A Lover of Rain

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

CHAPTEN SEVENTEEN:

Few days after the tryouts, the results were finally posted outside the gym. I crammed myself in the middle of eager students trying to find out the result of their tryout when I found Hiro and Markie in front. Hiro grabbed her by the neck to make her closer and started planting several kisses across her face before giving her a long deep kiss in the lips. When I got beside them to find Julian's name, they both glanced at me like they already knew the result. I dragged my finger across the paper, pointing at each name that got in in the team until it stopped at the last participant's name. Hiro Javier-Rioja.

Julian's name wasn't in the list.

It felt like all of my blood got sucked out of me as my heart sank to the ground. I bit my lip to stop myself from crying. I saw firsthand how hard he tried to prepare for this tryout only for it to not bear the result we were hoping for. I wanted him to get in. To finally live one of his dreams of joining the team. I looked at the list a few times, hoping that it would magically change and I'd see his name on the paper. But it didn't happen. There's this urge that I felt to just rip the paper off so Julian wouldn't see the result. If I could do it, I would so I can protect him from getting hurt. I stared at the list for the last time before heaving out a sigh and turning around. I couldn't hide the sadness in my face when I saw Julian standing in front of me to see the result of the tryout for himself.

He froze for a moment, realizing by how I'm looking at him that it wasn't a good result. His breath started trembling before his eyes dropped to the ground. I pulled him for a hug, hoping that my warm embrace would give him comfort even for a little. He rested his forehead on the top of my head without saying anything, but I could hear how fast his heart was beating and how heavy every breath he's letting go. We stayed like that for a while before I noticed Hiro and Markie on our side, waiting for us to look at them.

Hiro ended a call before putting his phone back in his pocket. His eyes were shifting, unsure about the right words he's supposed to say to Julian by the way his mouth was moving. Hiro closed his eyes for a second before uttering the words Julian has been waiting to hear for a long while. "I'm sorry." Hiro said, there's sincerity in his voice. Julian was taken aback at first, but after getting back to his senses he nodded his head to acknowledge his apology. "It's okay... maybe it's not for me." He said with a faint smile. "I called mom... she congratulated me and asked me to celebrate with her later." Hiro started clearing his throat, "You should join us. I'll text you the details after I reserve the restaurant."

"Okay..." Julian called his name, making Hiro turn around for a second to wait for what he was about to say. "Congratulations, Hiro. If anyone deserves to get in, it's you." Hiro smiled at his brother before holding Markie's hands as they walked away. This has never happened before. He would always push Julian away, telling him to back off and go back to where he came from. Hiro hated his guts since tita Amanda started focusing more on her other son, who didn't have any memories with his mother until he lost his dad, than the child she took care of his whole life. He was insecure and jealous, but for the first time in his life; he acknowledged Julian by being sincerely apologetic to him.

Not being accepted to the team he wanted to be a part of was painful for Julian, but maybe it wasn't me who's supposed to make him feel better. It was Hiro's words that gave him comfort he needed.

We only have two weeks left to prepare for the grand gesture Jacob asked us to help him with. It wasn't easy since we had a lot of things to do and at the same time, Shay could never find out about it so we had to pretend. All of us in the house were part of the preparation for this plan. Although, it took Maya some convincing to help us since she's still hurt from knowing Jae has feelings for Shay, but I made her see what the outcome would be like when Shay says yes. Shay becoming unavailable equals Jae finally moving on from our friend. The only other people who were part of the plan were Yohan, Julian, and Eric. But another person might probably join us today.