Missed Call

IX. God made a mistake

It took three months for people to move on from the Yuri accident. It was all over the internet as well. And goodbye clean record, I got sent to disciplinary board to receive sanctions for "misbehavior". On the brighter side, I haven't seen king of jerkassDOM since then.

Gabe, the magazine photographer, is having an exhibit. Considering that I've just been through hell, I deserve to gallivant elegantly with a few test tube drinks.

The venue hall is currently playing an instrumental of Fix You by Coldplay. Aside from taking this as a break, it's also an exhibit for mental health awareness. Panels are placed like a maze, each have photographs of anonymous people with scars they caused themselves, no. Scars that other people made them do to themselves.

The photos are in black and white, the only color highlighted is red. For instance, one photograph has an upper half of a naked woman. Her short hair disheveled enough to cover her eyes. Her lips partially open painted in dark red. And her scar... is a mark of a rope around her neck. Under each photo is the harm they did and also has a quotation from the person answering, "Why did you do it?"

At the end of my tour, I found myself walk back to one specific photograph. His answer to the question was the shortest, "Desire to rectify God's mistake."

Like the woman, he's half naked, chest exposed and in jeans. He stands beside a post, the post that he drove towards to, holding a red balloon that covers his face. I trace the stitches on his chest as if feeling the needle dig in and out his many scars.

"I was 15," my voice won't come out when I saw him. He flash a smile as if he didn't attempted suicide, he continue to tell me more with a tone as if it was a story about a typical day at school, "A month before the car attempt, my mother died. If only I was home to defend her from my raging father that day. If only I wasn't self-centered and didn't go out to pity party that day. If only I was never born then she wouldn't have married my father, she could still be alive today."

He sips a little from his drink and I watch still at a state of shock, "Don't worry. I pass that phase already, Air."

I press my lips together wanting to slap myself for not knowing what to do or say. After one last look at his photo, I suggested, "Don't you think this is too depressing for a Friday night, Cain?"

We spent the rest of the night walking around with large fries on hand while we talk about jellyfish as pets to life on mars. Acting drunk, we sing on top of our lungs even matching it with dance performances.

I suddenly heard my voice coming from Cain's phone. And it didn't take a genius to comprehend that he took a video of my stupid moment!

"Cain, delete it!" I act fast to get the phone from his hand but he's faster. He run away from me, laughing and I chase him. Losing focus on everything else but the phone I'm about to retrieve, I cross the street after him without looking both ways.

The loud honking and blinding light registered but my reflexes numbed, I can't move. I want to move!

I didn't notice that I was holding my breath until Cain pulled me out of the way just as the car screeches to stop. My heart is pounding erratically and I know Cain feels it as he soothes my back while whispering over and over, "It's okay, Air. You're okay."

"Is she hurt?" Gaining some composure, I lift my head. Adjusting my eyesight to recognize the two figures before us.

Dom and Yuri. They look like they're back together.

I burst out crying, even surprising everyone in attendance, barely getting my words out, "Cain, it hurts."