Chapter 53: Chapter 53

She wants to live, but she can’t fight for her life. Her breath was running low and her consciousness was gone. But she saw a boy swimming towards her. She didn’t know the boy, but the boy grabbed her hand and pulled her up.

Ruby thought she wouldn’t make it, but a boy she didn’t know had saved her. When she woke up Ruby woke up in the hospital and both her parents and Ricky were by her side. They hugged her while crying and feeling relieved. Ruby is thinking whether the boy she saw was just a fantasy or a dream. But then she looked at a picture book on top of her desk drawer. She opened it and saw a an oil painting of the sun setting in the ocean. Then there’s the little inscription on the bottom corner of the painting that says, ‘The view of the rising star is the most beautiful.’

It’s a funny message, and she doesn’t understand. But she started waiting for the sun to rise, and it became her habit. Then she felt happy, even sadness and all her negative thoughts disappeared. She was again excited and het desire for life resumed. It was all because of an ambiguous letter from a boy she didn’t know.

Hearing Ruby tell all her little secrets makes Ricky feel sad. He looks at Ruby with a smile even though she is telling stories while smiling, but knowing what Ruby has felt in the past makes his feel sorrowful. Ricky hugged Ruby while holding back his tears.

“I didn’t know you were experiencing any of that, I had failed as a brother.” Ricky said.

“ It’s okay, it’s all over. Now I’m fine, so you don’t have to endure anymore. Forgive me for making you suffer by watching me drown.” Ruby said while hugging Ricky.

Even though it has kept all the pain and suffering long enough. We feel we have to tell someone. Not to ask for advice or a word of comfort, but we just want to be honest and share it with someone. Because it feels too hard to keep everything to yourself.Sometimes we just need to be heard when talking because we want to make sure that there is someone on our side.

***

Meanwhile, Helena was peering at Natty, who was lying on her bed from outside through the window. Helena is eager to see Natty, but she hesitates because she still hasn’t made up with her best friend indeed more so after what happened. Helena fears Natty is still so angry at her, it might indeed hate her.

“What are you doing here?” asked Drake, who caught Helena peering at Natty from the window.

“No, I did nothing...” Helena replied she started misbehaving because she had been caught snooping by Drake.

“If you want to see her, go straight in. There’s no need to hesitate or peer out of the window like a coward like that.” Drake said.

“But I’m afraid she’s still mad at me. If I go in now, she might be distracted…” replied Helena who looked lethargic while dropping her gaze.

“ It doesn’t matter now, your friend is sick. Regardless of whether or not she’s going to get angry, at least you should go see her because that’s what a friend should do.” Drake said.

Drake forced even pulling Helena in and visiting Natty. Natty was pleased to welcome Drake to look at her, but her face changed when she saw Helena following Drake behind. Natty can’t help but blame Helena for everything that happened until she had to split from Gale because Helena was the only one who could tell her mother and make all this happens.

She’s yet drowning in grief at the breakup from Gale. And she’s still in the heartbreak stage. Now she can’t think or be a wise man who can forgive like she did for Helena. The only thing she can do right now is hate and blame others.

That’s why he’s so bad for Helena. She doesn’t even want to see Helena and ignore her, even though Helena tries to chat to her. She acted like she didn’t see or hear Helena.

“Why did you bring her here? It sucks...” Natty said to ask Drake while looking at Helena.

“ Hey, can’t you just be gentle a little. She's come to see you, even though she's afraid you’re yet mad at her. Look at her good intentions...” Replied Drake, but Natty showed a face she didn’t like.

Although Natty said nothing, Helena knew her presence was unacceptable. Helena also knows she can’t be angry with Natty, but far from being in her heart she still feels disappointed and sad. She's been throwing away all her egos and wants to make up, but it can’t touch Natty’s heart one bit. Natty still builds a wall of hatred that Helena can’t tear down.

“Then I’ll go first...” Helena said goodbye with a moody face and a sultry stare.

Helena left while bowing her head. She was so sad that even her shoulders looked down like a bent man. Drake, who doesn’t like Natty’s rude attitude to Helena, is upset as if she's scolding Natty. But Natty doesn’t seem to care. Anger and hatred have filled her heart so much that she no longer cares if she has hurt Helena’s feelings or not.

Drake sits in a chair next to Natty’s bed. Drake was quite concerned to see Natty’s right leg still wrapped in a cast. Drake sighs deeply to ease his frustration. Natty looks upset when she sees Drake’s somber face as he looks at her condition. So upset she hit Drake in the head and made Drake scream in pain.

“ What are you doing! It hurts so much...” Drake screamed in pain.

“ It’s your fault for putting on such a frustrating face, it me off. I’m the one who's sick. Why do you look so frustrated?” said Natty in her tone while putting on an upset face.

Drake can only squeal in anger while rubbing his still-sore head. He glances at Natty as if he's cursing at her, but he stops because of Natty’s scarier gaze.

“How can you stay scary even when you’re sick,” murmured Drake while continuing to rub his head.

“Oh yeah, what about your relationship with Mrs. Gale?” asked Drake.

“How else, of course, we broke up. Our relationship unfolded terribly and it led to her being fired from the school and assigned to a distant place. She also feared that it would be bad for me if we maintained our relationship. So, our love just ended...” replied Natty explained in a somber tone.

“But, how did your mom know about you guys? Am I not the only one who knows...” Drake replied with a confused face and wondered.

Natty remained silent, from the very beginning she suspected Helena and even she was convinced that only Helena could tell her mom. But Natty remained silent and did not share her suspicions. However, far out of her heart, Natty still considers Helena to be her friend. Even though she’s angry she might indeed hate Helena, but she still doesn’t want anyone else to hate her. Such is a friend even though she hates her friend so much, she still tries to protect her best friend and will not let others disturb her best friend. A relationship that looks fragile but also formidable.