Ryker never judged her because of that. He had his own way of seeing life and he inspired Tessa. But until the last moment, she couldn't even say a grateful word to Ryker, who occasionally gave her the best pieces of life, pieces of advice.

She was genuinely worried about Dakota, who is all alone in the world. It was hard to see Dakota breaking down. Seeing Dakota's devastating situation, Tessa wanted to hold her and console her.

After attending the simple funeral, Tessa was waiting until everyone left, hoping to share some words with Dakota. Making it hard to approach her, Josh and Emma remained with Dakota almost all the time.

“Why?” Tessa asked. “You are saying I can’t be here?”

Josh’s brows knitted. “You can… obviously. You own the world, right?”

“What are you trying to say, Josh?”

“Just get lost,” Josh threatened, directing a glance at Dakota, who is kneeling in front of her father and brother’s graves. Her shaking shoulders gave all the signs that she is still sobbing. “Don’t even think to pull a stunt on DK,”

“Josh…” Emma, who followed them, touched Josh’s arm while shaking her head. Her action made Josh somewhat calm. He nodded and looked at Tessa once again.

“I just want to share my condolences,” Tessa tried to explain.

“No, you are not,” Josh scoffed. “Listen, Tessa Brown, I am trying my best not to freak out here, considering Dakota’s state. I don’t expect much from a selfish girl like you, but at least be sympathetic in a situation like this. Please leave,”

Josh's tone annoyed Tessa. “Am I not allowed to talk to her? Why are you her bodyguard now?”

Josh gritted his teeth. He shared a glance with Emma, who is trying to hold him back. “I am her best friend. Oh.. what do you even know about friendship? You are someone who makes friends with only high-class people… you are that person who can forget someone who is always there for you,”

Josh’s sardonic words stabbed Tessa, making her speechless. She knew she can’t deny his claims. She was the one who intentionally ignore the real friendship for a fake friendship.

“Josh… that’s enough,”

“Em… please let me speak some sense to this brat here,” Josh turn his attention to Tessa after giving a quick reply to Emma. “Do you even dare to ask something like that after what you have done to her? You think we don’t know anything,”

Tessa's heart skip a beat remembering how badly she treated Dakota when they last met. She could hear her own arrogant words repeating inside her head. “You are saying… you heard…”

“You know what Tessa… DK is the one who should have thrown those words at you. You don't even deserve her lo... " Josh coughed, engulfing his words. His jaws tightened. "As always, that i***t only knows to endure everything silently… every damn time,”

“….”

Tessa widens her eyes at Josh who is fuming with anger. His words carried a message that Tessa never knew. What does he mean by that? She nervously took a step towards Josh. “If you want to say something, just say it clearly,”

Josh grumbled, trying to release Emma's grasp around his arm. “What is the freaking hell she has ever done to you? Was that your gratitude for caring for? Looking after you?”

“I don’t understand a single thing you are saying right now, Josh Rooney. Looking after me… Dakota?”

The coldness in the surrounding brought a shiver to Tessa. It was not only because of the rain. She could feel it was getting colder compared to the morning. The first snowfall of the year might arrive in Lakeville sooner than expected.

Tessa heard Josh cursing under his breath. Whatever is about to come from Josh's mouth can be worse than the coldness she felt.

“Dammit… you don’t know anything or you don’t see anything? Let me enlighten you, the queen of Lakeville High… My stupid best friend is the one who sacrificed her smooth athlete path for your well-being,”

Those outraged words were able to stop Tessa's heartbeat for a few seconds. She felt there was an unpleasant taste in her mouth. “What… what are you talking about?”

“Why don’t you think someone talented as Dakota didn’t get the Bomire scholarship last year? Because she prioritised you. She took an ungrateful person like you to the infirmary when you fainted and hit your damn head on that metal bar,” Josh took a break to catch up his breath. “She was there until the nurse mentioned you were out of risk,”

“This can’t be true,” Tessa repeated with a shaking voice.

She took a long breath remembering the incident Josh mentioned. It happened during the spring semester of freshman year. That was the time Tessa was obsessed over her body weight and shape because of the cheerleading unit. She maintained a very light diet hoping to reach past the ideal body weight. The lack of food and nutrition made her weak though she never paid much attention to it at that time.

One day, when she was practising by herself in the early morning she felt so dizzy to the point she wasn't aware of how much danger she was in. She only remembered her entire world started spinning around. When she opened her eyes next time, she was in the infirmary with a bump on her head.

Josh hissed. “That’s the truth. I was there. Mrs Brookley was there too. I have never seen that i***t shivering like that...even when she got injured many times s**t!”

Tessa gasped, listening to Josh’s words. She held the tree next to her because she felt the entire world is getting dizzy. What did she hear? If that were true.....

“I thought… Brian took me to the infirmary, isn't he?”

“What Brian?” Josh yelled. Emma and Tessa were both startled. "Are you kidding me?"

Tessa closed her eyes, leaning against the tree next to her. The entire day she was discovering what a fool she has been all this time. One by one... how many things she wasn't aware of? Is there more to these stories?

Seeing the confidence in Josh, Tessa could understand Josh wasn’t lying. It made her realize Brian might have fooled her until now. When she opened her eyes on that day, Brian was waiting next to her bed in the infirmary. His words made her believe that he was the one who was there for her from the beginning. Brian... how far he can go to achieve his goals?

“You mean it was Dakota….” Tessa muttered helplessly. Her heavy eyelids fought with her for asking for a rest.

Josh shook his head from side to side, flashing a gaze filled with disgust and disbelief. “You know how important that scholarship is to Dakota, considering her family's financial situation. God knows why she risked it for someone like you!"

"But I heard she took part in the competition?" Tessa lowered her voice, with a guilty feeling.

Josh's brows knitted at once. "She made it to the tournament when Mrs Brookley and I forced her to go. Now you see why she couldn’t perform well in that race? She was exhausted running here and there for your sake,”

"Dakota...." a tear rolled down Tessa's cheek.

Josh rolled his eyes, ignoring Tessa’s musing. Suddenly, Tessa pulled Josh’s hands with an impulse.

“What else Dakota has been hiding from me? What else? Why did she do that for me?”

“Don’t scream and freaked out the entire world,” Josh groaned, indicating where Dakota was. "Ask me what she hasn't done for you. Whenever you need help, whenever you are in trouble she helps you as much as she can. Yet that i***t never said a single word to you. DK might never forgive me for telling all these things to you. But, it is fine. I can't see that i***t suffering anymore,"

Emma gave a side hug to Josh who is trying to hide his glossy eyes.

Tessa's eyes welled up as well. Her throbbing heart starts to scream regretting the past.

"I think that's enough Josh," Emma gently suggested. "Dakota needs us right now,"

Josh nodded. He looked in the direction where Dakota was before shifting his attention to Tessa again. "I felt so sorry for DK. You know what is your problem, Tessa. You never pay attention to what you should pay attention to. DK was always in front of your eyes, yet you decided not to even keep your friendship with her,”

“I am begging you here Josh,” Tessa shuddered. “Tell me, what else I don’t know?”

"Go and ask your so-called friends. They will answer you,"

"Please, Josh..."

“Just leave here Tessa. At least leave that poor thing alone. She is having it really hard right now. That's the kindest thing you can do for her," Josh signed the exit of the graveyard.

Tessa looked at the way Josh and Emma heading towards Dakota. Josh was right. At least the biggest favour she can do for Dakota is not to interfere with her right now. After what she has done to that thoughtful person, how can she even face Dakota?

She directed another longing stare towards Dakota. In her mind, she could clear some hazy things that happened in her life during previous years. It wasn't her being lucky. It was always Dakota whom she never see in the picture. She was certain of that.

After another week, Tessa discovered things she never thought she would hear or see. The regret was the only thing she could bear in the end. Before she even got out of the shock that she received from overwhelming secrets and lies, Tessa got to know Dakota had left Lakeville with her aunt.

THE END OF THE FLASHBACK...