The Wretched Redemption

Chapter 4- His Burdened Heart

I run to meet Ruby and pulled her inside the mall.

“I saw them” Ruby said as she catches her breath

“Yeah, me too” I replied as I let go of her hand.

“So? The mall is big enough for us not to meet.” I replied grinning

“yeah and if you want we can put some disguise” She replied her eyes twinkled

“Why disguise?” I ask confused.

“Well, if Eirina saw us, She might want us to hangout all together again?” She replied with annoyance with her voice.

“Yeah, I agree” I replied.

“So? Do you want a makeover?” She burst out laughing.

“What make over?” I ask

“Well we should dress like the opposite of how we usually dress, isn’t that the best disguise there is?” She replied as she looks at me up and down like studying my look.

“I have an Idea!” I pulled her to a clothing store with many girly outfits.

“Yeah, this is perfect!” She replied as we giggled and entered the store.

Gavin’s POV

I woke up to my phone’s ringtone. It’s the weekend and someone dared to disturb my sleep? I grumbled as I pick up the phone and look at the screen, Its Eirian. I click the answer button,

“Good morning!!!!” I heard her energetic voice from the other line.

“What do you wan’t?” I ask with my hoarse voice

“Oh? Did you just woke up? Your voice is kinda hoarse but still handsome” She replied I heard her giggling at the other line

“Just spill it” I replied while yawning. She never failed to be annoying, every time.

“Won’t you accompany me to the mall today? I helped you yesterday?” She replied without breathing

“Hey! You call that help? It made me look weirder yesterday” I replied annoyed I remember how shock Isla was yesterday when I gave her the can of coffee. I want to see her again.

My thought got interrupted by a honking car, in my ear and in front of my house.

“But I came to get you, I’m outside”

“What!? You really argh! Give me 20 minutes!” I stand up and slammed my phone down. I look out my window and Eirian saw me and she waved and mouthed “make it fast or I will honk louder”.

‘Try it’ I mouthed back, She smiled and I quickly got ready.

As I walk out the door I saw Eirian, at the back of the car and her driver opened the door for me.

“I didn’t expect you had a driver” I said to Her as I sat down.

“Well, I don’t like it too but you know my Dad is strict” She replied without looking up.

“Why are you busy with your phone?” I ask as she looked up and smiled mischievously

“Well, I asked Theo where Isla might be today and he replied that she might be in the mall” My eyes thumped as I heard her name, and I might see her today my lips quivered as I tried to stop my lips to let out a smile.

“You! Pfffffft!! What the heck Gav?” She looks at me as she burst out laughing. “You look like you want to poop!” She teasing me,

I turned away as I look out the window to avoid her gaze. While she is still dying laughing, She didn’t stop laughing and smacking me until we reached the mall.

We reached the mall after 30 minutes, As I was about to open the door I saw someone's familiar silhouette.

*Badump* *Badump* *Badump*

Before my eyes even could recognize her, my heart already knew who it is. Her long brown hair is wrapped into a ponytail, she's wearing a top that flaunts her tiny waist, and her oversized joggers made her waist smaller. I couldn't take my eyes off of her. 'Wow' my thoughts are drowning me, the thought pf her.

"Gav.....Gav..?.GAVIN!" I was so lost with my own thoughts that I couldn't even hear Reinia who's been calling my name.

"Gavin" She called me again with a smack on my shoulder.

"Sorry, I think I saw her" I looked away because I know my face is already burning up.

"oh? Then lets go, we might lose her" She replied as she pushed me to open the door.

"Madam let me" Her driver interups us

"No its fine, you will just create unnecessary attention, Thank you tho Sir. Don't tell Dad!!!" She shouted as she closed the door.

But as I look around again, She's gone. My heart felt empty.

"Where is she?" Reinaia ask as she looks around.

"We lost her" she look at me like she's studying my face

"Atleast we know she's here? right? haha the almighty Gavin! You're like a complete different person. " She replied and her face got dim for a second and she smiled again like it was nothing.

"Lets go?" I ignore it and she link her arm to mine. I look at her and shook my head.

"What?" she look at me confuse,

"I don't want people to misunderstand anymore, I like Isla and if she sees us like this, she might misunderstand." I replied as I shook her arm off of mine.

"oh! S-sorry it was a habit" She replied her face got red, I embarass her.

"Sorry, did I offended you?" I look at her and I pat her head

"No, I-i understand" She stuttered and look up with a big smile.

"Lets do this!" She has her both hands above her head as she cheers

"Yeah, Thanks a lot" I chuckled. As we entered the mall.

Isla's POV

Ruby and I are browsing for change of clothes. I look out the window of the store, I saw them walking looking around.

"Did they saw us?" Ruby lift her face up, and followed my gaze.

"Sh*t!" She cursed and as she pulled me to dock down out of view.

"The heck? They are looking around. Lets look for clothes fast!" She wisphers as she drag me up and move at the clothes rack out of view of the window, She took a peek and looks at me,

"They're gone" With a sigh of relief

"What the hell do they want from us?" I ask

"duhh, YOU?" She rolls her eyes and let out a smile.

"NO, they are on a date, maybe?” I hesitated as I spoke

“You hesitated for minute there, I know you felt it too. When He gave you that coffee” She stared at me with all seriousness

“I know, and I don’t know how to feel about it.” I replied as I avoid her eyes.

“Do you like him?” She replied as she shoves a yellow wrapped dress to my face.

“I mean, not that I don’t like him or like him? There’s just something that ticks my curiosity” I replied as I take the dress and she followed me.

“But it all starts with curiosity, right?” She replied at the other side of the door.

“For now, let’s not make our date about him.” I replied

“Yeah, but whatever you do, I will always support you” She let out a sigh. I smiled, the more I spend time with her the more I got to know her and she’s nice. I put on the dress and it’s a casual dress that cinches to my waist it’s almost a body con dress.

“And I will always choose you” I teased her as I opened the door

“Oh please, WOAH!” Her eyes are twinkling.

“What?” I replied

“Damn girl! I choose you! HAHA you look so gorgeous! Where you hiding this all this time? My God your waist and hips. Damn, damn. I think I just fell in love” She replied with so much excitement as she twirled be around.

“You’re just hyping me” I chuckled as I look in the mirror. I smiled. It’s nice to dress up sometimes.

“Nope Queen, you are gorg.” She replied as she closed the door. I opened my Metgram to check if Reinia updated her social. I saw her picture with Gavin in front of Surebucks coffee shop.

“I spied on Reinaia’s social, They’re at Surebucks.”

“oh? Then let’s go the other way then” she replied as she opens the door. I was stunned. She’s wearing an a line skirt and a cropped top.

“oh my, Goddess who?” I mumbled as I look at her up and down.

“Stop haha” as she posed in frot of me like a model

“Oh God” I replied I put my hands to my eyes acting like I’m blinded.

“Geez, stop! Hahaha” She replied as she burst out laughing.

“You blinded me girl” I jokingly smacked her shoulder

“Let’s take a pic” She replied as she took her phone out. We then took selfies and went to paid our clothes the lady in the cashier looked at us like she had seen a celebrity specially at Ruby. So we end up buying sunglasses too and caps.

“We look like we need some masks hahaha”

“Yep, your beauty is too much. I brought some” I replied as I took it out as soon as we put it. I saw Gavin and Reinaia walking our way.

“They’re here” I grabbed Ruby’s hand and we walk past them.

“I think Gavin noticed. He looked back but he hesitated.”

“Then that’s good for us!” I squealed

“Let’s go to the movies!” She squeled back and we walked and bought tickets, we chose a horror film.

As soon as the movie ended. I look at Ruby who look lost. I held my laughter as I look her pale face.

“Are you okay?” I ask, she turned her head, her eyes are teary. She looks like a rabbit who saw a tiger.

“oh no” I patted her back and she sniffed.

“You betrayed me” She talked between sniffs, it was Annabelly the Cursed Doll. I almost let out a laugh but I held it in my shoulders are now trembling. She looks up and saw my face.

“pffft! Just laugh, you look like a tomato that is about to burst.” She then burst out laughing and we end up laughing as we exited the movie theatre.

We went to get lunch to KCF. And

after lunch we went to the arcade to play some games. I end up winning 5 dolls out of the machine crate. I gave her all of it, she looked at me with her beady eyes.

“Thanks Babe” She smiled as she continuously patted her dolls

Then we went to a make-up store and bought some facemasks. The time passes by so fast it was already 5 pm. The winter is approaching so it was dark around that time. We decided to separate ways and I took the bus to go home.

As I walked down the alley to my house I decided to go and stopped by a convenience store. To buy some things. When I opened the door of the shop another hand opened it for me. I look up and saw Gavin looking straight ahead.

Gavin’s POV

Reinaia and I end up looking for her the whole but to no avail. So we I end up accompanying her to shops and we end up drinking some coffee to Surebucks and lunch to her favorite pasta place. But my mind kept repeating with a moment I thought I saw her past by me. My heart reacted first. The two girls who passed us by was wearing a different clothing. And their faces are covered with sunglasses, facemask and a cap. The girl who I thought Isla was wearing a dress that fitted to her body. She looks so girly that I hesitated to approached them.

“We were unlucky this time” Reinaia cut off my thoughts

“Thanks anyway” I replied as I pat her head

“Better luck next time then?” She smiled as a car stops in front of us and it was her driver this morning.

“Miss, the cha-, your dad has been looking for you” his drive spoke and opened the door for her

“Hop on Gav” Reinaia look at me as she waited for me to get in but this time I will refuse her driver has been eyeing me.

“You go first, I still have to go somewhere, see you at school on Monday” I replied and smiled

“ok, then I’ll be going first!” She smiled and her driver closed the door. He glared at me before getting inside his car.

I ride a bus to go home and as soon as I got off I saw Isla in front of the convenience store in the corner near my house.

I look closely and she was wearing the yellow dress! She was that girl, my heart thump as I approach her. The moment when she is about to pull the door I grab it first and opened it for her. She looks up, and the first thing I notice was her eyes they are lighter brown than when she’s wearing her glasses. Her face had a little make up on and her dress wrapped her body flaunting her shape. My heart almost stops when I realize she look so pretty today.

“Gavin?” I look at her and smiled. She looks at me confuse.

“Isla it is you” I replied as I gestured for her to get in the store.

“Yeah” She replied blankly as she browses inside I followed her.

“So, why are you following me Gavin?” She asks as she halted her steps

“I was wondering do you live around here?” I brushed my hair as I avoid her gaze. Her are too much for me, they’re too beautiful.

“Yeah at the other end of the street” She replied as she continued to browse

“I live near here too.” I replied as I took her basket from her hand. She held it and refused to let go.

“Let me help you” I smiled as she sighed and let it go. I smiled and I continued to ask questions

“So if you live near here why didn’t I saw you? her eyes twitch, she’s getting annoyed I can feel it.

“Why are you suddenly acting friendly? You were a jerk to me remember?” She hissed as I chuckled.

“Really me? You half-heartedly said sorry” I retorted and she look back at me with her piercing eyes

“Me? You were the one who acted rude, who pulls other peoples bag like it’s a dog’s collar? And secondly, why did you give me coffee? You already have a girlfriend and the whole university knows! What if they create a rumor that I snatch you away from her huh!?” she replied as she pulled the basket out of my hand.

“First, you were rude to me first, second I gave you the coffee because I just wanted too and third Reinaia is not my girlfriend.” I replied as I grab the basket back

“What!? Fine I was rude but I said sorry. I was pissed because you suddenly pulled my bag. And you and Reinaia isn’t a couple? That’s why!? I mean! You two are perfect. Just saying.” She replied as she put her groceries to pay.

“Perfect? To me Reinaia is like a little sister. She’s the first person who approached me and never got bothered with my jerky attitude. I don’t see her as a woman tho she’s like a little kid, I never had a person that I felt protecting until she came, She gave my boring and repeated routine a little fun to it. She’s special that’s for sure.” I replied as soon as the cashier checked out her items I grabbed her stuff and hold it as we exited the store

“So? Why don’t you date her? That way you can protect her solely. You know guys are oogling around her. She’s too precious to be given to those half assed guys.” She replied, she didn’t notice she’s been walking without asking I fallowed her.

“What can I say? I don’t feel that way tho, because almost all the people I cared and loved dearly left me. That’s why I don’t create unnecessary bonds with other people. The feeling of abandonment is too much for me. My grandparents and my Mom died before I could even learn to show my love to them. I lived my life like it’s just another day to survive this people call life, and adding those unnecessary emotions would make my survival harder. Don’t you think so? My father since my mother died, He has been drowning himself to work for me and my brother and when he graduated, he decided to go abroad and explore the world with his travel blogs. He didn’t let his life be tied down with our family’s misery. But I’m different to him. He had the chance to love them and I didn’t. I’ve been living alone since I started High school. I took care of myself alone in that big of a house that I can barely call hom…e” I stuttered with the word home. These feelings that I’ve been keeping for the longest time has suddenly escaped from my mouth. My heartache as I was reminded with the feelings that have been torturing me and is suddenly heard by someone whose making my heart heal from this pain.

The night got dark and moon is as bright it could be. The wind blew softly but coldly as the winter is approaching. The road is lit up bright by the street lights and the trees swayed as if calming my heart. As I look down at Isla who suddenly halted her steps. She looked up and met my eyes, her brown eyes are full of tears brimming down to her flushed cheeks.

“Why would you feel that way? How could a person have the will to live because he only wants to survive? Whyyyy!?” She's bawling her eyes out, I was taken aback by her reaction. The sight of her crying her heart out because of me made my heart break even more. Something was tugged in my heart and my eyes got blurry and my tears started to flow. As I cried she grabbed my arm and sat me down on a bench. She wrapped me into a hug as she patted my back. When I calmed down I looked up and saw her eyes still flowing with tears. My heart ache, all I was to see those eyes smile and not to cry.

“Pleaseee Isla don’t cry” I wiped her tears with my sleeves

“I..i..i’m sorry I didn’t know how much pain your heart might have been” She replied as she hiccups

“I-I, thank you” I replied, my once heavy heart melted a little

We sat there for a little while silently as we look at the starry night sky. I took a glance at her and she looked at me and spoke,

“You held it in well all this time, you survived. You are a good son, I know your mom and grandparents are proud, you might think that they didn't felt your love when they were alive but I know, even the smallest thing you did they felt loved.”Her words are the the words I longed to hear, those words made my heart completely melted. I look at her, her eyes still wet from her tears. I did survive. I smiled and patted her head.

“I did survive” I replied and finally her eyes smiled back at me. At that moment I knew I completely fallen in love with her.