ALEXANDER

Chapter 28

“Na-uh! I’m maybe old, but I am not dumb, sweet pea. So, what has been bothering you? Was it my grandson?”

“You’re right. It’s- It’s about him but mostly about you, pops.”

“Me??”

“Yes. I was talking to him about you. I was just worried about you. What if I will not see you again whenever I want to? Believe me or not, pops... you’re important to me, and the thoughts of losing you or not seeing you again sadden me. I always miss you, popsy.”

The tears have poured out of me again. I’m crying because I was heartbroken and I can’t see Augustus again.

“Oh, my sweet pea... Come here.”

I hug him as soon as he does to me.

Why does it feel so heartbreaking leaving people that has been part of my life already?

Why did I agree with this deal in the first place?

Mom...

Right. It’s all for mom. I did it for her.

“Don’t cry so much, sweet pea. Or else you will look like a granny with only one tooth in front.”

I laugh and I know he’s just trying to console me.

“Don’t worry about me. I will be alright. Meeting you is one of my happy memories before I leave this earth. I am happy to leave, knowing my grandson has finally found a woman like you. I’m happy that it’s you, sweet pea. I can leave the earth peacefully.”

My heart is aching so badly by what he said. Guilt is mixing with the pain I am currently enduring.

“Pops, don’t say that. You still have another year or more...” I wail.

Losing Alexander and not seeing pops again are making me lonelier. My cries double by those thoughts.

“Sweet pea, everything has its end. All humans have their own time and once their time ends, we have no choice but to accept and move on. Remember that. Okay?”

I stare at him as he wipes my tears with his pale hand.

Oh, pops... My heart clenches.

Why does it have to be like this?

And he’s right. Everything has its end. I have no choice but to accept and move on.

Just like the contract, it should be voided before it’s too late. And my feelings for Alexander, those should be stopped as well. My one-sided f*****g feelings.

“Goodbye, pops. I will visit you sometime.” Bidding my goodbye with a last glance and a genuine smile.

“I will be waiting, sweet pea.”

Please don’t wait for me, pops. I’m so sorry.

Walking out of the hospital with a heavy feeling.

Staring at the sky as soon as I got out.

Smiling bitterly before I walk away. “Everything has its end.”

She ended up in a cheap hotel, renting for a one night stay only. She can’t go to her Anj's apartment to avoid any iffy interrogations from her. Besides, she will only cry her eyes out in front of her. She can’t go to the townhouse as well, as she doesn’t want her mom and brothers to suspect her of something else. She was there earlier and going back again would make them suspicious that something wrong might happen.

She strips off all her clothes and walks into the shower as she cries all her pain away.

When she’ done, she feels better. However, she’s too worn out that she instantly falls asleep, not knowing what happens to Alexander.

Morning came by that the news about Alexander’s accident was all over the televisions, radios channels and newspapers.

There were medias in front of the hospital. No one could get closer to Alexander’s room. Only his family and a few friends could go inside. Alexander’s mom was there and Anjeline had just gone home. She explained to Athena what she saw and what she heard from the taxi driver.

Anjeline can’t still reach Cassidy regardless of multiple attempts she did. Cassidy’s phone is still dead. She already call Brix and asked if Cassidy was there and none of them knew about her whereabouts, too.

She got home in her apartment thinking of people whom her cousin would stay. When she’s going to call Valeen, the doorbell buzzes.

“Cassie!” Anj exclaims when it’s Cassidy.

“Hi! Wait, what’s wrong? Did something happen here?” Cassidy wonders why Anj looks so worried.

“Where have you been? I’ve been calling you multiple times since last night! I called Brix, and he said you just left them yesterday. Where did you go??!” Anj is ranting out her worries.

"Oh- I’m sorry. My phone was dead. I don’t have a charger with me. I was with a friend."

“God! Don’t you still know what happened??”

Cassidy looks at Anj with her brows crease. “What do you mean? Were you in trouble?”

“Goodness, Cassie! It’s all over the internet!”

“Yeah, right Anjeline. Having a dead phone can surely check what’s on the internet,” says Cassidy. Rolling her eyes as she sits on the sofa.

“Cassidy, your boyfriend got into an accident! And he’s in the hospital right now!”

Cassidy abruptly sits straight, staring at Anjeline with wide eyes. “What are you talking about?? Are you joking on me?? I swear that’s not funny!”

“I wish I was just joking, Cassie. But Alexander came here las night. He got hit by a car! He didn’t see the car coming fast, and it was just---“

Cassidy stops Anj, as she can’t absorb the news positively. Her body was paralyzing while feeling the blood on her face leaves her.

“Anj--- Alexander? Oh, God!” Cassidy’s pale face can’t get any paler. “I can’t breathe.. Anj!”

Cassidy is having a panic attack. Her heart is palpitating while her hands are trembling.

“Oh, my god! Cassidy! What’s wrong?!”,

“I can’t-- can’t breathe..”

“Oh, God! Wait-- Cassie, breath in, breath out.” Anj motions her hands as she tells Cassidy to slowly do the breathing.

“Cassie, do it through your nose. Slowly breath in, breath out. Then through your mouth, slowly...”

Five minutes later, Cassidy has slowly gotten back to normal, so Anj asks, “What three things you see I am holding right now?”

“A phone, a pen and a pillow.” says Cassidy.

“Okay. Good! How about telling me the three parts of you body?”

“Anj- What’s this for?”

“Just answer!”

“Hands, Head and feet.”

“One last, give me the three sounds you hear.”

“The wind, the tapping sound of your feet and my voice!”

“Oh, thank God. I’m so sorry”, says Anj while hugging her. Anj remembered the 3-3-3 rule of having a panic attack.

“Why did you ask those?!”

“You had a panic attack. And I read something on how to aid it and it worked on you! I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you like that.”

“It’s okay. How is he? Is he alright?”

“He’s fine. He had a few stitches on his head and they’re just waiting for him to wake up to monitor him.”

“Okay.”

“Wait! Are you not going to visit him?”

“No.”

“Why? You should be there, Cassie. He will look for you once he wakes up.”

Cassidy takes a deep breath before she answers.

“We broke up, Anj.”

“What??! When? Was it last night?”

“Yes.”

“But-- he was here. Maybe he wanted to talk to you, Cassie.”

“I can’t face him, Anj. I just can’t.” Cassidy cries again. Anj quickly hugs her.

“Oh, Cassie. I didn’t know. I don’t know the reason. But maybe you can visit him one last time? I just felt bad for him. He wouldn’t come here and got into accident if he wanted to let you go. Whatever your misunderstanding was, maybe you need to talk about it?”

“I can’t. It’s over between us, Anj.”

“But you love him.”

“He doesn’t love me, Anj.”

“What?? Did he tell you?”

“No. But I just know.”

“What if you misinterpreted the whole thing? Everyone who saw you together could tell you are in love with each other. You also told me how good he was and the way he treated you like a real princess, as a woman that you have ever wanted to be treated.”

Cassidy wipes her tears.

“I can’t explain right now, Anj. Can you just do me a favor, please?”