My Brother’s Best Friend

Acceptance

ARELLA

OH MY God! He is really here.

Thank, God!

I went out of the row to the corner where I could easily get out of the crowd. He was closing his eyes when I stepped closer. I kept my eyes on him the entire time as I was afraid I lost him out of my sight.

“Skip?” I could feel the trembling of my hands when I reached out. The jolt of perfectness and the warmth spread all over in my cold body.

His eyes flew open in surprise. “God, Reigh!” Awestruck, his widened eyes flitting back and forth on me. His big hands cupped my face, thumbs gently caressing my cheeks.

I closed my eyes to cherish each moment that I missed so much. I didn’t hear any word from him anymore. It seemed that he was still processing the moment if it was just a dream or surreal. Just like what I was doing. His thumb moved down to my lips, tracing gently, then stopped.

I released his hands and closed the distance between us, wrapping my arms around him as I buried my nose into his chest. I was instantly intoxicated with his smell. He smelled the same-the man I loved so much.

“I missed you. I missed you so much. I thought I would never see you again. God knows I planned to travel just to be with you. After what happened to your dad, I realized something, that I shouldn’t have waited for so long. I’m so sorry. I don’t think I would be sane if it’s not because of you. And just by talking to you over the phone, I knew it wasn’t enough. I need you, and I want to be with you, Skip.”

Skip didn’t say another word, and that bothered me. He didn’t even hug me back either.

Was it too late?

Blinking off the tears that blurred my sight, I lifted my gaze, and that was when I saw Skip’s eyes shimmering with tears. “You don’t have to travel far, Arella.”

My heart sank, and I felt a stab after a stab. “Y-you don’t want me anymore?”

He took a few moments before a frown wrinkled his forehead. “Why would you say that? I came back because of you.”

“Oh? What about your business?”

“I love you too.” A slow smile spread across his face.

The euphoria buzzed my brain that made me a little tizzy. I could feel my eyes widened a little.

“I-I didn’t say I love you.”

“You don’t have to.”

“Oh.” I blinked. “Um, can we get out of here for a moment? I have something to tell you.” I grabbed his hand and dragged him out of the crowded auditorium before it was too late.

“I missed you, Reigh. But I have a lot of things to discuss with you.”

“I know.” We certainly had a lot of things to discuss. My heart thudded loudly as we walked out to the parking lot. I stopped in front of the Ferry’s SUV. I opened the door and grabbed my tote bag from the captain’s seat.

“This is not what I think it is, love.”

I turned around to see him grinning mischievously. It was contagious, and I found myself grinning back. “No, silly. I might miss you terribly, but I’m not gonna have sex with you in their car.”

“Who said I was talking about sex?” I heard the teasing in his voice.

“I was not born yesterday.” I rolled my eyes.

Skip trying to suppress his smile, said, “Then what it is?”

My heart caught in my throat, but I managed to smile back.

Taking a deep breath, I unlatched the strap of my bag and was about to unravel my secret when I heard Ferry calling Skip from our back.

My body stiffened when I realized one thing. Did he just call him Skip? Did Ferry know he was coming?

When I whipped around, Skip was freezing in his place, but his wide eyes transfixed between Ferry and Anna-to Rynna.

My throat was parched. My entire body trembled as I watched Skip stepping closer toward them, robotically.

Tears stung my eyes. The sight of them together was difficult to bear-it was almost unreal, yet it was the most surreal of my life-it was beautiful and terrifying.

What if?

Skip knelt and said nothing-devoted a few moments to dutifully gawked at her. Then I saw the trembling hands reaching out with uncertainty as he held her arms. Ferry said it’s okay with Rynna. He then pulled her into a hug.

My tears fell like a stream. My chest was heaving as I watched them in awe.

“Your eyes!” Rynna gushed.

I sighed in relief, feeling relieved that I finally had myself freed from years of secrecy. I hugged myself and cried alone.

Despite my frazzled state, I laughed a little. She was bullied with scary eyes sometimes, but now she looked amazed to see that she was not alone having unique eyes in the world.

Skip chuckled as he wiped his face. “Yes! And I think we have the same eyes, pretty girl. Oh, where are my manners? I’m Skip by the way, and I’m your dad’s friend, and Are is my um, good friend.” Skip held his hand out, and Rynna smiled shyly and shook his big hands playfully.

“You have a big hand, Mr. Skip. “She giggled. “I’m Rynna.”

“You’re so beautiful, Rynna.”

“You are pretty handsome too, Mr. Skip. I like your hair because guys usually don’t keep their hair long.” She reached out to touch his hair. “I like Harry’s, but he cut his hair short though.”

“Who is Harry, sweetheart?” I could feel the curiosity in Skip’s voice.

“Harry Styles from 1D.”

“Huh! Well, Rynna. Mr. Skip’s hair is quite better than Harry’s, yeah?” Skip used his thick Londoner accent, making Rynna giggled more.

“See, Daddy? He sounds like Harry.” Rynna turned to her dad.

“Then we should probably treat Mr. Skip to your favorite ice cream parlor, right?” Ferry suggested.

“Sure, Daddy. If Mr. Skip would like to come with us, that would be awesome.” Rynna was literally jumping with still her ladybug costume on. A smile of joy transformed her face.

“I’d love that. Can I ask another tiny favor?” Skip asked, gesturing his fingers.

“Sure, Mr. Skip.”

“Can I get a hug again before we go to your favorite Ice cream-”

Rynna launched herself to Skip before he could finish his words.

The scene crushed my heart. I couldn’t stop myself from wiping off my tears. Anna and Alys gave me a smile of assurance that everything would be okay.

Skip laughed with her.

Blood is really thicker than water.

“So, it means we’re friends now?” Skip offered his pinky finger.

“Sure, if that’s okay with mom and dad, and Aunt Alys and Aunt Are?”

“Oh. So, should I pass from them first, sweetheart?”

“I guess so.” She shrugged her shoulders, making us all laugh.

“I’ll treat their ice cream then, so I can pass the test.”

“I love ice cream, too.”

My heart hammered in my chest when Skip stood up, then turned around. Our eyes met. My world had stopped for a moment. His eyes were expressive as if he wanted to ask a million questions at the same time.

Without a doubt, he knew. What was he going to do now?

I looked down as guilt and dread were slicing my heart into two. I couldn’t move nor speak as the thuds of his footsteps got closer, and as I just watched his shadow started to hover over me.

“F-forgive me.” That was the first thing that came out of my mouth.

For seconds I waited for his reply, but I heard nothing.

He moved closer, then the last thing I knew was he pulled me into his arms, hugging me so tightly as I shook to sob.

“Don’t ever apologize for making the right thing. She’s alive, Reigh, and in good hands. They love her like their own. I couldn’t even be prouder of you, and I knew it since the first time I met you that you were the strongest girl I’ve ever met. I knew it wasn’t easy to decide on your own, yet you pulled yourself together. And for that, you made me love you more than I already did.”Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

“The moment I saw her face I knew it, and I instantly felt the pull. I knew without a doubt that she was mine, Reigh.”

“God, God knows how much I badly wanted to tell you every day, and I felt terrible for keeping it from you.”

“Hush. It’s okay. When you chose to stay over going with me to London, I couldn’t even open my mouth to ask you who’s she. Then it hit me now, so bloody hard, that I was a jealous and giddy arsehole over my child. It feels awful that I even cursed.” He laughed softly with amusement. He then released me, cupping my face. “Look at me, Reigh.”

I lifted my chin, and I met the most beautiful smile that I’d been yearning for a long time. His unique colored eyes shone with love and amazement. “When you and Brett were talking at your parents’ house, it’s about Rynna, isn’t it? He knew.”

I nodded. “Yes.”

“God, I wanna kiss you so bad, but they’re waiting for us.” He planted a kiss on my forehead. “I love you more. I can’t guarantee you anything, except I love you and I will love you for the rest of my life, Reigh. And I will make you the happiest person on the planet. That’s why I am here today; for the rest of our lives, for you and me. And for Rynna.”