Hiding and Sacrifice (Niall Horan)

Chapter SIX

I found myself sitting in the flat grass in front of my aunt's grave. Aunt Trina is the aunt I'm closest to. She treats me just like her child. My parents are nothing compared to her. Whenever I have problems, I will be running to Aunt Trina, not my parents because my parents doesn't give a damn care about me. Especially that day when the incident happened. Oh never mind that but once, I told my parents somebody is bullying me but they just gave me a swift nod and told me that they will talk about it later because they are busy about their work. But after that, we didn't. They just care about their work but not their own daughter. Work, work work.

So then, I just ran up to Aunt Trina and told her about my bullies. She stroked my hair and caressed my cheeks and told me to lift my chin and be confident despite the bullies. She told me it is my life and not theirs and they can't do anything about who am I. That lifted my spirits and hopes up.

The day when Aunt Trina died is the day just like all of my happiness has been absorbed out. It turns out she was diagnosed of breast cancer for already two years. And it made me cry much more when I found out she's been hiding her condition from me for already two years. I don't understand why but if she's still living, she would probably tell me that she doesn't want me to worry about her everyday because of her condition.

I still do the same even if she already died. That's why I am here in front of her grave to tell her what happened today. I wiped the tears off my face and touched the grave. I smiled sadly.

"Aunt. Today, the friend I thought that was really my friend really hurt my feelings. Why would he do that? He said he only went out with me because he fought with his girlfriend, in short, he just used me." I swallowed back my tears. "Aunt, it hurts, you know? I don't even know why. I mean, I don't like him or anything. Except that he's really handsome and his accent is hot." I chuckled, remembering the elevator scene.

"He's funny, oh wait let me rephrase that, he's not funny. He has a low sense of humor but he's kind and gentle. Well, that's what I thought before he let out his bastard side earlier. I really can't believe him." I shook my head. "And there's another news. My parents set me up for an arranged marriage with this guy who acts tough. But I know he isn't. You told me everybody has a soft side, right? You also told me that nobody in the world is pure evil." I chuckled. "But I doubt that with Hitler. So back in the arranged marriage, I couldn't believe it. They're all just doing it for again, work. Aunt Trina, I need you right now. To stroke my hair, to squeeze my hand and tell me it's okay. I miss you so much."

I sniffed and stood up. I walked out of the cemetery and sighed. I would have to walk home. It's 30 from here but I really don't care. I would burn calories. I am already walking for about ten minutes but then a car honked behind me, making me jump. I frowned and saw a black, Jeep cherokee, car. It seems familiar. Where did I see it again? But there's no time for that.

"What the hell do you think are you doing?! Honking your car so loud behind me?! Are you freakin' crazy?" I yelled.

The driver door opened and there it stood the boy whom I "dated". None other than Raphael. He's wearing a leather jacket and sunglasses.

"Get in the car." he said casually like it is a normal thing already and hopped back in the car.

I just rolled my eyes and got in the passenger's seat of the car. I buckled my seat belt and Raphael began driving. He turned the radio on and the song playing is Girls by The 1975. I squealed. It is my jam! Raphael huffed and changed the radio station. I glared at him.

"You just ruined the song by squealing." he told me as soon as he realized I was glaring at him.

"It is my jam!" I defended.

"Who cares about your jam, anyway?" he said.

"Anyone but you!"

"Exactly. You're here with me and I don't care about your jam so I have the right to change the radio station whenever I want." he said. "And besides, this is my car." he added.

I just shut my mouth up and the eerie silence filled us until he spoke up. Making me surprised because he is actually the one who broke the silence filling us.

"Let's play Secret For A Secret." he blurted, tapping his fingers in the steering wheel.

I raised an eyebrow. "No. Why in the world would I want to play Secret For A Secret with you?" It's just that I don't really trust him.

"It's a command. Not a question." he said. "And since I'm the one who came up of us playing it, you'll be the one to say a secret first."

I scoffed. "No, thanks. You'll not tell me a secret after I spill out one of mine."

"Yes, I will. Now go ahead."

I took a deep breathe. Would I tell him the incident? No. That is my darkest secret. I would never let anyone know that. I run my finger over my hair.

"Okay. So I think I love my aunt more than my parents." I told him. This isn't really a secret but I can't think of anything secretive except for the incident.

He chuckled. "Nobody cares." he looked at me and pointed at me. "Don't ever tell this to anyone, okay? If you do, I swear I'll kill you." and he inhaled. "I had a crush at my brother, Brendan."

I burst out laughing. Really? A man like him had a crush on his own brother? Oh, my gosh! I swatted him playfully in the arm. I finally recovered. I cleared my throat.

"It's in the past, okay!" he defended, now turning red from the embarassment.

"I don't care! But wait, you have a brother? Why is he not on the dinner?" I asked.

"Oh. It's because he has a party to attend to." he said, shrugging.

I nodded and the car stopped in front of my house. I smiled at him, but he didn't smile back. I opened the door and hopped out of the car. But before I closed the car door, I smiled at him widely.

"Thanks for the ride." I told him. "And by the way, I enjoyed playing Secret For A Secret for you." I chuckled. And I noticed that he smiled slightly. I closed the car door and entered our house.