Chapter 32 - The Falling

— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — SERRA — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —

That next day, 7 am…

Today, I'm just spending my summer vacation. But I'm here with my family. I am at the living room because I cannot go upstairs. Things have gone worse.

Not only can I not go up to browse my phone or my PC, I'm constantly being in surveillance. My parents are watching my every move 24/7 and this just makes me more and more frustrated.

"Can we go to a water park?" My brother asks his interest to go for summer.

"Lame... I want to go to Japan..." My younger sister wants her idea instead of my brother's.

"It's always that anime stuff... What are you even going to do in Japan other than that?!" Here they are, beginning to fight again.

"Sightseeing! There is more to Japan than just anime, you know!" They always clash and start and argument every so often. Since I am forced to listen, I'm more annoyed having to hear their shenanigans.

"Settle down, we'll find a way to satisfy both your needs…" My dad always breaks the fight and satisfies both of them.

"Maybe your cousins would like to go somewhere too!" My mom favored my cousins more than any of us. But even then, she always brings attention to my other two siblings, not me.

My parents never valued me. They never considered my feelings, they never let me do the things I want, they got me gifts I don't want, they never even consult me when I have a problem,

They never cared. It's always about them and them first.

I don't know how long I can hold on. They can never learn to appreciate me just as they appreciate my relatives and siblings.

"I'm sorry, dear... Serra is busy at the moment, so maybe next time?" My mother sounds like she doesn't give a fuck whenever my cousin wanted to talk about me. She just kept making excuses like this, when in reality she just wanted me to stay alone.

She ended the call after and I have had enough. 15 years of my existence and I never experience what they had. It's unfair.

"... Can I finally go out with all of you for once..." As I asked, everyone looked at me as if I'm going crazy.

"Serra, you're going to watch the house. We don't want any intruders coming in." She always pulled out the same damn excuse every time, along with that annoyed face of hers. Deep down, I already know she doesn't want me to go because she hates the thought of me being happy.

"You always say that. You never wanted me to be happy. You're always that one person who always thinks for themselves. You never bat an eye on me." I'm also annoyed at her.

"Serra, who do you think is raising you? You honestly think you can say whatever you can say to us right now, because you disobeyed us twice?! This is why we locked your room and confiscated your phone! You have disrespected us for the last time, and I want you to keep quiet and just follow what your mom says!" My father is a bad example of what an authoritarian parent should be. He's the one enforcing me to follow what my mother wanted me to do.

I was getting angry. My breathing was getting intense. 15 years I have endured this suffering... I want them to respect me, just once.

I kept on dreaming, wishing it would be possible... But I guess not.

"Disrespected you... You never respected me anyway... So why should I even bother." I stood up and walked forward to grab hold of a pen that's on the table.

"I'm warning you, young lady... I'm giving you to the count of 3..." I kept walking and grabbed the pen.

"One." I turned to them as my father started counting.

"Two!" His voice was getting angrier and louder. I didn't care if he even goes to three.

"Three!" Dad proceeded to rush forward and attack me. Did he really not think what he shaped his daughter to be?

I ducked and proceeded to trip him before I removed the cap of the tech pen and threw it to him. He then felt it stab to him.

"ARGH! WHY YOU LITTLE!" He quickly pulled it out as he rushed to me again. What a pathetic attempt.

But before I could do anything, mom suddenly held me back and restrained me from behind as dad held my arms. I tried to break free but I wasn't able to.

"15 years of raising you... And THIS is how you repay us?! Fine... We'll allow you to go out..." My brother proceeded to open the door and I was brought outside, but for not the reason I wanted.

"FOR THE REST OF YOUR FUCKING LIFE!" They then threw me out and locked the door. Leaving me wounded and dirty on the ground.

... Whatever... It's not like I even cared for them enough for me to live anyway... I'm going for a walk...

Far away from here, where no one will be able to find me.

— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — SYRRA — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —

The next day, 4 pm…

"What does wine taste like…"

I'm currently in a karaoke place where they also feature unlimited meat to grill with my sister, who just got home after HOURS of working. Renn and Vance were here with us, as well.

"You don't want to taste it, Renn. By the way, I'm honestly wondering… What do you work in, Ms. Winters?" Vance was curious.

"A waiter in that café Syrra went to one time: Barista Chen's!" So she decided to work in that café… I don't blame her, though. That place is wonderful.

"Syrra, didn't you say that their best selling cake there was great?" Renn was curious on how the cake was like in the café.

Boy, you don't know what you're up for…

"THE CHOCOLATE CAKE THERE IS AMAZING! NOT TO MENTION THE LATTE BLEND OF COFFEE THERE IS PERFECT! THE PASTRIES ALL LOOK AMAZING!" I couldn't contain my excitement.

"Whoa, you're really getting excited over a café!" Renn giggled. Heh, speak for yourself. I know how to get you excited.

"I also saw strawberry shortcake on display-"

Renn immediately slammed his hands on the table upon hearing the strawberry shortcake.

"WHY MUST YOU LEAVE ME IN THE DARK?! I CRAVE IT NOW!" He just can't help but immediately get interested when it comes to strawberries.

"Poor Renn… If you had planned with me weeks ago, I would have bought you some~" It's his own fault for wasting his days, he has no one to blame but himself for being left out of the loop.

Renn whimpered and grilled some meat. Vance and Jenna chuckled at how Renn reacted.

"By the way, Jenna. Where are you going to work after college?" Vance was curious about my sister's career path.

"Pharmacy! I always wanted to be a pharmacist…" She is very interested in medicine, so she wanted to learn more in that field.

"It just so happens that I am taking my training in my pharmacology course. I'll continue it tomorrow. I would like to teach you the ropes once you start your internship." Oh? Vance is also taking pharmacology? What a surprise! Guess he can be her partner in her future job.

"Oh, really? I'd appreciate that, Mr. Vaxley… You don't mind if I… Challenge you to fun singing contest?" She grabbed her mic.

"You're on. Pick a song then." Vance picked his mic and they began having a singing contest.

Renn is eating his meat, still disappointed that he didn't try the strawberry shortcake.

"(I guess I'll also have some meat while they have fun.)" I began grilling more meat.

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4 hours later…

"Wah… Sugoi… (Wow…) Now I'm in the mood for yakiniku… (grilled meat…)"

Fey called me after doing my house chores for tonight. For dinner, Jenna's going to cook a wonderful chicken soup tonight.

"You'll be spotting a karaoke joint that features it. Vance was the one who recommended that place, maybe we'll invite you next time." Fey is always late to the party… I wonder how she is spending her summer vacation… Is she traveling somewhere? Having fun with her friends?

Fey is mysterious.

"Ah, it's alright… I'm busy for the week anyway... By the way, I would like to ask you something… How's Serra?" Huh? Serra? She suddenly brought her up. I forgot about her today.

"I don't know… I think I should call her, Fey…" I answered her. I'll call her after this to check if she is alright.

"Syrra-san… Sera ga han'nō shinai… (Serra isn't responding…) I wanted to call her and see how she is but… Every time I call, I don't get an answer. That's why I asked you…" I was in shock hearing this.

"I… Don't know… I'll let you know when I find her." I immediately hung up and went out.

Things are getting bad... Real bad... I can't Serra behind! Call me stupid, but it's the right thing to do. I am not losing someone today!

I quickly ran around my neighborhood and asked around if they had seen a black-haired girl, slightly taller than me. But every one I asked has not seen her.

It's getting hopeless. I kept searching the neighborhood around my subdivision, but no luck. She's not here.

I quickly called Renn. He has to know and work with me to find her.

"Syrra? Why-"

"NO TIME TO EXPLAIN! SERRA... SHE..."

"SAY NO MORE. I'LL GO AND LOOK FOR HER! YOU FOCUS ON LOOKING FOR HER THERE!" He quickly hung up and I started looking around her. I went out the park and started looking for her there, but there was no sign of her.

Darn, and I thought it'd be the first place I'd expect her to be. I kept searching around the city. Every convenience store, every shop I cross, the mall, and every block I run into...

There is literally no sign of her. I didn't want to lose her... I didn't want to leave her in her current state...

Her family must have done something to her, I'm sure. I just kept running, and running, and running, hoping I'd find her... I'm getting tired, but giving up isn't my option.

After what seemed like a while, I got a call. It's Renn.

"Hello-"

"AT THE BRIDGE, SHE'S STANDING AT THE EDGE! SYRRA! HURRY!" I was surprised and shoced. I started tearing up. I quickly ran my way towards the direction of the bridge that exits the state. I noticed a car that was pulled over, I can see a car on the standby.

It's Renn, but why isn't he...

My phone vibrated, and I noticed a text:

Re: "Syrra... Please comfort her... I want you to try and have a heart-to-heart talk with her."

I nodded, determined that I'll be able to catch her in time. I kept running, getting close to her as I saw that she was about step off the bridge.

"WAAAAAAAAAAAAIT!!!"

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