Closing Time: 11 PM

22. Past Comes Back To Life

Walk on through a red parade

And refuse to make amends

It cuts deep through our ground

And makes us forget all common sense

-Clarity, Zedd

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He did not go out.

If he used to be out of Cass' condo on a daily basis, the last seven days that he was staying was spent inside his room. He always slept, pretended to be sleeping, and stayed wide awake just looking at the ceiling.

After the conversation, or maybe argument, that took place in the bookstore, the two never saw nor talked to each other again. What Kara is doing, he does not know. Maybe talking to some guy named Adam.

Chad shook his head and stood up to join his sister for breakfast. She noticed his silence and though she knows he is troubled, she noticed with the way he looked that he does not want to talk about it.

"Are you staying at home?" she asked him while eating.

"Yeah, might be," he said. He was not interested for any kind of conversation.

She looked at him and felt helpless for him. Worse, she does not know how to help him out. "Baby brother..."

Chad looked up to her. That is how Cass calls him when she's trying to open up a favor.

"What is it big sister?"

Cass flashed a smile. "I'd like to buy some clothes and shoes. Can you come with me?"

"I'm not in the mood. I'll give you money but I don't want to go out," he said quietly.

Cass stood up and embraced him. "I got money baby brother. I just want to spend some time with you while I shop. Please? My birthday came and I wasn't here. You don't have any gift for me yet."

"I'll buy you a bag once I am back in San Antonio," he said, still not wanting to go.

"I don't need it to be from Texas. What I want to get from you is some quality time. If you go back to Texas, I might not be able to see you for a long time. Please baby brother? I miss you a lot. When you stayed here for vacation, you are always somewhere else. Let's have some bonding."

Chad was not able to refuse his sister when she pleaded. Though unwilling, he knew she wouldn't stop pestering him and so they were at the mall after two hours. They decided to go to Ayala since she prefers to shop at Rustans.

"So, did you see any place I haven't?" Cass asked him while she was eyeing a set up of make up.

"I went to Nueva Ecija and Palawan. El Nido," he answered.

"I've seen El Nido. Prestine and very relaxing. Better than Boracay," she told him. "But what's with Nueva Ecija?"

"Farms," he thriftly answered.

"Farms?" she laughed. "You have a farm Chad. What's new with that?"

"I went to a wake," he added.

"Wake? Who died?" she asked him further. She already handed the make up to the sales lady and she was now looking and testing the eye liner.

"Someone I know," he said and immediately felt worse remembering Kara's father and the promise that he gave him. He wants to see her again and maybe, if he would be honest, they might still be able to patch things up.

They went to the clothing section as soon as she was done with her make up. Cass rarely goes to the mall but when she does, you can have her mistaken for hoarding. She loves buying dresses and does not think twice in spending cash for it.