CHAPTER 20: Tipsy Moments

KATE’s P.O V.

Maybe it’s been an hour or so since I started to wander around the streets. I felt tired, drunk, and hurt. My feet were already aching because of my shoes. My dress even got dirty because of all the running and stuffs. I decided to take a rest, not bothering if someone could see me out here.

I sat on the cold ground, before I hugged my knees and cry. I didn’t know what to do. It only feels like yesterday when Claire and I were just watching horror movies over my house just to ease boredom. I sometimes miss those moments, knowing that could never happen again right after what I did tonight.

I keep asking myself one question... And that is, am I a bad person? Can people blame me for being like this just because I got hurt in the past? I don’t know the answer, and I know that no one could answer me either.

“Hey! Kate?!”

I looked up, hearing a familiar voice. It was Elijah. He looked worried, but relief came flooding into his eyes as he finally make sure that I’m the person he just saw right now. He ran towards me, stopping as he reached my destination.

“Kate... It’s you... Hey...”

He cupped my face when I didn’t looked up to him. He looked confused, maybe, seeing me crying at the moment. Maybe he’s wondering why I’m the one who’s crying right now when in fact, I should be celebrating.

“I know... I shouldn’t be the one who’s crying right now, right? I should be celebrating... But, Elij... I don’t know why, either... I should be happy right? I ruined something precious to Claire...”

He wiped my tears away before giving me a hug. I instantly felt safe and secure in his arms. Maybe he doesn’t change after all these years... Maybe, just maybe, he’s still willing to provide me a shoulder to cry on.

“Elij... I’m really sorry... I-I...” He’s gently caressing my hair, and I felt like he planted a kiss on it too. I’m not sure what is real and what is not right now. I’m drunk, that’s the only thing I’m sure of.

“Shhh... You don’t need to explain anything to me, Kate. That pain... The reason why you’re crying right now, it’s because you’re a good person. An you’re still feeling the guilt out of your actions...”

“I’m not, Elij...” I looked up to him while gently pushing him away from my body. “I’m not a good person. You know that since high school. You know what... Sometimes I think that you denied me in front of Claire because you’re ashamed that your friends with someone like me...”

“No... I’m not, Kate. I’m sorry if that’s what you think after all these years... I’m really sorry.”

Tears started to stream down on my cheeks again. He hugged me, tighter than before. I feel like I can’t breath anymore, but that is fine. I rather die in his arms out of shortage of air than to live life with this pain in my chest.

“Come... I’m taking you home.”

He stood me up together with him, but before he could say another word, I stopped him by squeezing his arms.

“I don’t want to come home, Elij...”

He looked at me seriously, before holding my hand. I could see the worried in his eyes.

“Why? Your Mom and Dad is probably looking for you right now...”

“Nope. I know Dad probably doesn’t even care about me. All he care about is his stupid company and relationship to Mr. Herrera...” I trailed off.

“What about your Mom? Maybe she’s being worried sick at this moment.”

I looked down, feeling guilty. I remember what I’d said to Mom earlier and I’m sure that if ever I’m going to see her again, I will probably hurt inside out of too much guilt.

“Are you alright?” he asked. I squeezed his hand before giving him an answer... Or maybe a question.

“Can I stay in your place?”

“Kate...” He scratched his nape, looking nervous.

“It’s fine if you don’t want to... You could just dropped me off to the nearest hotel here...”

“No, no. That’s fine with me. Do you honestly think that I can let you be alone right now? Of course you can stay in my place, Kate.”

“T-thank you...” I shyly answered.

He assisted me inside of his car before we drove towards his home. It felt nice, having someone who I can run to whenever I need him. Until we arrived at his place, he opened the door for me, before he held my hands while we walk towards the entrance of his small apartment. He didn’t bother to let go, even when he closed the door behind us.

“Do you want some coffee?” he asked.

“No, I’m fine...”

That’s when I saw a stain of blood on his sleeves.

“What’s that?” I asked, confused that he doesn’t have any wounds but there were blood stains on his sleeves.

“Oh. This,” he stated, pointing at the stain on his sleeves. “it’s Darren’s.”

“What? What happened to him?” I asked, feeling guilty.

“Do you really want to know? I don’t want you to feel bad or guilty so I decided not to tell you about it... But I think you need to know.”

“What is it?” I asked, getting impatient at his suspense statements.

“I came from the hospital. I mean, right after Mr. Frias dragged you out, Darren and Claire fought and leave the place as well. But when I followed them outside, Darren is already gone and Claire was crying in front of the reception. I tried to asked her what happened but she ran away. A few moments later, Mr. Herrera received a call that Darren had an accident.”

“What?! Is he okay?”

I feel bad, knowing to myself that this is all my fault. If I didn’t caused a scandalous scene, maybe none of this would have happened. I should’ve listen to Elijah when he told me to stop bothering Claire and Darren before.

“Yes. He’s fine... Good thing that the damage wasn’t that much. I mean, Mr. Herrera requested me to call Claire. When she arrived at the hospital, I decided to leave and find you.”

“Find me?” I asked, confused. “How did you know I was missing?”

“I just knew. I already memorized how you think. I’m sure right after what happened to the party, you’ll probably ran away.”

I was about to say something when he cut me off by saying another words.

“I’ll get you some clothes. I can lend you, though, I don’t think you’ll like it.”

“Anything will do.”

He nodded, before getting some clothes on his closet. I changed into them when he let me use his shower room before I came back to his small living room, filled with folders and other essential stuffs for a teacher like him.

“Thank God my clothes fitted on you.”

“Yeah. It’s not that bad, Elij. Thank you, thank you so much... For letting me stay.”

“You’re always welcome.”

I sat beside him, staring at his blank face. There’s so many questions that I wanted to asked him. Like what happened to him for the past eight years? Where is his mother? And why does he lives alone here, in a small apartment?

“Kate... Kate!” He snapped his fingers in front of my face. “You looked bothered. Why are you staring at me like that?” he asked, suppressing a smile to form out of his playful lips.

“Nothing...” I looked away. “I’m just thinking about something...”

“Like what?”

“What happened to you, Elij? I mean... It’s been eight years. I just wanted to know how are you doing now...”

“I’m fine, actually...”

“What about your Mom?”

“She’s... Uhm... She’s dead, Kate. She died at the day of our graduation.”

I blinked several times, trying to processed what he’d just said. She’s still alive when they climbed up to the stage to get his diploma. How come she’s dead hours later? Again, I felt guilty. I should’ve been there for him.

“I’m sorry... How come, Elij?” I curiously asked, badly wanted to know the reason why. “It’s fine with me if you didn’t answer my question... I just... I really wanted to know.”

“I’m not sure, either. It happened so fast. She’s just with me that day, right? When I waited for you for almost three hours at the rooftop, I felt something weird and strange. Like something isn’t right. And then when I came home, someone told me that she died in an accident... And I hadn’t got the chance to bid my final goodbyes anymore.”

I burst out loud into tears, realizing that it was another one of my most stupid mistake. It became clear to me now. I’m a black sheep... Someone that will cause bad luck to the people around me. I burst out into tears, wincing at the unbearable pain on my chest.

“Kate... Hey... Stop blaming yourself. I knew it. I shouldn’t have told you about it.”

“Tell me more, Elij... Tell me everything you know for the past eight years... Tell me now!”

He looked at me, before nodding.

“Two years later, Claire’s Mom died as well, while delivering her sister to the world.”

“Claire... She have a sister?”

“Yeah. She’s Alexa. Their Dad is having a heart disease right now, forcing Claire to accept Darren’s offer. You see... She’s not a bad person, Kate. It just happens that all of us has our own story to tell...”

I bit my lower lip, slowly suffocating by the truth. I did get the revenge that I wanted... But does it make me happy? I guess not.

“That’s enough for today. Take a rest now, Kate. I know you’re tired.”

“But...”

“Shhh...” he puts his finger on my lips. “Enough. Take a rest now. You can use my bedroom. I’m going to sleep here in the couch. Don’t refused my offer now.”

He pulled my hand towards his bedroom, helping me get up. When we finally reached his bed, he made me lay down, covering me with his bedsheets.

“Here you go. Sleep tight, Kate. I’m gonna bring you home tomorrow.”

“Thank you.”

Elijah didn’t answer me. Instead, he turned off the lights and closed the door shut. I tried to get some sleep but I couldn’t. I keep on thinking about the things I did to the person who never intended to hurt me ever. I’m a bad person... That’s what I am. And I’m lucky to have Elijah by my side.

I stood up, leaving the bedroom while keeping the lights out. I walked towards the living room, where Elijah is currently sleeping at peace on his couch. I kneel down, staring at his face. Only now that I realized how handsome he is. Maybe I was blinded by too much hatred and guilt not to appreciate the person who stayed with me for all the ups and downs of my life.

I raised my trembling hand, slowly reaching for his face. I wiped the hair covering his eyes. I stared at him for a moment, before my eyes landed on his kissable lips.

Something urge me to do an unacceptable thing. I moved my face closer towards him. Until slowly, I planted a gentle kiss on his lips. I was about to stop and stood up when he pulled my hand, causing me to be stunned as I landed on his body again, our lips still pressing onto each other. I tried to open my eyes, only realizing that we are both awake and alert right now, sharing a moment full of passion as our lips continue to collide with rhythm.