— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — SERRA — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
*Meanwhile...*
I walked my way towards the bridge. This seemed like a good place to finally end my misery. I kept reminding myself how rotten the world is...
I hate each and every one of them. They never made anything special. They never made me feel like I was part of this world. They're the reason why I lost all hope in humanity.
I'm always the odd one out... I'm always the one being treated this way. What's there to even live for if I'm just being thrown around so much just to rot...
I stopped walking at the middle of the bridge and looked down at the deep waters below this bridge. They look so refreshing... So silent... Just flowing through silently...
It would be a shame if something disrupts its flow... Just like how everything disrupted my life...
I closed my eyes and slowly felt myself taking a step off into the water. To feel myself literally drowning in the water... It'll be an end of a life that they can't change anymore. It's the appropriate end for me.
"WAAAAAAAAAAAAIT!!!"
As I was about to finally fall down. I heard a voice. It was a voice I'm familiar with. I opened my eyes and slowly turned to the right.
It was indeed the girl, Syrra Winters... She was running her way towards me. She was then panting for air as she made it close to me.
What a shame...
I put my foot back on the edge.
"Why did you come here... I didn't ask you to come." I turned back to the waters that were flowing gracefully.
"Hah... I was looking for you... I never expected that you'd be on this bridge..." By the sound of her voice and her panting for air, she really has spent so much time looking for me.
"Might as well turn around. I don't belong in this world. The world has never appreciated what I've done, and I never felt like there was any worth living. You're wasting your time." I closed my eyes. I don't want to see the look on her face.
"It's true that the world is cruel. But beneath that cruel place... There are people who'd appreciate you just the way you are... If you're down, we're always here to pick you up..." I opened my eyes. I felt nothing. I heard that before. And it never felt genuine.
"What is there to get up for... I've never been someone special... I tried to impress everyone and work hard for them... But it all ended with betrayal and suffering." I then sat down on the edge with my legs dangling in the air.
"Isn't that why I looked for you... I considered you a close friend... I didn't want you to suffer... Every time I looked at you back then, I always wondered if I could have done anything to help you..." I saw Syrra move closer with her sad and worried face on the reflection of the water.
"I can't be helped now... I have nothing. I have nothing to live for. In the beginning I already have lost most of my happiness... And it ends here when my heart is already empty." And in that reflection, I can see her shaking her head.
"You have me... You have Renn... You have done so much for him just as much as you've done so much for me. Days ago, Renn told me that it was you who made a back-up recording of everything... If it weren't for you... I wouldn't be happy anymore, Renn wouldn't be back to his studious energy, and the two manipulators would have won... So you didn't lose everything... You have us..." Even now I am questioning everything as she started crying. I still don't know why I did so much when it's not even my problem...
"I had no choice. I got involved with his mess, and I had to get out of it and go home." I bluntly answered, but I'm in a state of confusion. The time Syrra was in a wheelchair, I didn't feel like I never had any choice... To explain why I did what I did is complicated.
But then she hugged me, which for the first time... I was shocked.
"DO YOU REALIZE HOW MUCH I AM GRATEFUL TO YOU?! I PLACED MY FULL HOPES IN YOU! I HAVE BEEN WORRIED ABOUT YOU SINCE THE START, AND MY THOUGHTS HAVE NEVER CHANGED!" My eyes remain widened as she cried her heart out.
No one has ever cried for me before. No one has ever felt grateful to me...
"I want you to live... The life you want to live... Don't you want that... To be yourself?" What is this feeling... Why am I tearing up... I never placed my full trust in her, yet...
Everything about her felt genuine. I looked at her.
"Syrra... You really think... I can be..."
I then heard another person running towards me.
"I can't take it anymore..." It was the muppet. Syrra was surprised to see him.
"Renn... Thanks for giving us some time to talk it out..." Wait... I'm confused... Some time to talk?
"I had to give you and Serra some time to talk it out... Syrra... Is it okay if I have a word?" Syrra wiped her tears and smiled at him, nodding at his question. He then approached me. I immediately turned back to my dead mood.
"I can already assume what happened... A family outrage?" He asked. I didn't answer, I just ignored him. I looked back at the water as I saw him slowly sat down on the edge.
"It's been tough... Just staying inside the comfort of your own home for a long time... Only going out when you're needed to." He just kept talking. He is a dog. Just mumbling out words..
Except that is what my family is doing to me...
"Hey... Serra... Tell me... What do you really want..." He asked me the question.
I just kept ignoring him.
He sat down next to me. He won't leave until I give him the answer.
"You're suffering... I know... You aren't able to live your best life due to your family... I really wanted you to have fun... Do the things you wanted to do from the start... And right now... Summer is the perfect time to start..." Live my best life... Impossible...
"I can never be happy now... What do you think you can do..." He then reached his arm out.
"Do you want me to give you money or something?" I asked.
"No... I'm giving you a chance to fulfill what makes you happy... By living with me." I was surprised. I turned to him.
He's insane... He's gone mad...
"You're just feeling pity for me..." It's unbelievable how he just went straight up to dragging me to his place...
"Part of it... But I want you to make your own choices... Do what you want to do... I'm not going to force you to stay with me. It's up to you if you want to..." I'm not sure about his answer... But it didn't feel like he was hiding anything... I looked away. He said in the beginning that he'll introduce a change...
I never thought that it'll be this type of change...
Renn Alrose... I pushed you away when we first met. I didn't trust you during the time we interacted in my school. But then you understood the pain I'm feeling... You stayed with me even if I'm hurting you... You never stopped believing in me...
"What are you exactly, Renn Alrose?" I asked him directly.
"Just an average human being who studies very hard. Trying my hard to live a best life. Trying my best to make a change... I'm just an ordinary guy that does nothing more than study all day... But I'm happy seeing the people around me in a happier light, and I'll help you find yours..." He answered.
"What an idiot..." I went and punched his shoulder.
"Ow! What gives-"
"I didn't want to hold your hand, you muppet." I interrupted him as I stood up. He also stood up.
"So... Are you..."
"Hurry up before I change my mind, loser." I bluntly told him to lead the way before I actually jump off the bridge.
"Alright, let's go..." He turned around and led the way. I looked at Serra who hugged me. Hugging people isn't what I am used to... But I'll let her have this moment for a minute.
"Welcome back to us..." She was very happy. Her tone sounded delicate, contrasting to Renn's more serious tone.
"Can you let me go, please..." I tapped her shoulder to let me go.
"Sure. Let'e go, Serra..." She lets go of me and we both headed to the car. We hopped in and Renn's brother began driving us back.
"You were panicking during that call, Alrose... I almost dropped the keys in the sewers upon leaving." His brother started talking about how Renn almost made him lose his keys.
"I had to make this quick, otherwise I'll lose her... If she's going to leave us, I'll never hear the end of it. I'll be devastated..." So he really did care for me... He did place his full trust and hopes in me after all.
"You'll be happier living the life you wish now... Isn't that great?" I looked at Syrra, who was happy and relieved for me. The life I wish...
I initially thought it can never be reached... With this change, I think something opened up to me.
"Since it's late... How about you shop for her clothes tomorrow... How about the Megaplex Mall? It'll be your first visit, right? I'll ask mom and dad to give us money." They're now going to a place we all haven't visited. But I know that place. That's in New York City. My classmates at Phoenix Ruby kept talking about it.
"Looks like we have a short outing with a bonus shopping spree on our hands. Syrra, do you want to go?" Renn asked Syrra and she happily nods.
That's nice...
"Serra? Do you want to go with us? I want you to not only help us find which clothes suit you, but also let you have fun with us." I looked at Renn.
This was also the first time they asked if I wanted to go out on my own decision.
"Yes..." I answered.
"It's decided." We then just went silent on our way back. Syrra fell asleep. She has ran so much, so it was normal for her to be tired.
I suppose I can sleep for a little while...
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — RENN — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
*40 minutes later...*
We made it home. I looked at the back seat and it looks like Serra and Syrra is asleep.
"You sure are lucky, Alrose. You managed to bring faith to a depressed person such as her. Normally, it wouldn't be easy... But the fact you gave her a 2nd chance... I never thought you'd eventually think of that..." Vance looked at me in a pleasant mood as we watched the two sleep.
"Like Fey said, sometimes these people are beyond help. But with the right people, they can grow back to how they once where or even have a new identity they can be comfortable with on their own." I felt relieved with a hint of proudness upon saying that. I went down and woke up Serra.
"Hm... We're here..." She went down, half asleep. I guided her to my room where she can stay for a while. After that, I went to Syrra and woke her up.
"Hmmm? Renn?" Syrra slowly woke up.
"Vance will drive you back to Montana Subdivision. Tomorrow, meet me here at 8 am and bring fresh clothes." I requested her and she did a "👌" sign.
"You got it..." She yawned, still feeling sleepy. Then she went right back to sleep.
"You go rest up too, Renn. I'll see you in the morning." I nodded at Vance who was ready to drive. I closed the car doors and waved at Vance as I watched the car leave with a little wave from him before finally driving off.
I then went to the living room and laid down on the sofa, where I will be sleeping today. I yawned, and groaned as I stretched. I am really tired.
"(To a humble... new... day...)" I slowly dozed off to sleep.
Welcome to your new home, Serra.
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —