You promise?

Chapter 14

Char

"Your birthday is next week, isn't it?" My eyes traveled to Alex as the guy next to Mosi spoke.

Alex's lips curl into a grimace, and he looks at me nervously, as if he didn't want me to know or remember his birthday.

I curled up with a frown on the couch in the restaurant where they wanted to come for breakfast.

Mosi turns to look at the guy, annoyed, and the guy, without understanding why, apologizes.

The guys say goodbye to us after paying the bill.

I walk to the parking lot without really waiting for Alex, who effortlessly catches up with me.

He grabs my elbow and turns me toward him.

"Are you upset?" I look him in the eye, and my brow furrows. I bite the inside of my cheeks.

His dark eyes roamed my face, searching for some sign of something.

"You didn't want me to know about your birthday, I don't understand." I come clean.

Upset wasn't the word, it was more like confused at the situation.

Alex drops the hand that holds my elbow but doesn't separate from me. His hand runs through his hair while a carefree smile, which doesn't match his tense shoulders, appears.

"I don't usually celebrate my birthday," he says, shrugging and putting his hands in his pockets.

My mind travels back a few years, when the three of us would blow out the candles as if it were someone else's birthday. After all, three birthdays in a year are better than one.

Those were one of the moments between the three of us that I cherished the most, and I didn't stop them from replaying in my mind.

My brow is still furrowed, sadly, and he notices, as if he understands what I'm remembering.

"My parents..." his voice trails off a little, his hand coming up to clasp mine, as if he needs the touch. I tighten my grip, giving him the strength he needs. "They passed away on my birthday." His eyes travel to mine, and it is surprise and anguish he can see.

I knew his parents had died, for three years now, if I'm not mistaken, I knew it had affected him so much that's why he hadn't managed to mention anything, not when I saw that he kept their room intact, not when I didn't see any pictures of the three of them, when before, in his past house, it was full of them.

I had not been able to mention them because they had also been so good to me and to my brother. And I regret not having been with him when I heard the news a few months later that they had passed away.

"I'm sorry." My voice comes out as a whisper, and my chin trembles briefly. "I didn't know."

Alex smiles sadly at me and moves his free hand over my chin, as if he wants me not to cry.

"It's been a while," he says, trying to play it down.

"Time has nothing to do with the pain of a loss." I say, half annoyed, because he wants to minimize his own feelings.

I see gratitude in his eyes.

"We don't have to celebrate your birthday if you don't want to." I say, and he smiles—a happier, more loving smile.

Alex turns me around, slipping a hand around my shoulders, giving me a hug from behind, and walking to his car.

"I wouldn't mind spending it with you that day." My smile grows, a smile that does reach my eyes.

Alex

I look up at the sky above my head, the gray clouds are starting to become more noticeable. As always at this time of year.

I walk up a small hill, half regretting not having brought something warmer than my jean jacket.

The white roses in my hand look brighter than usual next to the old bouquet lying on the ground.

I put down the new bouquet and grabbed the old one.

My parents' headstones are gleaming, constantly being cleaned by the cemetery caretakers.

I give them a sad smile, hoping they can hear how much I want them to be at peace.

I kneel before them, praying that wherever they are, they can be proud of me.

I brush some tears away from my eyes, stopping after a chat with them.

I say goodbye, promising to visit them more often. I walk to my car, avoiding the oncoming storm.

It's almost five in the afternoon when I see Char's message. Ever since I told her I'd love to spend it with her on my birthday, she's been preparing a surprise.

She has been so excited about wanting to give me hints and such that she was the one who texted me that she would be at my house past six.

The storm bears down on me, and the traffic gets heavier.

I open the map app to see how long it will take me to get home. The app pulls me to a few streets near Char's house.

I hesitated before clicking that option.

I call Char, but the call immediately sends me to voicemail. I frown, not at all weird that he doesn't answer, but weird that nothing rings. As if her cell phone is off.

I texted her, agreeing to the application route, and headed to her house to prevent her from arriving at her own.

It takes me longer than it would normally take me, but I make it to Char's house.

I park a bit away from the entrance, grab my cell phone to call her again, and make sure my umbrella is in the back.

A few shouts, louder from the rain, make my eyes glance towards the house.

I get out of the car without caring about the rain, without even looking at the umbrella, leaving my cell phone on the seat.

I walk quickly to Char's house, where I can hear a scream echo through the rain, and the door of her house closes so hard that the windows of the whole house resound.

My confusion increases when I see papers and notebooks lying on the front lawn, when I see clothes lumped to one side, when I see a chair, some bags, and some perfume and make-up containers.

My whole body freezes at the sight of Char's back, a light blue top and a small pair of shorts are the only things covering her soaking wet body.

From where I stand, I watch as her body shivers, either from the cold or from her sobs.

Char drops to her knees, looking at all her things being ruined in the rain.

"Char?" Her body stops, the girl in front of me stops breathing, and I see the complete terror on her face as she turns to look at me.