As they strolled together, the warm afternoon sun casting long shadows behind them, Mike glanced at Christina with a mix of curiosity and empathy. "Are you okay to leave your car here? Want me to drive you home?"
Christina shook her head, her eyes still red-rimmed from their earlier tears. "I'm not up for driving. Let's just walk and... process everything. I'll take the last bus home and get my father's driver to pick up the car later."
Mike nodded, checking his watch. 3:29 PM. "Alright, let's enjoy this unexpected reunion. I've got 13 years of misunderstandings to make up for."
Christina's gaze dropped, her voice barely above a whisper. "You don't owe me anything, Mike. I knew how much you and Anita loved each other, and I kept the reason for her death from you. I deserve your hatred."
Mike's expression softened. "Then why did you keep it from me? Why were you also being hostile toward me?" Mike asked. "You hated me as much as I did, why, right?"
Christina's shoulders sagged, her eyes welling up again. "I was scared, Mike. I did everything to hide my guilt. I hid behind hostility and anger. I blamed you for not understanding me, forgetting that I can only be understood when I speak my mind. I was really a bitch, wasn't i?"
Mike's eyes locked onto hers, understanding flooding his face. "You were hiding from yourself, from the pain. I get it now."
Christina nodded, a hint of a smile on her lips. "Yeah, I was a master of deception – even to myself."
As they walked in comfortable silence, Mike broke the quiet. "Let's start fresh, Christina. No more secrets, no more hostility. We've both been through enough."
Christina's gaze met Mike's, a glimmer of hope in her eyes. "I'd like that too. Let's leave the past behind," she said and nodded enthusiastically.
As they walked, Christina extended her hand, a playful glint in her eyes. "Christina Idris, high school finalist."
Mike chuckled, shaking her hand. "Mike Smith, fellow finalist."
Their laughter faded, and Christina's smile softened. "That was really awkward, isn't it? I've never cried in front of anyone before. Not even my family," she said.
Mike stopped, turning to face her. His expression turned serious. "When you cried earlier, you were pretty..."
Christina raised an eyebrow, amused. "And so? Should I continue crying?" She cut in.
Mike's grin returned. "No no no, you shouldn't, I mean you're pretty… Ugly when you cried earlier. You shouldn't cry again, seriously!" Mike replied, trying to change the mood.
Christina playfully rolled her eyes. "You said I should cry when I'm sad, not bottle everything up."
Mike feigned innocence, his eyes sparkling. "Who, me? Never said that," he said as he shook his head.
Christina laughed. "Now this explains why I hated you all these years. You're annoying, Mike Smith."
Mike chuckled slightly and his expression turned solemn, his voice firm. "Whatever happened today, stays between us. Not even Stefan or my sister will hear it from me."
Christina's gaze locked onto Mike's, her voice barely above a whisper. "My mom tried to divorce my father when I was five. They were happy until he joined NASA... then he changed," Christina began, her voice trembling as she delved into her painful past.
"He'd come home late, skipping dinners, and my mom would make excuses for him. But soon, he stopped coming home altogether, except on weekends. And even that became a rarity."
Mike's expression turned somber, his eyes locked onto Christina's.
"My mom tried to confront him, but instead of apologizing, he got angry. He stopped coming home on weekends, too. We'd go months without seeing him. My mom was heartbroken, crying herself to sleep every night. She felt abandoned, and I felt fatherless."
Christina's voice cracked as she continued. "My father thought paying my school fees and sending money for the family was enough, that it could replace his presence. But it wasn't. We needed him, not just his paycheck. My mom needed her husband, and I needed my father. But he was too busy saving the world to save his own family."
Tears welled up in Christina's eyes as she spoke. "After a year of suffering, my mom filed for divorce, but the judge dismissed the case, citing my father's 'crucial work for the country.'
What about his family? What about me, his child, starving for his love and attention?
What about my mom, his wife, desperate for his care?"
Christina's voice grew bitter. "The judge didn't care that my father's absence was killing us. He didn't care that my mom was dying inside, that I was losing myself. All that mattered was my father's 'groundbreaking research.' Research that didn't even benefit our country."
She took a deep breath, her voice shaking. "The day my mom left the courtroom, she got into an accident... and she didn't survive. She died, Mike. My mom died, and my world crumbled. I was devastated, lost, and unloved. The next day, in elementary school, I wanted to end my life. But Anita found me, saved me... She became my rock, my confidante."
Christina's voice faded, her eyes dry but red-rimmed. "Anita knew everything. She understood me when no one else did. But she's gone now, and I'm left with this guilt, this pain. My father didn't even attend my mom's funeral. He didn't care. He was too busy with his research. Months later, he brought home another woman, announcing her as my stepmother. She was cruel, heartless. I cried every night, longing for my mom, until I ran out of tears."
Mike's expression softened, his eyes filled with empathy. "I'm so sorry, Christina. I had no idea," he said.
Christina's gaze met Mike's, her voice barely above a whisper. "That's why I kept Anita's secret, Mike. That's why I was always angry and sad. I didn't know how to process my emotions, my pain."
"Remember that day in class when Mrs. Alby asked about our ambitions?" Mike asked, his eyes locked onto Christina's. "You said you wished to see your mom one more time. I had no idea what drove that longing."
Christina nodded, tears welling up in her eyes. "That's why I said it," she whispered.
Mike's face contorted in regret. "Oh, God, I made a joke out of it back then. I'm deeply sorry, Christina. I had no idea."
Christina's gaze met Mike's, her voice laced with sorrow. "I'm sorry too, Mike. I didn't realize you were referring to Anita when you spoke of wanting the power to protect your loved ones."
Mike's expression turned wistful. "Anita was my first love. Losing her, being unable to save her from that tragic fall... it still haunts me. The guilt and what-ifs continue to gnaw at my soul."
Suddenly, Mike's eyes widened as a realization struck him. "Wait, if tomorrow marks Anita's 13th death anniversary... then today must be..."
Christina's voice barely rose above a whisper. "Yes, it's today. My mom's death anniversary. This morning, I wanted to pay my respects, but her picture frame had been removed from the wall. All her photos in the house were gone," she said as anger and sadness flashed across her face. "That heartless woman my father brought home thinks she can erase my mother's existence?"
"She's trying to, but she can never truly succeed," Mike said, his grip on Christina's hand tightened. He placed her hand on her chest, his eyes locked onto hers. "As long as you're alive, your mother's memories live on. Her love, her laughter, her legacy – it's all still here, within you."
Tears streamed down Christina's face as Mike's words resonated deep within her. Mike's gentle pat on her shoulder offered comfort, a reminder that she wasn't alone in her grief.
"I'll never forget her, Mike," Christina whispered.
Mike's voice was a gentle whisper. "You don't have to. She's a part of you, and I'm here to help you carry that love and pain."
Christina nodded, her eyes still filled with tears.
"Hey, want to hear a secret?" Mike asked, trying to lighten the mood.
Christina wiped away her tears, curiosity sparking in her eyes. "What is it?"
"Remember that unknown assassin climbing down Tina's house wall on her birthday?" Mike asked, a mischievous grin spreading across his face.
Christina's eyes widened. "Yeah, I still remember. Who was it?"
Mike pointed to himself, chuckling. "That was me. I was the one yelling back at you that night."
Christina's jaw dropped. "You're the thief? Seriously?" She squealed. "Does that means the box Valentina was looking for…"
Mike nodded, laughing. "Guilty as charged. I took the box Tina was looking for."
Christina's eyes sparkled with amusement. "What was in it?"
Mike's expression turned serious, his voice low. "Something that changed my life. I was after a book, but... let's just say I stumbled upon something extraordinary."
Christina's curiosity was piqued. "What happened?"
"You wouldn't understand, trust me. It's something very… Unbelievable," Mike replied as they continued moving again.
"Well, go on. I'm a curious person," Christina said, nodding at him to go ahead.
Mike hesitated, a sly smile spreading across his face. "A power only seen in movies, coursed through my body and transformed me into something extraordinary, something beyond my own knowledge," Mike explained. "A mysterious power that granted me… unusual abilities. Super hearing, strength, night vision... and speed."
Christina raised an eyebrow, playful skepticism in her voice. "Really? You're fast?"
Mike nodded confidently. "Yeah, I'm fast."
Christina's eyes sparkled with mischief. "Prove it."
Without warning, she threw a quick punch at Mike. He didn't dodge it, his eyes widening in surprise as he stumbled backward, clutching his nose.
"Ow! What was that?!" Mike exclaimed, grimacing in pain.
Christina burst into laughter, her voice shaking. "You said you're fast! Why couldn't you dodge that?"
Mike rubbed his sore nose, grinning. "That was cheating! I wasn't expecting an attack."
Christina giggled, her eyes sparkling. "You should always expect the unexpected, Mike."
Mike chuckled, shaking his head. "You got me there."
As they continued walking, Mike's expression turned serious. "I'm not kidding about those abilities, Christina. It's changed everything."
"Come on, let's go again then!" Christina exclaimed, pulling back her fist and grinning mischievously.
Mike held up his hands in surrender, laughing. "No way, I've had enough. Let's just go home. My nose still hurts from the last surprise attack."
But Christina wouldn't relent. "No, let's start again! Get over here!" She clenched her fist, ready to strike, her eyes sparkling with amusement.
Mike swiftly took off, evading her attack with a chuckle.
He stood a few meters away, staring at Christina in disbelief. "I didn't know you were capable of all this! You're like a whole different person."
Christina took slow steps towards Mike, a sly grin spreading across her face. "Capable of what?" she asked, her voice teasing.
"Laughing, playing... everything," Mike replied, his eyes never leaving hers. "You're always so strict and in control. I never thought I'd see this side of you."
Christina's smile widened, and she shrugged. "You're seeing the other side of me now. I'm capable of more; I just wasn't happy. I've been carrying around a lot of baggage."
Mike's expression turned serious, his voice filled with empathy. "So, you're happy now?"
Christina nodded, her eyes sparkling. "Yes, because I finally found someone who understands me. Someone who knows my secrets and promised not to tell his annoying best friend," she added with a playful roll of her eyes.
A hint of sarcasm laced her voice, but Mike detected a deeper sincerity.
"Plus, I finally ended our 13-year hostility. I let out the secrets and burdens I've carried for years. Of course, I'm happy," Christina continued, her voice filled with relief.
"Wasn't Hannah your friend? I thought she knew all these," Mike inquired, staring at Christina in surprise.
"Hannah is a bitch, a weak-point seeker. I can't possibly tell her my situation when I know she'd be the first to mock and pick on me," Christina replied.
Mike's face lit up with a warm smile, gratitude written across his features. He nodded frantically, thrilled to see the vulnerable side of the school high and mighty queen. "I'm glad, Christina," he said sincerely. "You deserve to be happy."
Christina smiled, then glanced at her wristwatch and gasped. "It's 4:34 p.m.! I should head home now," she said, and with a mischievous glint in her eye, she threw a quick punch at Mike, who dodged it just in time.
"You almost killed me!" Mike yelled, breathing heavily.
Christina's distant chuckles echoed through the air as she gamboled off in the opposite direction.
"Goodnight, cheetah!" she sang over her shoulder.
Mike shook his head, scoffing. "Spoiled brat!" he muttered under his breath, heading home with a smile.
As he walked, Mike couldn't help but feel grateful for the unexpected turn of events. He had uncovered a new side of Christina, one that was vulnerable, playful, and genuine. Their years-long hostility had melted away, replaced by a budding friendship.