Once Upon a Star

Chapter 12

H: How can he like me? It’s impossible. He will never like someone like me. *laughs*

G: *looks at her* Do you like my son?

H: *stops laughing and looks at Grace* Huh?

G: I think I’ll take that as a yes.

H: Uh, I think you got me wrong.

G: I would always worry about Sean, ever since he was young. He’s more of an introvert person. He feels shy sowing his feelings. *looks at Hanna* He would always run to me whenever he feels sad, he would hug me and cry on my shoulder; I miss my son so much. *Hanna listens* He grew up to be a strong and independent young man. He didn’t want other people to pity him, to have the chance of attacking him, to see his vulnerability and all. And so, he chose to stay that way; to be frigid, to be aloof. He would make friends, but he would be friends with only few. He wanted a quiet and peaceful life. Do forgive him if he has ever treated you that way.

H: *smiles and nods slowly*

G: He became like that… When I got sick, when I told him to be strong, to take good care of himself; he didn’t know how, but he tried his best. His father wanted a divorce, apparently, he met someone else. *Hanna remembers Christine* I gave him the divorce he wanted; Sean wasn’t able to accept it at first, but then he had to. What does he have, against his father anyway? We didn’t tell his father my condition. He knew I stayed abroad, spending my life well.

H: Why?

G: I didn’t want his father to pity me, to look down on me; to cancel the divorce he wanted just because he feels sorry for me. I wanted to give him what he wanted. After all, I love him, and wanted what’s best for him; that is, to meet someone who can take care of him, not someone like me, whom he has to take care of. He’s a business tycoon after all, a busy person. *Grace looks at Hanna whose eyes became teary*

H: *wipes tears* I’m sorry to hear all of those.

G: *smiles* He left the mansion and asked for a condominium unit. He told me he preferred to be alone knowing that he really is alone, than to be alone and knowing that he’s actually waiting for his father and stepmother who can’t come home early or not come back home at all. He actually hated to be alone, but he had to live with it. *starts to gently weep*

G: My son is actually love-starved. *smiles and looks at Hanna* Will you do me a favor, Hanna? *Hanna looks at Grace* Will you take care of my son for me? *Hanna cried* He may look like he doesn’t need anyone at all, but he actually does. He needs affection, and love; which his family cannot give him. You may not be his girlfriend to love him, but will you be that friend who will stay by him and comfort him?

Sean got back to the hospital and saw Hanna and Grace talking to each other. Sean handed Hanna a paper bag. “Thank you,” Hanna thanked him and went to the restroom. Sean sat next to his mother. “Don’t be so grumpy. She’s a nice friend,” Grace told him. “What did you tell her?” Sean asked Grace. Grace just smiled at her son. Edward was supposed to visit Grace but he saw Sean when he opened the door, so he just closed it again and left.

“Thank you for lunch,” Jenny thanked Stanley as they walked in the office. “I’ll get going now, okay?” said Jenny and she waved goodbye to Stanley. Stanley watched her walked away, and from afar. “You seem to be very happy,” Richard told Stanley as he stood beside him. Stanley looked at him and smiled.

“Do come back when you’re both convenient to do so,” said Grace. “We will,” said Hanna as she hugged Grace. Sean was looking at her with a serious face. Hanna saw him, “I’m sorry,” she whispered. Grace smiled, “Don’t get envious, come I’ll hug you too,” said Grace as she hugged her son. “Smile more, for me, will you?” Grace said as she hugged Sean.

Hanna and Sean decided to eat in a restaurant. They got their orders and started eating. Hanna looked at Sean, “Are you mad at me for following you?” she asked him. “Let’s study later, for exams,” Sean said as he ate. “Oh,” uttered Hanna and she went back to eating.

“These are all important; you should pay more attention to them,” Sean told Hanna as they sat on the living room’s floor. Hanna wrote them repeatedly. “Why do you write them repeatedly?” Sean asked her. “That’s how I learn,” Hanna answered as she wrote. “Memorize these too,” as he placed the formulas he wrote on the table.

Hanna kept on writing, and stretched her arms. She turned and saw Sean sleeping on the couch. “The most silent people often hide millions of stories, with various roles, and emotions. When he acts like he doesn’t need affection, he actually does. If you wanted to comfort him, don’t get scared by his cold appearance, do what you want to, he would really appreciate it afterwards,” Hanna remembered what Grace told her.

Sean stretched out his arms and woke up, he saw the living room was clean, and saw Hanna cooking hot pot. “Why didn’t you wake me up?” Sean asked Hanna as she busied herself in cooking. “You were sleeping soundly, it’s rude to wake you up,” Hanna explained as she tasted the hot pot. After taking a bath, Sean went to the dining room to eat with Hanna. Hanna ate happily; “You’ll have a quiz later,” said Sean as he finished his meal. Hanna watched Sean stand up and leave.

“You didn’t even get half of them correctly,” said Sean as he placed the paper on the table. “You, keep reviewing, and I will go to the grocery,” said Sean as he stood up and left Hanna. Hanna kept reviewing and re-solving her mistakes. “This is frustrating,” Hanna said as she looked at all the papers and notes on the table.

“I’m so sorry if I had to burden you,” Jenny apologized to Stanley as they strolled in the grocery. “It’s okay, I was actually going to ask you too; it just so happens that you asked first,” Stanley said and smiled at Jenny. Jenny saw an Oreo Cheesecake and stopped to look at it. “Why?” Stanley asked her. “I used to buy this cake for my sister whenever she’s not feeling well, or during occasions. I badly wanted to buy her one right now but… I don’t know where she is right now,” Jenny uttered as she frowned.