CHAPTER VI: Unexpected Help

*Bell rings

Jette: Alright class, get one whole sheet of paper, and we’re going to have a surprise quiz.

(Everyone gets paper. Brent stood up and approached Jette in front.)

Brent: Can I talk to you, Ma’am?

Jette: What is it?

Brent: I’m submitting this.

Jette: A dropping form?

Brent: Yes.

Jette: Why?

Brent: I don’t want you to be reminded of what I did.

Jette: You don’t have to.

Brent: I insist, Ma’am. Just sign it.

Jette: *signed it

***

After class, Jette always spies on John. She follows him towards the CR. From the outside, she saw the comb used by John. When John enters the CR to wash up, he left his bag outside the room, she thinks of ways on how to get the comb… But she cannot enter nor come near the men’s CR. CCTVs are everywhere.

“Do you need help?” asked Brent.

“I thought you already left?” asked Jette.

“I was about to use the CR before leaving, then I saw you,” said Brent.

“Okay, please get that comb from John’s bag,” said Jette.

“That’s stealing,” said Brent.

“I will return it, promise. I just need it,” added Jette.

(Brent did what Jette told him to do)

***

After, they run towards a vacant room.

“Thanks, Brent. You don’t know how helpful it is,” said Jette.

“Peace?” asked Brent.

Jette accepted the apology and they shook hands.

***

When Jette arrived home, she immediately examined if the comb has hair strands. It has!!!

She inserted those hairs on the pages of the book, and a flame starts from the bottom, until the midway, and the book was burned half. She’s so happy!!! She immediately called Crisanta.

“Miss, I have burned the book on its halfway,” said Jette.

“Nice. The second rule can be found on the burned part,” Crisanta said.

“Gosh!!! Wait, I’ll see the ash,” said Jette.

(Jette saw the ash flown towards the floor, and created a word… “K-I-S-S”)

“Kiss? Whose kiss?” asked Jette.

***

“Dad, can I talk to you?” asked Jette.

“Why?” said her dad.

“Are you familiar with Ms. Griffin?” asked Jette.

(Her dad dropped her cup, and broke down.)

“Let me explain, darling,” said her dad.

“Mom! Mom! Come here,” her dad called her mom.

(Her mom came near them)

“The long wait is over, Bridgette is already asking about Candy,” said her dad.

“Candy?” asked Jette.

“Yes, your biological mom,” added her dad.

“Huh???” Jette was surprised.

“Darling, allow us to explain,” added her mom.

“Why are you so full of secrets??? I hate my life!” cried Jette.

She runs away. She went to the ticketing booth, and bought a ticket outside the city. She needs to recharge and devote time understanding everything she has learned.

***

Wind is touching her face, tears falling down her eyes, heart is pounding… She needs to take her meds for her ADHD because she guesses, his ADHD now comes with depression already.

She checked-in at a famous resort, and catches up with herself. She enters the restaurant and orders something to eat, and a bottle of wine. After eating, she starts writing a journal and sips wine. The more sips, the more emotional the journal turns out.

***

Meanwhile, Drew is so worried about her. He doesn’t know where his girlfriend is. He got the courage to go to their house, and check if Jette is there.

“Sir, Ma’am, I’m so sorry for everything that I did in the past,” said Drew.

“It’s alright, Drew. The fact that you’re both back to each other’s arms, it makes us happy already knowing that our only daughter is safe and happy,” Jette’s mom said.

“Thank you so much for accepting me again in your daughter’s life,” said Drew.

“I just visited you here because I don’t know where Jette is,” added Drew.

“She’s not here. She walked away because she knew something… a secret,” said her father.

“I don’t intend to…” Drew was trying to say something, when he was interrupted by Jette’s mom… “She knew that I am not her biological parent. She is a child of her dad with her first wife, Candy Griffin.

“Don’t worry, Ma’am, I will look for her. I won’t stop until I find her,” assured Drew.

***

Eventually, Jette keeps herself busy by crying it all out, and writing in her journal.

Dear Diary,

My heart right now is filled with hatred, sadness, and nothing but “why?” Why am I being bombarded with problems? I am not a bad person, Diary. I even forgave the person who tried to kill me because of love. I thought Drew, Ralph and Brent are the only persons who betrayed me… But, I cannot accept the fact that my Dad to whom I look up to will also betray me.

The person whom I treated as my Mom turned out to be fake. Everything about me is fake. I don’t know myself already. People around me are not trusted. I hate this life…

- Jette

***

She went again to the restaurant and bought a bottle of wine… She went to the seashore, and had some sips until she fell asleep at the seashore…

“Miss, miss, please wake up…” said a man…

(She woke up, and puked. Then, she stood up and walked straight to her room. She didn’t answer the person who woke her up.)

***

After one day, the man expects her to be awake at 8:00 AM. He was outside the door, and waiting for Jette. No one went out of the room until the clock strikes at 3:00 PM…

Jette went out of the room, with a shoulder bag, and her shades is on… The man follows her… Where is she going? Then, the man intruded, “Hello, Miss… Have you recognized me?”

“No, who are you?” said Jette.

“I’m Tim… Timothy Shi…” the man introduced.

“Chinese?” asked Jette.

“Half, but I’m half American,” explained the man.

“Okay, my name is Jette,” she introduced.

“How may I help you, Tim?” added Jette.

“I’m the owner of this resort, Jette. I’m looking for someone who can help me with the legalities of this place. Actually, a friend of mine recognized you yesterday, and told me that you’re a lawyer,” explained Tim.

“Actually, I’m not yet a lawyer… I have been discouraged to take the Bar Exams because of past experiences,” said Jette.

(Tim is disappointed, and it can be seen in his face.)

“But I can help,” added Jette.

Their conversation started to flourish, from purely professional topics to a little personal.

Tim: By the way, will your boyfriend mind if I talk to you this long?

Jette: No, my boyfriend is the most understanding of all.

Tim: Anyway, this is just a friendly conversation.

Jette: Yes.

Everyday, Jette expects that she’s going to have a nice conversation with Tim. Until one day, Jette seems to be helpless and hopeless… She runs towards the ocean, and decided to kill herself… Tim saw her, and he ran as quickly as he could. He was able to save Jette. Jette cried heavily, and Tim hugged her.

Tim brought her inside their house, and there Jette saw a picture of Tim and Drew, hanging on the wall.

“Tim, who is this?” asked Jette.

“Ahh.. That was my brother,” said Tim.

“Was?” added question by Jette.

“Yeah, long story,” said Tim.

Jette looks closely to the picture but she noticed something. The picture of Drew is not Drew himself. It’s as if that man is a doppelganger of her boyfriend. Curious about that person, she easily recovered from the supposed suicide she had… but failed.

Jette: Tim, I’m sorry and thank you.

Tim: For what?

Jette: I’m sorry for trying to kill myself here in your resort. Thank you for saving me. It’s just that I’m filled with sadness, that’s why I woke up helpless and hopeless… My heart is pounding, and something inside me is triggering my entire self.

Tim: It’s alright. Because of what happened, I want to invite you here. You stay here so that I can see you and your activities.

Jette: Why?

Tim: I’m a psychologist and I know that you’re mentally disturbed.

Jette: Okay, I’ll just visit you here everyday. No need to stay here, my boyfriend might not want it.

Tim: Okay, sure.

Jette: Can you tell me something about yourself?

Tim: Sure.

Jette: What happened to your brother in that picture?

Tim: He left us too early…

Jette: He died?

Tim: He was killed by a group of drunk men in this resort.

Jette: Is he really your brother?

Tim: Yes, why are you so curious?

Jette: (She shows the picture of Drew) Look, Tim.

Tim: Huh? My brother.

Jette: No, he’s not. He’s Drew, my boyfriend.

Tim: Really? Can you invite him here?

Jette: Yes, sure. I’ll call him.

***

When she arrived in her room, she tried to call Drew.

Jette: Hello darling?

Drew: You okay?

Jette: Yes, I am. Can you please come over here?

Drew: Sure. Please text me the address and I will come.

***

*At the Resort

Jette: Darling, I will introduce you with a new-found friend.

Drew: Who?

Jette: The owner of this place.

Drew: Sure.

***

Tim cannot believe it that he is looking at someone whose face and features are exactly like his brother.

Tim: Can I hug you, Drew?

Drew: Huh?

Tim: Please.

Jette: It’s alright Drew. Allow him to.

Drew: Okay.

(Tim hugged Drew tightly. Tim could not control her tears. She cried heavily.)

Tim: Where are your parents, Drew?

Drew: I haven’t met my Dad. But, my mom has already passed away long time before.

Tim: Can I invite you at home, Drew and Jette? Later at 7:00 PM? I’ll prepare something special for you.

Jette: Sure.

Drew: Okay, Tim. Thanks.

***

* At the room

Drew: Darling, you’re keeping a secret already.

Jette: What, secret?

Drew: Yes. It’s kind of weird. The look, the stare, the hug, and the tears and crying.

Jette: Later, you’re going to know why. Just allow him to start the conversation.

***

* At the house of Tim

They entered the main door (different from the entrance Jette used when saved from drowning). The furniture is to die for. Everything is priceless… I mean, high in price * laugh.

“Welcome to my humble home, my new-found friends,” greeted Tim.

“Come on, let’s eat dinner first, and sim some wine,” added Tim… “I know Jette will love it, *laugh.”

“No, I’m a changed person now. Drew told me that drinking wine without him around is a no-no,” said Jette.

“Which is true,” agreed Tim.

***

After eating, Tim opened the extravagant door towards the receiving area. Drew can’t believe what he’s seeing. He came near the painting, the picture of his look-alike and Tim.

“Tim, who’s this?” asked Drew.

“He’s my brother, who is already not here anymore,” explained Tim.

Drew is speechless. After clarifying everything, they found out that there is a slight possibility that Drew is Tim’s brother.

“I was not given the chance to meet my Dad, but I have a very little memory of my childhood. I know I have a brother, and we own a resort. Then, in the year 1999, I lived with my Mom, and there I met Jette in high school,” Drew said.

“Drew, will you mind if we will have a DNA test?” asked Tim.

“But, your brother is dead already, Tim,” added Drew.

“When my brother was killed by a group of drunk men here, they brought my brother somewhere, and we received a phone call saying that he is already dead. But, the truth is we haven’t seen his body,” said Tim.

“Let me process everything first. I’m shocked,” said Drew.

“Alright, Drew. No pressure. I am just so happy right now, because there is a possibility that my brother is alive,” added Tim.

***

The scheduled DNA testing is already here. Will it be exciting? Or traumatic?