Brave Hearts: Until death do us part

Allison "Son, would you mind putting this on my neck?" My mom knocks and enters my room. I smiled at her, admiring how beautiful she looks in that black off-shoulder maxi dress. She walks towards me, smiling beautifully. "You know, my child, every time I see your face, I also see your father." she says tearfully to me. "You really look so much alike." she adds as she touches my cheek. "Mom, I'm handsomer than dad," I joked. She pinched my cheeks. "Put that necklace already," she said happily and turned her back at me. I slowly put on the necklace, which as far as I knew, was a gift from dad on their first wedding anniversary. We arrived at my dad's favorite restaurant. The security guard opened the door for us. We had a reservation, so when the waiter saw us, he escorted us to our table and took our orders. "So many memories here," mom said sadly but with a smile. My dad passed away last year due to heart failure, and now we were back at this restaurant. Mom wanted to celebrate dad's death anniversary here because she wanted to remember how they met. "It feels like just yesterday when your dad and I met here," she began the topic with a smile. "I remember I was mastaken him as my blind date." she said, laughing. I could see that mom was happy even though she lost her dad, and I'm happy too. She is brave enough to handle her sorrows, and I salute her for that. "And then your dad just entertain me like he was really my blind date. And then your Uncle Vince came, and I found out that my real blind date had already left because of waiting for hours." she said, laughing heartily. "I already know their story, but I just wanted her to tell it again if that's what makes her happy." She is happy telling me their love story when someone called me. "Mom, can I take this?" I asked her, and she just nodded. "Dude, what's up?" It was Patrick, my classmate. I'm already graduating with my Juris Doctor, and we're busy with our research paper. Four months from now, I'll be a lawyer. I wish dad were still here to see me graduate. "Dude, I need your help. Can you come to my place tonight? I'm freaking out," he said with a panicked tone. "Sure, I'll be there at 8," I told him, which made him sigh in relief. "Thanks, dude," he replied and ended the call. As I put down my phone, the food arrived right on time. My mom continued telling stories as we ate our dinner. It was already 7:28 when my mom decided to go home. I informed her that I'll be at Patrick's place tonight. She just wished me to enjoy and have a good night. It was just about a 30-minute drive from my home to Patrick's place. I parked and went to his apartment. He had just bought this apartment to show off to his parents, especially to his mom, that he is an independent guy, which he's not because his mom truly loves him and would do anything for her only son. I knocked twice and waited for him to open the door. He took so long before opening it. "Get inside faster," he said in a whispered tone. He pulled me in and then locked the door. "What's the problem?" I asked him curiously. He just went straight to the living room and drank beer from a can. I followed him and asked again, "Girl problem?" I asked with my arms crossed. As far as I remember, he was like this when he broke up with... Faye? Bea? Oh, I forgot. "Yeah, but this time, I was the one who broke up," he said proudly. I just shrugged and sat on the sofa. "So you want me to join you in your heartbreak?" I asked, laughing, as I opened a beer can. "Nope, you'll be my knight in shining armor," he replied with a grin. I raised an eyebrow and glanced at him when his doorbell kept ringing repeatedly. He jumped and hugged me. "Dude, she's here," he said fearfully, pushing me to open his door. He followed behind, hiding behind me. When we got closer, I heard voices behind the door. I opened it, and immediately, the drunken woman slapped me. Ouch, that hurts. I felt the warmth on my cheek and a pain as if I had bitten the inside of my cheek. "Gwen!" the girl with black straight hair scolded her and pulled her back. "How dare you! After taking everything, you'll leave me!" she shouted at me, clearly intoxicated. "Gwen, he's not Patrick," her friend whispered shyly. "Where is he?" the woman shouted again. Patrick gestured that he wasn't here, hiding behind the door. Sorry dude, but this girl just slapped me. I let the drunken woman, Gwen, enter, and she stumbled inside. Her friend tried to pull her out, but she wouldn't be stopped. I just smiled when Gwen saw Patrick and she kept hitting him with his bare hand relentlessly. "I'm sorry," I heard Gwen's friend apologize. She looked at Gwen, who was hitting Patrick. "Don't be, Patrick is a real jerk so he deserves it," I grinned, enjoying seeing him suffer. "Not that, I meant the slap from Gwen," her voice sounded concerned and apologetic. I looked at her, and she was already beside me. I was just an inch taller than her. She looked pretty even from the side, I wondered how she would look face to face. She glanced at me when I didn't respond. I was amazed by her simplicity; she wore no makeup, just a small amount of lipstick that suited her well. I saw her eyes widen in surprise. First time seeing a handsome guy? "Oh my. Your lips is bleeding," she quickly grabbed a tissue from her bag and wiped the blood from the corner of my lips. I could see symphathy and concern in her eyes. Her eyes were beautiful, like her hair, they were so dark. I felt pain when she pressed too hard, so I held her hand. We just stared at each other, and it felt like time stopped. I didn't know how many minutes we gazed at each other, appreciating each other's appearance. She jumped in surprise when we heard like something broke. We looked at each other again and went to where the two people were arguing. "Gwen?" She called softly. We heard sobs coming from the bedroom. She was about to peek in, but I stopped her. "Let's not disturb them," I told her, and she just smiled and nodded. Her smile faded when she saw the mess Gwen had made. "Gwen really has an anger issue, and I'm sorry for that," she apologized again. "Most women have anger issues," I chuckled, remembering my mom breaking our glass plates when she's mad at my dad, and then they'd make out afterward. She smiled at me and we started picking up the scattered cans of beer. After a few minutes, we finished picking them all up. "I'm Aisha, by the way," she smiled and raised her hand to shake mine. "Allison, Allison Ferrer," I introduced myself and shook her hand. "It's already 8:30. I can take you home," I offered, sitting on the sofa. "Thanks, but I don't want to be interviewed about where I've been. I'm bad at lying," she giggled and sat beside me. "Is it okay?" she asked for permission to sit beside me. "I don't mind," I replied, grabbing the remaining beer can. "Gwen even left me one," I joked, making Aisha laugh. "Put it on your cheek. It's getting red," she said, pointing to my stinging cheek. "Sorry again for bothering you," she said and leaned back on the sofa. "What's your relationship with Gwen?" I asked her. She smiled and told me, "Gwen and I are just friends, but she's like a sister to me. She grew up with her parents always fighting. And when the day came that they separated, she became rebellious. We were in high school at that time, and she started dating guys just to feel loved and to find happiness." I looked at her when she stopped speaking. She had teary eyes, but her lips were smiling. "And when she met Patrick, she felt loved. She even said it was true love." She laughed bitterly. "That's why she over reacted when Patrick broke up with her. She didn't even know the reason why." I smiled when I heard their story, "Patrick is a jerk. He probably just dated Gwen to play with her feelings," I said, and I heard her gasp and get mad. I looked at her, and she furrowed her brows, looking at me. "But before that, he was really serious about girls. He just tends to trade them in for a prettier face. Patrick has brains, but sometimes his foolish side comes out," I explained to her, and her furrowed brow disappeared. She sighed, "There's nothing I can do about my friend, she's already hit by Cupid," she said with a smile. She looks even more beautiful when she smiles. "How about you?" I asked her, genuinely interested. She was about to answer when suddenly, we heard a loud thud and followed by Gwen's moan. Our attention shifted to the bedroom, and we heard Gwen moan again. Wow. That's what I'm talking about after the fight. I glanced at Aisha. She was just looking down, and I could see her ears turning red. "How about a movie?" I asked to ease the awkwardness she might be feeling. She just nodded, still not looking at me. We watched an action movie, playing safe to avoid any bed scenes. I could see her getting sleepy, and there was no noise coming from the bedroom. So, I turned off the TV. "You can sleep," I told her. I checked the time, and it was just 9:14 pm. Too early for me to sleep. I checked on Aisha, and she was already asleep, quietly. She was so simple yet beautiful. I took out my phone and took a picture of her sleeping. I just smiled as I looked at her picture, wishing that this girl were mine. __ Aisha I woke up suddenly when I heard a loud noise. I could hear Gwen's moans again. Oh Gwen, please stop it already. I checked my phone for the time. It's only 2 am. I was about to get up when I felt a weight on my foot. I got up and saw Allison leaning on my foot. I slowly took it, but I felt him startle at Gwen's shout. "Patrick!" Gwen shouted, followed by fast and loud thuds from the door. "I guess Gwen really enjoyed doing it," she said, smiling at me. Feeling embarrassed and awkward, I just lay back down. I felt him sit down and put my feet in his lap. "Haven't you experienced it?" he asked, massaging my foot. I sat up to see if he was joking or what. I could see his handsome face, still smiling as he looked at me. "I haven't," I just answered and rested my head back on the sofa's armrest. I felt his hand massaging my legs, and I looked at him, and he still looking at me, his eyes showing desire. I felt his hand moving higher and higher. I stopped him. I can't... I want to, but I can't... I sadly smiled at him, took my feet away, and lay back down. I felt him leave. I feel the hatred again. With so many people in this world, why me?