C2 HER RESURFACING

ALEX

“Mom, what do you mean he’s not coming back?” I stared at my mother with eyes full of confusion. I couldn’t understand why she was acting so sullen.

"You know that he's gone for seven years now right" I nodded. Of course I know it. It's been seven years, two weeks, three days and nine hours.

"Well, we didn't say this for we fear that your life would be at risk. We are afraid that your heart would totally breakdown like what had happen when he left you. But please, calm down as we tell you the secret we've keeping for seven years now" Dad bowed his head before he took my mom’s hand.

"Dad, what are you saying--"

"He planned on visiting you as a surprise for your tenth birthday but then, they encounter a storm. They sent signals but they're totally late. After two days their plane was found with the pilot in there, his hand on the handle but he hasn’t had the chance to remove his seatbelt. On the other hand, his dad and him weren’t there so they're hoping that they're still alive," Mom looked at me with tears flowing on her eyes "After 3 days of searching they found Mr. Collins in the ocean floating, dead. While Dwayne wasn't found--"

"But they don't know him. He's a good swimmer, the best I should say. When we we're six, I was drowning at the beach and he saved me! Maybe he swam on the near island right, right?" I looked at my mom with hope clear on my eyes.

No, he can't be dead. Could he be?

Mom looked down and sighed “I know that Alex, they also came up with those possibilities and so they searched for the nearby island. They can't found anything for months but then,"

She looked at me as a tear fell down her cheek, "Your father got the call from the authorities.” Dad qhug my mom and continue, “They found Dwayne's clothes drenched in blood. The DNA they have collected had confirmed that it was him! The island was surrounded by vicious and wild animals. That's why they came up with the conclusion that he's been killed for they can't find any trace beside his torn bloody clothes.” Dad shook his head. Mom looked at me with pity that I have seen from the past years, and I don't like people to look at me that way.

"No, mom. No! He's coming back. This is just a dream, a dream! He'll come back. He promised me! " I said as I stood.

"Alex calmed down, sweetie. I know it's hard but listen!" Dad tried to comfort me but I couldn’t control myself.

He's gone. After all these years I've waited....he's really gone. Like really gone.

"How could you do this to me? How could you keep this information away from me?"

"Alex please calm down. You'll be stressed out!" Mom pleaded but it was no use.

"No, you're the reason why I'm suffering. You should be the one to shut the hell up and leave me alone! "

I'm guilty for making my mom cry but I've been living for seven years now in hopes that me and Dwayne could be together someday but this revelation had ruin it all for me.

I ran up the stairs, her muffled cries following me up to my room. I hated the fact that she was so broken. I locked my door, curled into a ball and cried. I stared at the wall with my tear-stained face and drifted off into a memory.

*Flashback

"Daddy!" he's heading on my way.

Oh no...

I stared at him with my wide eyes. "Dad!" He bumped into me and I watch my favorite ice cream drop on the pavement.

No one touches my ice cream! He's gonna pay for that.

I grabbed his shoulder and force him to face me. "Don't touch me!" he scream at my face, his green eyes are glaring at me making me afraid.

But I'm strong! I cannot be afraid.

I watch him walk away from me and headed on the swing to sit on. I followed him and stand in front of him.

"Hey! Look what you've done to my ice cream..." I yelled at him while showing him my empty cone. His eyes widen. He look at my face and the empty scope at my hand and back at my face again.

"That's not my fault! You are!" His eyes were glassy before he looked down. No, he's not the one who should cry. It's his fault!

"You should buy me another ice cream." I look down and gasped as I saw a tear fall.

"Wait, are you crying? Are you okay?" He hid his face and I sat down the swing beside him. I saw him wipe his cheeks. I rubbed his back and he cried more.

"Daddy told me he's leaving," he looked up at me.

"Oh, maybe he's just going to buy you a toy, right?" I told him trying to cheer him though he needs to pay for my ice cream.

"No, I don't think he's going to come back. " He cried harder

"Don't think like that!" I tried to reason out.

"I didn't stop dad, my momma told me that they won't be together from now on" he continue to cry on my shoulders and I do not know what to do anymore."I love them and I want them to be together so that we'll live like them." He pointed at the family who are having a picnic.

"Shh, don't cry anymore" I caught him in a giant bear-hug and let him cry on my shoulder.

He was about to dozed off but then I pulled him to the ice cream shop and bought two vanilla and pistachio ice cream.

"Here so you'll feel much better. My momma told me that it's a cure for a sad kid. It always cheers me up when I'm upset."He stared at me with his wide eyes again as I gave him his ice cream. “My mom told me that ice creams will make you lose teeth”

“No,” I covered my missing teeth with my tongue and continued, “it’s not. It’s normal that we lose teeth because we are growing up. Ice cream is not the only reason.” I turn back and was about to pay but then he held my hand. "Wait" he said while holding my hand. He paid for our ice cream and smiled as he tasted it.

"Hmm, yummy! I've never tasted ice cream before"

"Geez, I feel sad for you" I said while rubbing his back

"Are you new here?" he asked after a moment of silence.

"How'd you know?"

"I've seen you're van early this morning, big guys are bringing down large boxes to your new home beside us."

"Aww, so we're neighbors?" I giggled and offered my hand " I'm Alex. Alexandra Anderson, but call me Alex. You?"

"I'm Dwayne Collins, nice to meet you" he said smiling at me. I just notice that he has two dimples.

"Hmm, why are you screaming like crazy a while ago?" I laughed at my comment. He stared at me and I looked at him innocently. He sighed and answered my question.

" Well, Daddy can't hear me if I speak like this" He said with a little voice, a smile creeping up into his lips.

" Really, but still he can't hear you" he just shrugged at my answer and turned his back on me.

"You don't understand, you're not the one who has parents that are separated, you never know how upset I am when I watch them fight every night. You do not know! " he screamed, making me a little sad for him.

"I'm sorry I didn't mean to-"I tried to tell him when he turned back to me, smiling.

"Come on let's not talk about this, wanna play hide and seek?" he suddenly asked.

"Really?"

"You’re it!" With that he jumped off his sit and run. I sat there and after a minute, ran behind him.

*End of Flashback

I stared at the photos; our smiling faces are like salt on the wound on my heart. I stood and pulled them off from my wall. I throw the artworks and throw my pillows on the floor, trying to divert my anger on the things around me. In everything I do, all I can see is Him. From my hobbies, to those summer vacations we used to have. The memory was still there and I can't just forget him.

My only option is to start a new chapter, a chapter without him.

I planned to accept the deal my mom and dad made with their partner. Maybe it won't be that bad, I haven’t even met him I didn't met the guy. I just wish he's not a jerk. And with that thought, I fall off to my dreamland...

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