CHAPTER 26. Family No More
1798 Words
“Crystal! haven’t you risen to the surface since you dive into the water? I’ve been waiting for you the whole day.” Pearl hurriedly asked when Crystal rose from the water.
“I’m sorry, I was sleeping.” She told her in a weary voice.
“Underwater?”
Crystal nodded in response and walked straight to her shelter to dry. Grabbing the towel that was hanging on the back of the door and rubbing it through her hair.
“You have swollen eyes, did you cry?” her friend also inquired.
“No, just don’t mind me, please,” Crystal responded with irritation.
Last night, while the spell consumed Jason, the memories of Gabriel kept on flashing back in front of her. Bringing back the pain of how Gabriel betrayed her, of being engaged with her cousin Rachel. And now realized that it was the reason he didn’t continue claiming her that night and thought that the man loves Rachel.
“Alright… and what about the job you told me, did they hire you already?” She inquired but Crystal only shook her head negatively as a response while Pearl thought it could be the reason she broke down again and now feeling worried about her reaction once she finally mentions the news.
“It is alright, Crystal. Don’t worry, I will ask some of my workmates if they know a graveyard job for you.”
“Pearl, please. I already felt so worthless. Just let me do things on my own, please.” Crystal declined the offer.
“Okay, no problem. Just calm down, everything will be fine. I know it is difficult but for sure you can get over it soon.”
“Thank you, Pearl. Thank you so much, I don’t know what my life could be if I don’t have you.” Crystal said as she can’t stop herself from crying again. Pearl embraced her tightly as she also started whimpering softly.
"You will always have me, I promise."
“By the way, Crystal, I know you're feeling bad tonight, but I can't keep it for long. I have something important to tell you, that's why I'm here." Pearl started hoping that her parents will guide her and help her cope with the terrible news she has for her.
“What is it?” Crystal asked while taking off her clothes and about to go to have a shower.
“Your grandfather,” but stopped after hearing Pearl’s words.
“What about my grandfather, Pearl?” But instead of answering, Pearl handed her the phone to let Crystal read the news.
‘We are sad to announce that just this morning, the owner and current president of A Construction and Design, Teofilo Alonzo, has passed away.’
“What?” Crystal unbelievably muttered, trying to sink everything in.
“I’m sorry, Crystal.” Pearl sent her sympathy over and embraced her again.
“No, it’s not true. Why are you sorry? I just lost my parents. We haven’t talked to each other. He didn't even know what happened on the island and to my parents yet. Why is this happening?” Crystal complained, pushing her friend away as she felt another kind of heartache once again.
“The news said that they will hold the funeral at the Alonzo Mansion in the city. We can go there now if you want to.” Pearl kindly offered.
“You’re coming with me?”
“Of course, I will never let you go alone.”
They wasted no time and Crystal quickly changed into dry clothes, even without taking a shower yet. They steered and traveled along with the city until they arrived at the exclusive village, and were fortunate to pass through going to the mansion. But Crystal's unlucky star didn't stop from tailing because the moment they parked the car was also the exact moment when Gabriel and Rachel walked past in front of them. Crystal saw how her cousin is very possessive of the man as she tightly encircled her arm to his. She felt a sudden sting block in her throat as she saw them together, and Pearl noticed how she gripped her dress tightly with her hands, also with shaken lips and clenched jaw. She strongly believes that there is deeper emotion between them, rather than just being friends.
"Crystal? Are you alright?" She asked.
"Yes," Crystal shortly responded as her tear also fell along, but quickly wiped it out with the back of her hand.
"Let's go?" Pearl invited her, and she only nodded in response.
They stepped out of the car already and were approaching the entrance when suddenly four men in black suits stopped them.
"Let us in, why are you blocking our way?" Pearl annoyingly asked the men, who seemed numb and didn't even move a bit from their spot.
"Take them." The one who just spoke with someone on the phone commands and the others shortly obeyed his order.
"Hey! Where are you taking us? I need to see grandpa! Please!" Crystal begged as she kept on resisting while they continued dragging her away from the area and brought them to a nearby neighbor's house where a familiar face welcomed them sitting on a single couch.
"Uncle Austin?" It was Rachel's father.
"Uncle, my parents, they’re gone. When I returned to the island, our house was burnt to ashes, but before that, I tried to speak with grandpa to let him know my parents are in danger, but Rachel denied and pushed me away."
"I'm sorry. What are you talking about? And who are you?" He bluntly retorted while inhaling his cigarette, looking coldly at Crystal.
"Uncle, please. Don't do this to me too, you are my only family left and I need you," Crystal begged and asked for mercy not to deny her again, but the family she thought could help her had no plan of taking her in. Pearl was only standing behind a distance from her friend while the guards were blocking her way. She saw how Crystal slumped on the floor while crying excessively, begging her so-called family for their pity.
Suddenly Rachel has arrived at the place as well.
"Dad. Why does this girl seem familiar to me? Oh, I remember now, she's the one who asked for some help from grandpa. Don't worry, dear. We will continue the charity even though my grandfather is no more." She mocked Crystal.
"Why are you doing this to me?"
"What do you mean? We're just trying to help you. Right,, dad?" But Austin did not answer and just stood up on his feet, walking closer to Crystal's direction. He crouched in front of her and gripped her jaw harshly with his finger.
"Listen to me, young lady." he motioned her face to look up to her.
"You are not and will never be part of this family ever,” he told her in a deep husky voice.
“Why, uncle? You’ve been good to me before and Rachel is like my sis-”
“Shut up!” Austin suddenly growled at her.
“I don’t want to hear you calling me uncle and stop pushing yourself to us because we are not family. The next time you try to bother us again,” he then pointed in Pearl's direction.
“I will punish that friend of yours and I swear, I will never stop until she’s begging for her own life.”
“Please, no!” Crystal cried.
“Dad, I think she knew her place already, let’s go back inside, the media was waiting for us.” Rachel interrupted.
“Please, I want to see grandpa, just let me see him for the last time and I promise, I will never bother you ever again. Just let me see him, I’m begging you, please." Crystal droops her head down as she pleads, but Austin suddenly gestures something to the guard who’s near to Pearl, and before they can react, the guard shoots a bullet.
“No!” Crystal rapidly ran in Pearl’s direction and realized that he only aimed the bullet at the floor.
“Are you okay, Pearl?” Crystal worriedly asked.
“Yes,”
“That was just a warning, Crystal. The next time will be worse.” Her uncle told her and walked away with Rachel, who took a glance at her and gave them a wicked smirk before she followed her father.
The guards brought them back to the parking area and stayed until they made sure that their car was already away from the village.
“I’m sorry for what happened earlier, Pearl.” Crystal apologized to her friend.
“Don’t think about it, besides I wasn’t hurt. I just can’t believe that even your uncle did that to you.” Pearl unbelievably commented while driving, but Crystal didn’t respond as she only heard her soft sobs.
“Crystal, what if we try to ask for some help from Gabriel? Maybe he could-” but Crystal didn’t let her finish what she is saying,
“No! I will never ask for his help.”
“You think Gabriel told Sir Austin and Rachel about you being a siren that’s why they keep on pushing you away?” Pearl asked, confusingly trying to get some hint.
“I don’t know. But from now on, I will forget about them, including our connection being a family, including that liar Gabriel. I don’t need them in my life and I will prove it.” She bravely swore.
“I just want my grandfather to visit me in my dream with my parents. I wish they were all happy and continue to guide me wherever I am now.” Crystal added.
“That's for sure, Crystal.”
“Pearl, can you please drop me by at the boulevard?”
“Yes, but why? I thought they did not hire you?”
“But I just can’t stop from there, I need to go on and survive.” Crystal boldly said.
“Can I borrow your phone?” she asked Pearl while fishing out something inside her bag. Jason’s calling card.
“Sure,” Pearl answers and hands her the phone and dial the number.
“Meet me at the boulevard,” she said shortly after the man answered and ended the call immediately.
- Writer
