Brendan's Revelation Part II

May's POV

"Your flight?" I asked, trying not to sound as incredulous as I really was. "But, I, I don't understand..."

"Why would you leave? Where would you go?"

"My dad asked if I could continue my schooling outside this country. Well, again. His work required him to go abroad constantly, though I haven't asked yet where to this time." He answered. "He asked me this a few months ago."

A few months ago? Does that mean that he would have been gone even before the start of the final term? But why did he just decide it now when his father asked him that long? He just even started this final term. It doesn't make any sense if he was asked months ago but he'd still start the final term here and quit halfway.

Am I missing something here?

"So you are saying that your father asked you this a couple of months ago and you just agreed to him now despite reaching halfway this semester? We just finished midterms." I laid down my hands from the table and on to my lap as it seemed to help me compose from the confusing situation. "Am I right?"

"Yes."

"But why?" I followed immediately. "If you would eventually agree to him then why did you even bother starting the final term here?"

"Because I lost my one and only reason." He answered with a dejected smile.

"One and only reason?" His sad smile was so depressing that it made my heart heavy. I decided to take a drink from my tea hoping that it would help raise my feelings somehow. I took a little sip.

"I don't know if I should say this." He started and looked away from me and took a drink from his tea as well. "Would you find me weird if I say that you were the reason?"

"Would you hate me?" He added.

I was astonished. "I was the reason?" I answered and placed the glass I held back on the table.

"How come?"

"The truth is." He continued and placed his glass back on the table as well. He rubbed the nape of his neck. "Before the start of the first semester this year, I came back from abroad. So you could say that I originally studied outside. To be honest, I have no permanent school. I keep on moving from school to school. But it doesn't bother me to be honest."

"Anyway, I originally planned to stay here for a short vacation with my father but then one late afternoon I saw you with your friends walk down this convenient store." He carved a cheerful smile at me. "I was so happy. I thought it was really my fate to see you again after all this time. I could never forget that cute puppy-ear hair style of yours."

I still found myself dumbfounded. I marveled at how he still remembered me after just that one fateful meeting we had when we were young.

"I was about to call out to you but I became scared." He chuckled. "I'm not really the most social person. So instead I took note of your uniform and asked my father if I could continue my schooling here."

"And the thing is, I tried approaching you last semester, but I would always end up running away scared." He heaved himself a sigh. "It really does take a large amount of courage to talk to someone."

"I'm not even sure if you'd remember me." He added. "I guess that is what scared me the most. That I would make myself look like a fool. It's been a lot of years since we last saw each other and it would make sense if you had forgotten about me."

I would have known and remembered him if he just approached me, I may have completely forgotten everything about him until that weird flashback-dream I just had weeks ago.

Though I do agree that it takes a lot of courage to talk to someone who doesn't know you, or perhaps someone you're not sure if he or she still remembers you.

I gave him a sad knowing smile. He might be right. If he had approached me, I surely would have trouble remembering him.

Feeling pathetic? Check.

Feeling guilty? Check.

Feeling stupid? Check.

Could things get even sadder? I probably shouldn't even question that. Or else it might get even sadder.

"So you were trying to talk to me all this time?" I asked.

"Yeah." He laughed and awkwardly scratched the back of his head. "I failed like every damn time."

"So what do you think made me gather all my strength and courage to approach you just last month after trying so hard for many months?"

I gulped silently as his stern gaze suddenly made the atmosphere dead serious.

"I don't know.." I said to myself. I partially knew that this would have something to do about his father moving abroad again or something like that.

It must be that. Surely.

"It's about my Dad."

"My mother died giving birth to me. My father is the only family I have left." At the mention of his mother dying even before Brendan recognized her, I watched him through the corners of my eyes. It's depressing. "So that's why I get to be this close with my father ever since. He's a food and wine connoisseur. He also owns a lot of small businesses."

"Wherever his work would take him, I follow him." He continued. "Dad has always been busy. And as I grew up, I realized that he was just trying to make himself busy."

"Dad really loved Mom."

"This is also the reason why I don't really have friends and why I suck at communicating. I keep on moving and I find it useless to keep friendship if I have to keep on jumping from one country to another. But I don't really mind having no friends. I love my father and that's all that really matters to me."

He really does amaze me. Not only he was able to remember me after all these years but he's also been very thoughtful of his father and how he really loved him.

"I'm not really that sad about my mother, because she died giving birth to me. I wasn't provided with memories of her to cherish to begin with and all I could get so close to her were pictures Dad got left of her."

"It's Dad that really gets the train wreck of her death."

"So that's why I try my best to be by his side most of the time, to help him ease the pain from losing Mom."

I bit the inside of my cheek.

"So when Dad told me that we had to move abroad again." He cleared his throat and took another drink of his tea, after placing it back on the table he continued. "I begged him that I needed to stay a little while longer."

"I know I gave him a lot of pressure about that since work is so important to him but he agreed despite that."

"And I was really happy that he agreed." He added smiling. "He even teased me that I would even try to make such an unusual request out of him just for the sake of a girl."

That got me right on the spot. Why?! Why would he do such a thing for me?!

"He also said that I should stop being such a worry wart about him and start looking for my own happiness."

I don't know whether what I would say would even matter or should I even make a retort about what he said. Because clearly? I doubted that anything I would say would even make the situation any less miserable.

"That's when I thought of giving you that letter that made you think I was some sort of a perverted stalker." He laughed awkwardly again. "I'm really sorry about that May. I really need to know how to socialize."

I looked down and clutched my chest. Things were getting more depressing than they already were. I don't know if Brendan even need to let me know all of these sad stuff so I decided that he should just get to the point, I mean I know that it's even more depressing on his side but wouldn't it be better also if he should get this done and over it?

I don't mean to be offensive or something.

"This is getting more depressing Brendan, I don't know if I could still handle it." I looked back up at him with soggy eyes.

Goddamit why do I have to be such a cry baby?!

"What are you getting at?"

He looked down.

"I didn't want to continue my study abroad without you knowing about me." He answered immediately. "Or how I kept on failing just trying to talk to you, at least. That's why I wrote you a letter back then without realizing that it made me look like a pervert."

"And guess what?" He asked. "Even after that I still don't want to study abroad."

I gulped silently.

"Because...?" I said, almost whispering.

"Because I would miss you."

My heart felt like it stopped beating for minute.

I blankly gazed at him, barely breathing. Paralyzed. The soft romantic rhythm played by the band were still surrounding us and it felt very sadly ironic how it sounded so young and sweet when what was actually going on between us was heart breaking.

I stayed silent.

"I've reached this far May." He looked down and I noticed how his arms trembled slightly. His shoulders stiffed badly. "After all those times I tried and how I thought it was my fate to be with you again."

"Now I know it was all just stupidity and naivety."

I bowed down and felt a tremble in myself as well. I focused my concentration on my fists that were on my lap. I wasn't actually listening, like listening with all the words absorbing to your brain kind of listening. Because one more thought, one more thought that I would give in to thinking how he was able to do all these things for me yet messing it up for him, I might not able to contain all these grief and how miserable it made us look that I would definitely lose it all.

I felt the worst kind of remorse, with my heart trying to strangle itself.

"I understood it all after that match with Drew yesterday. That I should have just left as soon as Dad asked me if I could continue my study abroad months ago." He looked up and gave me another sad smile again. "That I shouldn't even have bothered right from the start."

"He loves you May." He added. "Maybe even more than I do."

"What are you saying Brendan?" I murmured, trying to stop my trembling lips.

"And if I would only be a bother to something mutual going on between you two." He stated as his eyes got teary and looked at me with overflowing sorrow that it pained me so much. "Then I'd rather miss you."

The words he said, his depressed and pained expression. Everything gave me goose bumps I never had before. My own soggy eyes were getting even soggier than they already were and that wasn't very good.

Not at all.

I blinked my tears away.

"It's just that I get really nervous around girls I really like."

"Well if you had fun, I was having more fun!"

"I assume it would be safe to ask if you could be my girlfriend."

"Well, I think you're a great girl May. You're cute, smart, easy-going, and most of all, I like you."

"Awe damn it." Brendan cursed. He brushed his tears that trickled using the back of his hands in a frustrated manner. "I really did it, didn't I. This is so embarrassing."

"I'm so sorry if you had to see this May." He stammered really badly around his seat. His voice gentle and broken. "I really am pathetic."

Then I realized that I was still in my position with my hands on my lap like a behaved school girl. I remembered the hanky he lent me earlier inside my pocket. So without a minute to think, I quickly fished it out and handed it over to him.

He slowly looked up at me and accepted his berry-scented white handkerchief. "You are definitely not pathetic Brendan Birch." I blinked away the tears again and tried my best to gather whatever strength I currently have. If he was able to gather that much strength just to talk to me about all of this then I bet I could do the same to comfort him.

If I would have to cry because of how this situation was depressing or how this has turned worst for him.

Now is not the perfect time.

"The way how you worried about your dad. How you care about him." I started after breathing out a single prolonged exhalation. "The way how you even remembered me all this time and how you tried approaching me but you just can't because you were just anxious."

"It's all amazing. Trust me. I, I mean I can't even put it into words. You sacrificed friendship over your dad, even I can't do that. That makes you really, uh, something. Something amazing."

Even though his expression was full of shock, I oddly felt a little bit relaxed.

I saw his auburn eyes sparkle like pearls from the recently shed tears.

"You might have not noticed this or someone may have not said this to you before, but you are a wonderful person. A great person. I never knew anyone who cares about his family as much as you do." I added, with a smile from my own this time, remembering how he considered himself as someone pathetic. "And if your mother would still be alive now, I'm pretty sure that she would be proud of you for taking care of your father."

He then suddenly smiled and gave a sheepish laugh. He tried to wipe whatever tears he got left.

"And plus, you're good at soccer! That's wow."

He chuckled.

"You really are something May."

"Drew sure is one hell of a lucky boy."

I smiled inwardly at what he just said and took interest at the untouched reddish-brown cold fluid in front of me.

Speaking about Drew, I thought that Brendan would have known about our real status when he said that he understood something about his match against Drew yesterday. And thankfully it didn't look like that because then I would think that I didn't have beaten Drew hard enough after knowing how he told Paul about our marriage.

It just seemed to him that we somehow got this mutual feeling for each other. I wonder how he was able to conclude that.

"You said that Drew loves me." I mentioned, still glancing at how the ice cubes bumped with each other on my tea. "What made you say that?"

"Oh that?" He answered as he placed back his hanky inside his pocket. "You remembered our score yesterday right? 3-1?"

I nodded.

"That's because he challenged me four times." He laughed a little. "And he only kicked the ball pass me just once."

"Four times?!" I asked incredulously. "Why would he do that?"

"I don't know if you'll believe me but he really was desperate to beat me." He stopped laughing and took a final drink of his tea. "Because he thought that you liked soccer players, especially big shots like me."

"So he wanted to be one by replacing me as the soccer club president as a start. It's kind of a very big leap if you ask me."

Because right now, I'm thinking that because you're my wife and that I should be doing what I can to have all your attention at me.

I suddenly felt my face illuminate red. So he really was serious about having all my attention to him?!

"Ehh?!" I was about to ask why he would do that but it seemed that Brendan answered it already when he mentioned that Drew loves me, and I guess asking about it wouldn't stop me from getting any more embarrassed.

"I could even remember how he made it sound so boring just taking my place when he really wanted it badly."

"B-but h-how about t-tha-that s-staying away from me thingy?" I stuttered badly, panicking in trying to change the subject, and I just unknowingly made it even more embarrassing by just asking that question.

How many times do I have to tell you? That I don't want someone like him meddling with your life.

"Well isn't it obvious that he didn't want me meddling with you?" He perked up at me. "Though I wouldn't really call it meddling like he did, he really doesn't like me." He heaved a playful chuckle.

I puffed out my cheeks. That pervert, I mean yeah it's pretty obvious I guess but I really thought that he is just a narcissistic pervert and he wouldn't even do something like that. Wait, didn't I want him to do something like that? Like how he would keep me all on his own?

Why?" Answer damn it! Tell me because you care! Tell me that I'm the only one you want! Tell me that, tell me that you..

At the very least...

Like me.

Didn't I just basically- oh my god- didn't I just basically asked for it?!

I snapped out of it when it looked like it would only get me flustered more and more.

"I'm so sorry about him-"

"But he really does love you." He cut me off and smiled at me. "I understand that, and that is something I shouldn't meddle with."

And after all the commotion and how this conversation of ours turned into one heck of a roller coaster ride, I felt my heart beating again. Somehow seeing him laugh without him trying to hide something was really comforting like how we felt mutually and equally comforted deep inside.

"He likes you and I'm also pretty sure that you like him."

I was about to ask him why when his butler Gerard came over to our table with my bag.

"Your father would like to talk with you now young master." He came over and bowed down. "He'll be waiting for you in his room."

Brendan then took my bag and gave it to me. "This looks like the end of our date May."

"Yeah." I forced back my thought and gave a sheepish laugh. I took my bag and hung it over my shoulder. "Thanks for the food." I smiled.

"Thanks for hearing me out as well." He composed himself as Gerard went back behind the kitchen doors. "Well I guess this is-" It was then my turn to cut him off. I hugged him tight.

I heard playful whistles coming from the band as they cheered for Brendan when I hugged him. I knew Brendan was surprised and probably felt awkward but I don't mind. When it comes to comforting anyone when words won't be enough, a hug would definitely be a perfect choice. And it's not like I wasn't assured that he really was comforted after that talk we had, it also served as a farewell hug.

A farewell hug to someone who I would always adore.

I heard him release a comforted sigh and gave me back the hug. I felt his nostalgic warmness and the rapid beat of his heart. It was embarrassing actually, but in a good way.

We broke our hug soon after and said our farewell. He then led me back to the door. The last thing I saw of him was his child-like smiling face as we waved each other goodbye.

"I'll see you soon. Brendan Birch." I whispered to myself.

....

When I was walking down the street, snow was starting to fall lightly. It was getting darker and I popped up my mobile and took a quick look at the time.

4:30PM

I placed it back inside my bag and saw a puff of white frost from my breath. It was getting cold so I tightened my scarf and headed down the sidewalk.

So Brendan's really going away. It is pretty sad actually but knowing how he valued his father taking care of their businesses, he really is someone mature and selfless. I went pass this drug store and I thought about Drew if he was getting better or not. So I decided to buy some pain relievers for his sore muscles.

The bell hanging behind the door chimed as I went in, I shivered out the coldness and bump into four girls I hardly even knew. But judging by their uniform, it looked like we go to the same school.

"I'm sor-"

"Oh if isn't it the wretched witch of Class 3-A!" The girl with long blonde hair sneered at me.

"She's apparently not as 'witchly' as what the Mistress talked about." The brunette with ponytail retorted. And the other girls just gave me sickly laughs.

"Excuse me!" I retorted back and gave them my own sick glare. The aura we were pulling off was unnecessarily attracting audiences. I don't care a single bit if this would turn out into a nasty war. "You girls seemed to have left your manners in your mother's uterus!"

"Excuse us but we don't have time to listen to your weird occult philosophies." The one with dark midnight long hair reaching the back of her thighs scoffed as she pushed past me. "Come girls, the Mistress is waiting for us." She pranced all the way out holding sets of pain reliever pills.

I balled my fist angrily as they left the store leaving me surrounded with a bunch of adults gossiping like some childish middle schoolers. "What the heck was their problem?!"

I vent out a sigh as I quickly went to the counter and bought pain reliever pills for Drew.

It started to snow heavily when I got out of the store so I ran my fastest all the way back to the apartment. I felt for the switch and took off my shoes with me as I went inside.

"Drew?" I called out. "I'm back!"

I dropped my bag on the floor, hang my scarf on the racket near it and slowly opened Drew's door to his room. My eyes widened when I saw it empty. Panic surged in me. I fully opened the door. And indeed he wasn't there.

The windows of his room showed me that it was really snowing heavily outside now and the thought of him barely moving a muscle with a fever being stuck under this severe snow storm is something I couldn't handle.

"That idiotic pervert!" I cursed. "I told him not to get up of bed unless he would only use the bathroom!" I was about to leave our room when I noticed the door to my own room was slightly opened.

I quickly rushed over it, hoping with all my might that he was there. I don't care whatever perverted stuff he was doing in my room, as long as he was just not outside under that heavy snow storm.

And he was there indeed, curled up like an innocent puppy on my bed sleeping so soundly. I heaved my biggest relaxed sigh as I went over and sat on my bed.

"You got me dead-worried there for a second sick pervert." I sighed again as I witnessed how even his breathing was. He got a relaxed and calm expression that just seeing him was slowly relieving me some stress.

I gently tried to brush away some of his chartreuse hair covering his forehead as I tried to feel his temperature.

"May?" I heard him murmured. "Where were you?"

I scrunched my eyebrows at him.

"That damn knit-cap wearing soccer nerd, stealing my waifee.."

Waifee?!

What?!

I wanted to laugh hysterically at what he just said. I ended up trying to hold my laughter in as much as possible without even letting out a single muffle, which was horribly difficult by the way.

Then he went back to becoming all silent again. I gazed happily at him even more.

"Don't worry sick pervert, I'm not into soccer players as what you think." I shot a smile at him as I stood up. "What made you even think about that seriously?"

"I think you just made me love you cabbage-brain."

I bent down and gave him a quick peck on his cheek and when I saw how his lips curved into a smile I felt my heart raced a beat.

He loves you May. Maybe even more than I do.

"Hey pervert." I softly poked his cheeks a couple of times. "How about saying those words Brendan mentioned?" I laughed a little when he just grumbled in his sleep.

"I hope one day that I'll hear those words from you. I would definitely love to hear them, well, uhm, as your wife that is." I chuckled.

"I guess you really did make me love you. Oh well."

I slowly closed in the door. I went to the kitchen and prepared his favorite soup.