Chapter 12: A Secret Behind The Smile

The sun hung low in the sky, casting a warm orange glow over the neighborhood as Raya approached Charlie's house. The air was crisp and filled with the scent of fresh grass and morning dew, lingering even though the day was drawing to a close. She paused in front of his front door, taking a moment to check her appearance.

She was wearing her usual attire, a casual pair of jeans and a soft hoodie, her hair pulled into a ponytail. But despite the simplicity of her look, there was a spark of excitement in her eyes. She hadn't seen Charlie in a few days, and she was looking forward to hanging out again. She raised her hand and knocked on the door, the soft thud echoing in the quiet street.

Lately, with everything going on, Raya and Charlie have been connecting extremely well. They both can relate to being close with Isaac and Clara but neither of them fully wanted to be involved, or cared enough, about their relationship issue anymore. 

Inside the house, Charlie was lounging on the couch, his house clothes a far cry from anything he would wear if he were leaving the house. He had a pair of baggy jeans, the fabric a little too faded for his liking, paired with a loose T-shirt. His hair was messy from a day spent cleaning, his usual sharp looks softened by the relaxed atmosphere.

Hearing the knock, Charlie reluctantly pulled himself off the couch, the familiar groan escaping his lips as he trudged to the door. He was halfway there when the thought crossed his mind: it was probably Raya. He felt a little bad about how he was dressed, but there wasn't much he could do. His mom had given him a list of chores to complete while she was at work. He was already behind.

When he opened the door, there she was—Raya, standing with a smile that made Charlie's heart skip a beat. She looked just as carefree as always, a stark contrast to the worn-out look he had.

"Hey, Charlie! Ready to go?" she asked enthusiastically.

Charlie looked at her for a moment, a twinge of guilt creeping up on him. "I… I can't today," he said with a sigh, scratching the back of his head. "My mom gave me a bunch of chores, and I've barely started."

Raya frowned slightly, stepping closer as she raised an eyebrow. "Chores? What kind of chores?"

Charlie ran a hand through his messy hair, glancing back into the house. "The usual. Laundry, vacuuming, scrubbing down the kitchen. She's at work, so I have to do it before she gets back."

Raya's frown deepened, and then she smiled again. "Well, why don't I help? It'll go much faster with two people."

Charlie hesitated. The last thing he wanted was for someone to see his messy house or help him clean, but he could see the genuine enthusiasm in her eyes. It was hard to say no to Raya, especially when she was so eager to help.

"I don't know…" Charlie trailed off, glancing back at the living room, where clutter still covered the table. "I mean, it's a lot of work."

Raya crossed her arms. "Come on, Charlie. You don't have to do it alone. Plus, you know I'm not gonna let you off the hook. We'll finish in no time."

He sighed again, but the corner of his lips twitched upward. "Okay, fine. But only if you're sure."

"I'm sure," she said with a grin. "Let's get to it!"

And just like that, they dove into cleaning. They worked together in a steady rhythm, moving from room to room. Charlie grabbed the vacuum and started running it over the living room carpet while Raya wiped down surfaces, picking up discarded items along the way. They exchanged jokes and lighthearted banter, the atmosphere in the house lightening with every minute they spent together.

Before long, the downstairs was spotless, and they made their way up to the second floor. Charlie felt a sense of accomplishment as they moved from room to room, checking off tasks on his mental to-do list. But when they reached the stairs that led up to his room, he hesitated.

"You can wait here if you want," Charlie said, rubbing the back of his neck. "I can finish upstairs by myself."

Raya gave him an unamused look. "Charlie, I told you—I'm helping. No excuses."

Reluctantly, he led her to his room. Charlie had always been a little protective of his space, especially with someone like Raya, who seemed to notice every little detail. But, much to his surprise, she was very respectful as she stepped inside.

Raya's eyes immediately scanned the room. She took in the small, cluttered space, with its posters on the walls and shelves stacked with books and mementos. But it wasn't the clutter that caught her attention—it was the photos. Everywhere she looked, she saw pictures, framed memories from Charlie's past, hanging on every wall and tucked into corners. There was a picture of him and his family at a picnic, another one of him at a birthday party with friends. But one photo in particular caught her eye.

On the wall beside his bed, there was a photograph of two little boys standing side by side at an aquarium, both grinning ear to ear. The photo seemed worn, the edges frayed as if it had been handled and cherished a thousand times. Raya's gaze lingered on the picture, and she couldn't help but ask, "Is that you?"

Charlie froze for a moment, then walked over to the wall and carefully took the photograph down. His fingers lingered on the edge as if reluctant to let go of it.

"Yeah," he said quietly, slipping the photo into his pocket as though to protect it. "it is."

Raya could tell that there was something more to the picture, something that Charlie wasn't saying. But she didn't press him. Instead, she turned her attention to the task at hand, trying to focus on the cleaning and leave the sensitive subject for another time.

As they finished tidying up Charlie's room, the sounds of a car pulling into the driveway signaled the return of his mother. Charlie's heart sank a little as he knew he'd have to explain to her why he hadn't finished all the chores. He shot Raya a sheepish look, but she just smiled, offering a silent reassurance.

"Charlie!" came his mother's voice from downstairs. "Are you done yet?"

Charlie gave Raya a shrug and made his way downstairs, knowing that his mom would be expecting him to be fully done. Raya followed behind him, the two of them descending the stairs as they heard Charlie's mother call again.

"Oh, Raya, you're here!" Mrs. Allard greeted warmly when she saw her son and his friend. "I was just about to head over to Isaac's house for some tea. Would you like to join us?"

Raya smiled, her eyes lighting up at the invitation. "That sounds great! its been forever since I've been to their farm."

Charlie, despite feeling guilty about not finishing everything, nodded in agreement. "Yeah, I'll come too. It's been a while since I've visited as well." Charlie had actually been wondering how Isaac was doing. He had thought that he should take a moment away from Isaac to let him gather his thoughts and decide what to do for himself. 

With that, they piled into Mrs. Allards car and drove over to Isaac's house. The journey was short, but it gave them a chance to chat, and Charlie found himself feeling grateful for Raya's company. When they finally arrived at the farm, Isaacs mom was there, sitting on the porch with a steaming cup of tea in her hands. She waved them over, and Mrs. Allard quickly headed over. 

"Josie!~" Charlies mom yells, "How are you?~" Isaacs mom hands her a cup of hot tea while responding, "Is Isaac here? Raya and Charlie came along". Josie explains that Isaac had actually just left before telling her to sit down and switching the subject. 

Raya and Charlie, however, weren't in the mood for tea and small talk. They wandered out into the fields, away from the house, to take in the sights of the farm. Isaac had worked hard to maintain the land, and it was clear that he took pride in the sprawling acres that surrounded his house. They admired the rows of crops, the healthy-looking plants, and the chickens pecking at the dirt.

"Isaac's really done a lot here," Charlie said, impressed by the farm's appearance.

Raya nodded, her eyes scanning the landscape. "Yeah, it's beautiful. It must take a lot of work."

"It does," Charlie agreed. "But it's worth it. Isaac loves it here."

The conversation slowed, the quiet of the farm setting in. The only sounds were the wind rustling through the trees and the distant clucking of chickens. Raya glanced over at Charlie, who was staring off into the distance, his expression thoughtful. She decided to break the silence.

"That photo in your room… the one of you and the other boy. Who was he?" she asked softly.

Charlie's face darkened at the mention of the photograph, and for a moment, he didn't answer. But then, with a deep sigh, he spoke, his voice barely above a whisper. "His name was Evan. He was my best friend growing up. We did everything together. But then one day, he just… disappeared. Nobody ever found out what happened to him."

Raya's heart sank at his words. She had known Charlie for a while, but she had never heard him speak with such sadness. She stepped closer to him, offering a gentle touch on his arm.

"I'm sorry, Charlie," she said, her voice filled with compassion. "That must have been really hard for you."

Charlie nodded but didn't say anything more. Instead, they both continued their stroll through the fields, the quiet weight of the past hanging between them. It was a delicate moment—one where words felt unnecessary. And yet, as they walked side by side, there was an unspoken understanding, a bond growing stronger with every step.

And though the memory of Evan hung heavy in Charlie's heart, for now, he was content to have Raya by his side. The farm, the peaceful surroundings, and her comforting presence were enough to help him find some peace, even if just for a little while.

The sun dipped lower in the sky, casting a golden light over the land, and together, they walked on.