VI - The Only One Left
1339 Words
Theo
I carried the boxes from the minivan inside the shop. My mother owned a convenience store, maybe the only store inside this private village. She ran the store with a little help from me every weekends, a small signage was displayed showing ‘Venice’s’ and a small ‘convenience store’ at the bottom.
“Have you eaten?” I heard mom asked behind me.
Carefully dropping the box on the corner of the shop, I shook my head. “I’m starving.”
She frowned seeing that I wasn’t wearing a shirt. “Put on a shirt, Theo. You’ll catch a cold.”
I smiled, loving her reaction. “Why? I really wanna show you my guns.” I flexed my arm, showing her my biceps.
“You know how I hate seeing your marks.” She shook her head, annoyance written in her face.
“You don’t like my tats?” I asked, raising an eyebrow. “I remember you drawing the design, mom. I am now your masterpiece.”
She rolled her eyes on me. “You already are a masterpiece without that ink. Just put on some clothes.” Then she walked out.
Shaking my head, I snatched the shirt I tossed on the counter and put it on. I got my tattoo when I was sixteen, the time when I had realized how complicated our life was. It was a phase I was glad to overcome, since being a rebel son was the last thing my mom would want. Marking myself was not to piss my father off, though he did get pissed, but an art I just wanted to engrave on my skin. After all, it was my mom’s drawing. Her artwork.
Sixteen was the lowest point of my life, shocking my once peaceful world. That was when I learned why my father had suddenly stopped coming home and the reason why I didn’t carry his last name.
****
Later that night, I went to see Sandy in her school. She had a schedule practice for cheer dancing. I figured maybe I could try to fight for her, to show her parents that my current status wouldn’t be my lifetime status. I didn’t plan to stay poor all my life, anyway.
Sandy was wearing a short skirt which almost allowed her underwear to peek. It irritated me, seeing she didn’t changed clothes, letting the wolves made her a target. Her friends wore the same thing and they halted as they saw me standing outside the gates. One of her friends whispered something in her ears.
Her grin changed into frown. I admitted that hurt me.
“Hey, San,” I called out.
Some of her friends rolled their eyes on me, giving me a disgusted look.
She approached me, gracefully walking. “What are you doing here, Theo?”
I shrugged, hands shoved in my pocket. “Trying to fight for you. Winning you back.”
She let out a forced laugh, shaking her head. “I don’t think it would help…”
I gazed at her, wanting to hug her. “Sandy- “
She stepped back. “Just go home, Theo.”
“Let’s just talk,” I insisted, blocking her path. “Let me fix this, please.”
She smiled, more of a sad smile, eyes begging me to stop. She held my arm as we walked away from her friends and stopping to the waiting shed at the side of the school. “What do you want, Theo?”
Her tone sounded wrong in my ears but I dismissed it. “What do you mean what do I want? I want us. I want- “
“But my parents don’t like you,” Sandy cut me in. “That’s the problem and the only solution is for us to stop. I care for you, Theo, but I also care about my parents. I’m sorry.”
I felt like the ground was about to swallow me whole. “Okay.” I nodded.
Sandy shook her head, tightening her grip on my arm, as if still trying to console me. “I’m sorry. I… I have to go.”
I smiled sadly to myself, seeing her walked out on me. It was like she dragged a certain star from my night, dimming my life some more.
My world was getting smaller, shrinking at a faster phase. I used to have a lot of friends back when I was younger but as I grew up, people started walking away.
Now, it’s just me and mom.
The only one left.
****
I was putting my books in my locker when I felt a hand tapped my shoulder.
“Hey, T,” Yaris called out, towering over me. His presence always made my 5’11 height seemed small. “You have notes on Sir Howard’s Thermodynamics lec? Got held up in basketball practice, man, didn’t make it to class.”
“Lucky you, bud,” I replied, turning to my locker again. “Here.” I handed him my notebook and he smiled widely after scanning my notes.
“T, I heard there’s a new chic in your circle, huh?”
Staring at him, I instantly knew who he was referring to. And there she was, walking in the hallway, her head focused on the ground.
“Heard Rocky dump her,” Yaris said, eyes locked on her. “You think she needs shoulder to cry on? I can be that.” He grinned.
“I think not,” I muttered, seeing Shane’s fierceness. “She can pretty much handle herself. She’s kinda scary, actually.”
Yaris looked at me, frowning. “Scary? Like a brat?”
I shook my head, remembering how she stood her ground when her ex bothered her at the library. “Nope. Scary like she would kick ass.”
My friend nodded, returning his look on her as she neared our place. While the guys threw her an interesting look, the girls on the hallway rolled their eyes on her. Shane looked up then, her eyes finding mine. She smiled.
Yaris nudged me.
“Theo.” She halted, adjusting her bag. “Miss Marj wanted to know the progress of the play. Have you already talked to her?”
Clapping Yaris’ shoulder, I mocked-salute him and bid goodbye. I ushered Shane to walk with me, feeling her uneasiness as some students threw nasty remarks as we passed by. By all means, I wanted to put distraction on that. How could someone be so cruel? “She wanted to know how you are doing in the club.”
She kept her pace with me, as if what I said caught her attention. “And? What did you say?”
“I said you’re doing great,” I replied, hearing the concern on her voice. As we reached the exit door, the crowd going inside the building suddenly swarmed on our way.
“Am I really?” she asked, getting behind me.
“Yes.” I turned to her, looking at her imploring eyes, as we stopped at the side to let the other students through. “You are doing more than okay, actually.”
She smiled again. “I guess I can ease up my head worrying about failing that subject, huh.”
I just laughed and was glad to know that she somehow found a good distraction on her grief.
“Who fails in Phil. Lit, anyway?” I asked over my shoulder, cheering her up.
She chuckled. “Well, I almost did. I was saved, thanks to you guys.”
I heard the positivity of her tone and I didn’t know why it made me smile.
- Writer
