03: Beginning

" God, Sue, Peter! What happened?!"

I was about to say something as I step forward but Peter preceded me, " We went to the river nearby, Mom. And it happens, Sue has a plan for us to take a dip in the river," the way he deliver it was so smooth as if we really did, did he ever think this reason a while ago? While we're walking down the streets?

Fortunately, that's our favorite place and Peter's Mom knows that, so Auntie lets us in. I was also feeling cold, even though Pete gave me a jacket to cover myself up. I'm sure he's getting cold too, he just doesn't show it.

We immediately went upstairs, to Pete's room, to change. Tita let me use their bathroom at the end of the hallway and Peter gave me some of his clothes before he entered the bathroom of his room.

" Next time, bring a towel and spare clothes with you. It's not that you're going home feeling cold. Especially you Peter, you should take care of Sue. What if something happens to her? To you?" I heard Auntie's exhortation just outside the hallway and I heard a door being slammed.

I stopped washing my face when I just sigh while feeling guilty. I cause trouble and when I'm with Peter, he's always being affected even when I'm not with him he's always to blame.

After putting on the clothes Pete gave me, I went out of the bathroom and head straight to his room. As I open the door, I catch him laying down on the bed while using his iPad.

I bent down my face when I face him, " Thank you about a while ago, for today actually. I'll make it up to you, promise. Whatever you want for this summer, I will do."

" Just bring my brownies later before I could change my mind."

I looked up as he answered me, " You're not mad?" he shake his head that's why I immediately run and jump to his bed then hug him tight.

" You're the best!" I shouted.

" Uh-Sue..."

I immediately remove my hands around his waist when he complained. He is not really fond of physical touches but here I am teasing him about it. And I told him I would go home first to get his brownies.

When I got home, I saw that the lights are all open. I was sure I left all of it close before I leave the house a while ago. I slowly opened the door a crack to check if someone is inside.

When I saw no one, I entered the house through the split I had made but I almost jumped in a panic because someone spoke behind me and the door banged close. That made my body tremble but Mom is laughing herself around.

Even my soul is trembling with fear and here Mom who has time to do this to me, " Mom! It's not cool!"

She laughed at me even more and just shook her head afterward.

" You came with Peter, huh?"

I guess she noticed the shirt I was wearing but I didn't answer her. I'm still furious with Mom. So I just walk towards the kitchen and open the fridge to get the brownies inside. And I could feel Mom following me.

" You baked them?"

" Yes, Mom, if you want some I put yours in the kitchen counter."

" But... I ate that..." she said, pointing out the box I'm carrying.

" You what?!" I said slightly raising my voice at her.

" Don't raise your voice around me, Susan!"

I shake my head trying to connect everything I just heard, " Sorry but you-you ate this?! Where is the other box?" I'm starting to panic.

" Yes because I didn't know it was for someone but I didn't touch the other one on the counter you said, "

I directly run towards the kitchen counter to check the other box and it was still complete, I was quickly relieved. When I found the one I got from the fridge, it only has one piece. Mom really enjoyed it, huh?

Then I told Mom first that I would be going to Pete's for a while, she might eat this too if I leave this behind again. I run outside the house and knock on Pete's house.

His father opens the door for me that's why I instantly back out a little. Also, the smell of cigarettes on him is dancing under my nose, I simply blew the smell away from me because it feels like I'm running out of breath. Thankfully, Pete takes the door and his father eventually leaves us.

I gave him the box and chat with him a little.

" Share it with Auntie, okie?" he nodded before I leave their house.

" KONNICHIWA-"

I STOOD UP right away when I saw how terrible he looks. I held his face to check the fresh-looking wound and bruises. But he slaps my hand off his face and is carefree in spite of what happened to him. I could feel my heart pounding hard with thoughts running inside my head and it was killing me inside. I was enthusiastic while waiting for him at our meeting place and this is how I will see him?

I sat down when he sat down on the cloth I prepare for us above the grass. I notice some of his wounds are still cut open and blood could escape from them at any time. His bruises are all purple-ish. Who wouldn't be worried about that?

" What happened, Archer, hmm? Did he do this to you again? Did he hurt you-" he cut me off after I flooded him with too many questions.

" This is nothing, Sue-"

" -Nothing, Archer?! You called this nothing?!" my voice raised at him as I started arguing with him, " Archer... I'm so sorry... this had to happen to you because of me, I'm sorry..." I repeatedly said, hushing the tone of my voice and stooping my head low.

Still, he shakes his head off, " No, it's not your fault. Nothing is your fault, Sue, okay? Calm down," he said and rubs my back as he pulls me closer to him. When I met his eyes, his glare softens unlike before so I settle my head on his shoulders, controlling the panic that was attacking me.

" Your father did this to you because of me, Peter, because of me..." I said pointing out myself.

Though, he sink my hand on my chest and held closer my head to his chest, " No, Sue, stop. Calm down, it's not your fault. Nothing is..."

"What exactly happened?" I ask while dipping the cotton with betadine on the cut of his eyebrow.

I still have to go home to get the materials needed to treat his face. Fortunately, the river is nearby and I came back quickly, maybe something bad would happen to him if I took so long.

He stop feeding me, looked down a bit, and look back at me again, " He almost got fired at his work and as usual he blame it on me," he said, and let down a closed smile with a shrugged off his shoulder.

" And as usual I have a part there to blame,"

" Sue."

" What?-I mean-"

" -Sue," he held my hand which treats his wound, and put it down," ...you know who he is. There could be other possible reasons why it happen other than what happened yesterday. "

I just lower my shoulder and continue what I was doing earlier, " Okay, I'll shut up now." I stop chewing the crunchy peanut inside and get some band-aid for him.

" Don't tell Mom either about what happened,"

I zip my mouth shut and give him a thumbs up while sticking the band-aid on his face, " Anyways, Do you have the university list you would want to go to?" I mumble.

" Just a few,"

" Do you really have a plan to study?" I questioned him, "... But does it have the university you ever dreamed of?"

" It doesn't, I don't even have the university I dreamed of."

" Really? So it's just like you're following me wherever I'll go," I said in disbelief.

" You also said that you want me with you wherever I go." I pushed my head back as he brought his a little closer, " Right?"

I could feel my chest tighten with his face is few centimeters away from me. I drag away his face from me and I overheard a murmur of curses from him. My hands immediately covered my mouth when he held his wound that was already dripping a heavy fluid of blood.

" Shocks, sorry! It's also you're fault, Archer," I quickly took plenty of tissue out of distress and caught the dripping blood before it reaches down his jaw. He clenched his jaw and still didn't stop there from murmuring tons of curses.

" Does it hurts? Oh my gosh, I'm really sorry," I said sincerely with my hands still on my mouth but I couldn't stop myself from laughing at him. When he gave me again a look of a dagger, I quietly continued to treat his wound even though I can't stop laughing at him so I make the tiniest laugh that he could barely hear but notice.

" Sue, I'm going home. Where are you?"

I heard Pete's voice not far from where I am right now. I'm busy picking out flowers... out of habit and because I find them cute and it's time for them to be harvested. While Pete couldn't wait another few minutes.

" Wait!"

I place all the flowers I picked from the woods on my shirt, as I made it a basket of flowers. I saw him facepalm but I was giggling when I sat back down.

" Look at these," I poured all the flowers I got in front of him, " I found the yellow bell, white bell. I also found one gumamela, it's still fresh, look," I said while picking out one flower whenever I tell their name.

Both yellow and white bells flower are fresh and clear-skinned, while the gumamela is like an art and is perfect to be put in one frame because the part, style, in the middle is standing tall and its petals are also fresh with bright orange paint on it.

I took the only gumamela I had plucked and would have put it in his ear. But he rushes to avoid it, " Come on, just one promise,"

I was persistent to put this behind his ear as he blow my hand away from him.

" Sue..." he struggled as I held him down. We end up laying on the grass and eventually pin his left arm down that's why I got the chance to place it. Whenever he tries to dispose of it away, I slap his hand away from the flower on his ear.

" It's pretty, stop touching it!"

" I look like a gay here, Sue."

"What? You look like the guy on the beach, you know that the surfer last summer-" I didn't finish my sentence when he attack me abruptly. In a flash, he was on top of me as I got knocked down when he covered my mouth with his hand.

I didn't hesitate when I lick his hand with my saliva that's why I got loose in an instant. I stick out my tongue at him when I manage to run away from him. He's still holding his hand with my saliva on while I was laughing at his reaction.

My eyes widen and started to run away as fast as I could when he start chasing me after wiping off his hand. I was running slowly as we reached the rocks on the shore of the river.

" Peter!" I called him, giggling while running away from him with a creek bubbles over rocks and branches as it moves along its bed.

" Come back here, Sue! You're gonna pay!"

I shriek when I almost trip over the rocks but manage to control my balance. Rocks here are so big that you have to jump just to cross every step, so now I'm jumping while running because I'm being chased by Peter Pan.

" Sue, stop!"

" Catch me first!" I teased. I keep on turning my back around on him while sprinting, checking if maybe he's just a few distances away from him so I can't get caught, but he's like a turtle while running.

Then I start running back so that I didn't notice my next step and fell on the rocks. Thank goodness, my butt is the one who hit off the rocks, but it still hurt pretty bad, like there's a sharp pain on it now. And Peter was standing tall right in front of me.

" I said stop running, Sue," he said as he reach down for his hand.

I pout and turn my gaze at the river, " You're a slow fairy, Peter Pan," I splash him with the lukewarm water from the river.

I keep on sprinkling him with water until I get up on my own and his clothes get wet he could do is block the water with his arms, " Sue! We don't have spare clothes!" he said while blocking his body from the water.

" Well, I do,"

" I said stop!"

I didn't know how he did that but I'm shivering from the freezing water he bathe me with, " Peter!" I screamed as I'm shaking like a leaf while hugging myself. And the wind synced in with the cold air that was hitting on my skin and goosebumps sprang up all over my bare arms.

I didn't give up and continued on to get back at him. We keep on playing with the water like kids 'till I felt his arms around my waist and flew me into the air. All I could do is scream and laugh at the same time.

" Do you want me to stay at your house?" I ask while we're marching down the streets back to our house.

As far as I know, Aunt Tricia isn't home. She also hired me to take care of Pete while she was away. Well, she doesn't even have to tell me because I'm always visiting them, feeling I'm part of their family.

He shakes his head and looks down at me, " No need. I can take care of myself, Sue."

I gave him a suspicious face, " Really?" I ask, looking deeply at him.

" Yes, besides I need time to heal these wounds on my face before Mom could see it,"

" Alright, just call me when you're-" I slide my thumb on my neck with a click of my tongue and give him a wink.

I walk ahead of him to make a left turn around the corner when he gave me a slap on the back of my head. It felt like my brain just shake a little inside. I look at him in shock but he gave me the play I did at him earlier and also wink at me!

I jumped at him to hit the back of his head, " I hate you!"

" Your house is on the other side, Sue. Go home," he said, chuckling.

I stomp my feet on the ground angrily and walk in a different direction from him. When I got home, Mom is in the living room. I just greeted her before running upstairs.

My body immediately collapsed on my bed after I throw my clothes in the hamper. I let out a big sigh and turn beside the other side of the bed. I saw the calendar I hang on the wall of my room.

I think I circled something on May 23. With a red marker. I squint my eyes to read what I put there and it says.

Pe-peter P-pan B-Bday

Peter Pan Birthday-Shoot! His birthday is just a few days away only? That man is going to be of legal age soon. I think I'll just bake him some brownies. A while ago, the brownies I gave him has peanuts. And that's when I realize why I set it apart and it was totally for Mom and not for him.

Deafening silence surrounds my room and everywhere I look it looks dull. I remember that I should start now to find something for different universities for us. That's why I feel like I have to do something when I get home.

I hop out of my bed and push back the chair on my desk. I split in half my laptop and start typing. I grab my phone and chat with Pete.

Susan: Hey, when is the entrance exam?

He isn't online but I still mind to chat him. He won't take long, and he really won't. He's already typing,

[Peter Pan: Next week?]

Susan: I need a specific date, Peter Pan.

[Peter Pan: next week.]

Susan: If you say so.

I immediately hit send when I heard Mom keep on shouting my name to eat dinner. I rush downstairs to catch Mom preparing our plates on the table. She gestures to me to eat when she lifts her head up. I help her first set up the food she cooked and place it on the table.

We ate together as we were surrounded by silence. After that, I volunteered to wash the dishes this night but she resist. I didn't choose to insist, instead, I start wrapping the garbage before walking outside to throw them out.

As I open the door, someone's already waiting for me outside the porch of our house. He was seated on the stairs while his back is facing the door but I still recognize him and I didn't expect him to be there.

I shut the door close before addressing him," M-Mark?"

His face lit up when he saw me, " Sue," he greeted, " I haven't sat here that long. And I won't last long either,"

" Ok umm-,"

My words are shuttering and it's uneasy around him with a load of garbage in my hand. Can I throw this first before getting to the point? But I think he notice it when he look at the plastic I was carrying.

" Uh-Let me, let me,"

I have not been able to answer, he took the garbage in my hand, " You sure? You know-," I was cut off when he came back empty-handed.

" Thanks," I nodded, " Do you want to go inside?"

He disapproved, " No need, um-I just want to apologize for what happened yesterday. I've already talked with Misha and she promises she won't do it again. I hope you'll forgive her,"

I could sense the sincerity in his voice. His eyes tell it all and everybody deserves to be forgiven, right?

" Okay, uhh-apology accepted?"

We both burst into laughter with my awkward question, " But really, apology accepted. Th-thanks,"

He said nothing else and wave at me goodbye. I didn't even notice his car parked right in front of our house when he sat there inside. I watch him drive his car away before making my way into the house but I collect the envelope first inside the mailbox hanging on our door.

I check one by one the envelopes and it's all just water bills, electricity bills, and others. I place it down on the shelves where Mom usually put the letter she received and didn't bother to check the other envelopes.

I saw Mom already done with the dishes because she was nowhere to be found anymore in the kitchen. But I heard running water inside the bathroom, I guess Mom is taking a bath.