Depicted Soul With Blood

Chapter 9

KYLE JIMENEZ'S POV

"Hey, dude, Miss Sheena literally went all over the building to find you. She also asked everyone where you went and was even willing to pay if I told her the location."

"Did you even tell her anything, Kenneth?" I sighed and tried playing the ball pen in my hands more slowly, avoiding it to break.

"Of course not, dude, she is really into you. She was even willing to give me cash if, you know if I told her where you are." He chuckled.

"Yeah, if ever you bargain her with cash, you'll end up dead anyway. I also told her a million times that I am already taken." 

Kenneth stopped for a second and I heard a fuzzy noise. "Dude, she just walked in. I should hang up and get back to work, I'll explain everything later."

He immediately hang up and I stood up. I shook my head for a little and felt the exhaustion thinking Sheena was still looking for him. She was acting so obsessed with him, checking on him every single day although she already knew he is in a relationship with someone else.

I went to my closet and grabbed my set of clothes and went into my bathroom to shower. 

I think I spent just 10 minutes and stared at the walls for 5 minutes.

Ting!

My phone just received a message so I check it out.

From: Sheena

Don't even think about ignoring me or neglecting my calls and texts. Let's talk about it personally, are you available today? 

She just can't just forget about me huh? I can't even look at her and I don't talk to her that much except if it's work, but she just keeps bothering me.

To: Sheena

Hey, sorry, I have plans today with my girlfriend. I will be back for 2 months, so I think it is better to talk about it after my vacation. 

I remembered how much time I spent in the shower, not less than 5 minutes just to finish my reports early. What kind of sorcery is in her that made her in love with me? Like, I think it was not love at all, it was an obsession with someone who was already owned.

I can't even watch television shows for hours or talk to myself alone.

We were always busy, she even forgets our anniversaries and even my birthday too.

I guess we should spend a lot of time on the beach, I can even remember how much I loved watching the waves.

When I was about to knock on her door, I suddenly remembered she is currently busy right now. She doesn't want to be disturbed when she is working, so I have to message her privately and wait for her reply.

To: Baby

Do you want to hang out? I think it's best to watch the waves today if it's okay for you? Just reply if you agree and I'll take care of everything, okay?

I sent the text and just stood like an i***t, waiting for the notification to pop up out of the screen. I know I can just go to her room and just talk to her personally, but she is not a fan of disturbance and nuisance. I love to hear her voice, but I might cause any trouble to her while working.

Minutes have passed and I think I should check my emails once again, I might miss some messages.

I turned on my laptop and saw once again my screen, the picture of Coleen. She is beautiful with or without makeup, inside or outside. Her smile still makes my day in just a glance of it, it was enough for me to see. She is gorgeous and I know, I won't be forgetting her astonishing smile even I grew old. Never.

Typing my password when I heard a notification on my phone, so I checked if it was Coleen.

From: Baby

Yeah, but I have to finish this first. It will take 2 hours so you should pack lunch and some snacks. Just don't knock on my door. Okay, baby?

I smiled as I read her message, quickly packed my things and for our picnic. I went uninterrupted to the kitchen and didn't even notice Mommy, maybe she is outside or inside her room, I guess?

Preparing food and different snacks for our wonderful small event, I even baked cupcakes and her favorite viand, pork steak with mashed potatoes. She loves 

I mean, she is kind of having weird cravings, she just like potatoes smashed than sliced.

The food smelled great and full of flavor, geez, I just hope she really likes every single of this.

But, there was something I remembered. For some time, I didn't feel any hallucinations or scary things happening to me right now.

Maybe it was that I only felt tired and anxious during the trip and going back to where I lived before.

Rest is just what I really needed, rest and peace.

I put everything in their clean containers and washed the dishes and the things I used for cooking and baking.

I really felt happy cooking and baking especially for Coleen, but the dishes I used for making just made me more stressed. Just looking at it was making me sluggish, maybe arranging it will modify my mind.

After washing all the dishes, I arranged everything in the car and waited for Coleen. Every bag was organized inside just like what I have imagined before putting it inside my white car.

It has been 2 hours and a half but she didn't come out of her space or message me. Still busy making her report I suppose?

To: Baby

Hey, I packed everything and all of it is inside the car, are you going down or do you need some help?

For 10 minutes I lingered, she did not respond or anything, so I ambled up the stairs.

I have second thoughts of knocking on her door, but the room was quiet, and can't even hear her voice, so I did.

Knocking 3 times I didn't hear the door being unlocked, she hates knocks I know but she opens it before the 3rd time. She hates someone knocking so much yet she was not opening the door.

I tried calling her name and opening the door, but to no avail, I can not open it by myself because it was locked inside.

I knocked several times and cold sweat is around my face, is she alright? My imagination was playing inside my head that might happen to her.

But, the door opened and she showed herself like she was overstressed and her eyes opened wide like she saw something uncommon.

"You okay? Are you done? I'll help you out if need?" I offered but she refused.

"No, I'll just take my bag and wait for me in the car. Don't require any help." Coleen said, closing the door.

Oh, I almost forgot, I have to tell Mommy that we are going out. I went to her room, knocked, and even opened the door, but no one was there.

The last place I saw her was in the garden, maybe she is outside.

I went to the garden and saw her sitting on the bench while looking at the tree, the old tree. 

"Uhm, Mommy, if you don't mind, me and Coleen will spend some moment at the beach. I also cooked lunch for you so don't worry." 

She looked at me weirdly but then she smiled. "Spending your time with her at the beach? Sure, don't worry about me, I'll be fine here."

Mommy closed her eyes as the cold breeze of air touched her skin, like embracing it. Her grayed hair was flying as the wind caressed her.

"Be careful on everything you interact with, Kyle. Be careful." She said and looked at me seriously.

I nodded as a response and walked out of the garden but as I stepped out of the door, I remembered I must tell her to lock the gate but when I turned around, she wasn't at the bench anymore. She was quite quick to disappear.

I looked around but she just vanished out of the blue. I think she just went to the warehouse room, I guess.

So, I decided to go in the car and check on Coleen. 

She was sitting beside the driver's seat and busy on her phone again. When I opened the door of the car she suddenly looked pale and turned off her phone.

"Something wrong?" I asked.

"Nah, just some stupid texts from my boss. He really wants me to finish all of the reports so I think we should be spending time at the beach for an hour."

"But isn't too early? I mean we didn't hang out for a very long time, I think this is the best time to chill. Leave all your reports, I'll do it instead, okay?" I offered and looked at her.

Coleen closed her eyes for a second and nodded, meaning she agreed.

"Wait, you mean you will do all of my reports, for me? You'll be exhausted you know."

"Yeah, I really need you right now, Coleen. I don't care if I'll be tired or anything," I held her soft hands and smiled. "I want your time for me, even for only today."

"Okay, just do it properly."

I started the car and drove off the house. I opened the windows so natural air will enter the car and let us breathe easily.

I missed this kind of air in my lungs and Coleen will miss this time because it is her first time traveling somewhere no tall buildings and traffic, just trees and nature. She has never gone to any place away from the city, she grew up in the city and never planned to go on a vacation in places like this.

Looking at Coleen enjoying the ride, her eyes closed and her big smile really made me happier, this is the place she needed.

A place where no stress or anything that bothers her surroundings, a place quiet enough for her to realize the importance of life. 

She has depression that kept her away from everything, she even tried killing herself in different ways, like jumping out of a building or planning to stab herself. Coleen never stopped doing and searching for ways on how to die by herself. But, in every attempt, I was there to save her. Countless times she did it, but none of it succeeded.

Her dad was worried and so am I, it started when we both graduated. The doctor said that she must take pills or medication to keep her thinking away from killing herself, calming her depression. It was the only way since she was unable to tell us her true feelings.

She even wanted to break up with me a million times before but I refused because she needed me. She needed me the most when she experiences downfalls, so why would I leave her alone?

Coleen was there when I was in my sadness so in return, I must be there too at all times.

"Did you take your pills as your doctor said? You shouldn't miss a single day without it."

"Ah, yeah, I just took one after eating breakfast. It lessens my stress at work."

"But, I think your doctor's opinion that leaving on your job is the best way. It just stresses you out more and your depression—"

"I can handle everything, Kyle. I am not a kid anymore, I can handle things as an adult."

"I am just worried about your health, after all, you can stay at your house all day and I'll work for you instead. I don't want to see you suffer, Coleen. I rather die than see that."

She took a glance from me. "I love my work, Kyle. Even if it kills me. So, let me be, okay? I'll be fine on my own."

I zipped my mouth and focused my eyes on the road and parked the car properly.

Both of us got out of the car and we bought our bags and I guided her to the tree where I stayed and watched the waves.

That spot was the best spot of all, as you can sit and make tents freely.

I put everything in place, our food in the middle and our backpacks on the left.

"So, what should we do? It's my first time having a picnic. Should we just eat and have some small talk?" She asked.

I sighed for a bit and stretched my arms, for the whole time I was hiding something about what happened to my mother. The pain was still here inside my fragile heart, but trust was part of our journey, so I think this is the right time to share mine.

"When I was young, this was the same spot where my parents and I spent our time here eating and talking," I said. "Every time we go here, they would cook and bake lots of food, saying that we should treasure everything every second we live."

"I thought it will last, but the last bonding I got with my mom was here. The day before she went somewhere and announced dead, this was the last place we went. I never believed that nothing will last before, but after what happened to her, I changed my perspective."

Coleen looked at me sadly and hugged me. Memories of the past started to play in my mind once again with my mom when I was young. The past won't stop playing in my mind, everything was like it just happened yesterday.

"Well, you know what happened to my mom and dad. My mom left us saying that she doesn't want me and my dad almost gave me away. But instead, my dad opened his arms for me widely and took mom's place for me. He was a mother and father to me. Sadly, he was busy at work." She elaborated and started to have tears rolling in her cheeks.

"You said your mom died? She left you?" She nodded. Coleen has been lying to me that her mother died but in fact, she just left her.

"For years, I h-have been hated by my mother, my dad working hours and hours just for me to live well and experience the life I wanted. I can buy anything but without mom, I just can't be happy." 

"That's why you never told me what day she died, you can't even tell me her death anniversary. I am sorry, Coleen."

"Your pain is more than I have, you lost your mom forever but mine is well and alive. I should be the one saying sorry to you, for all the lies I've been keeping."

We hugged for a very long time and cried. This is the moment I have been waiting for, her warm hugs, and our admission.

I love you, Coleen. I won't ever let you go.