UTOPIA HIGH

Latti's past

In the hushed hospital room, after three agonizing hours, the doctor approached the anxious family. Leilah, with a mix of hope and worry, asked, "Is he okay?" The doctor, somber, responded, "We did our best. He'll wake up after the anesthesia."

Relief washed over the parents, but the doctor's expression remained grim. "He's stabilized, but there's something you need to know," he continued. The shock on their faces intensified as he revealed, "He has Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), grade IV glioma. It's an aggressive type of cancer."

Latti, visibly shaken, asked, "What does that mean?" The doctor explained, "Despite our efforts, GBM tends to recur. With treatment, He might have about a month, if we're lucky, and a few weeks at best. It's very aggressive."

Tears streamed down Latti's face as she whispered, "Oh my God, it's cancer. Please tell me it's not true." The parents, equally devastated, grappled with the reality. Leilah, sinking into a chair, cried, "I did everything for my dear boy, everything. We thought we treated it five years ago, but now it's back."

The father, attempting to console, said, "It's okay, Leilah. We must stay strong for our boy." Latti, looking at her boyfriend through the hospital room mirror, saw him connected to various machines, a sight that haunted her. The room echoed with the weight of an uncertain future, and the family braced themselves for the difficult journey ahead.

The doctor left, leaving the family to grapple with the harsh reality. The next day, the entire family gathered, including Latti's family, all sharing the weight of the situation. Latti, feeling devastated, sat alone in the room with him, watching over as he slowly woke up.

As he stirred, he noticed Latti by his side. Weakly, he placed his hand on her hair, saying, "There's my angel." Latti, surprised and relieved to hear his voice, woke up. "Oh my God, you had me worried," she exclaimed, embracing him. "I was so scared. I can't picture a life without you in it."

With a smile, he responded, "I can't picture it either." The mother, peeking into the room, noticed he was awake, and the family gathered around, offering their support and relief.

After spending a few more days in the hospital, he was finally allowed to leave. Latti, filled with excitement despite her boyfriend's weakness, picked him up from the hospital. Determined to lift his spirits, she tried her best to make him happy and bring a smile to his face, creating moments of joy amid the challenging times.

In the quiet solitude of the garden, Latti found herself overwhelmed with tears, caught in the clutches of her own thoughts. Memories flooded back, and she couldn't escape the haunting image of her boyfriend's frailty on that last day.

Recalling the painful scene, she remembered him weakly ordering everyone to leave the room. As they somberly exited, leaving only Latti behind, he implored, "Speak to me, Latti." Kneeling in front of him, she sobbed, "I'm sorry for you to see me in such a state."

He spoke with a quiet strength, "I feel like this is the end for me. All I ask is for you to think of the happy times we shared, not the bad ones. Hold on to me but never stop finding happiness. I hope there's someone out there who will love you and cherish you as I did."

Latti, tears streaming down her face, took his hand and placed it on her cheeks, whispering, "It's too unbearable. The pain. How can I live without you? I can't, Kai. My life without you is hell." Kai smiled through the weakness, "In over five years, today is the day your lips sing out my name again. Please, call me one more time, Latti." Sobbing, she uttered, "Kai, Kai, Kai."

As his breath faded, he said, "Try to be happy, my angel. Please, for me." With that, he closed his eyes, and life left his body. Latti, engulfed in pain, cried out loud, the echoes of her grief reaching everyone outside the room who felt the weight of her sorrow.

In the garden, tears streaming down her face, Latti spoke softly to herself, "The day your body was covered in sand one year ago was the day you took my will to fall in love. I can't do it. You were everything to me, Kai Anderson. My heart still aches for you. Until I find it in my heart to love again, I will hold you dear to me. I love you, and I know our story may have been cut short, but our lips will meet once more in the afterlife."

As Latti immersed herself in her grief, Damon, feeling remorse for his actions, returned to find her. Witnessing her pain, he approached gently, "Latti, I..." But before he could finish, Latti turned, her eyes filled with a mixture of sorrow and surprise. Damon, realizing the weight of his actions, reached out and said, "I'm sorry. Let me be here for you." Together, they faced the echoes of loss and the potential for healing

Damon hugging her while she cries on his chest without any word

Gray and Elsa pulled up to Elsa's house, the engine turned off. Gray looked at Elsa, saying, "So, this is it." Elsa smiled, replying, "Today was exciting. Wanna hang at my place for the weekend?"

Gray, smiling, responded, "Yeah, of course. I mean, if it's okay with you. Besides, this is only our first date." Elsa reassured him, "Well, I don't mind. Besides, I want to hang out with you too."

Gray hesitated, "Okay, but on the weekend, I usually hang out with my best friend." Elsa, understanding, said, "That's okay. He can come over to my place." Gray expressed doubt, "I don't know if he'll accept. Saturday is our study day. Maybe you can join us, and we'll come back in the evening. It'll be fun, right?"

Elsa agreed, "Yeah, besides, I'm kind of tired of always studying alone." Gray, excited, exclaimed, "Oh man, you're gonna love him. He's so calm, and sometimes I wonder how he's so nerdy. He should be a girls' person." Elsa chuckled, "Well, he sounds like quite a character."

Elsa, looking at Gray and talking about his friend Reon, added, "Enough of him. Let's go inside, shower, and then spend the night cuddling and talking all about you, okay?" Gray teased, "You lost me at the part of showering together." Elsa, smiling, said, "Stop being dirty. So come on, let's go. Sex on the sand was not a great idea."

Rehina rose from the bathroom floor, extending her hand towards Reon, "Come on, let's go. It's depressing in here." Reon, reaching for her hand, stood and remarked, "I feel better; I guess the pill must be working." Rehina smiled, "Told yah," and they began to walk outside, conversing.

As they strolled, Rehina inquired, "So, Reon, do you have any talent or hobby?" Reon replied, "Well, I can draw; I'm pretty good at it." Rehina suggested, "Can you draw me?" Reon, holding her hand, pondered for a moment, then pulled her hair back, looking at her intently. "Well, yeah, I can draw you," he said, gazing into her eyes. Rehina grinned, "I'd love you to draw me." Reon responded, "Then you better send me a picture or make a pose; that's when I'll draw you." They continued walking, hand in hand, surrounded by a garden and illuminated by floor lights.

Curious, Rehina asked, "Why haven't you kissed me yet?" Reon, blushing, explained, "We might be girlfriend and boyfriend, but that doesn't give us the right to go crazy for each other on the same day." Rehina smiled, "Are you trying to be a gentleman for me?" Reon chuckled, "No, no, not like that. I just wanted us to be more comfortable together first." Impressed, Rehina admitted, "You're so different from the people I know, and I like that." Reon, smiling, said, "Nah, don't jinx my behavior."

Suddenly, Rehina paused the walk, tightly holding Reon's hand. She declared, "I want you to kiss me." Reon, blushing even more, questioned, "Here, now?" Rehina, breathing heavily, affirmed, "Yeah, here and now." Reon, slightly taken aback, said, "Well, uhm, okay." She gently pushed him against the wall, moving closer, lips near touching. Reon, looking at her, held her cheek and slowly leaned in, asking, "Why?" Rehina, gazing into his eyes and lips, replied, "Maybe I just want to kiss the boy I choose for myself, not one given to me."