16 She Was Finally Freed from the Shackles of Her Past

I woke up at 6:30 in the morning. I finished reading the light novel I found yesterday pretty quickly so I slept comfortably.

I ate breakfast and took a bath after I stood up out of my bed. I also cleaned the house since I don't have anything else to do.

All of that things took me 30 minutes to do. So now it's 7:00 in the morning.

I reluctantly stood up from my seat on the sofa to head back to my bedroom. Only the noise from the window being hit by the strong wind I could hear.

"I still have 3 hours. What should I do first to kill some time?" I asked to myself. I sighed heavily as I lay back on my bed.

I wandered my eyes inside my bedroom to look for possible distraction. My eyes got stuck on my anime figurine and an idea flashed through my mind.

"Okay. I'll just watch some romance anime." I told myself before taking my laptop to watch there. I also turned on the electric fan because it's getting hot.

I was halfway watching this certain anime, when suddenly my cellphone rang so I turned it on and I saw that she's calling.

"What do you want? It's only 7:21 in the morning." I told her in a cold tone. It took her three seconds before she answered.

"Good morning, Raver! I'm just going to ask what time are you going at the university?" Coulyne asked with her lively tone. It's annoying for me.

"Before 10:00 just like what professor Smith told us." I replied to her with sarcasm. I heard her giggled through the phone.

Wait a minute. There is something wrong right now. Let me think of it.

That's right. I knew it.

"Wait. Where did you get my number?" I asked her with my one eyebrow rose up.

I know that she's not seeing my reaction but she laughed, so I know that she knew what I looks like right now.

"Oh, I have been waiting for you to notice it! By the way, I got it from Claire. She told me if I want your number and I said definitely." Coulyne explained herself.

Ugh. I should have thought of that. Claire was a traitor.

Oh wait. We were not allies so she's not a traitor. My fault.

"Good for you. Now, if you don't have anything else important to say, I will hang up this call already." I heard her giggled again through the phone. I sighed heavily.

I know Claire is smiling right now really wide. This girl doesn't know anything except how to annoy me in different ways possible.

"Wait, Raver. What are you doing right now?" She asked curiously.

"Nothing important. Just like your life." I said to her in a dead tone. She laughed and I heard his butler scolding her.

My cellphone slipped from my hand and it landed near the speaker of my laptop. I took it right away.

"That was hilariou—Wait! That's Yukinoshita's voice I just heard right now! Are you watching anime, Raver?!" She excitedly said after I took the phone.

I'm amazed how sharp her ears are. I sighed before pausing the anime. I forgot to pause it and it resulted to this another disaster.

"That's not part of your business. Goodby-"

"Wait, Raver! Did Claire tell you anything now?" She asked, with a different tone. The tone she used when we talked yesterday.

"Why don't you just ask her yourself?" I asked back to her in an annoyed tone.

"I already told you! I already tried asking her but she didn't tell me anything." Coulyne replied to me. I sighed.

"Then, let her be." I said to her in a monotonous voice before ending the call. I turned off my phone and continued watching the anime.

She didn't call me again after that. I think she didn't expect that I'm going to say that to her.

Well, that's the truth. That's her problem if she will not accept that.

I still don't know if Claire's going to let her enter the barrier.

But wait a minute. Why is it okay for her that I know?

I'm not her best friend nor friend to be precise. I'm just a stranger that's new to her.

Ugh. Just forget that. My head's just aching because of too much thinking.

"This is a drag. I just want to have normal lif-"

My phone rang again and I sighed heavily after hearing it. I thought it was Coulyne who's calling, but it's Claire.

"Why did you call me? What do you want?" I asked in my normal tone. I can hear her walking.

"I'm sorry this is so sudden. Can you meet me here at the Burger Burger? I'm just going to tell you something important," she said on the line.

I sighed before I said, "Yeah. I'm on my way."

Why am I really going? I can't back out now. I already said I'm on my way. Man, seriously.

I looked at my watch and it's 7:33. I took my hoodie before going out of the house. Fortunately, there were still very few people outside.

"Good morning, Raver. I apologize I called you here." Claire greeted me when I came. The store is still closed so she waited for me whild standing outside.

She's just wearing black shorts and a hoodie with a cap on it. She looks distressed and tired.

"What is the important thing you are going to tell me?" I asked immediately. I stand beside her while leaning on the wall.

"I want you to tell them that I can't come with you to the National Library," she said that made me look at her direction.

"My brother will have surgery later so I have to be there during that time. He told me that I need to be there. I promised," she then added. I looked down after hearing her reason.

Claire is a good sister. Her brother should be proud of her.

"Don't worry I will tell them." I replied to her. She smiled at me but I know she's nervous.

I can clearly see the anxiousness she's feeling through her brown eyes.

"Say, Claire. Why do you keep on hiding your problems from Coulyne even though she badly wants to help you?" I asked after a long silence between the two of us.

"I can't afford to ask for help from other people again... I'm still trying to stand up by myself..." She said, wearing her fake smile.

I knew it. Something had happened to her in the past that resulted her behavior today.

Someone broke her trust, and now she's trying to pick up those little fragments by herself.

Without other people's help and comfort.

"I will not tell you her name but she was my best friend when we were in high school... We had that bond that I treasured as much as I cared for my life..." She said, starting the story.

I sighed before looking at her. Her tears started to fall slowly as if it was waiting for that moment she will break.

"Let's not talk here. I know a place." I told her. She wiped her tears before nodding.

She followed me because she does not know this place. We went to a park and we sat on a bench while watching the trees dancing.

The leaves are swaying as the relaxing wind passes by. The chirping sound of the birds singing makes this place more magical.

Everyone wants a place where peace lies.

"You can continue now." I said, giving her my handkerchief if ever she would cry again.

"As I was saying, she was my dear best friend... And she was also the only friend that I have... But one day, she betrayed me..." She laughed painfully.

Just like I expected, her tears started to flow down from her face.

But even so, she's still smiling as if nothing tragic happened to her.

"I asked for her help because my Dad left us... I told her if we can meet up... I just wanted to talk to someone specifically to her..." Claire continued her story.

"She told me sure she will... I waited for her to the certain place we agreed to meet up... I waited for hours... But she didn't come..." She added then laughed the same way she did earlier.

"I was an idiot, right? After that, she already had new friends and she never talked to me again... That was the reason why I don't want to tell other people again..." I looked at her, she's still smiling.

"But why did you tell me all of this?" I asked her in a monotonous tone.

"I also don't know the reason... Maybe because you don't care about other people so it's fine?" Claire asked. I sighed before looking up at the sky,

"Tell me. What will you do if Coulyne comes to you crying to comfort you?" I asked in a serious tone. I glanced at her and she smiled.

"I don't know... I have never experienced that kind of thing..." Claire answered.

If that happens, Claire will really break down.

She will no longer have the ability to hide the emotions she kept hidden for a long time.

Only if Coulyne will do that, or she won't.

"Thank you very much, Raver. I will go now," she said before leaving me. I stayed on the bench for a few minutes.

When I got back home, I continued watching the anime. After watching few of the episodes, I prepared myself to go to the university.

I came to the university at 9:45 but they are still not here. I went to the Science Department Office and waited there.

After two minutes of waiting, Coulyne entered the room. She happily came to me but I moved away so our distance would still be far.

She's wearing a mini skirt and a plain white shirt as a top. Even though it's simple, she's still charismatic.

But that's for the typical guys, not me. I don't find her cute in any way.

"You came early. That's odd!" She said with a shock expression. I then rolled my eyes.

"You were just late. It was not odd." I said in a cold tone. She stopped laughing when professor Smith and professor Jimmy entered the room.

"Oh? You're here already. Where is Claire?" Professor Smith asked confusingly.

"She told me she can't come with us. She has an emergency to attend to." I answered her question. She then nodded.

"Anyway, let's go. We're using a van since we have books with us. Everything was prepared already," she told us. I sighed before standing up.

When we got inside the van, professor Jimmy immediately started the engine of the car.

"Raver, did Claire tell you what is she going to do?" Professor Smith suddenly asked me. I sighed before answering her question.

"She told me nothing. She jus texted me that she can't." I answered. She didn't ask any more questions after that.

"When did Claire texted you?" Coulyne asked me after a long silence inside this car. Professor Jimmy is not playing songs. Maybe this van does not have a radio.

"This morning." I simply said to her. I glanced at her and her eyes looks down.

"She texted you but she didn't message me anything..." She said, smiling while looking through the window.

After 20 minutes of long trip without conversation between us, we reached the National Library.

Two men with big muscular bodies came to us and helped carry the boxes of books. When we got inside the library, it was very big.

The place is full of different tall and wide shelves with full of different kind of books. This is very amazing.

"Welcome to the Philippine National Library! Thank you for your kind cooperation." An old woman approached us. I think she's the one who's in-charge of this whole place.

"You are always welcome, Ms. Santos. Helping the community and its people is the duty of our club. We are happy to help." Professor Smith replied.

They kept talking about something I don't understand so I just decided to wander around the place.

The place is too big that you will find it hard to look for the books that you like. There are many categories you choose from.

Is it possible to take a book? Maybe they will not notice if I take one.

"Hey, Raver! Where are you going?" Coulyne suddenly showed up behind me. I sighed heavily before looking at her.

"Stop following me." I said coldly before leaving her. This girl is really annoying!

"Hey, Raver! I will come with yo-"

My phone suddenly rang and it caused her to stop talking. Claire is calling so I went out or the library to answer it. Coulyne followed me.

"What is it?" I asked her in a serious tone. I was shocked when I heard her crying really bad.

"R-Raver... M-My brother... H-He's not opening his eyes... H-Help me... W-What should I do?..." Claire replied that made my body froze.

"I'm on my way." I said before ending the call. Gladly, she told me the name of the hospital and I know where it is located.

"I will come with you, Raver!" Coulyne grabbed my wrist as I was about to leave.

I looked at her intently. Her face looks really worried about Claire.

Is this the right time? Can she do it?

"Are you sure? Claire might push you awa-"

"I don't give a damn about the things she will say to me! She is my best friend and I will do everything to make her feel that she's not alone!" I was shocked because of what she said.

I think this is the time she will be changed by someone who truly cares for her. The fear that she keeps on holding on, will finally fade.

Those little fragments she tries to compose will be replaced by a whole new one.

The stronger and irreplaceable one.

Finally, she will be freed from the shackles of her past that kept her beneath the shadows of thoughts.

Claire will be freed by her true best friend, Coulyne.