[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":10},["ShallowReactive",2],{"viewer-data-26031368DDE4-18":3},{"id":4,"number":5,"name":6,"content":7,"isLocked":8,"price":9,"hasRead":8},18,8,"Chapter 8: The Last Goodbye on the Bleachers","\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">A flash of surprise registered in my eyes. I’d thought I’d played it cool, always acting like family drama was just another Tuesday.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Drake, though? He saw right through that act.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">I glanced at my mother. She fumbled in her pocket, pulling out some crumpled bills, the old-school kind.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">“Here, take it,” she whispered, pressing the cash into my hand. “Buy yourself something nice. I finally got a chance.”\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">I sniffled, then turned to Drake. “Can you… take her away? And maybe keep an eye on her for me, after I’m gone?”\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Drake nodded, signaling for someone to escort her out.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Ugh, so annoying. I’d wanted to peace out of this world with a clean slate, but here were these people, the ones who loved me and then ghosted me, popping back up.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Drake helped me back to bed, his hand gently stroking my hair. “I found out,” he said, his voice low. “That woman she’s carrying… it’s not mine.”\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">I nodded.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">He studied me. “You look a little bummed out.”\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">“Nah. Your parents, though? They must be.”\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">He pulled a cameo necklace from his coat. “My mom wanted you to have this. It’s only for the wife of the Alexander family.”\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">I started to refuse.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">“Don’t,” he said, his tone firm.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">And then he clasped it around my neck.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">I let out a hollow laugh. “Drake, I’m running out of time. You should take it back. Give it to the actual lady of the house someday…”\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">“No. I only want you to have it,” he insisted, stubborn as ever.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">I pressed my dry, cracked lips together and nodded.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">He touched my forehead. The doctor appeared in the doorway. “Cecilia, is he family?”\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">“I am,” Drake stated, turning to face him, unwavering.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">The doctor muttered, “Finally shows up, now that she’s practically… Come here for a sec.”\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">After Drake was called out by the doctor, I lay back down. When he returned, his smile was forced.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">“Cecilia,” he said, “the doc says I can take you out for a bit. Where do you wanna go?”\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">My eyes fluttered open, a faint smile gracing my lips. “The university.”\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Where our love story kicked off.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Drake, fighting back tears, rushed to pack my things. It was obvious my time was up for the day.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">While he was busy, I quietly slipped the necklace off, stashed it in my pocket, and wrapped a scarf around my neck, hiding the bare skin.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">An hour later, we were on campus. He carried me over to the bleachers by the football field.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">I leaned on his shoulder, watching the guys on the field, so full of life, and the girls on the sidelines, cheering with their water bottles.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Drake nudged his chin toward one of the girls. “See her? The one with the starry eyes? Kinda reminds you of yourself back then, huh?”\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">I playfully elbowed him.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">“I don’t know who it was that saw me get a love letter and decided to play football in a thunderstorm, thinking they were so cool.”\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Drake chuckled. “That was all you. I had a fever for days after that.”\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">I smiled faintly. Drake sighed. “Time flies. Our dreams were so simple then. Just you, and some cash.”\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">“Yeah, they were,” I murmured.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">“Cecilia, I’m so sorry. I’ll never forgive myself for pushing you into the ocean that day. If it weren’t for me… your cancer might not have…”\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">I gently cut him off. “Cancer is cancer, Drake. Don’t carry that guilt. It’s smart to be wary of people. You gotta look out for yourself from now on.”\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">He sniffled, his gaze distant, watching the ebb and flow on the field. I quietly slipped the necklace back into his pocket.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">“Drake, I’m so tired.”\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">His body tensed, and he pulled me closer. “Sleep. I’m right here.”\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">The school bell rang, the sound of retreating footsteps faded, and the field fell silent, like the calm after a tempest.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">I rested my head on his chest. His heartbeat was a frantic drum against my ear, punctuated by the sound of him swallowing.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">“Cecilia? Are you cold?”\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">“……”\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">I wanted to answer, but the words wouldn’t come. His tears splashed on my eyelashes. This was the second time he’d cried.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">I wanted to lift my hand, to wipe his tears, but my body wouldn’t obey. I must be gone already.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">So it’s true, touch and hearing don’t just vanish the second you die.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">I felt him stir. A sudden coolness brushed my neck – the necklace, being placed back.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">He let out a shaky sigh. “I told you,” he choked out. “I always know what you’re thinking the second your eyes flicker.”\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">The End\u003C/p>",false,0,1774272931212]