CHAPTER 3

"Fate is fate. You'll never be able to predict it when because... that's the rules of this game."

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•••

"Hey wake up already!" Garvie throw his pillow to the door, knowing that his sister is there. Immanuel with her dark blue off shoulder dress with an ocean blue embroidered flowers all over  dress, was perfectly fit to her white skin. Immanuel Clarisse throws it back, striking right onto his head.

"Fuck you!" He shouted, raising the middle finger at his sisterr. She laughed at her brother's childish expression. When she's done laughing, a smile forms from her lips as she slid her hand into her purse, taking out her phone and leaning into the door frame, looking at the time before looking back at her brother.

He's going to be late. She said to herself.

"Are you sure you don't want to get up and get dressed?" She ask, trying to test her brother if he'll somehow remeber. All Garvie did is shook his head, still lying flat on his bed.

"You really love your bed, don't you?" She ask again, trying her best not to spill the beans to her brother. Garvie raise his head, still eyes closed. Just as she thought he had realized, he just shook his head once more, going back and trying to drift himself to sleep.

Immanuel Clarisse who got a bit irritated, clears her throat, wanting her brother to know she's still there.

"What!? Can't you just fucking leave me alone because I'm trying to spend more time with my bed because I'm going to miss it before...."  he paused as he open his eyes that instant, meeting his sister's eyes. "What time is it?"

"Well..." she paused, crossing her arms below her chest, raising a brow to her brother. "Time for you to decided whether to leave that fucking bed of yours and get your shit done, or you could just have sex with your bed forever." She said with such sarcasm, making Garvie groan.

It is time for him to go.

Shit! How did I forget about that!? He asks himself, immediately running through his bathroom. With such tense, he cannot seem to straighten his mind to what he'll do next. He heard his sister laughing, making him close his eyes and imagined how embarrassing it was for him for her sister to see him like that.

"Can you just.... fuck you Immanuel!"

"Yeah fuck you too, Garvie! Now hurry up. Breakfast is ready. You still have a long way to drive!"

Garvie instantly opens the shower, screamed like a girl after a cold like ice water his his skin. He jump off of the shower as he realized it was too cold for a person who just happen to wake up.

•••

"So, are you ready now? Like... Really.... Ready?" His sister Immanuel tease him, making him roll his eyes like a girl. Immanuel released a soft chuckle as she continue eating her breakfast. "What? Just gonna stand there and daydream or what?"

"Psh. The only reason I'm eating with you is that I'm going to miss you." He said as he took the seat on the far edge, facing his sister. Immanuel was taken aback to what her brother said, not expecting him to say something like that to her. Yes they were siblings but that doesn't mean they're a hundred percent in good terms with each other. Maybe they annoy each other some time but they always remeber they're the only ones that got their own backs and they were happy. They always find time to realize how they are important to each other and that they should be beside each other no matter what.

"Then I guess you have to deal with this pretty face of mine for a couple of minutes more before heading out to the door." She spat back, a hint of a joke in her tone. Garvie look at her and gave her a small smile and get back to his own food.

"You're lucky I love you." He said that made Immanuel stop eating. She look at him as he didn't look at her, continue eating his bacon and eggs. A sweet smile soon forms on her lips as she had felt how sincere her brother is to telling such words. She has never heard him say those three words eight letters to her for such a very long time and just by hearing it now? It melted her heart.

They didn't have that expected conversation after because they were both a bit shy to open a topic. Garvie was aware to what he said to his sister and he doesn't want to take it back. He knew he love his sister more than anyone else not because of their situation but because he knew she loved him back.

Garvie clears his throat after drinking into his orange juice, making Immanuel look up to only meet her brother's eyes.

"Are you okay?" She ask with such sincerity, making him smile inside. He placed down his glass as she was about to continue eating when Garvie speaks up.

"Do you remember the moment when I almost drowned at the pool?" He started. Immanuel soon stops eating and drinks at her glass before nodding.

"Yes I do. I was there that time."

"Yeah.. you're there."

"And I was like, Oh my god! Ga is drowning!"

"Ga?"

"Yeah. That's what I always call you when we were kids."

"Why?"

"Because you started teasing me. You always tell me that mom and dad will make me a boy because I have a boy's name and I will cry about it. But then, mom told me to call you Ga to avenge myself and I did. Turned out that you always burst out when I say that."

"Wow... I didn't even seem to recall it."

"Yeah... you're just three and I was seven. That is why when you fell on that pool and started drowning, I thought of not saving you at all."

"But, you did."

"Yes I did."

"You know what's funny?"

"Tell me."

"The funny thing is, we were really enemies and of all the people who have seen me drown, you're the only one who tried to swim through me, just to save my ass. And you're just seven! Fucking seven!"

The way he tells the story makes her remember the scenes clearly, making her laugh at the same time.

"You're flattering me too much, Garvie. I'm your sister and as your big sis, I'll do whatever that is, just for my little brother. You're my own blood and you know that I love you too."

"That so sweet but you're still annoying... until now!"

"And you are too!"

They laugh in unison as they've realized how happy it was to go back to memory lane. The happiness it gives because you remeber the past... well, not all past are bad memories after all.

"But you know... after you saved me?"

"Hmm?"

"That moment after you saved me—" he was cut off after the door to the living room swung open, revealing his bestfriend.

"Hey!"

"Oh sorry... did I—"

"No. Not at all." Immanuel said, standing up and looking at her silver watch. Garvie's smile fades as soon as he sees how his sister's expression change in an instant.

"Garvie, hurry up and go. It's already time for you to travel, or you'll end up getting there by morning..." she paused as she meet her brother's eyes, with such seriousness and a hint of sadness. There's no happiness in those eyes once again.

Immanuel turn her gaze to his bestfriend. He watch as how she stare at Lacey for a second before nodding her head, giving her a forced smile. Garvie looks at Lacey. Lucky for Lacey, she can always recognize every look he throws at her.

"I'll just meet you outside, okay?" She said making him mouth 'thank you'. As soon as Lacey was out of their sight, he then turn again to his sister who didn't move a muscle. As soon as she realized what's going to happen next, she gave her brother a smile. "I'll be heading now."

Immanuel was about to walk out of the dining area when Garvie stopped her.

"Wait!" He gulps as he didn't want to say what he feels, but he wanted to anyways. Immanuel turns around to meet his gaze, with sadness as well.

"Can I... can I atleast have an awkward hug?...From you?" He asked, wanting to feel what it actually felt like to be hugged by his own sister. The woman he grew fond of, the woman he idolize for life.

"You'll be late." She said. Garvie shook his head, approaching his sister. And in just three step gap between them, he pulls his sister and throw a hug. She can feel his sister a bit tense but her muscle soon relaxes, giving him a hug as well.

"I'll be missing you, lil bro."

"Ill be missing you too, big sis."

"Try not to do anything stupid there, okay?"

"I will... try not to." He said, recieving a pinch on his left side. "Ow!"

"Don't ever try escaping away from George okay? Or else I have no choice but to bring you back here."

"Who's George?"

"Duh! Your bodyguard?"

"Oh right... Now I know his name."

"What? You didn't even knew his name until now? He's been working here for five years in a row now!"

"Err... just... just bid me goodbye okay?"

"Take care."

As soon as they're done with bidding each other goodbye, Garvie took care of his luggage as he steps out of the house, admiring the neighborhood view before going. George on the other hand, grab Garvie's suitcase, and opening the door for him.

"So... you're really leaving huh?" Lacey ask that is already standing beside him. She threw her hand onto his waist as he throw his hand onto her shoulder.

"Yep... totally leaving."

"Then I guess you're coming here for Christmas?"

"Yes... well, that still depends on anything."

"So... see you soon then?"

"See you soon."

They let go of each other as Garvie enters the car, George closing the door and starting the car.

"Remember the last thing we've talked about what? Two months ago?"

"I always remeber it because you always remind me to bring you home some sweets–"

"That's not it, dummy!"

"Then what— oh I remember. The sweatshirt you– ow! What was that for!" He complains after receiving a strike from his nape.

"That's for not remembering what I said!"

"What is it then?"

"Girlfriend? Won't it that be too obvious?"

"Lacey, I'm going there to study."

"You should have seen that face of yours, hah! But anyways... Yes you are going to study there but, would it hurt if you also try going out with someone?"

"That.... I don't know."

"I thought you've moved on?"

"I am but... urgh fine! I'll try to figure it out!"

"Yes! Seal it with a pinky promise then." She said as she raise her little finger. He smiles as he did, crossing their little fingers.

"Sir, are we ready to go now?"

"Yes we are... Lacey, I have to go now."

"Yeah, definitely... bye! See ya soon!"

As soon as the car drives off, so is the pain that Lacey felt. It's like her heart's been hit by a car and driven off. She stop herself from crying by exhaling and taking deep long inhales.

Fuck you Garvie! Why are you doing this to me?