"I have learned that when sadness comes to visit me, all I can do is say "I see you". I spend time with it, get up, and say goodbye. I don't push it away, I own it. And because I own it, I let it go."

-Carolina Zacaria

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Max wiped his cheek, making sure to smile through his tears. He sniffled and glanced back at the three teens, who stood wide-eyed in front of him.

The most affected was Ivan, he could tell. Ivan hid his shaky palm behind his back, but he noticed it.

"B-But... b-but what about the calls you got?"

Max was surprised at Elena's tone. He never thought he'd hear her stuttering.

He breathed deeply, knowing that he had to answer all their questions. He had to tell them. "I lied."

"Who was it?" Kate asked, her voice softer than usual.

He noticed her blinking rapidly, probably not wanting to cry in front of him.

But how would sympathy over his situation, soothe him anymore? He had spent uncountable nights awake when the sorrow stifled him.

"My aunt... that's the only person who resembles my mom." He sniffled again, frustrated that he sounded like a little boy in front of them.

They didn't have to know, he would have never told them.

He only did it so that Ivan would appreciate his mom. Though Mrs. C was overprotective, weird with her demands, and nosy, she loved Ivan nonetheless.

Ivan came closer to him, hugged him gently, and patted his back.

Max handed the marigolds enclosed in his palm to Kate, who looked at them with a frown.

The way Ivan embraced him, made him feel like a father. Ivan's hold felt slippery and he could hear him choking back a sob.

He patted Ivan's back, hoping that he'd feel better.

That was what he had been doing--helping others overcome their grief, in turn feeling at peace at least for some time.

The twins hugged him as soon as Ivan moved away. Together, their weight seemed to be crushing him, but that wasn't what demanded attention.

Their hug instilled more hope in his heart. The way they prolonged it seemed that they wanted to glue together his broken self.

The way they hugged him, made him feel that they too had experienced massive grief in their lives.

He felt his tears weren't the cause of theirs. It was rather the fact that they knew what pain felt like.

When they pulled away, their eyes stared into his. One pair seemed like a dark night lit up with stars, while the other put the sun to shame.

"Buddy, why didn't you share this with me?" Ivan's voice was cracked.

That guy, who seemed like a little boy trapped in a teen's body, always strived to appear manly.

But today, this wasn't the case.

He knew a huge blow had hit Ivan--moms weren't permanent; they weren't meant to be taken for granted.

Max shook his head and wiped Ivan's cheeks. He raised his wet palm, Ivan's baby blue eyes following the movement. "That's why."

Max wiped his own cheeks, surprised that his tears were still falling. "My sorrow is my sorrow. I don't want to burden anyone's life with it."

"Sharing lessens the pain," Elena whispered while nodding at him. She nodded at Kate, but the younger twin only shook her head.

God knew what their exchange meant.

All he understood was that Elena wanted Kate to say something.

Max's gaze flickered to Ivan's serious face.

"It's your birthday, Maxy. Now give your Ivy a smile."

The world would've tagged Ivan as an ice king, but Max knew that his friendship was deeply rooted.

Max knew Ivan cared too much, he just didn't want people to see.

Before he could answer him, the twins cheered and starting singing loudly.

Elena brought a plate, which held small sandwiches arranged in blocks.

"We were out of flour." She grinned and Kate facepalmed.

"Guys--"

Max couldn't speak more as a sandwich was shoved into his mouth.

By the time he chewed, Ivan, Elena, and Kate handed him a box.

He looked at them surprisedly, their smiles eagerly waiting for his.

He didn't want them to cry again, but he couldn't hide the truth.

Not anymore...

"Guys, I... I don't celebrate my birthday."

Max shut his eyes, his jaw clenched as he whimpered. "I'm sorry."

It was now or never.

He couldn't hide it anymore.

His fingers rolled into fists by his sides and he Ivan found gazing at him worriedly.

He felt three palms on his shoulders: two on his right, one of his left.

"Are you okay, buddy?"

"No... no, I'm not. I'm not okay."

Max sat down on the carpet, the small gift placed on his thigh as he glanced at the wall.

"My parents and little sister had died... today."

When he lifted his teary eyes, he was met with their horrified faces, which hurt him even more.

His eyes burned, their stinging nothing compared to his burning heart.

"I watched them die," he managed to croak.

He felt Ivan's palm tightly holding his fist.

No word was uttered, their sniffling the only sound which filled the Russo house.

"I couldn't do anything about it. I-I..."

Max's body shook as he buried his face in his large palms.

"By the time I had gained consciousness, they were dead."

"Dead."

"By the time I could register their bloodied forms, I was taken away."

"They were gone... forever."

"I last saw our car, which was banged to its death. The truck near it was damaged little, so was its drunk driver."

Max's voice raised an octave higher, the anger shining in his bloodshot eyes.

"I lost everything that day, my everything."

"I am never gonna get them back. Never!"

He was engulfed in a group hug as the other three held him tightly.

Kate pulled away, her eyes fixed on the flowers he had asked her to hold.

"Marigold?" her quiet voice questioned.

He nodded. "Marigold was my sister's name."

Kate nodded, the recognition creeping in her gold-like eyes. "That's why you cried you had put Sarah's brother to sleep."

He nodded again. For now, that was the only thing he could do.

He dare not sob again in front of his already sad friends.

"That's why you are always hurt when someone's hurt." Elena sniffled as she wiped the corners of her eyes.

"That's why you sleep with a teddy bear."

Max could feel the hesitation in Ivan's voice as he questioned, "Was it a gift?"

"Dad gave that to me on my 14th birthday. That was the last gift I got from him... except my voice."

"Dad wanted to become a singer, but life had other plans for him. He built a company which would create fertilizers instead."

"Mom loved plants, gardening, and growing flowers. She wanted all the plants to grow healthily."

He sighed. "I sing because I wish to fulfill my dad's incomplete dream."

"I started to love gardening because... because that makes me feel my mom is with me."

"Your parents are always watching you, you know?" Elena pointed upwards with a smile and patted his back.

"Please stop crying," Kate whispered softly.

Max smiled shortly. "When life gives you darkness, dazzle it with your smile so that even if its eyes don't get blinded, they may at least flicker."

"That's what my mom taught me," his voice was filled with pride.

"Your mom taught you so well," the twins said simultaneously and then chuckled at each other.

The smile stayed on Max's face but dropped when he met Ivan's eyes. They were filled with fresh tears.

Ivan quickly stood up and almost sprinted towards the door.

Max's face was lit up with a bright smile. He ran after him and held his wrist.

"Tell Mrs. C I love her too."

Ivan nodded and wiped his tears roughly. Max hugged him briefly and patted his back.

The soft closing of the door marked the ice king and cheery boy's leave.

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Hey, everyone! How are you all? 💝 I'm back with another update.

Max's entire story is said in this one. Did you expect this?

Did the update make you sad? Please be honest. Sad scenes are always difficult for me to write.

As a reader, did you feel Max's sadness?

Yes.

No.

Somewhat.

I don't have any other questions to ask as I'm really sleepy now, LOL. It's 12:48 AM here in Kuwait.

Good night, everyone! I hope you all have a nice day/night.

Stay cool, happy, and always tell your parents you love them a lot. Always appreciate what they do for you. :)

If you like this chapter and the previous ones, please do leave a vote. It will let me know you like what I write. Thank you so much for reading so far. 💖

Also, if you want to share your views/thoughts/theories, you are always welcome to comment. :)

Sneak-Peek of Episode 31:

Anyone missing Ashley? :D Stay tuned to know what made her grin cheekily.

Keep smiling! 💕
Lots of love❤💙
Sakina

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