Forget-Me-Not

Chapter X: Reconcilement

With the cake enclosed inside a do-it-yourself box resting against his chest while holding onto it for dear life, Raine walked down the pavement with Phoebe as they traced the way to their house. Even when Dorothy had finished dressing up the cake, it still actually took them a good while before leaving the house for Phoebe had had to wake Raine up with utmost effort but also with utmost care. She actually wished she could have shaken the hell out of him just to drag him out of slumber, but that would have been a bad idea given the fact that he had a strange disorder. At the very least, the two seemed to be having a moment which was too good to be true yet seemed surreal, well that excluded the fact that the main event was taming a wild boar at its own habitat. If anyone heard about the idea, the only word they would use to describe it was "suicide". Phoebe couldn't say for sure if everything would go according to the plan. Still though, it was better than doing nothing at all for that would be a total hopelessness and a sign of insensitivity. They had to do something one way or another to show that they didn't void sorriness and guilt.

The cold breeze of February was still creeping into the tiniest holes in her sweater, but her tolerance seemed to have improved even further as the days went by, but Phoebe was still oblivious to it. Then a thought suddenly rumbled in her mind, it was already Saturday which meant the next day would be the last day of their vacation in Baguio. She'd totally lost track of the few days that had passed, and now that she came into realization, she felt a faint sting in her chest. For the record, the girl was reluctant about the idea of going home. It was the very first time. Phoebe started to do the math, counting all the months and days that would pass by before they could visit Baguio again. Well, it would be a one long year since they set the vacation every February.

"Phoebe"

Phoebe's train of thoughts was cut off by Raine's call. She turned to him with panicky movements, but immediately put on a facade to isolate all the troubling things she was currently fighting head on.

"You think Ray will like this?"

Phoebe took back her composure and answered casually as if she wasn't having a quarrel with intangible things no more than five seconds ago. "Are you saying you don't trust my mom's skills?"

Raine suddenly plastered embarrassment on his face and stuttered when he spoke. "Ah... No, t-that's not what I mean. I just... you know, Ray might not even spare this a glance since he is so mad right now."

Phoebe turned her gaze elsewhere. She tried to fill her lungs with air to make herself feel better but only to shiver and cough when she felt the chill. She was not in her hometown, which meant doing such was a bad idea. "Actually, I've already had that thought. I was originally planning to wait until Ray cooled down then make up for it afterwards, but when you came to the house, I dunno... I just reconsidered it. You see, we can't just sit and do nothing because that will surely jeopardize everything.", she stated then turned to him. "Furthermore, leaving this matter undone is the last thing I would do because I can't stand seeing you guys not in good terms."

The corners of the guy's lips arched upward as he nodded. He really got persuaded so easily and flawlessly, and Phoebe wondered how things would have gone if Raine had met a genuine slut, there was no doubt he would come with her without thinking twice once she told him fabricated words and pretended she was interested in things he was into. How poor the guy was, indeed.

The two walked in silence in the next few minutes, feeding their eyes with the same sceneries everyday. If Phoebe was her self from those years in the past, she would surely not compliment the things about the village, and Baguio in general. But since a guy full of peculiarities had appeared and somehow crossed paths with her, she'd undergone a gradual betterment. Not only had she learned little but extravagant things like appreciating nature, saying a simple sorry, and admitting her sins, but her philosophy sure had become of a higher price too.