8: The pain from the rose's thorns

“Thank you for telling me,” I said as I bow my head.

“No, I’m glad you came. I’m sorry if it’s not a good news,” she said with a worried look on her face.

“Mind if I ask where their body is?”

“I’m sorry, but I have no idea where the Akishimato family buried your parents,” she replied.

“That’s too bad,” I said as I stood up. I’m not sure what to do anymore, but I need to go back to the Palace. My time is up, I guess I’ll find them when my day off comes.

“Are you leaving?” she asked.

“Yes. I only got out of the palace because of a certain someone,” I said as I walked out of the house.

“Are you sure you’re okay?”

“I’d be lying if I said yes, but it's going to be fine,” I said as I waved her goodbye.

I don’t know how to say this to Ervin. I spent my 5 years working so hard for them without knowing that they were already resting in peace. I’m hurting but I can say that I’m also happy that they don’t have to suffer anymore. I know that even if I did save them and send them back to our country they won’t have a good life. Even if I work double, it won't be enough for me to give them the life they deserve. I just wish I was able to repay everything they have done to me before they left this world. My heart can’t seem to beat properly. I feel like there’s a thousand thorns of roses stuck on it. Now, I’m suffering from the pain of the past and the regrets were eating me up.

~

It’s been 2 hours already but Fabio hasn’t come back yet. I wonder where he is? The garden flowers were already dry. I don’t have any idea how to take care of this kind of plant or any plants for that matter. I can only do it by removing the small grass that was growing. Old man Tanaka and the prince left already, it was crazy. He was looking at me with his eyes wide open. I decided to ignore him, it looks like he still doesn't know a thing. I feel bad for him, he’s like an empty bottle walking around. But i guess it is the right choice for now. I know he’s not ready for the truth, he’s just a curious child.

“Ervin.”

I looked behind me and saw Fabio walking towards me with tears in his eyes. This is the first time I’m seeing him like this. He’s usually the diligent and serious type of guy and he only laughed occasionally. We’ve been friends for 5 years but this is the first time I saw him crying.

“What happened, Fabio?” I asked as I held his arms. He looked at me with his eyes full of sorrow.

“I was late,” he replied shortly.

“What do you mean? Did something happen?” I asked.

I already know what might be the reason why he’s being like this, but I cannot seem to say it out loud. I don’t want myself to believe in my guts. I don’t want to hear the truth.

“I didn’t even get to see them for the last time, even their graves. What kind of a son am I? I’m not independent, I’m no good. I’m just a kid who always rely to his parents,” he said as he started to cry out loud.

 I cannot do anything for him, I’m just rubbing his back until he calms down. I know how much he loves his parents, he always talks about them. He’s been working so hard for them, he has never thought of anything for himself. Everything he’s been doing, everything that he had earned was all for his parents. I know, I know how painful it is to lose someone and that fact that he lost both of them at the same time. I cannot seem to phantom how much pain he is right now. I wanted to help, I wanted to do something for him but I know this is not the time. He needs space, he needs time to think. He’s a strong person, I know he’ll overcome this. He’s much stronger than I am that’s why I’m confident that he’ll be fine soon. I’ll just stay by his side until the day he’s finally ready to open up about what happened to his parents. We all lost something precious to us, now it is up to us if we are going to stand up with our heads held up high or we will let the problem eat us away. It is always our choice, we always have our choice in our life. I’m here because this is where I was destined to be. I learn how to accept things and move on because life is like a wheel. It will continue to spin as long as you are willing to roll with it.