Last Teardrop

Chapter 21: Worth Keeping

Not everything in life is picture perfect. I realized that there are a lot of things you have to go through. But it makes it easier when there is somebody else who cries and shares the pain with you. I know I’ve been hurt before, but sometimes you just need to give your heart a chance, to listen to it at times because for a million instances that it may be wrong, that one moment it could have been right.

“So, you and Daniel…” Jasmine asked.

“We’re trying to take it slowly. He’s there for me and I’m there for him.”

“How about Patrick?”

“We’re just friends.”

Patrick. And my mind started to wander…

“samantha!”

“Pat…”

“So, you spoke to mom?”

“Yes.”

And we were silent for a while. I know that he won’t say a thing so I started to do the talking.

“Pat, where’s maelyn?”

He looked at me, and I saw the worry in his eyes. It seems like he had been avoiding about this for a long time. And talking about her now brought him pain, the same pain I know I have been carrying around when I lost my mother.

“She died Sam.”

“But we got out the building together…”’

“My mother is asthmatic, and unluckily it’s hereditary. Maelyn also was asthmatic. She died a few days after the fire. The doctor said that she absorbed too much smoke and that her body couldn’t take it. WE lost her. At 6, I didn’t know what to do. I blamed mom despite I know that it’s not her fault.”

I went closer to Patrick. And I didn’t know what to say. I was not expecting that they lost her too. We all did lose someone important, and that’s why I could understand Patrick right now. But even though I know what he’s been through, it just seems odd how I could not find the right words to say. Maybe because I know that no matter how I say it, it would not ease the pain.

“I blamed mom…” he continued, “because I needed someone to blame it to. I love my sister Sam, and it hurts knowing that at an early age, she was taken away. Sometimes I had wished it was me mom brought with her at the mall. Maybe it would make a difference by then.”

“I Am sorry Pat.”

“Don’t be.” he smiled. “How about you? Are you fine now?”

“I feel better.”

“That’s good, so shall we eat something then?”

“I am sorry Pat, but Daniel is waiting for me outside.”

I know that Patrick was surprised. But it suddenly faded and changed into a smile.

“So, You and him, huh?”

“Not really. We’re still trying this out. We wouldn’t want to jump into things directly. It’s more like we’re exclusively dating now.”

“But you like him.”

Again, it was not a question. And I don’t know if Patrick felt bad about it or I am just assuming things.

“Yes, Pat. I like him, a lot.”

I told him and looked at him straight in the eyes. I know that this time, all I needed to do is to be honest with myself and to the people around. I was waiting for him to answer me back. But he paused for a while and looked down. When he looked back at me, there was a curve in his lips, and I saw that Patrick was happy for me.

“I wish both of you good luck. But whenever he makes you cry - I will really punch that guy’s face. Okay?”

“I won’t make her cry.” Daniel entered the room.

For a moment, I am staring at the two guys that mattered a lot to me, Patrick – the guy who I know will forever be my soul mate, because No one understands me better like he do. And Daniel – The guy I am in love with. And if only I can make everything fall into place for him, I would. Because my life has become better because of him.

“Sam?”

And I looked back at Jasmine. She continued, “I am really happy for the both of you.”

“Thanks Jas.”

I know she is. And I am happy too. I have never felt this secured. I know that in this lifetime, a moment of my life had become clear, that not at all times, I will be hiding in the wretched shadows of the past. And I plan to carry on what I have this time – because I know that this time, this one’s worth keeping.