The 100th Guy (English - Unedited)

[CHAPTER SIX] Leaving you...

Chapter Six

Leaving you behind and moving forward

“Avril, Flip… listen very well.”

          I breathed deeply before I started to utter the words. I had prepared for this. I had prepared myself to assure that no single tear would fall from either of my eyes. I did not want them to see any sign that I was weak, that I could not handle this, that I was afraid. I knew very well that not everyone could survive a sickness as serious as cancer. But I did not want them to feel saddened when they knew this. They were my sources of strength, and if they would not stand firm just like me, I would not know whom to hold on anymore.

          “First and foremost,” I breathed heavily again. “Congratulations to your impending wedding. You two have no idea how happy I am that you will soon be husband and wife. Avril, take care of Flip very well. Don’t make her cry. Just remember that everytime you try to make her cry, you are making Jane and I cry too.”

          Avril smirked and shook his head. I looked at Flip and held her hand. “Flip, please take care of my brother also. I love him so much! He’s the kindest brother ever and I don’t want to replace him. And you don’t know the difficulties he experienced just to make you say yes.” I glanced at Avril and we were both secretly smiling at each other. It was like we had that same ideas in our mind. “Do you remember the day when your window broke and your Dad called the police?”

          “No, Midori! No!” he objected but I just smiled teasingly. “That’s nothing Flip. It’s just… random.” Then Avril’s eyes widened as his lips were muttering silent words.

          “What’s that? I want to know,” Flip said. Avril just buried his face on his palms. He just could not decide before Flip. That was Avril’s secret identity. He was scared of Flip.

          “Avril threw the stone to your window. If I am right, that was the time that you fought because Avril was married to some other girl in the marriage booth. Am I right, Avril?”

          Avril’s cheeks were blushing. I could still remember that time. It was already late but the lights on Flip’s room were still opened. Avril wanted to talk to her and make it clear that it was not his own will that he married some other girl. But Flip was the typical girlfriend, she was jelous. We kept throwing pebbles to her window so she would notice us. But Avril accidentally picked a somewhat big stone and threw it with full force. Flip’s window broke and we instantly hid ourselves. The next thing we knew, Flip’s Dad called the police and reported what happened. The next day, Avril just surprised Flip with a song and they embraced and you could do the conclusion.

          “Is this the ‘very important thing’ that you’re going to tell us?” Avril asked.

          “No. That’s just an introduction.”

          “Come on. Just say it and stop embarrassing me in front of my girlfriend.”

          I looked at Flip and we both had that big smile. She embraced Avril from his side and said, “It’s not embarrassing. It’s cute.”

          Avril kissed her and asked, “Is it?” When Flip nodded he kissed her again on the cheek. In front of me. And I felt so not right for the picture.

          They were laughing like they were so in love. How Flip would run her finger on Avril’s ear, how Avril would kiss Flip. It was so magical. It was like one of the best moments on my brother’s life. And I could not just ruin it. My brother had been very good to me, so was Flip who acted as my elder sister. Maybe, it was not yet the right time to tell them.