Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

Am I going crazy?

Or does this day keep getting better?

Mom let me get my haircut early (which never happens) so I could go to Sunny and Mari’s house early! Which is saying something.

Today is going to be a great day! I can already taste it.

Well, yesterday was an okay day but today is going to be great ! You must be asking yourself, ‘Why do you think so Kel?’ and that would be a stupid question because everyday is sorta already placed in the spectrum of the days range as ‘eh’ to ‘oh my god this is the best day ever!’ and today, Sunny and Mari’s got that long anticipated recital today and oh boy has everyone been waiting for it.

Everyone says that I'm a jinx but I just know it. It’s gonna be a really, really good time for everyone, especially Hero, he's been waiting for this moment his whole life, because spoiler alert , he's finally gonna confess.

“Right, Hero?”

“Huh?” Hero turns to me confused, both of his hands occupied, one holding a small box of homemade macaroons that he insisted on baking at least ten batches of,  (now we have a lifetime of macaroons for mom to show off to her friends). Tia Rosa is gonna flip when she sees that we got more small pleasantries than her in our house now. Some of them are music note-shaped, normal-shaped (like the usual round ones he makes), and you won't believe the next one, heart shaped. Yikes.

“Uhhh Kel, you there?” Hero is still staring at me, I grin and turn away, sighing good luck to him. Hero seemed to blush in the corner of my eye. Hehe. He’s sweating bullets and using his other hand to clutch on to the flower bouquet like it's a lifeline.

I kick the can on the road, street litters are everywhere now, seriously, shake my head. Poor Hero, when will your suffering end?

Well today’s the day for everyone, today is where the ‘Will they, Won't they’ end for this perfect couple of Faraway! Ah well, that's great for them, i was kinda tired watching Hero’s hopeless attempts at flirting, you’d think with the looks he was born with and how good he is at talking sweet, he’d at least have the ‘know how’ with flirting with a girl he desperately wants to woo.

Good thing Mari likes him back. Or I might not see and hear the end of it.

Speaking of seeing, I’m seeing Sunny’s house in the corner– Hey is that–

“Yo Basil!”


Basil hears me and turns to my direction.

“What are you doing here so early?” I waved to him as I ran up. He waves back in a meeker way, “O-oh Hey Kel!” He rubs his arms timidly, “Ah well, because I couldn't wait anymore. It's so exciting!” He says eagerly, and I couldn’t agree more. Today is going to be a great day after all!

Basil tilts his head, “Where’s Hero?”

I turn around to see that Hero hasn’t been catching’ up, he does that sometimes when he's in the brink of being overwhelmed, he walks in his own pace and calms himself down in doing it, “Eh, still in his own little world, ya know what's tuh’day right?” I turn back to Basil smirking knowingly, it's been a long coming for my big bro. Basil blinks at me for a moment before realization hits him, “Ohhh, that!” Basil giggles, “Hehe, this is gonna be a field trip,”

Uh oh, i may have unleashed something to the world, teasing friend Basil is going to destroy any lovebirds no matter how much older you are to him. Oops.

I chuckle as I look away for a moment, still waiting for Hero to show up. Then I looked down and– Oh! A snail! It's moving so slowly.. You cannot remind me any more of my older brother right now.

“Oh, right, Kel,”

I break my attention from the snail to the blond, “Yeah?”

I see Basil rummaging through the small bag he’s carrying, his face slowly contorting to confusion, “I swear I had everyone’s here…” he mutters in frustration.

“What is it?” I asked.

He pauses and looks up, “A-ah, it's something I wanted to give you..” He sighs, “but I don't think I have it here..” Basil looked a little downcast.

It tugs at my heart all the time when i see my friends sad, “Hey don’t sweat it man,” i put a hand on his shoulder, “i’m sure whatever it is, you can give it to me later,” i smile at him, hoping to have cheered him up because cheering people up is what Kel does best, maybe except for Aubrey, her pep talks gives me a run for my money, hmph.

Basil stares at me for a beat, I could see hope starting to shine in his eyes before he turns away, “It's pretty important though..” He mumbles under his breath, we stayed like that for a while until Basil turned to me determinedly, “You know what Kel? Could you help me hold my back for a moment?” he holds out his bag, and i, in a daze, takes it the right way.

Instantly, Basil started running off.

“Where’re you going?” I shouted in his direction, and he glanced back, “Just a sec, I'm going to get the stuff!” before running off into the corner.

I lean back a little, what kind of ‘stuff’ could be so important about me that he’ll leave for Sunny and Mari’s recital early access. I'm here just dying to see them, like the biggest fan of a celebrity. Celebrities. And if there's one thing right about that, I am one of Sunny and Mari’s biggest fans, all of us are.

I turn to look at their house, the beige door, just telling me to crack it open, ‘Wanna take a peek?’ it’d say. No thanks mister Sunny and Mari’s front door, I'm fine here, the music they’re playing is pretty loud anyways. If I strain my ears, I could hear Sunny’s soft playing of the violin having a beautiful duet with Mari’s skillful playing of the piano. It’s like a marriage.

No doubt they belong.

Turns out, selling newspapers every day of the week during last summer was definitely worth it! They’re like a pair! Just hearing Sunny rock that violin just makes me so proud. And happy that, my hard work actually went somewhere. Suddenly the music's stops.


Hm?


Oh it’s back again from the start. Oh that’s..okay… I know Mari likes to start over her music whenever there's a mistake, no matter how small, but there's got to be a stopping point right? I can’t even hear what's wrong with the previous one.

Then again, i'm right outside the door, how can i be the one to tell.

But their recital is about an hour away! Surely they have to be ready.

Mari must be feeling nervous. We all are if im telling the truth, Hero’s gone all mister perfect mode with the flowers, Basil can’t seem to wait for another day to give me something, and i'm sure wherever Aubrey is, she’s ripping her hair out for this recital. But for me, I'm more excited than nervous.

Ah well, if they mess everything up, I'll still cheer for them afterwards.

I turn around to a figure in the plain of my vision,

“Hero!”

Finally my brother has arrived, which is kind of weird and funny considering that our house is right next to Sunny and Mari’s, but Hero decided he wanted to take a detour to get the flowers first. Seriously, I can't.

Speaking of flowers, Basil’s still not back.

“Hey Kel, how are things holding up?” Hero turns to the house.

“They’re taking their time,” I glance at the door as well. I'm so tempted to just break it open now. I wanna see Sunny.

Hero nods absentmindedly then he looks down to grimace how much he had squeezed the bouquet out of nervousness, he must be thinking he ruined it.

“What's up?” I say, seeing the face he is making.

“Uh..well.. Are the flowers looking a little wilted..?”

I lean in to take a closer look at the flowers, “Nope, still good as new to me.”

“To you, right.”


Hero looks around, slightly agitated.

“Hmm….maybe i should get a new one– you think i should get a new one?” he asked, looking a little desperate.

“Nah, this one’s still got it”

“Yeah, to you.”


Now what does that mean?


“Hey man, i–”

Hero holds a hand up, “it’s fine– it’s fine, maybe I'll go to Fix It one last time,” he looks at the flowers, “Mari can’t have them like this..” he mumbles, furrowing his brows at them.

He gazed at Sunny and Mari’s house before turning back to me, “I'm gonna just go get this one done,” then he smiles, “just a little longer, okay?”

I blink at him, he chuckles and ruffles my hair. “Hey stop that!” I shove his hands away. He chuckles a little harder, “Okay, okay.” he turns around to walk away before he glances back at me, “Hold on yeah?”

“Yeah yeah..”

And there he goes. I frown when he turns his back at me. I mean, the flowers were still pretty good. Hero’s just too much of a fret (and a perfectionist) to see that Mari doesn’t want some perfect flowers, Mari wants him.

I look around, the sun is going to set anytime soon. The recital’s starting. And I'm the only one here.

Basil’s gone. And…so is Hero.

And I'm all alone.

Well at least, I know soon I won't be.

I don't know about Spaceboy though, he was really left in the dark after Sweetheart was betrayed by her evil younger brother after he initially wanted to work with her on stage, which is just bull, since when does Sweetheart have a younger brother?

Anyways he pushed her in the blackhole and she was engulfed by the darkness of Something. Seriously though? The black hole with tentacles is called Something? They really gotta step their naming games up.

Sweetheart is nice and all but she cares more about her looks than Capt. Spaceboy and he’s her boyfriend for god sakes! Well, they just got together not long ago and at least she’s overpowered as heck.

Like seriously, a mace?! That’s so cool. It kind of reminds me of the nunchucks that chinese kung fu uses but it's like, instead of two rods, it's one rod and a spike ball attached to it. Definitely way cooler. But Spaceboy’s gun is way cooler though.

Too bad they rarely use it now, the fights are so scarce and far in between, they rather focus on their love for each other than fight bad guys, like, what is even Capt. Spaceboy anymore? They even changed the comic title, Space boyfriend. Yikes. I mean, I like romance sometimes too, but it's getting a little boring since the crossover. I'm starting to think having Sweetheart stay for so long is sort of ruining the franchise, Sunny seems to agree. Then again, he’s got some sort of boy crush on Spaceboy so maybe he’s more jealous of Sweetheart than actually concerned about the quality of the story. Like, is Sweetheart canon in the spaceboy universe now?

Mari and Aubrey seem to eat this up though, because of course they do, Aubrey is a certified Sweetheart fan, she’ll love whatever Sweetheart content she gets. Never trust a Sweetheart fan; they'll say everything is good with Sweetheart in it, which is totally not true.

And Mari is just weak to love stories. She’s surprisingly playful and let on when it comes to her own romance though.

I'm starting to think the recital is not actually as important to everyone as it is to me. I mean, why won’t they want to see Sunny in a suit before the whole thing starts? Well technically it's not a suit, it's just a black T-shirt with some silver glitter sprinkled on it. It's cool though, it makes him look shiny when the light reflects it right.

Mari wanted Sunny to wear some long pants but he refused to do so, ‘it’ll be so hot..’ he said.  Funnily enough, the recital was delayed till fall so now it’s actually kind of breezy. Too bad he can’t change attires now, the judges will be thrown off. Welp, it's khaki shorts till the end for that guy anyways. 

I wonder where Aubrey is, maybe she’s still deciding on which identical looking bow she wants to wear to pair with her tacky pink skirt that she bought with Mari a few weeks ago. I still can’t believe Mari would agree to buy that skirt. ‘It looks so cute!’ they said. I was tempted to just tear it to shreds. Then Aubrey got mad at me for calling it out. ‘What do you mean too pink !’ she screeched, her voice is always so shrilly. I don’t know how Sunny finds it cute, if anything I'm cuter. Wait What–


Suddenly I feel my face starting to heat. What was that?! Oh my god what did i just– Hey Brain?! What was tha—

“WHY CAN'T YOU JUST DO THIS ONE THING RIGHT!”





I jumped out of my body for a moment. What was that?! Was that Mari?! It was her voice but she never shouts before. Or she never came close to shouting that loud.

“YOU RUINED IT, YOU RUINED EVERYTHING!”



I Jumped again. Her voice screams from the inside of the house. It's really, really loud. And it sounds very, very angry. What is it that she could be so angry about?

I steady my heartbeat, and slowly walk towards the door. But I froze mid way, suddenly the beige door that I opened and closed countless times seemed intimidating, ‘They don't want visitors right now.’ it seems to say to me. I feel tempted to run away and find Hero and tell him about this, let him fix this. But I don't, I stay. ‘I aint no visitor! This is like my second home!’ I telepathically told the door. I let out a breath and slowly creaked open the door.

“WHY DID YOU BREAK IT, YOU BRAT!!”

Big mistake. The screaming is way louder here. Slowly I walked in. Two figures, Mari, Sunny, standing on top of the staircase. I see Mari pointing at something.

I squint at her hands and follow along the direction. At the bottom of the staircase, that's the–

The violin. The one we worked so hard for Sunny. Why is it– why would it—?  

“EVERYONE WORKED SO HARD FOR THAT. AND YOU BROKE IT!” she cried.

Her hair sways around wildly, covering most of her features, but I can see the veins pulsing out her face and the way her eyes burn with anger and. Hatred..? She barely resembles the Mari I know and love. I see Sunny, his face is hollowed up, its cover by shadows. But I've never seen him so mad before.

Hide.

“YOU KNOW WHAT!? I SHOULDN'T'VE—”

I'm shaking and I can feel my hands working to cover up my ears. I'm scared and I'm not even the one being shouted at.

“HEY- DON’T YOU– DON’T YOU RUN AWAY!”

Mari keeps blocking Sunny, i want to just tell her to let Sunny go, let him cool off. I started to crawl out, determined to stop this fight.

But then i frozed.

Stop kel. You’re only going to make it worse for them.

But they’re not stopping, someones gotta break it up before something worse happens.

Mom and dad didn't want you there when they were fighting, what makes you think Mari and Sunny would be happy to see you here. Anyone else would be better at handling than you kel.

But i….

Hero, Basil or even Aubrey will do you better. But you?


You’ll be a nuisance to them, do you want to be a nuisance?


I'm still watching them, but they don't see me.


Close your eyes, you don’t want to see this.


I close my eyes, better not witness this.

“SUNNY STOP!”

Sunny didnt talk back.

“DON’T YOU DARE–”

Mari just keeps screaming. Her voice is crackling.

“SUNNY LOOK AT ME!”

A grunt of frustration, Sunny's voice. 

“OH DON’T YOU– YOU CAN'T JUST RUN AWAY–” A grunt and a push.

A gasp. “Sunny—”

THUD

THUD crack


THUD


THUD crack


THUD THUD thud

CRACK




Silence.

A gasp.

Footsteps walking down the stairs.

“M-Ma..ri..?” a weak whisper from the top. 

More stumbling.

I opened my eyes. What… what was that.. What was the crack.. What was..

“S-Sunny..?”

I fumble out of the side of the staircase, Sunny rushes down the staircase “M-Mari..?!”

Mari.

Mari is laying on top of the broken violin. All my summer allowance went to that. The Violin.

Sunny broke it.

And now Mari is bleeding on top of it.

Her blood slowly pools the floor, almost touching my shoes; it seeps into her dress, his hands, Sunny’s hands.

Sunny.

I look up at Sunny. What have you done?

“..Sunny..?”

He doesn't look back. Continuing to stare at Mari. He keeps repeating her name.

Mari.

Mari.

Mari.

Sunny had pushed Mari. Push her off the staircase. Sunny had killed her– STOP THINKING THAT . Mari’s not dead– Mari is sleeping- no, Mari is– is– unconscious- yes! Mari is unconscious, she’s not sleeping but she’s still alive...right? ACTUALLY THAT’S NOT HELPING MUCH!

Now I wish I'd listened to class, maybe then I would've known how to do CPR and first aid and all that. Then again, who could’ve seen this coming.

I stumble back. Alright, this is where I'm at now. This is fine, this is fine. Totally.

“S-sunny..i-..it’s going to be..” 

What can I say?! I'm no Hero, I'm not that good with words, I mostly just repeat stuff again. What should i say?!

SHUT UP KEL! THINK!

Mom had an accident like this once, she slipped on the second to last step and fell. I was freaking out so bad and was crying but Hero and Dad knew what to do, Hero told me to calm down ‘Mom’s okay, she just needs some rest now.’ he had said then. Dad had carried mom all the way to the living room sofa and had her sitting there for the rest of the day.

Mari is in the same situation as mom, only much, much worse. And she’s sitting on top of a broken violins, with wood shards coming out, that can’t be comfortable. Yup yup, 100% A-okay.

Sunny eyes widen, “she’s sleeping- she’s just sleeping–!”

“I need to get her to the bed–” 

“DON’T TOUCH HER!” I slapped Sunny’s hand away. That time I tried to help mom up first but Hero told me not to, ‘it’ll only make it worse’ he said. Moving Mari now will only make things worse. Sunny recoiled and flinched before looking at me in shock, like he just noticed that i’m here.

I’ve seen his eyes widen so big before. “It- it was an accident-” he shrieked, his nails clawing at his hair, Sunny doesn’t sound good shrieking. I step back in shock. When did breathing become so hard?

Calm down Kel! Calm down. I remember Hero saying something wise about this, ‘if you’re stressed out and in trouble, just take a deep breath and recount your steps, try to recall what got you here in the first place.’

Okay Hero. I take a deep breath. A really, really deep breath. Recount my steps.

So I came into the house. Mari was shouting badly so I closed my eyes. And then suddenly I hear a tug and a push and then all pin drop silent, then I open my eyes, and Mari’s laying down on the violin and she’s not waking up. Okay.

Now Sunny’s freaking out and I don't know but now he keeps saying it was an accident!

“It was an accident it was an accident it was an accident it was–” words kept spilling out of his mouth. The same four words. Sunny please stop it! It’s not helping! The blood spread is not stopping as well.

Calm him down, calm Sunny down!

“It’s– it's gonna be alright…Sunny..it’s gonna be–.. Alright..” I winced, not really convinced at my own words as well.

Sunny snaps out of his daze and looks at me, he’s crying now. Oh no. I'm going to cry as well. Mari is still bleeding.

I wish I could fix this but I can't, because I'm not quick thinking Basil or headstrong like Aubrey or smart like Mari or creative like Sunny or everything combined like Hero, I'm just Kel.

I wish I could be like Hero.

But if there’s one thing Kel’s good at, it's cheering people up.

“It's okay Sunny… it’s going to be okay..”

Sunny looks at me and cries harder, he’s covering his face now. Sunny never cried this hard before. Maybe my skill is not working as well as before.

Did you even have a skill in the first place? Didn’t work with Basil, won't work with Sunny now.

Shut it brain, don't fight me right now.

I'm silently praying that Hero would just come back and solve this, but he’s probably still at Fix It, being all indecisive about the purple rose and red rose. Hero, stop deciding on what color roses you want to give to her. Your girlfriend is currently bleeding to death– STOP SHUT UP DONT SAY THAT.

I pray to god.

Nothing happens.

Turns out going to sermon every Sunday does nothing. I should ask mom to stop bringing me there to waste time. 

Which is a coincidence for that day because right after sermon, mom fell down the stairs.

Dad told me later, like Hero, that mom was okay and there's no need to get panicky about. Then he told me, ‘If it happens again, just call one of us, don’t cry, don’t panic, panicking only makes it worse for your mother and everyone else.’

I stopped crying then, because it’ll only make it worse for mom.

Okay now you go find help!

But where and who?!

Focus Kel!

I’m focusing!

Focus!

I know! Mom and Dad and Hero and literally everyone else always says I'm too easily distracted but I'm not easily distracted, I can focus! I am focusing during class, it's just that the teacher talks so boring that my eye lids can’t stay lifted. I am focusing when I'm doing my homework, it's just that I keep thinking about something else like spending my free time on better things than doing homework— okay you’re getting distracted Kel! Focus!

Right! I would call for Hero but he’s not nearby, same for mom, she’s still getting her haircut, ‘Aye these curls are getting so long now, Kel, why don't you and me get a haircut and we go have ice cream later, Hero mijo, want to come with?’ Hero said no thanks and now that I think about it, getting my haircut early means no ice cream.

Maybe this day wasn't so good after all.

I can’t go for Basil because his house is too far away for this, same as Aubrey.

Oh I wish Hero was here, he could fix this.



‘Just call one of us’

Dad! Right! Why didn't I think of that! Stupid Kel, you gotta think more! Focus more! But isn't dad cooking meat for the recital right now?

Ah who cares! It's life or death right now!

“S- Sunny, wait here, imma call for help!”

Sunny looks blurry in my vision so instead of waiting for a reaction I bolted out of the house and ran right inside of mine.

“PAPA, HELP!”

---------------------------------------

….

Dad called the ambulance. When I brought him to the house, I had never seen his face turn so white before. He called for help right after seeing Mari.

Then he scolded me for not calling the ambulance right away. I didn’t even think about that. Even if I did, I wouldn't know how to, Hero was always the one on the phone while I waited and panicked silently. I wasn't gonna tell dad that though, he would tell mom and mom would scold me for being so dependent, ‘Stop relying on your Hermano, Kel! You’re almost thirteen already!’ she would say. I could almost hear her saying that already.

Mari was strapped in a stretcher when she was pulled into the ambulance truck. When the silver glitter on her white dress reflected the blue and red light, she sort of reminded me of that fish I learned last year during biology class. I think it’s called a koi fish?

I wish with all my heart, Basil and Aubrey would call me cruel and something of a ‘fish hater!’ according to Aubrey, along with ‘fishes are cute, you shouldn't think like that, Kel..’ from Basil, but I wish this was just a koi fish instead of a real person that I care and love.

I wish this was anything else than Mari right now.

I feel dad put his hand on my shoulder, “Aye Poor girl…” He sighs as he looks at me with worry, “How are you doing Champ? Holding up?”

I stare at him for a while, how am I supposed to be ‘holding up’ right now when this day just went from surprisingly mediocre to horrible.

How is Hero going to feel about this? His girlfriend just got put onto an ambulance bed, no boyfriend should ever have to bear with that.

Forget boyfriend, what about her friends? What about Basil? What about Aubrey? How will they react? What about Sunny? What about me?

But I remember that I have to reply because he’s raising a brow after a beat, “...I guess..” I turn to look at the hunched over boy sitting on the pavement of his house door, “I'm not sure about Sunny though..”

Dad turns to look at Sunny as well, “Aye, you poor thing..” His eyes squint with pity as he starts to walk over to Sunny. I follow as well, not feeling like being alone right now.

I took Sunny's hands and patted it awkwardly, as much of a good cheer upper I am, I'm not really a good comforter. 

“Amor! What is all this?” A voice shows up.

I turn around and that mom has run all the way here, she's holding her high heels in her hand.

“Aye Mi Vida…” Dad says behind me, he walks toward her and kisses her on the cheeks. Mom kisses back. Ew…

“Aye you won't believe what our son just witnessed..” Dad whispers to her, her face contorts into worry. I turn away, I don't feel like listening to dad's recount of the story.

“K-Kel..?”

I whipped my head to the voice, dreading the confrontation already.

“..S-Sunny..?” Basil continues, his voice wavering, it sounds so quiet in the midst of the ambulance blaring that i had to strain my ears to listen, “What– what’s going–”

“Kel.” i flinch at the voice, Hero looks at me with terror in his eyes, “What’s this–? What- what is she– what did y—”

“Kelsey, tell us who did this.” Mom cuts in, her voice sounds strict as always but there's something in it. Mom’s right, a woman getting a haircut really makes a difference, instead of looking like Tia Maria, she looks more like the prettier and younger of the twins, Tia Safia now. She was dressing up for the recital. which should’ve started by now.

I squeeze Sunny’s hand a little, “I- I don't–”

“Kel..what's going on...what happened..?” Aubrey sounds tearful. Turns out she came with Basil, and apparently she really went to wear that pink skirt here, with a bow that matches. She sort of resembles a younger, paler version of Sweetheart. I think that's why I hated that skirt, it’s got too much Sweetheart vibes in it.

I turn to Hero again, he’s dropped the perfect flower bouquet he worked so hard to get. Now it's a sad sight on the ground. Turns out he didn’t choose roses at all, he went to pick the lily flower, Lily of the Valley. The flower Basil represents Mari as.

This could’ve been a perfect day.

“K- Kel…are you guys alright..?” Basil says, “...can you..t- tell us..what happened..please..?” His voice is dripping with desperation.

I look at dad, hoping he can be the one to explain. But he looks back at me with the same confusion before turning back to mom’s worried face and shaking his head.

I look at Sunny. He doesn't look back.

I turn back to everyone, they are all desperate for answers.

I have to tell them. I have to tell the truth. I have to tell them that Sunny broke the violin. I have to tell them that Sunny tried to kill Mari. I have to tell them that it was an accident. I have to tell them Sunny didnt mean it. I have to tell the truth.

But I can't.

Why?

B– because they’ll blame him, they’ll blame Sunny. They wouldn’t understand because they didn't see everything like I did. They didn't hear how loud Mari yelled at him. How loud she called him a brat. How loud she told him he ruined everything.

But why?

Because they won’t understand. Because they didn’t see everything. Because they won’t care.

But why?

Because I don't want Sunny to suffer. Because I don't want Sunny to be sad.

But why?

Why?


 Why?

   Why?

Because I don't want to see Sunny sad.

I want to make him cheer up and smile. I want to go ‘Hey Sun, wanna go Hobeez today?’ and he would go ‘Yeah.’ and we would sneak out to Hobeez during the night and buy all kinds of junk in there, and Sunny would also sell stuff and get more money and buy more junk, and we would also look at the newest chapter of Spaceboy’s adventure and be the first ones to be able to know what happens in Faraway because new chapters are released every Friday at midnight.

Then the next day we would be so tired that we slept in late but it wouldn't be a problem because it’s a saturday. We would hang out at the hideout and I would go ‘Wanna do it again next week?’ and he would smile at me, tired but eyes shining and say, ‘Yes.’

I want Sunny happy and smiling.

But you have to tell the truth.

But I can't.

But you have to. For dad. For mom. For Hero. For Aubrey. For Basil.

For Mari. 

But I can't.

Tell the truth Kel.

I can’t.

Tell the truth.

I can’t!

Tell the truth

I can't! I can't! I can't!

Tell the

Truth.

Tell the truth. Tell the truth.Tell the truth.Tell the truth.Tell the truth.


Tell the truth. Tell the truth.Tell the truth.Tell the truth.Tell the truth.Tell the truth.Tell the truth.Tell the truth.Tell the truth.Tell the truth.Tell the truth.Tell the truth.Tell the truth.Tell the truth.Tell the truth.Tell the truth. Tell the truth.Tell the truth.Tell the truth.Tell the truth.Tell the truth.Tell the truth.Tell the truth.Tell the truth.Tell the truth.Tell the truth.Tell the truth.Tell the truth.Tell the truth.Tell the truth.Tell them that he.Tell the truth.Tell the truth.Tell the truth.Tell the truth.Tell the truth. Tell the truth.Tell the truth.Tell the truth.Tell the truth.Tell the truth.Tell the truth.Tell the truth.Tell the truth.Tell the truth.Tell the truth Tell them that he pushed.Tell the truth.Tell the truth.Tell them that he pushed Mari.Tell the truth.Tell the truth.Tell the truth.Tell the truth.Tell the truth.Tell the truth. Tell the truth.Tell the truth.Tell the truth.Tell the truth.Tell the truth.Tell the truth.Tell the truth.Tell the truth.Tell the truth.Tell the truth.Tell the truth.Tell the truth.Tell the

Truth.


Tell them.


The truth.


“It– it was an accident.”

Truth.


“M-Mari she–”


Truth.

Tell the— “...she fell..”

“She fell…on her own.”


I couldn't do it. Tell the truth. I just couldn’t. I squeeze Sunny’s hand tightly, hopefully he won’t mind.

Aubrey and Basil gasp in shock while Hero froze. Mom and dad are exchanging glances at each other. I pale, I'm starting to think they don't buy it. But then again, Mari is not someone to accidentally slip off a staircase. She’s always extra careful like that.

“She– she fell..?” Basil says when he recovered.

“..O– on her own…?” Aubrey says when she recovered.

They don't sound convinced.

“She fell..” Hero snaps out of his daze, “Mari is not– Mari wouldn’t—”

He turns to me with tears in his eyes. “No way Kel, no way. Mari wouldn’t do that,”
I finally get what Tia Camilla is saying now, Hero cannot look more similar to me right now, we’re like twins, all about to cry. “You’re– i– someone did this to her– there’s no way– you’re lying– Mari wouldn’t–”

“Enough Hero, you don’t know what he saw. Don’t talk to your hermano like that.”

Mom cuts him off with a finality in her voice. I widened my eyes, Mom never chastised Hero before. Hero is taken back as well, his mouth instantly zips shut and he looks down, suddenly finding the ground interesting.

Mom looks sternly at him before putting a reassuring smile on her face, it looks sort of tired,

“Everyone, Kel and Sunny are going through a lot right now, why don’t we let them recover first?” she uses the tone that she only used when i was younger.

“But–but—” Aubrey protests.

“Aubrey dear, you have to understand—-----”

I stopped listening.

I turn to Sunny.

His hair is a disheveled mess, his face filled with tear stains, his eyes look lifeless and hollowed out. Totally unlike the starry-eyed boy i know. My heart aches.

“Hey Sunny…”

Sunny barely reacts, his gaze is vacant and not focused on me at all. Slowly though, he turns to me. Am I going crazy? I lied for you Sunny. A big bad lie that I might regret. It might bite me in the behind.

Am I going crazy?

I try to smile, despite it all, I try to smile at him.

“We’re gonna..”

I pulled him in a hug. I'm not sure why I did it, I don't know who i'm trying to comfort, him or myself? Probably both.


“We’re gonna be fine..”


If i'm gonna regret this. If I'm gonna go crazy. Then I'll go crazy for you.