As Hazel dries off her tears and headed to their room, her gaze lingers to the door where Tyler just went out. "He'll surely not be back tonight. "
Tyler's mind is a mess, though his eyes looks so sad as he was staring at the portrait and the purple box in the passenger seat.
"Are you still coming over Parker? "
That cut him off from thinking about other things and he clears his throat and answered.
"Yeah. Be there in 10. "
Tyler ended the call and drive towards Rafael's mansion. Arriving at the huge gates, he paused as he waits for the gates to open and stares at the city view with it's twinkling little lights, obviously, his mind goes to one person only—Lavender.
'Does she also have this view from where she is right now?' He thought.
A knock on his car's windshield brought hin back from his thoughts and saw Rafael in his robe ready to sleep. He went out of his car and gave Rafael a brotherly hug.
"I always messed up. I'm probably bothering you and your wife but I don't know where else to go. " It's almost a whisper but then Rafael heard it loud and clear, patting his back.
"You're no bother Parker. Come inside and we'll talk about it. " Tyler manage to make up a smile as they both head inside welcomed by a warm smile from Kath—Rafael's wife for almost 10 years. Well, they've been engaged since young and decided that before they graduated college they were to be wed. "Hey Kath, sorry for ruining your night with Raf. " Kath gave out a soft chuckle and offered him a tea.
"Don't be silly Ty, you're a family to us. Our home will always welcome you. Now, I'll get the maid to prepare the guest room for you then I'll leave you two to talk. " With a smile she head towards his husband and pecks his lips.
"Thanks babe, goodnight. I'll be with you later. " Kath nodded and head off. Rafael and Tyler stayed at the living room, sipping their tea silently, well not until Tyler started talking about what happened before he came and even before that. He told him everything.
"Hazel did that? Why would she..? Is she feeling guilty? " Rafael confusedly ask, couldn't possibly think of a good reason Hazel would do such thing. "I can't do it anymore. The more I look at her, the more I despise her. Even in front of the kids. " Feeling defeated Tyler looked down on the ring on his finger.
The ring, he and Lavender shared bonds with. The ring that has their names inside it. The promise ring. Rafael gaze lands on the ring, upon recognizing it he nodded as if he understand what has happened.
"I found her.. "
Tyler couldn't believe his ears and just froze las he remembers everything about her.
—
Graduation day has finally arrived. Tyler feels excited and nervous at the same time. "You feeling okay Parker? Don't blow your chance away! " He playfully punched Rafael and laugh. "Come on! Don't jinx it! I was just nervous, what if she'll say no? What should I do next? " Rafael sighed and grabs his friend's arm.
"If she says no, then show her how you feel. Once she sees and feels it, she'll eventually say yes but please don't force it, give her time. Remember, she's a loner by choice. " Tyler smiles and nods. "Well, now that you mentioned it. Why did she choose to be alone? "
Rafael looks ahead thinking deeply. "Because she's scared. "
"Scared of what? " Tyler asked confusedly.
"She's scared of conflicts, scared of commitments but I know someday, she'll eventually fight for her happiness cause she'll think it'll be worth it. Even through conflicts. Now let's go, the ceremony will start soon. " grabbing his friend's arms they both head inside the auditorium where the ceremony will be held.
—
"Where is she? Is she fine? " Rafael pats his friend's shoulder. "She's fortunately fine. I'll take you to her but what about Franklin and Abigail? Is it safe to just leave them there with Hazel? " Tyler being so confused by his friend's comment looks at him as if he knows he's keeping a secret from him.
"Why would you say that? Is there something wrong with Hazel? " His friend once again sighed and massage his temples. "You've been married to her for almost 3 years and you didn't notice anything strange about her behavior? Tell me, how was she with the kids? " Realization smack Tyler in the face causing him to suddenly stand up.
"Hey! They're fine for one night, but I won't advice you to leave them with her. Maybe we should take the kids with us to see Lavender. " Tyler looks so worried and regretful he left the house tonight but soon sighed. "Now that you mentioned it, I notice that she's distant towards the kids. It feels like she doesn't care about them at all. I can understand with Abigail's but Franklin too, her own child. "
Upon hearing what his friend says Rafael claps his hand twice and a man in black suit came. "Did you do what I told you to do? " The butler nodded his head and pulled out a piece of envelope from his inside pocket and handed it to Rafael who immediately opened it.
"I've been having second thoughts about Hazel since the first time we met so I started investigating and I found all of these. " The envelope consist of pictures, Hazel's bad deeds in the past. "Can you hand me the test result? " Rafael faintly asked his butler that immediately obliged, handing him some more envelopes.
"As you can see in this result that Hazel didn't gave birth to any kid. Franklin isn't hers, we were looking through the security cams from way back 9 years ago in some hospital Hazel told you she gave birth to. Well, we saw her holding a baby in her hand. "
Tyler couldn't possibly know what to say or what to react and just stared at the evidence handed to him by his friend. "The thing is, remember when I said, well, we were still college student then and I told you I might have a child? I don't know if it's just a coincidence or maybe Hazel planned it. "
Tyler stared at his friend for a long time and as soon as his brain processed everything he sighed. "So, all along, I deprived you of being Franklin's Dad? I used to wonder...why Franklin would have your brains and everything, well, I guess now I know? Oh God. This is so messed up. How did Hazel hide it for so long? "
Silence reigns between them and soon they've decided to do something about it.
—•—
Unedited
nozomu_L
Ps. I didn't planned it to be like that, god, what have I done?