Chapter 37 - The Summer Trip: A Hot Incident

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We all are now having a break with the barbecue. Cherry, Lisa, and Syrra are all having a good time with one another, Allison and Carlos are still in a rivalry with one another after the slide and wave pool, while Serra and I sat near the shore of the wave pool to kill time.

"The water feels refreshing…" Feeling the water on my legs is enough to keep me relaxed.

"By the way, Renn… I know that you have been asking what I wanted to do… But you never told me what you wanted to do." I looked at Serra, who was now curious.

"I don't know myself… I was well, deciding on a medical career... But now, I am back to deciding what I want to do. Studying has been good for me, so I can pursue any career I'd like. The question is: "Which one, specifically?"" Just because someone is smart doesn't mean their whole life is on point and straight.

They are also human beings, they need time to sort things out.

"You don't look like the type to be a medical professional. You'd be more of a "computers" kind of guy." WAIT, WHAT-

"Was that an insult to how bad I was at gaming? I was for sure I'd win against you... I was practicing hard after the remedial period!" Every weekend, I was practicing the game. I was hoping I could beat Serra since I rose high in the leaderboard rankings, only to lose once again to her just today in the van. I was upset having to lose once again.

"That's what you get for being such a noob. You could be a teacher, I can't deny your teaching skills are... Fine enough." I looked down and considered it. A teacher, huh… It's not a bad career choice… But…

"I don't deny that, but I'd consider teaching as back-up. I don't want to go down that path just yet." Not to mention the paycheck of a teacher is dirt these days.

"So you need more time to decide?" She asked, kicking the pool water slightly.

"Yes… What about you? I never heard the answer of what you wanted to do." I asked her.

"… I wanted to have fun with my life... With the new family... Are you really sure you wanted to bring me in? You'd probably get tired of me after a week." She asked me the question about getting brought in our family. I smiled at her.

"You'll do just fine. You don't have to worry, I will support you in whatever you go through. What you want now can be achieved. The world may have been unfair to you way too many times, but the right people will definitely bring you a step closer to your dream. You can count on that." I showed a happy, relieving smile with my teeth. Even if I am not her biological older brother, I appreciate her so much as a friend and as a sibling.

"Why must you be... Such a philosophical person..." She turned to look at the water, looking at her reflection. I remember that she was doing this at the bridge, only this time... Things have changed.

"I am still learning more things as I grow. From the day when things were getting ugly, you showed up and opened my eyes that made me realize I needed to act. I felt like I owed you after that time… And I want to repay you for that day…" For the first time, Serra's face bursted with shock. She slowly turned to me, is in disbelief at what I just said.

"Where did... That came from..." She looked in my eyes to make sure I wasn't saying for the sake of it.

"I thought that you deserve a proper "thank you". I know I was just a total stranger to you, but you did a lot for me. I wanted to return the favor by helping you achieve what you wanted." She wasn't expecting to hear such an answer from me. She looked down on the ground.

"You didn't have to say all that..." She grabbed hold of my arm, still looking down.

"I just thought I'd let you know..." And I am happy that I let her know. It felt comforting.

"… But I didn't ask, idiot." I was then caught off-guard and she threw me forward to the water. Luckily, she didn't throw me far so I was able to rise up quickly.

"Hey! What was that for?!" I asked, swimming back.

"Shut up. You talk too much, cricket." Serra turned away from me. How am I a cricket?!

"(Well, lucky I landed in the 3ft zone.)" I got back up and went back to dry myself with a towel.

Serra followed me. I then noticed someone zip lining above the wave pool.

"I forgot about the zipline... I want to try..." I looked at the zipline while drying myself up with a towel.

"Are you going to try it?" Serra asked while drying herself with another towel.

"Yes. It'll be my first time." I said as I set the towel aside.

"Lucky you… I have a fear of heights… Hahaha..." Syrra scratched her head. She doesn't like high places, huh?

"I hate to look down… So I'm not gonna try that anytime soon, but we will watch you!" Same with Lisa, hugging her legs.

"Hey, why don't you go with him to the zipline?" And here goes Allison once again, inching closer to Carlos with a smirk.

"Are you out of your mind? I'm not going to ride on that thing even if it's the last thing I'll do." It's obvious that Carlos has a fear of heights.

"Come on… How are you going to get a girlfriend when you're so scared?~ Work up some bravery now, would ya?~" She's really bugging him, nudging him with her elbow to go and zipline with me. Carlos was having none of it.

Also based on that sentence alone, Carlos is apparently single.

"Ugh… Fine. But I'm only doing this JUST TO MAKE YOU STOP." He got up and dragged me to the zipline.

"No turning back, you hear?!" She shouted and waved at us. I really wonder why Allison is acting all playful to Carlos.

We both got in line at the zipline.

"Girls these days… Why are they acting like this in this day and age?" I feel sorry for Carlos getting himself on this.

"Some girls just want to have fun… It's only a zipline, though… Her actions are not out of line." Allison is a good kid, she just needs to show constraint sometimes.

"Can't argue with that. Can you go first? I really don't want to go ahead of you." He was shivering slightly out of fear. He needs to build up courage, I see.

"Alright. I'll go first. Build up as much courage as you like." I switched places with him.

"Thanks! By the way, my other best friend wanted to go with me to meet you. Unfortunately, she's sick today so she got left behind. She'd be jealous knowing she hasn't met you in person yet." Carlos chuckled. I ended up chuckling after hearing that.

"Well, I guess that's her loss. Seriously, I'm all over the place at this point. I wouldn't be surprised if anyone tells me they are a fan of mine… Haha…" I just laughed, didn't feel like a surprise at all. I was really getting used to it. I feel like an idol for some reason.

"Man, if I had what you have right now… I'd be praised for my abilities… The only thing I am good at is being athletic…" Oh, he is also a sporty kind of person.

"Hey, it's a plus! I'm not athletic so the only thing keeping me alive is my studies! I lose my academics, I lose everything. I don't want to risk anything for my grades to sink." I was on the verge of crying. Studying is all I did… That's all I've been doing from the start.

"I'm only decent in my academics… I want to do better. I want to be just as good as you. If I can do that, I can be happy. And you can be athletic at any time! That is, if you want to use the time for it." Hmm… I began thinking about that for a while.

Being athletic isn't my main goal for now, I wouldn't want to get attention because of my body… I'd rather get praised for what I have right now. But I can't lie to myself now, I couldn't physically protect the people I care about…

Syrra… Serra… Fey… Lisa…

I couldn't physically protect them because I didn't work out… I'm just a stick waiting to be bent.

"Give me some time to think about enhancing my body… That's not my priority for now." I answered. When the time comes, I'll do it.

"Great. When the time comes, you'll be better in ways you never expect!" Carlos patted my shoulder.

And it's now my turn to try the zipline.

"Bro, take care." I nodded to Carlos, patting me twice on the shoulders as I went to get fastened on the zipline. I was being guided by 2 men in-charge of the zipline.

I looked around to see everyone else watching me from below. Cherry shouting at me to have fun here.

I surely will.

"Alright, seatbelt is fastened!" The man shouted and the 2 other men on the other side gave a thumbs up sign, ready to go.

I then got pushed by the men and I was enjoying my first time on the zipline, I looked down at the people having fun on the wave pool.

I was having so much fun!

But then unexpectedly, as I was almost to the other side, there was a thin line that snapped, causing the pulley to detach. I was then falling and screaming.

I fell on the deepest zone of the wave pool, sinking towards the very bottom, panicking.

And the panicking caused me to lose breath quickly. My vision slowly faded to black. I don't even know if I'm okay or not…

All I can see is nothing but darkness… Endless darkness…

But after a few moments, I woke up coughing and feeling pain in my body…

"MY DEAR, ALROSE! ARE YOU OKAY?!" My stepmom was calling out to me. I kept coughing because of the water.

"I'm- Ehem! Ehem! Fine…" I took the time to catch my breath.

"I saw the way you FLOPPED at the 6ft zone… That was really painful…" Vance had a worried face, staying close to me like this.

"I'm sorry…" I turned to my friends and family.

"Not your fault… Don't be." Syrra said with a faint smile. I tried to stand up slowly. Syrra and Lisa helped me up. God, it hurts…

"You need some time to rest, I'll look for a hotel nearby to sleep in…" Stepdad led the way as the two carried me to the van.

I was dragged onto the front seat and just sat down there.

"We'll watch him for a while!" Syrra and Lisa hopped in the back as we then quickly rode for a nearby hotel.

I didn't think this was going to happen. Moving my body hurts, and I probably worried everyone. I felt guilty.

"I'm sorry… I ruined your time at the park." I felt like a disturbance to their time.

"Hey… It's okay. None of us saw this coming. You didn't ruin anything. We had our fun times already, you are now our priority, Renn." Syrra didn't felt neither angry nor disappointed, she was feeling concerned.

"It was indeed fun… Shooting with rented water guns is just the best! I even blasted you twice!" Lisa laughed at Syrra. They have that? They didn't even tell me.

"It's just hard that I can't get around quickly! I would have won!" Here goes a pouting, angry Syrra having some copium for dinner.

"Hehe… Sore loser." Lisa was celebrating her victory remembering that memory by making a W with her hands on her face with an award-winning grin.

"Ah… I'm glad you all had a fun time… I'll just rest and we all get ready to go home tomorrow." I just relaxed myself on the bed. The saddest part of any happy memory is when it ends.

"And everything will go back to the usual summer… By the way, how are your remedials going along? I keep forgetting to ask." Syrra was curious about my progress on my remedials.

"They are great... I've been working hard towards them. I might move to grade 10 quicker than expected..." I said with a feeling of confidence and relief. Ms. Alba has been very strict but was very amazed with my quick progress.

"That's my boy… I already had a feeling you're going to have many opportunities in the future. You're just incredible. You changed the lives of many people, influenced them to work harder for the greater good. Despite the incident months ago, you still stood proud. I'm very proud of you, my son…" Hearing that from stepdad felt heartwarming… I'm touched… I'm now in tears…

"Dad… Don't make me cry now…" Too late, I started crying anyway.

"Everyone has to follow your footsteps. It can't be good following what's wrong, like what Feliciana did." Agreed. But Lisa, you can't negotiate with billions of people with their own mindset… It's difficult.

"Not to mention, the post is still being passed around. Luckily, everyone doesn't believe this bullshit anymore… They said there were pictures… But whatever they took must have been faked or just a setup!" The latter is true, Syrra must not have looked at the photos.

"People aren't denying he was in the photos… I wish I knew what happened… Serra never told us the full story." Probably because she only knew from the gossip, Lisa.

"Well… It went along like this…" I then began explaining how I casually got lured in, along with the part where I got drugged.

"And then the photos… Ugh… They basically got you. It was smart of them to lower your awareness first…" Indeed, Syrra. That was the point where they went with the risk.

"To hear the full story from my son now, the victim… I wish I'd done better as a parent…" Stepdad groaned in disappointment as he blamed himself.

"No worries… It's all in the past." I smiled then started laughing. I kept finding that memory funny now that they got what they deserved.

We arrived at the hotel and I got dragged out of the front seat. Stepdad rented a room for a day.

And as we entered, wow… The room can fit at least 6 people.

"We'll stay here!" Lisa and Syrra insisted on staying.

"Alright. I'll go back to the rest then." Stepdad put our bags inside and left. It's only me, Syrra, and Lisa.

"Renn didn't move that much while zip lining, so… Why did it snap?" Lisa was curious why.

"I've seen a zipline accident like this once. It's really something you can't see coming. It would sometimes suddenly detach without warning." Never have I thought she can say that straight from her mouth. Syrra has seen an accident like that?

"Where did they fall?" Lisa asked further.

"Down a steep slope. Hard to say if they survived…" She said that in a scary tone, along with being scared herself with her hands clasped together. Lucky that I fell into a pool, but my body still hurts.

"I want to take a bath…" Being in pool water isn't healthy for my system.

"Let me help!" Lisa offered to help me in the bath.

"Ah… No… I can…" I tried standing up but the pain from flopping in the pool…

It hurts so much…

"Nonsense! Come here!" Lisa dragged me to the bathroom.

"Don't take too long!" Syrra said, lying down on the bed.

Lisa closed the door and filled the bathtub with water.

"Seeing you do this makes me believe you've done this before." This took me by surprise. Normally, a girl doesn't offer herself to clean a guy in the bathroom.

"I do this with my brother when he gets sick. Nothing wrong with a good bath, I suppose." She then took off my wetsuit and dragged me in the tub.

"Hmm… A bath like this is refreshing…" Just the right temperature. This feels relaxing...

"That being said, I have never done it for a guy older than me… But it's the same either way." So… It's technically her first time bathing an older guy like me.

She grabbed a nearby scrubber, added liquid soap onto it and began scrubbing my body with it, up from my neck down to my feet.

"By the way… I've been meaning to ask you something…" Hm? Wonder what she is going to ask while scrubbing me.

"Ask away." I let her speak her mind.

"Jessie… If you'll find the time to forgive her… Will you? I know she has been so mean to you and Syrra since then, but she was blinded by the false truth." I gave it some thought. She has a point, however there is an issue.

"The damage has already been done. She'll never come back to me even after I plan to forgive her." I bluntly answered in an upset mood. In fact, I blocked her number and never called her again since that day.

And in that moment, I knew… I'll never fall in love again.

"Such a shame… There would have been an opportunity where we could be friends…" She sighed while applying shampoo on my hair.

"There could have been… But the opportunity now will never exist." I sighed, looking down at the soapy water. Only lord knows what's going on in her life right now… I may never know it myself.

"Alright! You're done!" She unclog the tub plug and let the water drain. She drags me off the tub, on a chair and dries me off with a towel.

"Thanks a lot, Lisa. Do you want to take a bath?" I asked her.

"That's also the reason why I offered to clean you. Of course I wanted a bath!" She answered as she gave me the towel. She could have said so earlier… I would have let her bathe first.

"Alright… I'll try to… Stand…" I tried standing up, and the pain started to lessen. I slowly wrapped myself with the towel she gave me and left the bathroom.

I slowly wore my casual clothes, I then turned to notice Syrra looking out the window. I went to her.

"Enjoying the view?" She then quickly turned to me as I looked at the view.

"Yeah… The sky is beautiful… I'm very happy I'm getting so far with my very first scholarship in my hands." Oh, she got the scholarship? Now I know why she's looking at the sky, feeling relieved and happy.

"Congratulations! I'm happy for you… And I wasn't there during those 3 months, so it's all on you!" She was slightly shocked and looked at me upon hearing me say that.

"Not entirely me, I wouldn't make it this far without your guidance. Even if you were gone, I never felt like abandoning what you have given me. I just did what you always do." She looked at me with a smile.

"I'm flattered… Your mind has grown so much, I can see that just by looking at you now." The fact she got a scholarship now… I can never have been more proud of her than I ever have been right now. I gently patted and slightly caressed her hair.

"This is only the beginning… There is still next year, and the years after that… I want to continue this version of me. And I'd like to take that step with you guiding me." She has become determined for her future. I'm surprised she wanted to continue this journey going forward. It's a very pleasant thing to hear from her.

"I'll always be here when you need me. Don't hesitate to ask me questions." And I am determined for mine.

"I will. You've been the bestest friend… Actually, you're like a brother to me… I'm really grateful you're here for me… And I really promise to repay your kindness one day…" She then gently hugged me.

A brother?

Somehow when I look at Syrra, I can see her resembling Serra when she doesn't have that poker face all the time…

The word "adorable" keeps repeating in my mind.

"Thank you…" I gently embraced her. We let go after a while.

"I'll take a rest now. Take a bath after Lisa is done." I slowly walked to my bed.

"Okay!" She then walked to the bed near the bathroom, waiting for Lisa to finish bathing.

I then laid down on my bed and fell asleep. It was very peaceful giving my body a break after all that…

After hours…

*FLASH AND CRASH OF LIGHTNING*

"AAAAAHH!!"

I woke up to the sound of rain, lighting and a scream. I looked down and noticed Syrra clinging so much to me. She's afraid of lightning…

She's whimpering and crying. Hearing that must have been scary. I just hugged her and comforted her by caressing her hair once again.

"There, there… It's okay… I'm right here…"

After feeling relaxed, she slowly fell asleep. I heard another lightning strike, but it bothered her less. I just stayed here and went right back to sleep as well.

What a great day…

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