Beautiful Trauma

Caitlin's POV "Aaaahhh!" A long yet satisfying sigh escaped my lips after I plopped my body on grass before the wide field in front of me. After a long run, I decided to take a rest on the corner where I can see a lot of people running at six in the morning. My hands rested on the ground as I try to catch my breath. How long was I unable to do my morning runs for me to have a hard time like this? I had been so busy in the office lately which made it harder for me to wake up for my morning run. When you have a boss for a b***h, you'd probably experience a lot of these. I could have gone and found myself another job, something more fulfilling and with a boss who cares for her employees, but tough luck for me, I have to stick with her for another year. Some bullshit I had to agree with from years ago but I'm just so glad I only have a year left. Yeah, Caitlin. That's just a year left and you can curse that witch all you want after. And you won't need to associate yourself with him any longer. I whispered to myself. I felt the warm ray of the sunlight flashing before my eyes but since it's still early, it isn't painful in the skin, so I did not move an inch from where I was sitting. "Caitlin!" I turned around when I heard an all too familiar voice calling out my name. Soft chuckles escaped my lips after realizing who it was, my cousin, Oki. I watch him as he jogged towards my direction, a few of the girls having their morning run, stopping from their tracks to admire his long locks bouncing freely over his head. I shake my head in amusement when I saw him wink towards a set of what seem to be teenagers standing a few feet away to where I was situated. "This little flirt," I muttered. Well, that's my cousin for you and I can't blame him. Even though we're cousins, I knew for a fact that he is indeed good-looking. Growing up, I've watched tons of girls crying over him. I feel a little bad for them but as much as I don't want to tolerate my cousin's antics, I knew that Oki tells them up front that he's just out there to play. Somehow, I can't really blame him because the girls never did say no in the first place. To be honest, I'm still waiting for that wonderful moment when my cousin will be head over heels to some girl who doesn't give a s**t or two about him. Once that happens, I'm gonna snap a photo of him with a caption, "That's what you get jackass", or something not so means like "I told you so,". "What do you need, you little maggot?" I teased once he stopped in front of me, my eyes gazing at him while he tries to catch his breath. "Good Lord, Oki when did you last worked out?" I giggled as he plopped beside me before reaching for the bottle of cold water from my hands. "Shut up, boo. I woke up late okay. I haven't even warmed up," he stated before taking a swig on my water and I groan in frustration when I heard a few girls squealing. Apparently, my cousin looked sexy even with just drinking his water. "Okay, just tell me what you need and head down to those girls over there because I can't stand the sound of them squealing like some dying whale!" I chuckled and he looked at me incredulously. "Don't call them that missy. Girls are precious!" he exclaimed before waving over the teenagers once again. "Says someone who seemed like a pedo lurking on some teenager's ass," I rolled my eyes and he looked at me appalled. "For your information missy, your cousin right here is a decent human being. I let go if some girl tells me No. But on a side note, can you hook me up with that new tenant over your house? I mean, she's kinda cute," he stated and I turned my body towards him, my face agitated. "What the heck Oki? That girl just moved in last night! How are you even able to meet her?" I asked him. To be honest, I'm starting to get nervous on my cousin. "You're starting to get creepy, please realize that!" I spat at him and he just chuckled. "Caitlin, I visited Justin last night. Of course, I'd see her considering that she did not bother closing her window. And can you like, sit properly? You do realized those guys from the corner had been checking you out even before I came right?" he told me before throwing my bottled water at my side. "Tough luck for them, I ain't available," I joked before reaching on my jacket to cover my body. I was wearing a sports bra while jogging and I know for a fact that I looked decent enough but he just rolled my eyes at me. I almost forgot that he's best friends with two of my housemates, Justin and Joon. He was actually the one who recommended that I allow the two to rent one of the rooms on the building that I was staying. Well, not necessarily a building but it was a two-storey house with like four rooms, one in which I use, the other used by Justin and Joon, the third by Yoona whom Oki was referring, and the last one was unoccupied. It was technically a big house with a living room, dining and kitchen area. "She's still a student so stop bothering her or I'll kill you myself, Oki. Do your business anywhere else but not where I am staying you, dirty old man," I told him and he chuckled at my words. "Why don't you just go home and let me use your room instead? I can pay rent too, you know. Or just let me use the other room. That's unoccupied anyways," he pleaded and for the umpteenth time, I said a flat no to his face. "You know my older brother sometimes goes home and uses that room," I told him before standing up from my seat, he soon does the same. "The last time he went home was two years ago which ended up with a fight with your mom. You think Chester will be coming home anytime soon?" he asked as he silently followed me as I walk my way back to the house. A long sigh escaped my lips. He's right. It has been two years since my older brother last went home. And that didn't turn out really well. Ever since our father died, my brother hasn't been coming home very often. And we all know the reason why. He was upset. He was upset with both our deceased father and my mom. And moreover, he was apologetic towards our younger brother and me. No matter how many times I told him that it wasn't his fault and that I understood the situation, for him, things shouldn't have happened the way it had been if he was capable enough. And it hurts him that he wasn't able to do anything about it. But I understand and never once did I blame him for what happened. "One more year Oki and I'll make sure my brother goes home. I miss him," I whispered and my hands balled into a fist as thousands of thought came flashing through my mind, I felt him mess up my hair before walking past me so can lead the way. A smile tugged at the corner of my lips. He probably realized that I was about to cry. Just when I was about to follow him, I felt my phone vibrating. My hand reached for my phone inside my pocket and my heart started beating rapidly the moment my eyes saw whom the message came from.  House owner: I'm back. My hands fell on my side, my heart rate increasing. It has been three years since I last saw him. And when I thought everything has been going right, why is he now coming back? Can't he just wait for one goddamn year?  Seth Richards... What do you need this time? ---------------------