337 days

by Denise Kim Wy

  "Then why are you spending your time with me now?"

  "I dunno, maybe because you respect privacy?"

  "I do? Yeah maybe." My vision started to blur. Dang! I forgot my pills in my glove compartment.

  "You okay?" I heard her ask.

  "Yeah, guess I'm tired." I tried to focus myself.

  Papa Gheto returned to our table with a large tray and our pizza.

  Althea clasped her hands like a kid presented with a lot of Christmas presents.

  "Enjoy your meal kids." Papa Gheto smiled and returned again to the kitchen.

  The aroma of the pizza made me dizzy. I got to get out of here.

  "Excuse me but where's the restroom?" I stood up, staggering a bit.

  Althea took big bite on a huge pizza slice. "Left side near the kitchen, what's wrong?"

  I quickly went to the restroom and locked the door behind me. I went to the sink, open the faucet and splashed my face with cold water.

  This was not good. Who am I fooling? I might look healthier outside but my brain tumor was not getting any better. I looked at my reflection on the mirror. Yeah, I looked better.

  I slumped on the floor and leaned my back on the tile wall. How long should I suffer? This is my 300th day, how many days left? Should I really be living like this away from my family? What if I die? Who's gonna contact my family? Am I really enjoying myself like what I wanted to be?

  Why am I here?

  I heard a tap on the door.

  "Rob? You alright?" It was Althea.

  She can't see me like this. Oh Althea.

  "I'm okay!" I said that a little bit louder than I intended.

  "The pizza is getting cold, come out or you won't be able to eat anything." She said from behind the door.

  I stood up and fixed myself. I opened the door and she was there, holding a pizza slice.

  "This is my third slice." She beamed at me.

  "Piggy!" I smirked and we returned to our table.

  I watched her eat. I like the way she chews. She was bobbing her head like she's tuning it with a beat. I smiled.

  "What are you smiling at?" She asked.

  "Nothing." I tried to avoid her eyes.

  "You're not eating anything." She pointed.

  "I'm not hungry."

  "Aww! What a KJ! Come on, just a bite!"

  "Althea"

  "Rob!"

  I sighed.

  "Come on, just a bite!" She offered her pizza at me.

  I reluctantly took a bite.

  "Well?" She asked, her eyes going big again like a chibi.

  "Not bad." I swallowed.

  She smiled. That’s when I realized how attractive she was. I stared at her, admiring her beauty.

  That's when I realize what I just did. My cheeks felt hot.

  "Why are you blushing like a tomato?" I heard her ask.

  "Me? Bbblushing?" I stammered.

  "Uh.. Yeah." She said, scrutinizing my face.

  "It’s hot."

  "The pizza?"

  'No its you,' that's what I want to answer her. But I would never do that!

  "No, the place." I drank some water.

  ***

  "Where to now?" I asked as we drove away from papa Gheto's pizza house.

  "How about the beach?" She suggested.

  "Swimming?"

  "No, just wanna feel the breeze."

  "But you said you didn't want to go to the beach with Mac and the others."

  "It’s not the only beach you know." She rolled her eyes.

  ***

  We reached the beach, I told her to go first because I have to arrange some of my stuff in the car.

  When I'm sure that she won't be able to see what I'm doing. I opened my glove compartment and took my pills. I dry swallowed two and leaned back on the driver's seat.

  I saw Althea; she's building a sand castle. Nice.

  I got out of the car and walked towards her.

  "Isn't that too childish?"

  She looked up at me. "Didn't get to enjoy this when I'm little."

  I sat down on the sand beside her. Gazing at the blue ocean, I asked. "Tell me more about your childhood."

  "There's nothing to tell."

  Silence

  But she started. "My parents died in a plane crash leaving me and my older brother. I was nine and he was eighteen so he became my guardian. We're not rich, so my brother stopped studying to support my studies. I told him that I would help, but he strongly disagreed. Telling me it was his duty to provide the needs of the family. A family consisted by only the two of us. When I turned twelve, he died.” She stopped building her sand castle.

  Althea moved beside me and leaned her head on my right shoulder.

  She sighed and continued. "My custody was transferred to my Aunt Gemma. Our distant relative. She supported my studies but I know that she doesn't really like to keep me. That's why when I turned eighteen, I decided to support myself. I applied for a scholarship and worked part time at night. "

  "That's a sad childhood." I replied.

  She picked up a small shell from the sand and she absentmindedly fumbled it with her thumb. “But you know what,” She turned to me and smiled. “I know my future would be different. It will be a happy one.”

  “How can you tell?” I asked, intrigued.

  “Because I’ll make sure it will. And it will be.”

  “You’re too positive.” I mumbled.

  She said nothing. So that's her story. It's an opposite of mine. I had a great childhood. But a bleak future. Althea has a bright future ahead of her. A future I’ll never get to see.

  I sighed.

  Chapter 6: Awkward

  I watched Althea all throughout the class. I watched the way she laughed at Mr. Warren’s corny jokes and the way she excitedly raises her arm through every question asked. It was like being in high school again. Then I realized that it has been a long time ever since I dated a girl.

  I peeled my eyes away from Althea and I tried to listen to what Mr. Warren was saying, but I couldn’t. I only ended up thinking about the past, thinking of Desiree. I shook my head slowly. I shouldn’t have come to study again, sure I enjoyed every minute of it but falling in love with someone wasn’t part of the plan. The funny thing was, I only knew Althea for days yet I already feel comfortable with her. Her fun and positive attitude seemed to revive the person I once was. Her positive outlook in life seems to give me hope that no matter how unfair life was, I could still manage to enjoy living it. It was indescribable. The more I spend time with her, the more I want to be with her.

  “Are you still awake?”

  I almost jumped out of my seat and noticed Mac and Faun laughing in front of me.

  “Rob are you alright?”

  My eyes flickered to Althea’s amused face. “I’m okay, I was just thinking of something.”

  “I bet he’s thinking of you Althy.” Mac chuckled as he ran his hand over his blonde hair.

  I shook my head. Kids. “Why don’t you just zip it Mac?”

  Mac shrugged. “Can’t.”

  I turned around and noticed other students shuffling out of the room. “It’s time already?” I asked.

  “Yeah.” Althea said with a grin. “You were too focused on what you were thinking that you had not heard the bell.”

  “Too focused thinking about Althea.” Faun sniggered. “Oh come on! Are we going to watch a movie or not?” He asked impatiently.

  Althea grabbed her bag and turned to him. “I’m sorry but I have to go to work.” She didn’t sound sorry at all.

  “Wow! You work now?” Mac asked. “We’ve got a problem then. There are six of us, Karen, Shyne, me, Faun, Rob and you. You know, equal number of boys and girls. You get my drift right?”

  “You mean a threesome?” I asked innocently.

  “Yeah!”Faun nodded. “Pretty cool huh?”

  “But since I’m out then that makes it five.” Althea interjected. “I’ve got part-time now.”

 
“Make it four.” I added. “I’ll be working on something.”

  “You what?!” Faun asked. “Oh no.” He waddled a finger in front of my face, then his green eyes flickered to Althea then back to mine. “Something’s on between the two of you huh? First, you two spend time alone on the beach then…”

  “Woah! You did what?!”

  All four of us turned to see Karen and Shyne entering the room. Shyne’s eyes were wide with excitement.

  “Oh come on guys! You have a movie to watch right?” I said, trying to change the subject.

  “Yeah, we need to go now.” Mac said as he grabbed his stuff. “Let’s just leave the lovebirds alone.”

  They all chuckled except for Althea and myself. Finally, they left, leaving Althea and I alone in the now empty classroom.

  I stood up and began fixing my things. The silence was deafening and I was afraid to break it. I didn’t know what to say. Should I drive her to her part-time? What should I do?

  Then she finally broke the ice. “Want some coffee?”

  “But I thought you had part-time?” I asked.

  “It won’t start in an hour and a half.” She shrugged. “I just don’t want to watch that lame kung fu movie.”

  I felt my heart leap in joy. She asked me for coffee! I mentally smacked myself, I should’ve asked her earlier.

  “Sure, why not?”

  ***

  We stayed on the same bench we sat during the first time we met. Ashley sat with her legs on the bench as she held her coffee in front of her face, enjoying the wonderful aroma.

  “What now?” I asked, sipping my coffee.

  “What would you like to talk about?”

  “I don’t know.” I was at lost for words. ”Books maybe?”

  “Books are good.” She turned and beamed at me. “What are you reading right now?”

  “Kafka.”

  “Oh.”

  “What was that supposed to mean?” I asked.

  Althea shrugged. “Nothing. I just said Oh, that’s all.”

  An awkward silence fell over us. I asked myself what was I doing here. I shouldn’t be staying with her like this. Not when the light of the setting sun made her skin glow with radiance and make her stunningly beautiful, not with her sitting quietly enjoying coffee and enjoying a nice view together. It was a perfect place and perfect time to be with someone you…like… I wanted to go and leave but I can’t will myself to do so. I wanted to be with her.

  “What are you reading anyway?” I asked.

  “Jane Austen.” She sipped her coffee and continued, “Pride and Prejudice.”

  “Oh.”

  Now it was Althea’s turn to roll her eyes. We both laughed.

  Althea and I stayed for another hour talking about random things. It’s amazing how time seemed to fly at double speeds whenever you enjoy someone’s company. Finally, it was time for her to leave.

  “I need to go to the shop now.”

  “I’ll drive you there.” I offered.

  “No. it’s okay.”

  “No, come on. That way you’ll get there faster.” I insisted.

  “No, its fine really.”

  I finally gave up. I don’t want her to think that I’m pushy or something.

  Althea stood up and was about to go, but not before she turned around and smiled. “I had a great time.” Her voice was soft and gentle.

  “Me too.” I replied.

  “See you later then.”

  “Bye.”

  I watch her walk away, feeling torn between two contrasting emotions. I was happy spending time with her, but at the same time sad, or maybe the right word was afraid, for I think I’m already falling in love with her.

  Chapter 7: Mistakes

  I was starting to enjoy my second college life. I've been doing well on all of my subjects and impressing my professors just like the old times. Though unlike the old times, I can't join college parties due to my condition. How can I attend parties when I'm either having a skull breaking headache or a pestering vomiting spell? I always find a way to be alone as much as possible, but sometimes, I need to socialize too. And socialize meant spending time with Althea, though that also meant spending time with the kids.

  Faun was playing with his cheese sticks again. Sam busy with his PSP, Karen chatting non-stop with Shyne. Mac reading a book while Althea and I stared at them.

  Althea shook her head.

  "You guys have a weird world of your own." She said.

  Faun smiled, "Well, you two KJ's also do have a weird world of your own."

  What the hell?

  Althea pulled Faun's cheestick from him and used it to hit him.

  "Easy Althy." Sam chuckled. His already small eyes became smaller.

  Althea threw him the cheese stick. This was our usual scene during lunch break.

  Mac dropped his book. He ran his hand through his blonde hair. He loves doing that. He was beside me and he managed to nudge me with his elbow.

  "You two were on a date when we went to the movie huh bro?" He teased.

  Shyne and Karen stopped chatting and looked at me, then to Althea.

  "Yeah you both look like a couple." Karen giggled.

  Althea just shook her head.

  I kinda think Althea is cute. I like her bubbly attitude, her innocence, and the way she smiles. She managed to hide all the pain and sufferings of her childhood.

  Faun the red head drummer boy leaned closer to the table, "Hey Althea, have you got a boyfriend?" He asked in a suave tone.

  Althea blushed.

  "Ahh that's obviously a yes!" Sam teased.

  "I have no boyfriend ok?!" Althea snapped.

  "But your cheeks tells otherwise." Sam said.

  "Oh stop teasing her." Shyne defended Althea.

  "Thanks Shyne."

  "But are you liking somebody?" Shyne inquired.

  "Hey I thought you're on my side!" Althea was half shouting.

  "Yeah but we're all curious you know."

  Faun, Sam, Mac, and Karen nodded their heads in agreement. I took a spoonful of mashed potatoes.

  Althea looked like a tomato. Her ears are red too. She's visibly uncomfortable. She maybe good on hiding her past but she can't hide her emotions now.

  "Oh come on. Can't you see she's uncomfortable?" I tried to defend her, but quickly realized that that was a huge mistake. They started teasing me. Kids.

  "Oh I knew it! You like her!" Faun chuckled.

  The girls except Althea giggled. Sam laughed out loud.

  "Way to go bro!" Mac playfully smacked the back of my head.

  Shit. No one was supposed to do that.

  It was not a strong smack but my vision started to blur. Oh great! A vertigo. I hold onto the edge of the table for support.

  Althea noticed it at once.

  "Rob? What's wrong?" Althea unconsciously touched my hand. It could have sent an electricity and joy all through out my body but not this time.

  I was about to answer when my head started to hurt like hell.

  Sam and Faun stopped laughing.

  "Hey bro? What did I do?" I heard panic on Mac's voice.

  The room started to spin; I realized that I was falling.

  I hear them calling out my name when darkness started to swallow me.

  ***

  I woke up then I realized that I was staring at the ceiling. I'm lying on a bed.

  I slowly moved my head and saw Althea seated on a foldable chair. She was asleep holding my hand. That made my heart beat faster.

  I gently removed my hand from her and slowly stroked her hair. She looked like a little girl when she's sleeping. That made me smile. But then I told myself that this was a huge mistake.

  She stirred a little. I quickly removed my hand from her hair when she opened her eyes.

  She quickly straightened herself.

  "You alright?" She asked?

  "Yeah, guessed I passed out." I mumbled.