C21: Amethyst

[ Saturday, October 1 ]

The clock strikes 9 am. Summer isn't here yet, though this is the exact time when she said she'll arrive. Maybe she had some issues? I really can't tell.

I went out of the house and went to the area where the small boats stop to drop their passengers. Thankfully, a small boat is on its way to the shore, and from a distance, I've seen a girl with a long, wavy brunette hair in light makeup, floaty red crop top with ruffle sleeves and white pants. When the small boat reached the shore, the boatman assisted her as she steps out of the boat. The moment when she stepped her black high heels into the sand, she walked briskly towards me and pulled me to a hug.

"Sweet cheeks!" she said while gently pulling me away from her. "Thank God, you're really alive!"

She looked at me from head to toe, examining the clothes that I'm wearing. "Seriously, this is how you dress now? T-shirt with knee-length shorts. What a pity. I should've brought you some clothes. I should've brought some lotions too and other skin care products. You look so dry, sister. I can still recognize you, but physically, you've changed. It feels weird not to see you in makeup too." Summer commented.

I rolled my eyes after hearing her comments. Knowing that Summer is a fashion freak, the kind who always posts her outfit-of-the-day on her Instagram account and pampered with all the luxury products around, she'll definitely notice my appearance.

"Do you really think that I can still live my old life here? I don't even know how I can pay them for everything. My physical appearance doesn't matter anymore but the fact that I'm alive. Look at you, you wore clothes that are too … classy. People here might think that you're from a different world or something. Either that or the fact that you didn't dress up to reach their level. You do know that the people here aren't well-off, don't you?"

Summer sighed in disappointment, looked down for a second and fixed her eyes back on me.

"Believe it or not, this is the simplest attire that I've got. So, enough of the clothes. I need to know everything. You should tell me all I need to know. Now."

"Follow me," I said as I lead Summer to a fallen tree where we can sit on its trunk. I sat down and Summer touched the tree's trunk, checking if it's safe to sit on or if it's dusty. I can't say I'm surprised. Summer is a city girl and is used to the urban life. Being here on an island is something weird for her. Back in the city, everyone sits on a foamed chair or couch. Here, we sit on fallen trees as our seat and we're good. It took me time to adjust to these kinds of things but I got used to it eventually. After all, it's all that's available, and they're not that bad as it looks. "You saw that I can sit normally without a problem, don't you? Now sit down and we'll talk about serious matters."

Summer must be worried because her pants are white. Not having it a little dirty is inevitable.

Wrong choice of clothes.

"So, speak." Summer said as she sat next to me.

"Like I've said in my email, Shawn rescued me from my car accident. We were brought to the hospital after and thankfully, I wasn't harmed at all aside from little scratches when Shawn broke the window's glass on the driver's seat. I didn't get a hypothermia or anything like that so we got discharged immediately. I begged Shawn to take me with him because I can't face everyone again after what happened. Of course, he refused but eventually, he pitied me and agreed but for a

price. I didn't care what price, I just said we'll work it out."

I began while reminiscing about every detail of the day when Shawn and I were arguing about me coming with him. Now that I think about it, Shawn hasn't told me what the price is, but now that Summer's here, I guess my assumption is right. I believe Shawn wants me to arrange a meeting for Summer and him so that they can mend things which makes sense now. I know that Shawn's been waiting for this day and surely this is their day.

"What price?" Summer asked, narrowing her eyes.

"I believe it's you. Knowing Shawn, he always sees things in a bigger picture. He must've concluded that I'll contact you to visit here and I can arrange a meeting for the two of you. When I first met Shawn, I had no idea that you two are or were together and that he's James Barron's son. I only figured out about that recently. He's not really vocal about his real identity."

Summer looked away from me and focused her eyes in front of her. She flashed a smile full of sadness. "He never changed. He's still the old Shawn that I know."

"After we talk, he wants to meet you near the breakwater at noon. I guess that's the right time for the two of you to mend things."

"That's true. To be honest, I'm nervous about it. But setting myself aside, I need to know your plans."

"Tell me how the city is going now. Any news?"

Summer looked back to me with her eyes filled with despair and worry. "Vaughn needs you now, Amethyst, more than ever. He's sick and is in a very bad condition. He needs to have some operation abroad. He has this rare cancer called Chordoma where there's a slow-growing tumor in his head. There's no cure but treatments only. Dad said we can help him financially, but this also means that his days can be counted, you hear me? Even if the tumor is removed, it comes back eventually. Of course, we can always have it removed, but how long do you think will his body tolerate all the surgeries?"

My mouth opened in shock and no words came out. I feel like my entire body weakened as if because something or someone pinched my heart. I couldn't breathe normally like I used to, my heart beats loud enough as if it's about to explode. On the other hand, my eyes began to water, and tears rolled down my cheeks.

"Please tell me that you're just saying all of these things just for me to be convinced to come back," I said, stuttering. Deep in my thoughts, I can picture Vaughn all alone in his room, sitting down on his bed, holding his head because of pain and probably calling my name, begging for me to come back.

Cancer. Vaughn has cancer. It's like I have to keep replaying those words in my head in order to believe them.

Summer rolled her eyes. "Do I look like I'm joking? Do you think I'll lie just for you to come back? How can you even think of those things?" she shook her head and broke an eye contact. "His friend Johan told me about it first. Said that he gets migraines often until it was too bad, he had to bring him to the hospital. But the stubborn patient doesn't want to be brought abroad for the surgeries unless you're there. Seriously, I can't believe that guy. You know what's wrong about him? He made you his world. That's just wrong. For him it's like … if you're not around, he's done with life. So, are you willing to make an action now, lady?"

I'll need to swallow up my pride to return, forgive and forget. Once I manage to do those three, I have to take care of Vaughn. With all these in mind, the wedding on December would be impossible. Besides, it's not what matters now anyway. If I'll be completely honest – I don't really know what to feel. Sure, I'm worried and hurt after knowing that things are this bad. However, it feels wrong to think that I care but why can't I feel the love that I'm supposed to feel? This isn't so me. Everything that my heart is saying feels all wrong. Why am I like this? As far as I know, love doesn't keep records of wrongs. Vaughn made a mistake. How can I not forgive? He deserves it. We can still fix this complicated engagement. We have to.

"Alright. Give me … uh, I don't know. At least a month to re-think about my decisions. I need a little more time." I already know what Summer might say, but I'm just being honest here.

"You're still selfish, aren't you? Can't you just imagine how bad Vaughn's situation is? Yet, you're making him wait? Can't you be considerate for once?"

Just as I thought.

"A week. Give me a week to settle everything and I promise to be there."

Summer shrugged and pouted a bit. "Do your word. I'm not doing it because I care for Vaughn but because this is what I think is right. Everything is in your hands, Amethyst. You can be Vaughn's greatest miracle or greatest heartbreak."

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[ Friday, October 7 ]

Shawn instructed the kids to gather in the living room. None of them has any idea about what the gathering would be all about but I can tell that they can feel that it's not something positive. The girls, Agatha, Laura, Bianca, and Yuna sat on the couch, while the boys, Dion, Jerome, Ramil, and even Shawn sat on the floor. On the other hand, I sat on the single couch just like Mrs. Barron did.

Everyone's eyes are fixed on Shawn, for they know that he's the one who'll tell the kids about the announcement.

"Kids, I want you guys to know that I love you, okay? And all of us will always be friends, for I'm like your older brother," Shawn began. With his eyes, I can tell that he didn't prepare for this. It's pretty obvious that he's out of words.

The kids looked at each other, some of them looked at him worriedly. I can imagine how hard it is for him to say that we will leave this place and I'm not likely to return. Knowing how things were like back in the city, I have lots of things to mend and coming back here isn't one of my priorities. I have to bring Vaughn in the US and have him treated. Shawn, on the other hand, needs to fix things with his father and probably introduce himself to my dad and inform our parents about him and Summer. It shouldn't be that hard because my dad is friends with Shawn's father, James Barron.

What made it hard for Vaughn to be accepted by my father was because we're not of the same social status. But Vaughn proved himself that even if we don't belong to the same category, the heart will always find its way to connect people who are meant to be. That if there's a will, there's a way. He's the living example for the known phrase, "nothing is impossible."

For some reason, the thought that Shawn might be my brother-in-law one day makes me want to laugh. It feels like a joke. Not in an insane way or anything, but it's just weird how small the world can be. Now I believe with the saying, "everything has a reason."

"Let me get this straight. Amethyst and I will be gone, we'll leave and go to the city," Shawn continued and he looked at his mother. "My mother will stay here while we're away. I don't want this moment to be dramatic, but the reason is –"

"Take me with you, Shawn!" Jerome interrupted, stopping Shawn from saying more.

"No, you don't understand. No offense, but you'll be a burden if you'll come with me. Amethyst and I would separate ways there. It's not like we're going to elope. Amethyst needs to be with her fiancé and have him treated abroad. On the other hand," Shawn paused and rested his head in his hand, bit his lip so hard that I can imagine that it's strong enough to make his lips bleed. "I have to mend things with my father and introduce myself to Summer's family."

"Summer? You mean the girl who came here a few days ago?" Dion asked, his eyes narrowed and his eyebrows furrowed.

Bianca crossed her arms, trying to find answers from her suspicions. "Why would you have to introduce yourself to Summer's family?"

"Isn't Summer Amethyst's older sister?" Ramil pouted upon asking. Yuna, Laura, Agatha, and Jerome flashed a confused look, but none of them bothered to ask more questions to Shawn.

Shawn raised his head up, fixing his eyes in front of the kids. "Summer is Amethyst's older sister, yes. She's my … um, we had a relationship in the past so," Shawn shrugged. "So, we need to inform our families about it. That's the plan. Summer and I agreed on that when she came here. I have to mend things with my father first then the meeting for both families might happen." He exhaled a breath after finally telling the kids about what's going to happen, relieved that he already said what he has to say.

"You mean, you're getting married?" Yuna blinked.

"Does that mean you're going to leave us?" Agatha asked.

"You're leaving us, Shawn? How can you?" Laura whimpered, tears pooling the innocent child's eyes.

Bianca patted Laura's back, trying to comfort her but her tears fell from her eyes.

"What? No!" Shawn denied, squeezing his eyes shut. He ran his hand into his hair, trying his best to calm down, but I can tell that he's blushing. "That's not what I mean. We just have to inform them about us because our relationship was a secret. So, be a good kid to your housemates here, got it? I'll be back soon enough. Probably in a month at most."

"We'll miss you, Shawn and Amethyst," Bianca said, her eyes filled with sadness.

"Don't worry, I'll be back soon, we will meet again," Shawn replied as he moved his head to face me.

"I don't know about Amethyst, though."

"I don't want to leave a promise, but I'll try. I don't know how long I'll be there in the US. But I'll leave a piece of advice for all of you: in order to maintain the friends that you already have, you should be the kind of friend that you want, always ask your friend how they're doing or feeling, offer help when they're in need and be an encouragement and a good example. I'll surely miss you all, kids. We'll see each other soon, one day."