"Andreeeeeeeeeeew!!!!!!!" a man with blonde and spiky hair shouted when he saw Andrew in the distance with Karl, Nelson, and Troy. He immediately ran towards him with his arms wide, ready to hug Andrew.
"Terry-" Andrew's greeting to his friend was immediately interrupted by Karl. He was stretching his long right arm forward with his palm up-front enough to touch Terry's chest and stopped him from advancing towards Andrew.
Terry is one of Andrew's teammates from middle school. Aside from his blonde and spiky hair, he has hooded-shaped eyes with a pair of brown eyes. He is shorter than Karl. His personality is childish and extremely energetic. He's not one to take things seriously.
"What the he-" Terry immediately stopped when he saw Karl's face with his sharp eyes and cold gaze staring down at him.
"Andrew!" Another man with dark chocolate brown hair approached Andrew. And after him, three more men appeared smiling widely at Andrew, whom they had not seen for a long time.
"Karl, this is Will. He was our vice-captain in middle school," Andrew introduced the man with dark chocolate brown hair.
Karl nodded in response as he recognized the man. Karl is known to be one of the best setters among the Universities but they crowned this man as the king of setters. Despite being a vice-captain, Will was also childish but an excellent, well-rounded player and is extremely serious about volleyball. Karl recognizes him almost immediately as he had seen him in the magazines. "Nice to meet you," Karl said as he shook Will's hand.
Andrew then introduced Karl to Terry, Gary, Brad, and Yakov, whose hands were also shaken by Karl.
Gary is the tallest among them. He has a large, muscular build and a towering height of 193 cm, which is way taller than Karl. He has sharp eyes with small pupils. His hair is mostly blond, except for the middle of his fringe, which is black and styled up. His eyebrows are the same color as his fringe, implying that his hair is dyed blonde. He is very energetic and enthusiastic but often lacks the ability to reflect his actions.
Brad, who was already annoying Troy and Nelson, was also taller than Karl. He has round, silver-colored eyes and spiky grayish hair. He has a solid muscular build and has a playful, friendly, bombastic, and child-like personality.
Yakov, who was just observing the already crowded surroundings, was taller than Andrew, making him the third shortest on their team during middle school. Unlike Andrew and Nelson, he was more insecure about his height. He can also be an incredibly short-tempered but straightforward person.
To complete Andrew's old teammates, Nelson and Troy were the gagged duo, not only in their current team but also during their middle school.
Nelson was shorter than Andrew, earning him the shortest member. Despite his shorter stature, he has a fairly muscular build. He regularly styles his wild black hair by ruffling most of it upwards, adding 10 cm to his height. His eyes are brown and slanted. He is a very energetic and temperamental person. His boisterous nature and crazy shenanigans can attract unwanted attention easily, which often goes badly for him. Although he hardly ever worries about the consequences of his actions, he is considerate of his friends' feelings and insecurities.
And last, Troy has a shaved head and a pair of golden brown eyes which led many to mistake him as a delinquent. He has an average height, which is shorter than Karl and has a lean, but strong, build. He makes intimidating faces to scare others. He is Nelson's partner-in-crime and best friend.
After a long introduction to each other, they finally went to the Eseguerras' house.
Andrew was silent as they walked towards the residence. It felt like his feet were getting heavier as they got closer and closer to Ralph's house. Karl noticed this, so he held Andrew's hand tightly, which was already cold because of nervousness. Andrew looked at him in return. Karl slightly nodded and gave him a warm smile to assure him he's there with him.
They walked past some houses until they arrived in front of a big house. Brad immediately rang the doorbell at the gate and bark from a dog inside made Andrew startled. He wasn't clearly paying attention to the neighborhood and was just staring at the road. He didn't realize that they already arrive at the Eseguerra's residence.
"What a house," Karl commented.
"Isn't it beautiful?" Will asked as he saw how Karl's eyes were fascinated by the looks of the exterior of the house. Karl nodded in agreement.
The house is a magnificent modern Japanese house, which flaunts a small, yet dainty, garden at the entrance.
"But Andrew's house was way bigger than that," Terry commented. "Thou we've only seen it in pictures."
Karl looked at Andrew, who seems to have not heard what Terry had said. He actually wanted to know more about Andrew, but he couldn't bring himself to ask him. Andrew was not the type of person to talk about his personal life. Karl only knows a little about him. Aside from knowing he had a psycho best friend who killed two of his friends and killing his boyfriend, he knows Andrew is the eldest son of Sy Incorporation, a big company that owns most of the big companies in the country, and that he lives independently. That's all he knows.
A few moments later, a woman came out of the gate, looking late 40s, with black hair with a few streaks of white strands tied neatly in a bun. There were already fine lines along with her eye corners, but she still has a smooth skin complexion despite her age. She wears a long white empire waist dress with a bow collar and a gypsy style skirt on the bottom.
"I've been waiting for you." She greeted them with an affectionate smile.
"Mrs. Eseguerra!" Yakov immediately greeted the madam and bowed as a sign of respect. Others followed him as well and bowed altogether.
"She's Ralph's mother." Nelson whispered to Karl as they bowed. Karl nodded in response.
Mrs. Eseguerra smiled at them and glanced sideways to look at Andrew. "Andrew." She approaches him and wrapped him in her arms as if reuniting with a once-lost child. "I'm glad you came. We missed you, dear."
Andrew hugged her back in response. "I'm sorry, it took me a long time to visit."
"It's okay, dear. I know and I understand." She then pulled out from Andrew and surveyed the latter's face. "I'm just glad you visited us. Ralph will be glad," She added as she gave him a warm smile.
Andrew smiled back as he tried to hide his anxious expression. He bit his lower lip and tried to compose himself.
"Come in." Mrs. Eseguerra initiated, as she threw her hands in the air.
Brad and the others went inside, followed by Mrs. Eseguerra. Even before she could finally enter, she turned around to look at Andrew because the latter was still not moving an inch from his position. He was just staring intensely at his feet. Karl, on the other hand, was holding Andrew's shoulder as if waiting for the latter to retreat from a suicide mission.
"Andrew?" Mrs. Eseguerra uttered with a worried expression.
Karl looked at Mrs. Eseguerra and noticed her wary expression. He then looked back at Andrew, gripping his shoulders tightly. "What's wrong?" he mumbled. "If you don't wan-"
"I-I'm fine." Andrew mumbled as he forced his feet to step forward.
It was 5 years ago when Andrew last set foot in Ralph's house. It was still the same back then. He thought.
When they entered the house, he immediately saw Will and the others kneeling in front of a burial urn. On top of it was a large frame of Ralph's picture hanging on the wall.
Ralph, in the picture, was wearing a black tuxedo. He has narrow, hazel-colored, and cat-like eyes that make him appear sly and intimidating. His black hair was neatly brushed up and backward from his forehead.
"Hey captain, how are things going on in there? Is it fun to look down on us?" Brad started with a grin on his face, as if the person he's talking to was just right in front of him.
Yakov immediately threw his hand in the air as he thumped Brad's head on the back. "We miss you, Ralph," he muttered, pressing his lips with a slight frown. If Emman is Ralph's best friend, Yakov is Ralph's frenemy, who he bickered with a lot but regards as his one genuine friend.
"Why don't you visit him, captain? I think he missed arguing with you." Terry teased with a whimsical tone of voice.
"Hey! I don't want to. No, don't bother visiting me. I don't want to see your ugly face," Yakov objected as he sneered while shaking his head.
"You miss him, right?" Terry questioned. But in all honesty, Terry misses him too, and that goes the same for the others. For them, five years still feels like a year ago. They tried to make fun of the situation and make the surroundings as light as possible, but on the inside, they still feel pain for losing their friends.
If Ralph and the others didn't die just like that, they could have probably moved on easily, but their death was too in vain for them. It was not something they could forget so easily.
" You guys are a mess. Captain won't probably visit us because he and Emman are busy playing on the PSP4." Gary commented, twisting his lips with a half-smile.
Emman was a gamer during their middle school, and he played a lot with Ralph back then.
"How about Lev? What is he doing up there? Or is he even actually there?" Brad asked, stroking his chin.
"He's a loner." Gary answered with his nose crinkling just by thinking a man with a very tall, with exceptionally long arms and legs, has neatly parted light grey hair and catlike slanted green eyes framed with thin eyebrows, doing nothing and possibly bored.
"I feel so sorry for him. He couldn't possibly intervene with the two playing. He sucks on the gadget." Troy commented abrasively.
"Why don't you go with him then, since you suck as well?" Nelson uttered biliously as he picked on his best friend.
Troy smiled devilishly as he stared down on Nelson, "Why don't you come with me, then?"
Before the duo could even make a mess, Will noticed Andrew, who was already standing quite far away from them. Andrew was staring down as if he's hesitant to come closer.
"Hey, Andrew! Come here and greet Ralph. He has not seen you for a while." Will ordered as he threw his hands on the air, gesturing Andrew to come closer.
Andrew felt nauseous. He felt like his vision would get dark the moment he stood in front of Ralph's urn. Karl gripped Andrew's hands tightly. He really felt there's something wrong with Andrew. He's not yet moved on at all. Not the slightest bit, he thought.
But then Andrew tried to step forward, forcing his feet to move along with him. He strolled towards Ralph's urn as his friends moved to each side to make way for him.
Andrew then stared at Ralph's burial urn.
"Let's meet tonight, near the bridge. The usual place." He muttered almost quietly.
"For what?" Ralph asked him.
"I think I know who killed Lev. But I'm not yet sure." He observed the surroundings and stared back at Ralph.
"Then tell me now, Andrew." Ralph urged.
"I don't want anyone to hear. I'm not sure yet. What if he's watching? And I have this feeling..." He hesitated, biting his lower lip.
"What? What feeling?" Ralph asked apprehensively.
"It might be you who's next."
"Andrew?" Troy called as he looked at Andrew, who hadn't been saying anything and was just standing in front as if he was frozen.
"Andrew?" Nelson tried to call him as well, almost standing.
Yakov stood and reached for Andrew, tapping the latter's arm gently. "Andrew, are you okay?" he asked warily, but his voice was strong enough to bring Andrew back from his senses.
Andrew opened his eyes. He blinked a few more times and then eyed the picture hanging on the wall. He stared at the pair of eyes gazing down at him. He glanced sideways as he bit his lip. He felt nauseous. "I'm sorry. I'm really sorry." He uttered, meandering away from the urn.
After the group finished the meal that Mrs. Eseguerra prepared for them, they hung out in the garden. They also used to hang out in the garden when Ralph was still alive. Andrew was, fortunately, able to calm down and get back from his senses, as if the beauty of it helped to rest his nerves down.
The garden has a delightful smell that wafts through the summer air. The sound you could hear was from the birds and the tinkling of wind chimes hanging from different sides of the garden. The fragrance from the flowers gently drifts through the open doors and windows, creating an array of heady, floral scents in the house that change as often as the wind does.
"I'll just bring this back to the kitchen." Karl uttered as he stared at Andrew, who's been sitting beside him. The latter nodded as a response.
When he entered the kitchen, he saw Mrs. Eseguerra washing the dishes.
"I'll help you out." Karl offered as he pulled the sleeves from his jacket, tucking it inwards.
"No, I'm fine. You are a guest. I can do it myself." The madam uttered warmly. "You can just hang out with your friends."
"I insist." Karl persisted.
"Hmm... Alright. I should be thankful that a handsome young man is helping an old lady, isn't it?" the madam pondered as she chuckled.
Karl smiled bashfully as he adjusted his head down.
'
"You can just wipe the ones I washed." The madam ordered benevolently. "You can use that." She added, pointing at the white clean cloth hanging on the wall.
Karl nodded and reached for it. He wiped the plates that have been washed by Mrs. Eseguerra.
"Karl, right?" the madam queried.
Karl was too focused on wiping the plates that he got flustered by Mrs. Eseguerra's sudden question. "Y-Yes." He responded.
"Andrew's boyfriend?" she probed once more.
"Y-Yes." Karl answered, hesitantly.
"Then I need to thank you." The madam muttered as she passed the plate on her hand to Karl.
Karl anchored his attention towards the madam as he reached the plate. "What for?" he asked as politely as he could.
"I think Andrew will never visit us if it wasn't for you. You must have probably given him the strength to come here. And for that, thank you." She then smiled at Karl, making the lines from the corner of her eyes more visible.
"N-No. It wasn't like that." Karl shyly responded as he continued wiping the plates. "Andrew... Andrew is strong. He has a lot of energy in him. He's one of a kind person and he changed me for the better. If there was anyone who had to receive some strength, it was me. He gave me strength." He went on, subconsciously smiling.
Karl noticed that Mrs. Eseguerra went silent. He then stared at her and realized that the madam was gazing at him, smiling from ears to ears. Karl blushed immediately as he realized what he had said. He suddenly felt abashed now that he thought about it. "I-I mean-"
"You must love him that much." The madam pondered.
Karl slightly bowed his head, "Y-Yes... I love him a lot." He answered, almost blushing as he continued wiping the plates.
"Emman might felt relieved now that Andrew is in excellent hands." The madam went on as she continued washing the utensils.
Karl hesitated a bit. He knew he might be asking for too much information, but he wants to know more about Andrew's ex-lover, who he knows, Andrew still loves deeply. "Can you tell me about Emman?" he asked cautiously.
"Hmmm... You know Emman is my son's best friend, right?" the madam queried.
Karl nodded in response.
"Emman was... Such a quiet child. I don't even know how he got along with my son." Mrs. Eseguerra slightly laughed, mesmerizing about Emman and Ralph's childhood. "They're opposite of each other. Should I say, all of Ralph's friends are quite nasty and reprehensible in an oddly good way." She went on as she looked in the garden's direction where they could hear the loud noise coming from Ralph's friends.
Karl also averted his eyes towards the garden. It made him pictured out how quiet Emman was.
"Emman was too quiet, but he's not shy." Mrs. Eseguerra continued. "Hmmm, I think Ralph was 9 years old when he first brought Emman here. The kid has long, short, black hair. I thought at first that my son had brought a girl here for the first time." She laughed, almost snorting at the thought.
Karl nodded. He had seen Emman's picture in the frame that was placed on Andrew's cabinet. But Emman was blonde in the pictures, but still had that long and silky-looking hair.
"He was very straightforward for a quiet child. Do you know what he told me when he first came here? I said, are you Ralph's best friend? He said I don't know him. But he said he has a PSP." The madam laughed, chuckling.
Karl finds himself amused listening to the story about Emman but he also realizes that he has a bit of the same personality as him. Maybe that's the reason Andrew liked him back. There was a resemblance of personality between them, he thought.
"Hmmm... He was that kind of kid." Mrs. Eseguerra went on. " That's why I was surprised when Emman introduced me to Andrew as his boyfriend. I mean, I'm not against same-sex relationships. I don't even mind if Ralph was gay." She added as she laughed at the thought. " It's just that I treated Emman just like my true son. If you haven't heard, he's an orphan living with his grandparents. So I considered him my second child." She added.
"But it did not surprise me when I met Andrew. He was a dazzling child. So it pains me when I see him carrying the burden of what happened. It's not his fault. I hope he realizes that. And I hope you'll make him realize that." The madam asked as he looked at Karl.
"Don't worry. I'll protect him with all my life." Karl responded sternly.
"Karl?" Karl and Mrs. Eseguerra turned, only to see Andrew as the latter peered at the kitchen door.
"Do you need anything, Andrew?" Mrs. Eseguerra asked warmly.
"Uhm..." Andrew mumbled as he rubbed his hand on his head. "W-We have to go."
"MRS. ESEGUERRAA!" Brad and the others peered at the door as they snuggled behind Andrew.
"We're going to leave now, ma'am," Yakov uttered as he smiled courteously.
"We have an early class tomorrow, so even if we want to-" Brad explained as he smiled widely.
"Who are you trying to fool here? You're not coming to school, idiot." Terry interrupted teasingly.
Brad glared at Terry, almost giving him a death stare, "What are you talking about? I'm coming to school, idiot the second." Brad objected.
"You are just coming to school but you're not attending the class." Gary added whimsically.
The sight made Mrs. Eseguerra chuckled. She then imagined having Ralph, Emman, and Lev with them. She felt emotional thinking about it.
"I'll see you out then." She then strolled towards Andrew. "I hope next time you come here, I'll be seeing your bright smile again, Andrew." She added, pressing her hands on Andrew's cheeks.
Andrew nodded warily in response.