The Bad News!

Drew's POV

All of my life, I have never been in a point in my life where I am as confused, disorganized and completely loss with my -gay word incoming-feelings, as now. As far as what my memory have stored, which isn't really that trusty to start with, the last time I got confused barely this much was when I was answering my Calculus midterm exam last semester.

That was a very difficult one. That nagging feeling that "A" was the answer while also feeling that it could be "C". Since I hadn't had a "C" for quite a while.

I know this should be like a serious academic problem, but I'm probably the only person in this universe who trust "feelings" in answering math exams.

The week before that exam, I poured a quarter of my annual savings down in this sort of a good luck-fountain for extra luck. Because of course why wouldn't I. I was just grabbing all the chances I could take.

Anyway I didn't care, and that didn't mean that I'd relied my future completely to some mere thought of fiction always, only from time to time. I study a lot too! Though I got to admit that I wasn't able to study much for that exam, which explains why I poured a quarter of my savings which I would just give only a handful normally.

Pffffttt.

You should take a look at the students that visit there almost every exam week, some even pour a bucket of penny! I remembered the money in the fountain became so abundant that they built another one nearby.

I bet it should have five or six fountains by now.

Anyway, off tracked. Now that I thought about it, I wasn't able to understand at all why I felt like that last night.

Am I in love?

With Maybelle?

Like seriously? In love?

With all the racing heartbeat and wanting to hold hands thingy?

Hmmm...

No.

Not quite.

But then, I remembered Paul saying 'Oh? I have always thought you had special feelings for her.' How was he able to infer that?! I mean even I can't tell! It's nowhere near something that conclusive.

Oh yeah, what was Ash's reaction to that again?

'Do you really have to marry her immediately? Can't you wait until graduation at least? '

I should really have punched that dense head of his till his brain gains its mature state of mentality. He didn't get anything I explained. And then also maybe Misty would be grateful at me for once. He can't be that dense right? It wasn't really that difficult to notice Misty being all over him.

Today though seemed totally different from yesterday. I wasn't feeling any gloominess, not even a silhouette of it. Birds were happily chirping on the branches of trees not giving a single crap about the November chill and everything, though unbelievably except on the pavement in front of our garage, crap, literally! I really hate cleaning these stuff, but I was nonetheless merry.

There are times like these that for some bizarre reason I feel unnecessarily happy.

A happiness that seemed, hmm I can't seem to find the correct word.

AH!

Short-lived?

Nah, it can't be that, I think I've had enough of my share already. So after putting on my green scarf, I headed outside to clear out the snow and poop that had piled up on the pavement in front of our garage.

I should have been in school today but since my parents weren't able to get me enrolled in some university somewhere, I get to do whatever I want today! Wooh!

"You better clean this crap you did winged-demons!" I buoyantly pointed a finger to these winged-mortals on the tree branch, not giving any crap of attention to me. "Or else! I'll vanquish them myself!"

But then maybe.

Maybe if I accept this proposal I would know what I truly feel. I mean I did a lot of thinking last night and I came to a point that this could be the perfect chance to find out what I truly feel. I wanted to taste again how beautiful it was to sleep oh so peacefully with no certain chocolate-freak disrupting my realm of thoughts.

This might be way too sudden but now? I think marriage isn't really that bad, at least not any worse than Grandpa's same every afternoon story gag. I don't really care much about my harem anymore way back in LaRousse anymore and I think I'm quite proud of how I can keep my secrets.

"I love my life!" I shouted half-truthfully and half-sarcastically while dropping my trowel. I punched the chilled air with my utmost vitality.

"I trust Mom that marriage won't change a thing." I'll show Grandpa!

It's just like getting a new sister.

Just like getting a new sister.

Just like getting a new sister.

I kept on repeating the phrase like some addict undergoing severe drug drawbacks. Sweat from my forehead dropped to the ground as I heaved the snow with the trowel. I needed to get this out of my freaking mind, and I can't chicken out of just a simple marriage. I still kept on repeating the phrase, trying very hard to suppress something deep somewhere inside of me.

A truth that no matter what path I choose, impending doom lays beyond with both loving arms wide open out for me.

Since my parents have yet to decide where to continue my last semester of high school, and having a free time I decided to pick May from school and tell her my point of view about this whole marriage stuff.

If she's not okay with it because she doesn't like me being her husband so be it. It's not like I want her to be my wife as well.

And then something throbbed inside my chest. Like a parasitic worm trying to burrow deep into my guts.

And if she does agree and we get married then I will be burdened forever with house chores and her nagging. Obviously, both sides offer a sort of depressing end. Either way, I'm screwed, like big time!

It's one of those 'damned if I do you damned if I don't' situation.

After a few neat brushes on my chartreuse hair, I went out to May's school wearing a plain red sweater with matching black jeans. I stood by waiting near the gate as hundreds of students in their usual white winter uniform slowly came out. The sun was already starting to set as the blue hue of the sky turned gradually to a vivid orange. The atmosphere became a little bit warmer as the snow gently stopped falling.

"Drew?" A familiar voice reached me. "Andrew Hayden? Is that really you!?"

When I turned around, I saw one of the prettiest girls I have ever seen in my life. Her pink long gorgeous hair flowing against the wintry air, reflecting the afternoon's orange rays as her mystical sapphire eyes pierced through me in the most beautiful way unimaginable.

"Solidad?" Her name was all I could mutter. Even her name resonated a certain beat in my heart. I suddenly went mushy on the inside.

"Since when did you arrive here?" She asked as she went over to my side. "I mean how could you not notify me immediately?"

It took me quite a while to regain my senses, I was really stunned at how beautiful she had become. When my family and I still stayed here before we went back to LaRousse, my parents trusted Solidad to be my caretaker. She's seven years older than I am. "I just arrived here yesterday." I gulped a weight of my nerves deep down. "Sorry about that."

"It's fine actually." She smiled so brightly that I think it made my green hair wilt at how beautiful it was. "No biggies."

"Uhm, Solidad." I looked back at the school gate just to redirect my gaze from her, for she was giving me this swoony effect. "I didn't know you teach in this university."

"Oh that?" She chuckled as she looked up at the orange skies. "I'm a teacher here now, though I got accepted just a month ago."

"Oh I see." I smiled at her, shooting the brightest I could ever give since I thought that I haven't really smiled since I saw her. "But I know for sure you'll become a great teacher here! Cause that's what you really are." I added radiantly.

She then immediately responded with a smile. She rubbed my head lightly. "So you know a lot more about me now after being gone that long huh?" She added with a laugh.

The atmosphere became so light that it felt like the sun has just risen up.

"Oh, did you wait here for Ash and Paul?" She suddenly inquired.

So they really weren't kidding yesterday when they said that they were May's classmates since the previous semester.

Speaking of yesterday, damn those guys! All they did was mock me to no end! I just can't believe I missed those two.

...

"I can't believe you'll already lose your virginity to your sister!" Paul laughed hysterically almost dropping the shot glass he lightly held. "Hey Reggie! Give us another bottle of that champagne! Pronto!"

"Hey Paul you shouldn't laugh like that, it's so not you." Ash responded as he let go of his glass on the table. "You're scaring us, though I got to agree Drew, isn't that incest?" He added.

"For the last time Maybelle isn't my sister!" I screamed and buried my face within my arms and laid my head on the table. "I'm not in love with her! I hate you guys so much." I added in a helpless whimper, not even caring that it was Reggie, Paul's older brother, who patted my back.

"Don't listen to this purple drunk dinosaur Drew, I'm sure everything will sort out eventually." Reggie encouraged. "If you want you could stay here in our house for tonight."

"Drunk purple dinosaur? What the hell Reggie!"

...

"Hey, Drew?" Solidad snapped me back from that awful memory, well, to an even more awful reality. "You spaced out." She voiced out a concern. "Is everything alright?"

"Sorry but I don't seem to remember those names in my glorious Ash-free and Paul-free life."

"I can't believe you three seem to get along still quite well after all these years." She laughed out loud which surprised me a bit.

"Since you're not here for them, then are you here maybe for May?" She suggestively raised an eyebrow.

I nodded and looked down, hoping that she wasn't able to witness the slight blush I performed.

Goddammit.

Just like getting a new sister.

Just like getting a new sister.

Just like getting a new sister.

"There's no hiding that blush Andrew-"

"There's Maybelle!" I cut her off as I quickly noticed May's silhouette coming over to us.

I peeked a little at Solidad's face. She smirked at me so I quickly turned back around and decided to meet May.

"Hi Ms. Solidad!" She went pass me, which made me scrunched my eyebrows. I am pretty sure that she still has good operational eyes.

I see, so that's how she wants to play it huh.

"Hey May!" She greeted her just as happily. And as soon as Solidad understood my scrunched look, she decided to tease us since it's been like forever she hadn't teased us. "If you're not going to pass your Literary Report yet, at least you won't pass by this fellow gentleman here."

I immediately irked and felt my heart skipped a beat when Solidad said the word 'gentlemen' and showcased me to May like I was some modern age prince charming on a Volvo ready to sweep her off of her feet and pick her up.

Except for, well, everything. Aside from picking her up that is.

"Hmpf, gentlemen? I have never seen anyone like him in my glorious Andrew-free life." She bitterly spat, not even taking a glance at me.

Solidad giggled, her face screaming with 'Oh how cute! You two really are a match made in heaven!" or something like that. In the end, I just decided to shrug it all off.

"Hey why are you so mad at me?" I inquired and slowly walked to her, noticing that Solidad was quietly and adoringly eyeing us.

"Grandpa said you just left me sleeping on the cold, hard, filthy, stony, deceased, micro-faunal rich, foot-kissed often, damn floor." She said harshly. "Did I forget to mention cold, hard and filthy? Yes cold, hard and filthy!"

Wow, that was a mouthful.

As I was about to answer some smart retort of my own, she just cut me off.

"Anyway, your response won't be needed and I'll be heading home now thank you." She stated as she began walking away. "I've already placed my report on your table Ms. Solidad!"

"Wait, May, you can't possibly think that I could carry you right? I mean possibly carry right?"

I was confident that I was still on the upper hand even though I was quite aware that making fun of her weight was too much. All she did was pause midway then continued and all I heard from her was just an unintelligent murmur, with the words 'kill' and 'murder' painted all over it I'm pretty sure.

"Okay May I'm sorry!" I ran and caught up with her. "How about a cake and coffee by the shop I just passed by?" I suggested. "My treat."

Just like magic, it only took us a minute to get there. It was fast, considering May dragging us both Solidad all the way to the café. She was murmuring that making fun of her weight was taboo and it would cost me a dozen of brownies. A freaking dozen! The store was also just a few paces away in front of the school anyway.

But that dragging force dude, scary.

When we got there, we went in and I ordered for the girls. I sat the tray on the table, three orders of chocolate cake, cups of coffee and the special hazelnut sprinkled brownies. Goodbye a week worth of my allowance, I will surely miss you.

It seemed like a perfect time for me to share, so I might as well do. I mean I might reconsider if I won't be able to say it now.

Here goes nothing.

"Uhm May." My calling seemed to break off their chat. "I really thought about it last night." I continued trying to make sure that I was already convinced of my decision.

"And?" May motioned me to continue, not even a glint of awareness that she knew what I was talking about.

I gulped nervously.

"Let's just give it a shot." I said as quickly as that famous brown fox that everybody already knew what quick thing he did. Oh God, what have I just said?

"Huh!?" She slammed her hands on the table, but wasn't loud enough to catch anybody's attention.

Thank God.

She stood up with fire evidently blazing within her pupils.

Why did I ever come up with this decision again? I was slowly regretting all the decisions I ever did.

"You're crazy! Crazy!" She hissed, spitting venom, or chocolate debris rather, in her voice as she stabbed her cake with the fork she held. The sight was so scary that all my manliness (if there was any of course) courage, strength and everything escaped like hot gas. I felt like I minimized into something as insignificant as an ant. Of course, I regretted saying that. Where was the vitality I had back then? Only God knew.

"I was just kidding." I took it all back immediately. Though the fear from her outrage was still on me, I felt the same uneasiness feeling I felt last night. What's wrong with me?

Did that mean she hated me?

I mean I don't want her to hate me..

"We can't do that! We're just seventeen! NEVER!"

I could practically saw Solidad trying to calm May down through my bangs. She finally sat down and chowed on her remaining cake like a predator.

"I said I was just kidding. I don't wanna do it too you know." I answered, still looking down. "You don't have to attract audiences Dunce."

"Uhm guys? Mind telling me what's going on?" Solidad sheepishly inquired, letting us know of her presence. Thank God she is here, I don't know what would have happened if she wasn't here. Thank you so much sweet God.

May then glared that made everyone that noticed us return back to their own businesses. May explained the whole situation, every nook and cranny. All I did was listen. I was just a few centimeters from both of them, but my mind wandered kilometers away.

May doesn't want to get married because we're just seventeen, she literally said that but what if she really doesn't want to get married because she hated me? Or maybe because there's someone else she already liked? And what if they already have a sort of commitment while I was away? And what if-

Argh! What am I thinking?! This whole thing's been murdering me ever since! I needed to calm down. Like seriously.

I've been upset about May's feelings for me when I'm not even sure about my own feelings for her. I believe that makes me somehow of a jerk.

After some chat about our predicament with Solidad, she bid farewell and promised not to tell anyone about our little doom.

RIIIIIIING!

May startled up as the waiter cleaned up our table. She picked up her ringing mobile.

"Hello? Mom?" Then I noticed a sudden change in her mood. She dropped the call after a minute and gave me teary eyes. "Grandpa's in the hospital." She forced down a sob as we went quickly to the hospital before it went dark.

"I think I'm gonna pass out any minute now Drew." May sobbed and showing difficulty in breathing.

Darn it, what the hell just happened anyway?!

As the taxi silently hummed, I held her hand tightly trying to bring comfort. One thought flashed through my mind.

Way to go Grandpa! I always love it when you make her pass out. It never grows old.

I feel something wrong with the situation. I don't seem to trust it.

Darn! What am I talking about? Grandpa is dying, I shouldn't be like this! Stupid paranoia.

I shook out the paranoia clinging to me.

Grandpa doesn't kid now.

The taxi still went silently as I continued to grip tightly unto May's delicate trembling hands.