MISSING: THE LAST FOSTER

Chapter 7

"Thank God," Raixen sigh in relief when he tried to turn the door knob of Shekinah's room hoping it wasn't locked and he was right, it really wasn't locked.

He knows that in this household, there's this rule that you can't lock your door and Shekinah used to that. Raixen smiled when he sees Shekinah sleeping while hugging the bear stuffed toy that belongs to Jasmien. It was his gift when Jasmien turned 3 and became her favorite because it has her name written in the stomach of the bear.

His smile faded slowly when she completely saw her face. She's sleeping but her tears are coming out, flowing from her eyes.

"I'm so sorry if you have to go through all of these, babe. I do not know why the world is this cruel," he said and caressed her cheek, drying the tears.

Raixen looked up when the girls entered to check their best friend as well. These girls are so vulnerable, Lizle wasn't able to hold her tears seeing Shekinah while Hiede was trying to be cool, even if her lips was trembling.

"I am so proud of her," Lizle said, wiping her tears and trying to c***k a smile.

"We are all proud of her. I wish I can atlest lessen the pain her heart is feeling right now. I would accept it with no question and second thought," Hiede seconded and Raixen agreed both of them.

They were right, and he is also very proud of her favorite person, her girlfriend, Shekinah Foster.

"Let's go, Rex. Let her take some rest, she was sleepless for days. Felix is cooking, let's have dinner," Lizle said inviting them to get out from Shekinah's room.

"Yeah, you two can go now, I'll follow," he answered.

Lizle nodded as well as Hiede and the two left. "You see that, babe? You are not alone in here. I am also pretty sure that Mr. President, Mrs. Foster, Gio and the little Foster, Jasmien is here, just in here, looking at you and they wouldn't be happy if they'll see you giving up in life. Just have a good rest and when you wakes up, I'll cook everything you wanted to eat. I love you, Sheki," he said.

Before he followed the girls and went out the room, he planted a kiss in her forehead and again, wiped the nonstop tears her eyes releasing.

Just in perfect timing, the moment he closed Shekinah's door, his phone rings showing his mom's name in the caller ID.

"Mommy," he answered.

("Raixen, where are you? Where is Shekinah, how is she? Are you two not going home yet? What do you want for dinner?") his mom continuously asked.

"We are here in the Fosters mom. Shekinah wanted to go home and she meant here. She's sleeping, good thing she was able to sleep. She didn't even take dinner yet,") he said while stepping down the stairs hearing her mom sighing in from the other line.

Felix is making a gesture for him to know that food is ready. He just nodded and pointed the phone in his ear then mouthed the word "mom".

("Thank God! Don't ever leave her, Rex. He needs you this time and the next coming times. Look for her always, be her home, son. By the way, do you have food there? I can cook and let the driver bring it there,") he smiled to what his mom said. He got the best and very supportive mom. She loves Shekinah like her own, plus she loves the Fosters. Her mom and Shekinah's mom was best of friends even before in their high school.

"Thank you mommy but you don't need to that. Felix, Lizle and Hiede are here as well. Felix can do the kitchen. Can you just pack some clothes for me mom, please?" he said. Felix middle finger appeared in his sight when he mentioned that he was the kitchen-in-charge.

("Yes, of course. I'll do that now, bye son. Take care of Shekinah, alright?") his mom sounds ordering him, like always but that makes him smile.

"Bye mommy," he answered.

"I'm in charge in the kitchen?" Felix abruptly asked when he stepped in – in the dining.

"Yeah," he lazily answered and pull the chair then grabs some food.

"Why not Hiede?" Felix questioned that made them laugh – quite a little laugh.

They knew they were trying to lighten up the mood for it was days, more than a week perhaps that the environment was so heavy, heavier than you could imagine.

"Why me?" Hedeliza asked, pointing herself giving an aura that Felix suggestion was a big wrong.

"Because it's you who wanted to become a chef here, remember?" Lizle said, backing up her boyfriend. They even did a high five cheer. Hedeliza hissed and roll her eyes at them.

"Yeah, but you're the better cook." Hedeliza trying to turn back the table.

"Why are you guys pointing each other? I can cook, though," Raixen interrupted and that widened the eyes of the three.

The last time he cooked, these three was having a trip – trip to cr. That was just supposed to be a prank but ended become a serious one and of course he benefited it. They would never allow him in the kitchen and they will just serve some food for him. They just didn't know that he can cook really well.

Shekinah loves his cooking. When Shekinah told them that it was just a prank and that he can really cook, the three just showed them a grimace and that was years ago but until now they don't believe him. That was the first and last time he offered his cooking to these three. He frequently cook for Shekinah without the knowledge of these people.

"Oh, come on babe and Hiede you can do the kitchen, you're in-charge the grocery thing, Rex," Lizle speaks while winking with him.

He was about to speak but Lizle's eyes widened that seems like he realized something.

"No! Don't trust boys inside grocery store!" Hiede retaliates Lizle.

"Sorry, I just realized it. These boys are the most horrible people when they are inside the grocery store," Lizle said, shaking her head in disappointment.

"Why all of a sudden you are attacking me? We were in team a while ago," Felix said,frowing and couldn't believe the sudden changes of the mood of these girls.

"Well, I was just generalizing boys, for you all know," Lizle answered, rolling her eyes making the boys frowned even more.

"JASMIEN!!!"

Everyone's eyes widened and without a single thought, Raixen dropped the fork and spoon and jumped off the chair and go run straight upstairs while chewing the food he just put in his mouth. Felix and the girls was also following him.

"JASMIEN! NOO! JASMIEN!"

Raixen was panting when he opened the door and saw Shekinah sleeping while crying and moving his head. She's dreaming.

"Babe, babe — babe?" Raixen is trying to wake Shekinah up.

"Jasmien!" She wakes up abruptly and even get up. She was catching her breath and cried hard. "Jasmien," she said, crying. Raixen held her head and make her lean in his chest.

Raixen looked up to the bottle of water Felix offered. "Thank you," he said and give the water to Shekinah to calm her.

"Sheki? How are you feeling?" Lizle asked while caressing Shekinah's back. Raixen was supporting Shekinah's head.

She didn't answer, instead, she cries – her sobs, hearing her sobs are breaking their hearts. "My sister – my baby sister, she was drowning! She was calling me, my sister was calling me. I wasn't there, I wasn't able to save my family. My family is lost."

They were lost of words. They do not know what to say because that pain that their best friend is fighting right now is valid. That pain is too much and they can feel that. They can feel it.

Door bell rang and Raixen knows what is that supposed to be. It's 9 in the evening now and he's just expecting the clothes his mom packed for him.

"Felix, can you check that bro? I guess that's my clothes, I called mom," he said and Felix nodded.

"Sheki? Even if they are no longer physically here, we know that they are still here. Maybe next to you? Jasmien is probably lonely looking at you right in this moment. Your parents as well as Gio, they won't let you be alone, they will be staying with you forever. Not physically but their love, their spirits are guiding you. They are now your guardian Angel." Hedeliza said and planted a kiss in Shekinah's forehead.

"There are millions of bad people in the world, why me? Why my parents? Why my siblings? We are not bad people, we were never bad people! But why!!!" Raixen and the girls closed their eyes because it's painful seeing your love ones in this situation.

Shekinah seems like she was ripped into pieces.

"I'll get water, Rex," Lizle said while wiping her tears. Felix entered the room showing the bag of his clothes.

"Thank you, bro."

"I'll go downstairs with Liz," Felix said and followed his girlfriend.

"Sheki, I know that everything is so painful, I know how heavy the feelings you have there," Hedeliza pointed her chest. "But remember what I have said, Jasmien will never be happy if she could see you breaking and hurting. Mr. President and Mrs. Foster would also feel bad and Gio would also be hurting. Let's live still, Sheki. You are not alone in this battle and we will never get tired of telling you these, in may times, to remind you and to let you know that you still have four strength and we are all got your back," She added. Raixen mouthed thank you to Hedeliza and the girl just nodded and wiped her tears.

Their group barely cry. They cry in tears of joy, not in agony.

"You heard that, babe? You are not alone in this. Don't be afraid of getting up and waking up the next morning. You still have brighter days ahead. You do want to become a lawyer, don't you? You'll be wearing the same gown and toga with Lizle soon. You will take board exam and you will pass because I know you can."

Raixen was busy telling some motivational words to her girlfriend until Shekinah's head fell in his arms.

"She fall asleep," Hedeliza said.

Raixen carefully place Shekinah's head in the pillow and place the blanket upto her shoulder. And even if her eyes are close and sleeping, her tears are keeps on coming out.

"Let just leave the door open."

Raixen and Hedeliza went out the room back in the dining. Lizle was there, sitting with her hands covered in her face while Felix is caressing her back.

"Guys, I know you are all tired, you can take rest in the guest room. Of course, you know where the guest room is." Raixen said. "I'll be sleeping in Sheki's room, she has spare bed under her bed." He added.

"What if, let's just sleep in her room? All of us? Is that okay with you, Rex? I don't think I could sleep thinking how is she, what do you think, Hiede? Baby?" Lizle said, waiting the response of the three.

"Well, yeah. I guess that would be better. Let's just bring the spare bed under the bed of the guest room and Hiede can you take the sofa?" Raixen said.

"Of course. Her sofa can be a bed so that would never hurt my back," Hedeliza answered.

"Are you guys still going to finish your food?" Felix asked while looking at the food they left in the table.

"I'm done." Raixen answered and the girls seconded.

Hedeliza volunteered to do the dishes and Felix went to the guest room to get the bed while Raixen is taking a bath in Shekinah's bathroom.

"My heart can't take any longer everytime I am seeing her crying. Looking at her feeling hopeless is breaking me. Hiede, why all of these things are happening to Sheki? She's right, Fosters ain't bad people and was never bad. They were actually the most generous family in the world!" Lizle frustratingly said.

"We knows how strong Shekinah Foster is. Let's just don't leave her, let's stay with her no matter what happen. She needs us and as much possible, never show her that we are in our weakest when we see her in that situation. She's gaining strength from us, let's just let her," Hedeliza answered.

"Shekinah is going to be the toughest enemy in court soon." Felix interrupted.