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Chapter 53 — Sad Beginnings and Happy Endings

I regretted the moment I finally decided to listen to Leon’s demo CD. All day, it had been playing on my head even though I tried to hum other songs. One time, I was helping Mom with the dishes and it unintentionally slipped out of my mouth just like that. I broke two plates, a tall glass and a fork in the process though I had no idea how I managed to destroy a fork at all.

My mind was in total chaos and I just had to clear it up so I listened to it again. Leon’s mellifluous voice filled the room and I closed my eyes feeling the funny fluttering in my chest.

“Great. The song is called… Sarah,” he said in the recording.

When you said yes, you meant no

You want me to stay, but you said go

I know you care but you act so cold

You’re the greatest story ever told

Remember that apple I left on your table

It’s been sitting in your fridge since last September

And all the time I’ve been staring when you’re not looking

I’ve been dying to know what on earth you are thinking

So can you tell me?

Drum beats began to blend with Leon’s piano followed by an acoustic guitar, the tempo picking up to a slow rock. The chorus filled the air as Leon’s voice intensified.

Sarah… can you just smile for me?

Forever, would you belong to me?

Even though you are hurting you’d smile like it’s nothing

What should I do?

If I keep you forever would you cry on my shoulder?

I’ll be your knight, though not in shining armor

‘Cause I can’t get enough of you… Sarah

I covered my mouth with a hand and held back a sob. I wasn’t so sure of myself anymore. Leon continued playing the piano in a short instrumental break.

You bring out the worst and the best in me

When you close your eyes, is it me you see?

Would you say those three words over again?

‘Cause I’d say it a million times ‘til the end

You’re a puzzle, a riddle, a big mystery

If you’re a game I’d play you for eternity

We bumped onto each other a thousand times before

And I just wish I could catch you whenever you fall

So if you won’t mind…

Leon sang the chorus again and the accompaniment halted to a pause.

“That’s it for now. The last part’s still… err… in progress,” Leon said hesitantly. There were several voices in the background before the recording stopped.

Staring at the blank monitor, my thoughts raced. What do I do? Maybe it was too late. No, Nathan was just messing with me.

I stood up in impulse not really sure what I was doing. Before I knew it, I was already marching to Leon’s house, hauling the big box with all the CDs, the mobile phone and the bulky rope ladder. It took me a while pacing back and forth the front porch.

To knock or not to knock—that is the question.

“Okay stop,” I hissed at myself as my heart raced at two hundred miles per hour—much like Leon’s driving. With my breathing ragged, I glared at the door bell button.

Push me, push me!  Its tiny little voice seemed to taunt me.

I was losing my mind. I remembered the first time I pushed that damned button. It was late in the afternoon and the sun was about to set and in the end I landed on my butt. My fingers trembled I slowly pointed it to the doorbell thinking, would Leon open the door? What should I say to him?

Hey Leon! How are you? Good? I heard you’ve gone mad. Here’s your stuff by the way. Bye!

Or maybe I’d say, sorry.

Leon, sorry about breaking up with you.  Just realized this morning, why the hell did I do that? So I take it back.

“Make up your mind already…” I whined quietly, a lump forming in my throat. Before I could even push the button (which sounds like the honks of a ferry boat), the door swung in.

It was Nathan who opened the door for me. I knew by the way he looked at me with the usual audacity evident in his magnificent blue eyes. He was just pure evil. Before I could even speak, Nathan’s eyes narrowed as he folded his arms.

“Well? I see you’re finally enlightened.” The corner of his lips slowly twitched up to a smirk. It was evident how he enjoyed my suffering. “Come on, say it. Don’t be shy.”

“W-what?”

With an annoyed grunt, he rolled his eyes. “That I’m right and you’re an idiot.”

“Okay. I’m right and you’re an idiot,” I sighed in panic, my eyes darting behind his shoulder for any sign of Leon.

“Very funny. To think I even considered helping you.” Nonchalantly, he walked past me and sat contentedly at the wooden bench, fixing the fake glasses on his face. “Oh and you’re thirty minutes too late.”

I couldn’t think clearly with the ferocious pounding in my throat and I seemed to have swallowed my tongue. All I could manage was throw him a bewildered look.

“Oh, I thought nerds are supposed to be smart?” He pointed at the lone black car parked innocently on the garage—Arthur’s R8. “Which part of Leon’s car being not here puzzles you? You didn’t think he’d actually wait for you forever? Ha! Guess what, Nerdy? It’s too late.” Grinning, Nathan eyed at the huge box I was lugging.

My heart sank to my feet as I stared blankly at the empty road. I was too late. Weakly, I dropped the box onto the floor, picked up the demo CD and flopped beside Nathan.

“He went to the airport thirty minutes ago with Elle, if you must know. He’s heading straight to London to stay with Mom for a while. You know what that means. After that, he’d be in a concert tour and—“

“He’s not coming back,” I finished his words for him and he nodded almost triumphantly. Leon hated his Mom. Camilla Downing had been clawing on him for several years now. And the possibility of him getting away from his mother’s clutches would be slimmer than zero.

With that, I stumbled my way back home, ignoring snide remarks from Nathan about how stupid I had been. When I opened the door, Kidnap leaped down from the couch and yapped witlessly at me. Mom stood from her seat shaking her strawberry blond head. Judging by the meaningful look in her blue eyes, it occurred to me that she might already know Leon’s true identity. Dad must’ve told her everything.

“He’s gone,” I said flatly as a twinge of pain wrenched through my chest.

Emma just nodded knowingly, meeting my eyes with hesitation. “You know I’m not really good with giving advice but… as your mother can I just say something honest?” I would’ve retorted if not for the surging lump in my throat. “It’s plain stupid what you’re doing and you’re—“

“A huge idiot?”

“Uh… partly, yes. Now go.”

Before Mom could go on and on about how I should learn from Dad and her, I sprinted my way back to Nathan, clutching the demo CD in my hand. I’ve got to stop Leon.

In a matter of seconds, Arthur’s R8 skid to a halt a few inches away from my toes, startling me to death that I almost fell face-down on the lawn as my foot got stuck in one of Kidnap’s digging holes. The heavily tinted window rolled down.

“I thought maybe I’d go for a ride. Come on aboard,” said Nathan grinning with a wild look about his eyes. “Now let’s go find my stupid brother.”

With my mind completely blank, I practically hauled myself into the passenger’s seat, knocking back as Nathan stepped on the gas before I had even had the chance to buckle. Out of the blue, Nathan let out a thrilled laughter as the car swerved left and right, tires screeching rebelliously against the asphalt road. We hit a hundred and five as we reached the main road.

“Dad’s totally going to kill me for sure this time!” he yelled with a maniacal chortle. “This is fun, isn’t it? Just you wait until I get my driver’s license!”

Stifling a whimper, my hand gripped tightly on the edge of the seat, praying for dear life as the view from my window turned into a nauseating haze of green and gray. His driving was even worse than Leon’s. He’s officially on my worse-than-crazy list.

“We’re going to die!” I screamed at him as we veered off to the right, nearly hitting a biker who steered straight to the sidewalk and crashed onto a tree.

“Stop distracting me!” he grumbled as he manoeuvred to overtake a delivery truck. For several minutes, we argued, yelling at each other. The GPS was making him even more confused so I was forced to open my eyes and face the horrifying ride head on to give directions.

Nathan looked just as uneasy as me. It had been nearly an hour since Leon left. He could be several thousand feet up in the air anytime now. But when we reached Boston, there was a little bit of hope left in me.

Upon reaching the city, Nathan ended up slowing down, cursing at the fact that we could get arrested if we crossed the speed limit. Soon, the airport came into view. My heart sank when I see a familiar plane take off from the tarmac. Slowly, it drifted away, higher than the towering buildings with a deafening rumble until it became so small that I had to squint to see it soar to the sky.

“Nate!” I tugged frantically on his sleeve, mist forming on my eyes as I pointed at the blue-streaked private jet.

Groaning irately, he glared at me and yelled, “I said stop distracting me and how many times did I tell you not to call me Nate or—“ before his eyes found what I was pointing at.

“Oh no... No, no, no! I didn’t drive all the way here just for this!” He slammed on the breaks. My head jerked violently I almost hit the dashboard. Angrily, he cursed and muttered “There goes Leon airlines, up, up and away,” as he started then engines.

People were honking their horns and yelling angrily behind us.

“We’re too late,” I murmured with a broken voice. “Let’s go home.”

A single tear fell on Leon’s demo CD, my hands trembling as I stared blankly at it. If only I hadn’t been so stupid. If only I hadn’t broken his heart.

I kept my eyes on the road as a disconcerted quiet filled us on our way back. Almost at once, it had seemed that Nathan got over his rage. I, on the other hand, would never forgive myself for being such a torture to everyone around me, especially to Leon.

When at last, we stopped in front of Arthur’s house, the CD on my lap was already wet with my tears.

Nathan breathed out and faced me with a supposed-to-be consoling smile. “You know, I would’ve loved it if you were to be my sister-in-law. It’d be fun picking on both of you. Unfortunately, you are as dense as one could possibly be so I guess it’s just up to me to all the hard work,” he scoffed.

“Not helping, Nathan,” I retorted bitterly.

Who knew what horrible things Camilla Downing would do to Leon? Maybe he’d be locked up every after concert, caged like an animal—that was an exaggeration, I hope— so he could not escape forever. It was my fault. And all I could do was cry helplessly.

“Leon…” I murmured, choking on his name, staring at the dim vacant street, half-hoping to see Leon’s blue car speeding through the highway. Or maybe imagine Leon crossing the street to my house.

Like now…

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Oh and did I mention that there will be an epilogue and a bonus chapter? Yup! You read it right. And this book is going to end no matter what. I am still thinking (too much) on a sequel but I guess I'd decide it based on the comments and votes and people's response on the bonus chapter which I will be uplaoding two days from now. The epilogue will be up tomorrow but I hope you won't forget to click that orange button right there before turning the pages! The cover options are still open for voting too. So speak up :)

All the love (and jellybeans) in the world,

~shim