Dark Secrets

Chapter 5: Leave This Blue Neighbourhood (1 of 2)

21st of December should be the last day I’m seeing Jacob and Hyde since it’s Christmas break but these two they won’t leave me alone.

They used their parents to get my parents involved in a charitable event when Dad have to do free check-ups while Mom feed the people with her pastry and bread.

Not that I’m complaining that we’re helping those who are in need and it’s just for a whole week anyway but Jacob and Hyde are taking advantage of the situation.

Because we’re leaving in the morning and we’re packing late night, my parents allowed them to stay in our house until the end of the week.

“It’s Christmas Eve later, aren’t you two going home and spend the night with your families?” It’s the 3rd day that I’m stuck with these two because we’re volunteering.

“Don’t you know? Your parents invited our families to spend Christmas eve at your place.” Hyde replied.

“That’s right. Belle is even assigned to make games for us later.” Jacob added. “I think he’s bringing Smith too.”

“Should we invite Craig? He might be upset if he found out that us 3 got together this eve.” Hyde talking to Jacob.

“Chanel is going out on a date with him tonight so don’t bother.” I said. “Jacob since you’ll be at my place later, will you invite Alexa for me? Maybe she’ll come when you’re the one who invites her.”

Well a lot of things happened this past few months, Alexa and Smith on September, Chanel and Craig last month, and Alexa distancing herself from me when Jacob announced to everyone that he’s my boyfriend just to make all the girls who’s crazy about him go after me and make my life miserable again.

I already explained to Alexa the real situation but she refused to listen to me because she wants to hear it from Jacob.

She rather listens to his crush than to me her best friend since elementary, so I’m also upset at her but I can’t stay mad at her for too long because she’s my best friend.

But to be honest, being labelled at Jacob’s girlfriend solved one of my problem, boys.

Since the start of class, I don’t know what’s wrong with most of the boys in the campus that I suddenly become attractive to them.

I’m only 16 for goodness sake, but these boys got these lustful looks in their eyes that creeps me out and if not for Jacob taking me under his wings with Hyde protecting me too, I might end up being sexually harass or worse.

I was practicing ballet in my dance room when Jacob came in and watch me like he was my mentor.

“What are you doing here? Should you be sleeping in your room right now? I don’t need an audience when I’m practicing.” I pressed the stop button on the cassette.

“Shouldn’t you be thanking me that I reconciled you and Alexa?” Jacob smirking at me as he crosses his arms.

“Why should I thank you when you’re the cause of our problem?!” rolling my eyes at him as I wipe my sweat with the towel.

“So, cold-hearted.” looking around my practice room. “You only look yourself in the mirror when you’re practicing ballet, huh?”

“It’s not that I’m afraid of mirrors or something, it makes me anxious just to look at myself unless I’m doing ballet.” I replied.

“You’re the only ballerina I know who doesn’t pay attention on how she looks. Most of the girls doing ballet looks sophisticated, always wear makeups and get their hair done. But you …” criticizing me.

“I’m not like ‘most girls’ that you’re talking about. No one would know that I’m doing ballet unless I they see me in person. I don’t wear makeups and let my hair dry on the road while in transit. Do you know why I don’t put too much effort on how I look?” glancing at him.

“Because you were born beautiful and you don’t need to do anything to standout from everyone.” smiling at me with confidence.

“Pfft. I’m not that confident to say it but that’s not the right answer. You said it to me yourself too many times before, and you’re right. No matter how I look whether I do good in ballet or not at the end of the day I’m still a freak.” reminding him his words for me.

“Desa, it’s all in the past can’t you just forget everything about it?!”

“Why would I? Because of you, I save more time and energy to deal with everything around me. You actually made me stronger and help me realized that I don’t have to mind what people think of me because my world doesn’t revolve around them. People like you made me like this, so whatever trick you’re trying to pull on me I’m ready.”

“Hahaha!” he bursts out laughing. “Fine. I’m tired of acting anyway. Hyde and I made a bet on you. We’re both trying to make you fall in love, whoever you chose wins and then he or I will break up with you on Valentines maybe or if this act takes too long on senior prom which is way more dramatic and spectacular to everyone.”

“I knew it! Haha.” feeling pleased that my hunch is right about them.

“Is that how evil you think I am, Desa?” he pressed me to the mirror wall as he looks straight to my eyes. “I’ve read your notes.”

“If not humiliation then what do you want from me? I prefer that you were ignoring me for 2 years because I finally have a peaceful life at school most of the time, although I’m still being make fun of but they’re not worse as what you did to me in middle school.” pushing him back to make space between us.

“Tell me what to do for you to forgive me.” he put another hand on the mirror to pin me between his arms.

“Leave me alone, that way I maybe forgive and forget what you’ve done to me. Because of the attention you’re giving to me, you’re separating me and Alexa, Alexa is the only friend I have and I don’t want to lose her because of a jerk like you. Treat me like I’m invisible to you, you’ve done it for 2 years, I’m sure it’s not that hard to do it again. Stop messing with my life as it already is a mess, this is the Christmas present I want to receive from you.” telling him coldly.

“Is it really too late for me to apologize to you?” looking at me with teary eyes. “That no matter what I do I won’t change the way you look at me, I’m always be the bully to you.”

“We were friends for a short time before you avoided me like everyone else then you approached me again on our first day in middle school, I was so happy back then because I thought we’ll be friends again but you made my 3 years hard to forget. If you’re apologizing because you’re regretting it now and you want to clean your conscience, then I forgive you but I need time to forget.”

“Why?” he’s down on his knees in front of me. “Why are you nice to Hyde but you’re treating me like a trash?! He’s with me when I did those awful things to you. Why are you treating him differently?!”

“Because Hyde only wants to feel belonged, but unfortunately he got you as a friend. Whenever you beat me, he’s the one who apologized to me which you never did even once. He might pull a trick on me too before but he never went overboard because he knows when he done enough unlike you, you were never satisfied until I cry.” I said.

“I hate it.” he’s holding onto my hand with a trembling voice. “My mom she told me to stay away from you because of what happened on your 7th birthday. I didn’t avoid you on purpose, I did it for my mom not get mad at me. The invitations you sent to me before your birthday, Mom tore them apart and threw them to trash but then you stopped sending invitation after we graduated from elementary. Mom was waiting for it too because she likes tearing them apart and she’s happy when she doesn’t have to do it anymore.” looking up to me with tears in his cheeks. “My parents weren’t in a good relation when we we’re in middle school but you have loving parents so I took it out on you. You have a happy family but I don’t, I envied you.”

“Why are you telling it to me now?” embracing him in my arms. “I’m sorry, I didn’t know you were having a hard time.” patting his back as he cries on my shoulder.

The Jacob I know won’t show his weakness to anyone but he’s crying to me like a child as he told me everything I didn’t know.

Apparently, he couldn’t get near me for two years because he was embarrassed on what he did to me in middle school, he only had the courage to talk to me again when we met again through Belle.

It was a dramatic way of spending Christmas but I’m glad that he cleared the misunderstanding between us and I don’t despise him anymore since I really do forgive him.

When the charity week has ended, Jacob and Hyde went back to their own home to because they got no reason to stay at my place anymore and the fact that I need to concentrate on practice.

I’m going to perform on New Year’s Eve in front of thousands of people for Vancouver’s countdown celebration.

To be honest I want to celebrate the New Year’s Eve at home and light up the fireworks myself but the sponsor of the said event chose me despite the school appeal to select other ballerinas.

I’m not the best but I’m good at my craft and that is ballet, this is the very reason I have my scholarship in such prestigious school for the elite since 2nd grade until now.

After 2 days and nights of intense practice, it’s finally the day that I’ve prepared for with my blood, sweat, and tears.

I’m sitting in front of the mirror and looking at myself with my makeup done by the artist, I do look different when I’m too posh.

“Nervous?” Hyde came in with a bouquet of lilies in his hand.

“A bit, it’s my first time being the main ballerina and I’m performing for thousands of people. But thanks to Odette who’s going out on stage with me.” looking back at the couch where the ghost of famous ballerina is sitting at the moment. “I’m confident now.”

“You mean we’re not the only in here, right now?” Hyde looking at the couch too but of course he couldn’t see her.

“Odette said that the lilies are beautiful.” relaying to him the message that the ghost is telling me. “Also, you look handsome in the suit, although the colour of your handkerchief in your pocket doesn’t match with your attire as well as the yellow socks.”

“I’m out of here.” he walks fast to the door. “Desa, good luck!”

“Thanks!” nodding at him. “Yes, he’s a coward but he’s reliable.” talking to Odette. “Huh? There’s another one coming??”

“Desa.” Jacob comes in with a huge smile in his face. “I think these red roses suits you better than these lilies.” giving me a bouquet.

“No, it’s not like that.” disagreeing with Odette when she told me that Jacob is being jealous. “He’s just my friend.”

“Let me guess. We got company?” Jacob sits on the sofa behind me.

“Her name is Odette and she’s sitting beside you right now.” turning my chair around to look at Jacob.

“Left, or right?” Jacob looking at both sides.

“Your left and she’s being too close to you.” telling him what I see.

“Yeah, I do feel cold actually. Please don’t be too close, I don’t like being taken advantage even though you’re a ghost.” Jacob said.

“No, I’m not telling him that he’s already arrogant of his appearance.” refusing to tell Jacob that he’s more handsome than Hyde who first came in to check on me.

“Does she tell you that I’m handsome?” Jacob smirking.

“See, I told you, he knows.” talking to Odette who’s awe by Jacob’s appearance. “What are you doing here, anyway?” turn to Jacob.

“I want to see what you look like before you go on stage.” staring at me. “You’re a beautiful swan princess, Desa.” leaning over.

“The makeup does the magic. And this fancy dress with a lot of feathers. Does Alexa come?” asking him anxiously.

“Present.” Alexa barged in with a bouquet of daisies.

“Alexa!” I stand up immediately and hug her tight. “I’m so happy that you’re here. I thought you won’t come.” pulling away.

“How can I miss your first performance as the main ballerina?” Alexa smiling at me. “You’re so beautiful, Desa.”

“Oh, come on, stop flattering me. I’m already happy now that you’re here and you even bring my favourite.” taking the bouquet of daisies.

“Daisies are your favourites?!” Jacob exclaimed. “Alexa you told me red roses.” frowning at Alexa.

“Red roses are mine.” Alexa smirks at Jacob. “I won’t tell you anything about Desa, you can’t use me to get her.”

“Ms. Desa Ha.” the staff peek in to the room. “Time to go.”

“Coming.” nodding at the staff. “You two should go to your seats too.”

“Right, the show is about to start.” Jacob stand up. “Best of luck!”

“Show everyone what you got, Desa!” Alexa holding my shoulders.

“Mmm. I’ll make the intro of this event unforgettable.” walks off from the room with my head up high as a confident ballerina.

It’s not just my wish that came true but also Odette’s last wish to perform on stage as the swan princess, she’s the reason why the sponsor of the event chose me to do the introduction for this huge event, seeing ghosts have benefits to me somehow.

After I’m done with my performance, I changed to the dress that my parents bought for me and went out to be part of the audience.

“Sir Lancelot, Odette is at peace now.” I told the sponsor with a smile. “She told me to tell you that she’s grateful and she loves you.”

“Thank you, Ms. Ha.” the middle-aged man is crying in joy. “My beautiful Odette, sorry if took me long enough to make your dream come true, I love you too, we’ll be together again someday.”

“She’ll be waiting for you on the other side.” consoling him.

“Desa.” Mom coming at my direction with my Dad. “Sir Lancelot.”

“Sir Lancelot, thank you again for giving my princess an opportunity to showcase her talent in front of thousands of people.” Dad said.

“It should be me, thanking your daughter.” Sir Lancelot wiping his tears. “She helped my love to be at peace and aside from that your daughter deserves to be seen by a lot of people, she’s talented enough to be a famous ballerina, like my Odette. Only if I had money back then I could’ve gotten my love to be known to the world and just here on Canada. So, what do you say Ms. Ha, you want to show the world the ballerina they deserve to know?”

“That’s a great offer, Sir Lancelot, but I can’t perform again in theatres, you’re well aware of my ability and if not for Odette I would’ve messed up my performance.” declining his offer politely. “Also, ballet is just my hobby, I have another profession in mind.”

I want to work in the hospital to save people’s lives that’s what I want to do in the future since I’m dealing with dead people’s business anyway, I want to at least lessen the ghosts I see everywhere.

After I refused the great offer that every ballerina would die for to have, I watched the rest of the show with my parents and friends.

Alexa is not the only friend I have now, I belong to a circle of friends which gets attention from the crowd because of their looks and status in the society.

Aside from new people that I let in to my life, I learned that I gain a new ability, I see how people dies.

I only realized it after 3 months that I had premonitions but I’ve done nothing to save those lives that I could’ve saved.

But death is inevitable, the first person I saved, Lisa Lavie, who supposed to die on the 2nd of December because she jumped off from the top of the building, she died on the 8th of January this year from a freaking accident.

 I didn’t know that would be the consequences of the actions I made but every life I saved from death, I only delayed death for 37 days.

Mid-April of 1974, I should be at school and studying like a normal student would do who’s depending on scholarship but I’m cutting classes with Jacob who only got the courage to come with me.

Alexa and the others helped me before but seeing dead body everyday is too much for them to handle, only Jacob who’s an aspiring cop can digest seeing crimes.

“Martin Garrix is the last person I saved, he should be dead last month, today is his 37th day.” confirming the 37 days rule after we saw how he died with a car accident.

“So, in the end, we didn’t save anyone at all.” Jacob still in shocked.

“That’s why it’s better to let them be than delay their deaths. I only figured it out after I saved Martin, the reason I only warned people about their deaths and do nothing to save them.” catching my breath. “Let’s go, before Officer Bloom see me again.”

Officer Bloom is the cop in-charge to investigate the death cases happening everyday since the 2nd week of January and because the victims were the people I saved before I got myself in trouble.   

... To be Continued ...