Chapter 2

Chapter 2

 

Dyrus took a damp paper towel and wiped away the tear marks on her cheeks carefully, so not to wake Crislynn. She had fallen asleep about twenty minutes after she started crying and hadn’t twitched even when he drove her home.

 

As he laid her gently on her bed, he remembered the last time he was in her room was six years ago when she attempted suicide. A dull ache drummed in his chest as the memory slowly resurfaced, bringing back the emotions he felt that night.

 

When he rushed out after receiving a phone call from Crislynn one night, he didn’t find the happy-go-lucky friend he had known. He saw her sitting on the beach, hugging her knees and staring blankly at the sea. As he sat down and tentatively put an arm around her, she buried her face into his shoulder, her hand clinging onto his shirt desperately, as though a drowning man clinging onto a lifesaver.

 

Her sobs were silent, but he heard them all the same.

 

She never explained what happened that night, and he didn’t press her. He held her gently as she fell into a deep sleep after crying for almost an hour. It was only after she woke up the following morning, did she reveal that her relationship just fell apart.

 

He had thought it was over, that as Crislynn assured him the following morning that she had felt better after crying, she would be back to her normal self.

 

He was wrong

 

Dyrus didn’t notice anything peculiar for the first two days, but when every call he made went unanswered, he began to worry. After three days of complete silence from Crislynn, he made a trip to her apartment.

 

As he entered her apartment with the spare key she had gave him when she needed a house-sitter, he was appalled at the sight.

 

The floor was covered with broken glass, photo frames and vases. Pieces of paper littered the mess, some crunched into balls; others were torn into confetti and thrown randomly throughout the house. An assortment of wilting flowers lay forlornly in the nearby wastepaper basket with their petals ripped from their stalks and tossed about carelessly. As Dyrus stepped into the house, his shoes crunching the glass beneath his soles, he became acutely aware of a strong alcoholic smell from one of the rooms – Crislynn’s room. 

 

He found Crislynn in a dark corner of her room, drinking from a tall glass bottle, and around her, strewn at least another half dozen empty alcohol bottles and some medicinal bottles.

 

“What the hell were you doing?!” He demanded.

 

When Crislynn ignored him and lifted the bottle to her lips again, he pulled her to her feet and snatched the bottle away. She lunged for the bottle but he pushed her back easily, cornering her into the walls. “Crislynn Cho! What the hell were you doing?”

 

“Leave me alone!”

 

 “Crislynn! Why are you doing this?”

 

“Just let me be!”

 

“Where were you the past few days? Were you drinking?” As she looked away defiantly, he pressed. “Were you?!”

 

“If you must know, Mr Kane, yes I was! Drinking is the only way I can get to sleep, the only way I don’t have to see Anthony over and over again in my dreams! Do you know what it’s like to see him everyday in school and again every single night when I sleep? Do you know what it’s like to see him break up with me over and over again every night?” She made another attempt to reach for the bottle. “Now, will you just leave me alone and let me drink in peace?”

 

Dyrus threw the bottle away, shattering it against the wall. The dark red liquid dripped from the wall and pooled on the floor, looking ominously like blood dripping from an open wound.

 

“I’m your friend, and I’ll be damned if I let you continue this madness alone.” His voice was shaking with controlled anger as he pressed Crislynn against the wall, cornering her and restricting her movements. Crislynn struggled weakly, but Dyrus held onto her firmly.

 

“Whatever problems you faced, let me face it with you. Even if you need to drink, call me. I’ll even bring the whiskey and brandy!” Seeing Crislynn calming down, he released her and continued.

 

“Just… Don’t shut me out.”

 

Crislynn looked up, a steady stream of tears flowing from her eyes. “Dyrus, I just took Zolpidem.”

 

Hearing the familiar drug name, he felt a weight dropped into the depths of his heart. “What?”

 

She glanced at one of the empty medicine bottles rolling around them and whispered. “I’m sorry…”

 

At the next moment, her knees buckled and she collapsed.

 

*~*~*

 

He never did tell Crislynn what happened after she lost consciousness. He didn’t tell her the terror that ripped through him as he caught her limp and lifeless body in his arms. He didn’t tell her the helplessness that threatened to drown him as his resuscitations failed to revive her. He didn’t tell her about the fear that had gripped him like a leech, slowly draining his energy and strength as he held her tight, while waiting for the ambulance to arrive. The pain in his chest threatened to suffocate him, bringing tears to his eyes as the possibility of losing her became real, too real.

 

All his life, he forced himself to stop feeling fear. He thought that once he can’t fear, he won’t feel the helpless. As he grew into teenage years and later on into adulthood, he thought he succeeded in eradicating fear from his life.

 

That night, he realized he was foolishly wrong.

 

Looking down at her sleeping peacefully at this moment, a sense of relief washed over him as her chest rose and fell steadily with her deep, even breathing. There and then, he felt he could watch her sleep for the rest of the night. 

 

And he did.

 

*~*~*

 

When she opened her eyes again, she was in her bed covered warmly and a familiar figure sat in her sofa near the bed, asleep. She smiled slightly as she recalled the events of last night. Dyrus had been gentle and understanding, the way he’d always been whenever she needed a shoulder to lean on.

 

Seeing that he was asleep, she took the opportunity to study his sleeping form in the morning light seeping through her curtains. Her eyes wandered over the friend she had known so well over the past ten years. He didn’t have the bulky muscles and build of most military officers, in fact he was almost slender, with a lean toughness that can only come from years of disciplined training. It spoke of a diligence in which he demanded nothing but the best from himself, testing his own limits on a daily basis.

 

Ten years, she marveled silently. It wouldn’t be the first time she had questioned herself, how did two strangers who crossed each other’s path over the Internet became such close friends? She had friends she’d known for a longer period of time, a couple of them since she was a child, but none of them could understand her the way Dyrus could.

 

Their friendship was something different, unique. Sometimes, they’re friends engaging into a long conversation about a common interest in a book or a movie; sometimes they’re like enemies in war as they battled for their own standpoints and opinions; other times they’re like family, never failing to be there for the other in times of weakness and despair.

 

Over the years, Dyrus became more than a friend; he was the closest thing Crislynn could ever have to a brother. There was no one else she could have trusted more, not even her own parents.

 

In any case, she was glad he was with her, especially last night.

 

Crislynn pushed herself stiffly into a sitting position and took a deep breath. Immediately, a headache thundered its way mercilessly across both her temples. “Oh… my head…”

 

Dyrus stirred and awoke to see Crislynn sitting up with her head on her knees. “Good morning.”

 

“Dyrus, please talk in small letters.” She held her aching head in her hands. “I have six aspirin companies bidding for this head.”

 

Dyrus chuckled at the remark and shook his head. “Only you can make a joke while having a hangover.”

 

He left the room and returned five minutes later holding a tray with a tall glass of water and some sandwiches. As Crislynn sat up at the sight of food, a low growling escaped from her stomach and reached Dyrus’ ears.

 

"For your stomach," Dyrus teased the embarrassed girl, handing her a sandwich and a bottle of medicine “And for your hangover."

           

Crislynn eyed the bottle he gave her curiously. “What is this?”

 

“It’s an analgesic.”

 

“What’s wrong with the aspirin I have?” Crislynn asked, taking a hungry bite of the sandwich.

 

"This causes drowsiness. Take it after you finish your food."

 

Dyrus sat with her patiently as she gulped down three sandwiches and downed the medicine with a tall glass of warm water. As he was clearing the plate and trays, Crislynn asked hesitantly.

 

"Dyrus? Aren't you...going to ask me about last night?"

 

He shook his head. "You'll tell me yourself if you want to, won't you?"

 

Hearing his words, something snapped within Crislynn and tears spilled over her eyes. Through a misty gaze, she looked at the friend who was willing to stand by her, unconditionally.

 

“Thank you,” she whispered. In times like this, Crislynn felt he was an oak tree that Fate had planted in her life, always at a place for her lean on for support, or sometimes, simply to shade and protect her from the scorching heat of the sun.

 

Dyrus stopped in mid action. He turned to see Crislynn wiping away her tears in vain. “Crislynn,” he called softly and knelt beside her.  “Don’t think too much, get some rest.” 

 

His hand reached up and he stroked the back of her head gently, running his fingers through her silky locks, an action he had not done in years.

 

Crislynn looked up at the touch. A sweet, warm feeling filled her heart as she nodded quietly and lied back in bed. It wasn’t long before she succumbed to the effect of the medicine and fell asleep.

 

Dyrus drew the blanket higher around Crislynn’s shoulders, ensuring that she was covered warmly before he left her house. As he stepped into the elevator, he took out a piece of paper with a name and a number scribbled on it. He had copied the number from Crislynn’s phone directory.

 

It's time to get some answers, Dyrus thought as he took out his mobile phone and dialed.

 

"Hello, may I speak to Anthony?"

 

*~*~*

Reviews

[rachel <3]

this is an amazing start.
keep writeing and i'll be reading.
~Fallen Angel