Wingless and Beautiful

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Naya'il - the angel of testing the devotion or faith

I didn’t know how I made it through the rest of the week. I saw Hunter and Tania in school almost every day. Tania was no longer inanimate and haughty. Instead, she looked cheerful and eager. In other words, she looked more beautiful and inspired. If I had to guess, the reason she joined the exchange program was because she knew Hunter was in Leighton High and it was a chance for them to be together.

I, on the other hand, was now less enthusiastic to help Denise with her activities. The less of Tania I see, the faster I would recover from the fact that Hunter has moved on without me. When he went away to get his eyesight back, it was not because he wanted to be with me like a normal boyfriend. It was more because he wanted his old life back… along with it, his old girlfriend.

Friday night, Denise and Chaise hung out in Alibri, making sure that everything was set for the Saturday bonfire and the following week’s activities.

“One of my committee members is trying to get the local band to play on next Friday’s concert. I could use your help with that, Alice.”

“Really? Why not Chaise?”

“Yeah, because I’m the music genius here.” Chaise chuckled. “I will help supervise the venue. I will check up on you once in a while.”

“If we get the band, I want you to see which songs they’d be playing.”

“Seriously? Is that a bit too much… dictating?” I asked.

“I want perfection,” Denise replied. “Okay, maybe not every song. I just want you to sit with them for a few songs, make sure they’re not producing… noise. Or lullabies. I’m sure you know what I mean.”

I let out a deep breath. “Okay. I hope I can fit this with my after-work schedule.”

“I already told my aunt to get a temp. At least for these busy times. She agreed.”

“But Chaise, I was there because I needed the money too. If I don’t work, I don’t get paid,” I protested.

“I know. And I made arrangements for that too,” he said. “You can work overtime on weekends to make up for your absence. My aunt agreed.”

Denise turned to me, smiling proudly. “See? You have no excuse. You’re the only one here who knew anything about music.”

“Okay. Since you two planned everything out for me.”

Chaise reached forward and squeezed my right cheek. “Come on! Stop pretending that you do not find that exciting. I know you. I’ve seen you around musical instruments. In fact, I think you should play and sing during the concert.”

Denise’s eyes widened. “Oh my God, Alice! He’s right!” She turned to Chaise. “Chaise, if I didn’t know you better, I would say you’re freaking brilliant!”

Chaise rolled his eyes at Denise’s quasi-compliment.

“No way!” I breathed, violently shaking my head.

“You should show the kids in our school that you’re not just a pretty face and a brilliant mind! You have kick-ass talents too!”

I shook my head. “Nope. Thanks. It’s bad enough you’re making me babysit the band.”

“Come on, Alice. Think about it!”

I looked at the ceiling thoughtfully for about two seconds and then I turned to her and firmly said, “No.”

“You’re letting this chance slip away,” Denise said.

“Chance for what?”

“Chance for everybody to see what I see,” Chaise replied. He was looking at me with a wistful expression in his eyes.

“Here goes Romeo again!” Denise muttered under her breath.

“Although on the other hand, you’re right,” Chaise told me. “Maybe you shouldn’t show these people what incredible talents are hidden beneath that beautiful face. I already have too much competition as it is.”

“Oh, please!” I rolled my eyes. “Your joke is not even funny.”

“Ha-ha. I wish I was kidding,” he smirked.

“Why would he be kidding, Alice?” Denise asked me. “You’re a beautiful creature, inside out. But unfortunately for all those vying for your hand…” She gave a meaningful glance at Chaise. Then she turned back to me. “Somebody got to your heart first.”

Chaise sighed. “Stupid bastard just won’t leave, huh.”

“Come on, guys, let’s talk about something else,” I said, changing the topic. “I will take care of the band, make sure they perform up to your standards, D.”

Denise smiled at me brightly. “Great!”

The three of us planned to grab a pizza after I closed up but when we stepped out of Alibri, Denise’s mom was waiting for her.

“Oh, I’ll be up early tomorrow. You, kids, have fun without me. Ta-ta!” she said happily. I was pretty sure it was a setup.

Was she trying to push Chaise and me together this time?

I looked at Chaise when Denise went off. He was looking nervous and uncertain.

“Do you still wanna grab that pizza?” he asked sheepishly.

I shrugged. “I’m hungry,” I admitted.

He led me to his car and before we drove to the pizza place, I started saying, “This is not…”

“I know,” he said, cutting me off midsentence. “Not a date. Just two friends grabbing something to eat after Hitler ate up all our brain cells.”

I smiled at him. “Just making that clear.”

He heaved a sigh and even though I knew he was not quite happy with that, he smiled at me before starting the engine.

When we arrived at the pizza place, I realized how bad the idea was. The first thing I saw was the familiar blue-eyed devil, who haunted my dreams for more than a year, and was still haunting my waking hours now. As soon as I saw Tania sitting next to him, I turned away, touching my scarred cheek to remind myself that I had been through worse in my life and I got through all of it just fine.

‘Hunter-and-Tania-kissing-under-a-tree’ was not even a fifth of the hell my stepfather put me through when I was younger. I’m older now. Stronger. Wiser.

“What doesn’t kill you, only makes you stronger,” I whispered.

“What doesn’t kill you makes you want to kill it in return,” Chaise suggested, overhearing me. I raised a brow at him. “Sorry, I’m more of a ‘do-unto-others-what-they- do-unto-you’kind of guy.”

I laughed. “No wonder God made you cute. You will not handle criticisms and insults well.”

“Cute is a huge understatement, don’t you think?” He winked.

“Cute is actually a very generous compliment,” I said, teasing him in return.

“I will grow on you. One day, you’ll see.” He smiled, reaching across the table to pinch my nose.

“Maybe. So let’s order before I starve to death and not live to see that day, shall we?”

“Come on, man! Where’s your sense of humor these days?” We heard somebody say a few tables away from us. We turned to see Hunter leaving the group’s table. Tania stood up from her seat and went running after him.

“Tania, when will you stop?” another guy asked her.

Tania shook her head and I thought I saw sadness cross her face. “Never say never, remember?” She smiled at the guy bitterly and then ran after Hunter.

I didn’t know what was going on between Hunter and Tania. Whether they were still together or they were fighting. But whatever it was, I only knew that at this moment, it was her running after him, trying to calm him down, easing his pain and making him feel better… not me.

I looked up at Chaise slowly. He was looking at the door after Tania. Then he turned to me. “I don’t understand how any girl can keep up with that moron.”

I sighed. “Maybe he wasn’t always like that. Maybe he was just having a rough day.”

Chaise actually laughed. “I think he was having a bad year!”

“Well, Denise already told us what he went through. It’s not easy,” I said. “Trust me. I’ve been there. There are some wounds you don’t recover from.”

Chaise reached for my hand across the table. “Whenever you feel like hell, or if your past comes back haunting you… don’t forget, I’m here for you, Alice. You’re not alone anymore.”

I squeezed his hand before pulling mine away. “Thank you.”

The next day, we were at the beach after breakfast. I was wearing a yellow off-shoulder cropped top, purple swimming shorts and a pair of old beach slippers. The cropped top showed my bare shoulders and a bit of my tummy. The shorts ended a few inches above my knee. It was shorter than most shorts or skirts I’d usually wear, but it was decent and it highlighted my long legs, which I never paid attention to before.

I had tucked Hunter’s necklace inside my top. I contemplated on leaving it. After all, it didn’t feel right to wear it anymore. When Hunter gave it to me, he said he was in love with me. It was because of my hopes that he would come back that made me wear it all the time. But now… that hope was almost gone.

“Wow!” Denise beamed when she looked at me. “You look hot!”

“Shut up. These were the only beach wear that Meredith had that were… decent.” Last night, when I checked her drawers to borrow some beach outfit, I discovered that she only owned two-piece swimsuits. Well, she had every right to wear them. Meredith was pretty and I was sure she had a hot body. I felt bad because instead of spending some time charming guys on the beach, she had to work extra hours to fend for both of us.

I kept myself busy running errands for Denise, making sure everything was done the way she wanted. Being pressured by her was actually heaven compared to the prospect of running into Hunter, or worse, Hunter with Tania.