Her Last Wish – Episode 35

HER LAST WISH 
(Moremi)

Chapter 35.

Zeemah Writes…

“I was selfish, I’m such a terrible friend” She sobbed on Aria’s shoulder and Aria rubbed her back comfortingly not knowing what else to say. She really hope Layla’s obsession for Dylan won’t ruin her friendship with Dan.

She so much hope it won’t.

**

Dan heard the door to his room open and he glanced up from his homework.

Anne stood there, her arms folded, her lips in a half-pout as she cast Dan a questioning gaze.
She had seen what happened in the cafeteria, everyone had.
First, Chloe’s unbelievable behavior and then Dan’s closeness to her, it had her head swimming with thoughts because she clearly knows Dan doesn’t tolerate Chloe and to suddenly see them together means they’ve come to a compromise which Dan hadn’t bothered to inform her about. She’s so pissed.

Dan sigh, dropping his pen.
He knows she is pissed at him. He’s also feeling bad to have kept what happened with Chloe from her and funny enough, he hadn’t even done that intentionally, he had completely forgotten about it the moment it happened, his mind had been buzzing with other thoughts.
He would have definitely told his sister if he had remembered and he hadn’t even thought Chloe would change so soon or she would even sit with him at the cafeteria.

“Are you going to keep standing there?” He asked meekly.
She walked to the couch closest to his bed and sat, placing her arm on the armchair.
Dan smiled, even in her pissed state, that calmness that surrounds her remained.

“How can you smile?” She asked, her voice showing no hint of the anger she was feeling.
It’s not like she was trying to keep her voice at bay, that’s just how she is.
It’s rare to see Anne yell, and she doesn’t even get so angry that it’d be out of control, she has never. She forgives people almost immediately they apologise, always wants everyone around her to be happy, comfortable. Her meekness is just out of the world and there’s rarely anyone that’ll come across her and not love her.

“I’m sorry” He said, shifting to the edge of his bed so he could be closer to her.
“Tell me what happened, how it happened” She said, peering at him.
“Okay” He sat up.
“You know how much I do not like and tolerate Chloe right?” He asked and she nodded, more reason she had been bemused to see them together.
“So, she approached me yesterday after lunch break, mad that I’m nice to others except her . . .”

Anne blinked at him after he was done.
“You mean it happened just yesterday? And . . Chloe’s a changed person today?”
“Surprisingly yes” Dan nodded.
“That’s astonishing, so fast. Had she been willing to turn a new leaf before you spoke senses into her?” Anne asked, her brows furrowed in confusion.
Chloe’s too hardhearted to have changed that fast, she hadn’t only changed but seem to have turned another person entirely, how could someone that mean and malicious turn to the mildest person she has ever seen just in the space of hours!

“I’m not sure but I know no matter the force of my words, if she hadn’t been willing to change, she wouldn’t have, my words had only helped, her willingness did the most”
Anne nodded. “It’s still so hard to comprehend though, you also know how mean Chloe is, was — I think” She corrected herself.
“Or did you say anything else to her asides that?” Anne asked, still baffled.
“Not really…” Dan seems to be thinking. “I only added that only if she changes her ways would she get tolerated by me and everyone else”
“That fixed the puzzle” Anne grimaced.
“What puzzle?” Dan asked.

“Chloe did that for you, she wants to be closer to you, she wants to be tolerated by you” Anne said.
“I don’t think so ” Dan shook his head.
“Why don’t you think so?”
“She didn’t just center her whole new self on me, and she hadn’t even tried to make me see her in new light, all through our discussion,she was feeling terrible on how badly she had treated others, remorse was all over her eyes, she even planned to apologise to everyone tomorrow. Chloe’s change is a genuine one I think” Dan said.

“Well, you may be right but I still think it’s mainly because of you”
“Either ways, let’s be glad she’s changed for good”
“Yeah. You should still be careful around her though” Anne said.
“Why?” Dan laughed.
“Chloe can be cunning, she might be up to something, though I really hope she has really changed” Anne said.
“I know how hard it must be to believe she’s really changed because of how cruel and sly she was in the past but let’s give her the benefit of doubt, she might have really changed” Dan said and Anne shrugged in acceptance.

“Who would have thought you’d one day defend Chloe, I would have bet all my money against it” Anne said and Dan laughed.
“True, I would have too” He said.

“And why didn’t you tell me about it? I know it happened yesterday but you should still have told me when we returned from school” Anne pout.
“I’m sorry” Dan squeezed her hands gently.
“I forgot all about it, It didn’t even cross my mind. I would have told you if it did, you know”
“Yeah, I know you wouldn’t have intentionally kept it from me” She smiled, toying with the bracelet on her wrist.
Dan hadn’t noticed it, he just did and he peered at it. It’s a silver bracelet with multiple charms on it, the simplicity made it even more beautiful, he has never seen it on Anne and he wondered if she got it herself or their mum did.

He hadn’t meant to talk about it but the way Anne had snatched her wrist when she noticed his gaze on it made him grow suspicious and he knew it wasn’t from their mum nor from her.

He gazed at her and back at the bracelet again but her other palm is clasped tightly around it.

Okay.

He gazed back at her, she was looking everywhere else but him, biting her lower lip.

“What a eautiful bracelet you’ve got” He started and paused, giving her the chance to say something.
“It’s from who?” He asked when it was clear she wasn’t going to say anything.
“Elvis” She answered, almost in a whisper, anxiously waiting for his reaction, she was still not looking at him.
“Then why are you hiding it from my view?” He asked, no hint of anger in his voice like she had feared, she turned to face him, there was no anger in his eyes also..that heightened her surprise.
She blinked.

“I .. I thought .. I thought..” She stammered, trailing off.
Dan rubbed her arm gently. “It was a birthday gift and you liked it enough to put it on, I would never have complained about it.”
“It’s from Elvis, your friend” Anne repeated, thinking perhaps Dan hadn’t heard her clearly.
“I heard you the first time Anne. Elvis gave you a birthday present just like everyone else, why should I be against you putting it on.” He said and sigh. “If it’s about what happened at the Thanksgiving party . . If it’s about how i’ve always treated every guy trying to get intimate with you . . I’m sorry, I didn’t know it was going to make you dread talking about..guys to me” He said, he had seen the fear in her eyes before she mentioned Elvis and he had felt so hurt to have turned her that way. She shouldn’t dread mentioning someone’s name to him. He was her brother for God’s sake, not a monster.

“I was only being protective of you, I don’t want you to get hurt, I don’t want your vulnerability to be taken advantage of. I can’t stand seeing you hurt Anne. Everyone knows how mild you are, people would want to take advantage of that! I had to . . I had to create that boundary, I needed to make them know you are not to be messed with, I had to make them keep their hands off you. I didn’t know know.. I.. had turn a monster in the process” He said, clenching his fist.
He didn’t even notice when Anne got beside him until she hugged him.

“Hey, c’mon stop feeling bad. I understand you were trying to protect me and I can’t be more grateful to have you as a brother. When it comes to me, you do not even care having to lose your friendship, you made sure none of your friends or even other guys try to mess with me, you protected me Dan and no,I do not think of you as a monster, you’re not. ”
“Really?” He asked, gazing softly at her.
“Of course, besides you did what any brother would, most guys are protective of their little sisters”
“I know but I think I went far with mine” Dan said.
“You didn’t, that’s the one way you thought was best to protect me and even if you did went far, it only shows how much you love me” Anne smiled at him.
He smiled back at her and patted the space beside him for her to sit.
She did.

“I’m not restricting you from liking anyone, it’s not like you can control your feelings anyway, neither can I. Whomever you like is fine by me as long as that’s what you want, if it’s really going to make you happy, I’m not going to stop you, you can go ahead” He said.
“So nice to finally get a pass from the Chief Judge” Anne joked. “But I insist, I’m not going to date anyone till I’m sixteen”
“Hm” Dan sigh. “It doesn’t seem so” He added with a slight grin.
“Why did you say so?” Anne asked.
“I saw how you look at Elvis” He said and her cheeks flushed with embarrassment.

He laughed. “You see?”
“Well… I’m going to wait till I’m sixteen” She said shyly.
“Really? Are you sure?” He teased.
“Stop teasing me!” She smacked him on the arm and he laughed.
“Okay, I’m sorry” His laughter subsiding to a grin.
“Well, Elvis kind of overheard me telling you I’m not going to date anyone till I’m sixteen and..” Anne paused, her cheeks heating up. “He promised to wait” She added.
“Wow, Really?” Dan eyes widen, impressed. Well he has always known Elvis to be a good guy, calm and all but that’s still not enough reason to trust him though.

“Yeah” Anne nodded.
“Do you like him?” Dan asked, even though he knew the answer already.
Anne didn’t answer, she was too flushed to but her cheeks helped her out, they turned red and hot.
“OMG” Dan laughed. “Anne your cheeks could bake pies right now”
“Shut up” She smacked his arm again and he laughed again lowering his back into the bed.

**

“Hi Chloe” Dan said when he and Layla got to her seat.
“Hi Dan” Chloe seemed enthusiastic, her eyes gleamed..
She was bubbling with excitement, who could have thought Dan would say hi to her first.
“Hi Layla” Chloe said.
“Hi” Layla mumbled.
Dan wondered what was wrong, Layla has been acting cold since yesterday, she hadn’t even talked in the car when they were going home and this morning also and she won’t say what’s wrong, though she seemed less cold today, just distant and he was really worried. It’s unlike her.

“Can I sit with you for lunch today?” Chloe asked Dan, ignoring Layla.
Dan looked like he was hesitating to answer.
“After Layla goes to sit with Dylan” Chloe quickly added.
“Oh okay” Dan said, knowing Dylan would probably come get Layla again and he won’t mind Chloe’s company.
“Okay” Chloe smiled.

Layla started walking to her seat, not able to stop what she was feeling presently. She doesnt know if it was rage or pain.
She felt like crying, she had created the chance for people to come between her and Dan, she had! And now she’s angry they are taking advantage of it?

She’s feeling more bad than she had yesterday after speaking to Aria and she planned to apologise to Dan today, she really have to, she’s never going to leave him eat by himself again, she has realised her misdoing and she’s going to correct it. She created the space for people to come between them and now she’s going to close it!

She slammed a door close in her mind.

Yeah, that’s it.

**

“Hey, I keep asking what’s wrong and you won’t tell me, do you want me to die of worry?” Dan asked Layla.
They were halfway their meal and she had been silent, thinking of the best way to apologise to him.
She cleared her throat, knowing this was the best time to talk but then she was interrupted by Chloe.

“Dan, come sit with me” She said cheerily.
“I’m sorry but I can’t leave Layla sitting alone, by herself” Dan said.
“Dylan would come get her soon, come with me” Chloe said, not sparing Layla a glance.
“Until then” Dan said. “I can’t leave her by herself but I promise to come over to your table once he comes get her” He added and Layla felt tears pool her eyes.
Here is someone she hadn’t even cared if he ate by himself, all she had cared about was herself and yet . . He wasn’t going to leave her sitting alone, eating by herself despite knowing Dylan might come get her soon, he still cared enough to be with her till he comes , he cared enough to put her before others.
Shame clouded her and she tried everything she could to sniff back her tears.
She hadn’t even noticed Chloe had walked away.

“Dan” She started, in a quavering voice.
He stared at her.
“I’m sorry” She said and couldn’t hold her tears any longer, they spilled down her face.
“Layla, what’s wrong?” He asked alarmed, he quickly held her hand across the table, blinking in confusion.

She wiped her tears and sniffed before she continued.
“I..I’m so sorry, to have left you to eat by yourself and . . ” She swallowed hard. “..went with Dylan, without caring if you’d be alone, all I cared about was myself. I’m so sorry Dan” She has started crying again and Dan felt his heart ache.
“It’s fine…”
“It’s not” She interrupted him. “I could remember how hurt you looked after, I was a selfish terrible friend, I placed someone else above you when you’ve always been there for me. That was so bad of me and I’ve realised my misdoing, I’m never going to repeat it again. I’m so sorry Dan, please forgive me” She said, not caring to wipe her tears.

Dan sigh, tightening his hold on her hands across the table.
He felt relieved of every worry that had been on his mind since Layla started eating with Dylan.

“Is that the reason you were so withdrawn?” He asked.
She nodded. “I was so ashamed of myself”
“You were right, I was hurt and a little bit pissed at you” He laughed and that made her smile a little.
“But everything is fine now, trust me. Now wipe those tears and smile if you really want me to forgive you ” He said passing her a hankie.
She took it and wiped her face dry.
“Good, now smile or .. ” He pause, grinning at her.
“Or what?” She asked, smiling already, knowing what would come after his naughty grin.

They were interrupted by Dylan..

“Care to join me?” He asked with his normal charming smile but Layla’s mind was determined, she didn’t fall for it this time.
“I’m sorry Dylan, I’m not going to be joining you for lunch again” She said, surprised she didn’t even feel bad a bit.
Dylan’s smile froze in his face, he hadn’t expected this.
“Why?” He asked as calmly as he could even though he was boiling with agitation.
“I can no longer leave Dan to eat on his own when we’ve always eaten together, I hadn’t realised it was wrong and now I have, I’m sorry Dylan” She said, turning back to her meal.

Dylan glanced at Dan who was smirking. It intensified his anger and it took everything in him not to punch Dan.
Dan grinned, chewing his meatball happily.

Dylan walked away, shaking with anger.

Dan had won …

Again.

Zeemah