Chapter 8: MAXTON

CHAPTER VIII: Maxton

"People may doubt what you say, but they will believe in what you do"

(Anonymous)

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It's been a week.

It's been a week since she went to the forest. It's been a week since she meet an extraordinary wolf. It's been a week since she went to the Madrigal's home and a week since her mom's condition got worse. Good thing is, Diana stayed with them, and she is the one taking care of her mom.

Saturday. The sky is dark and drizzles of the rain are pouring down the silent street. Laying in bed, she's reading one of her favorite novel, Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. It was exquisitely written and is truly humorous, making her smile on how the concept runs through her mind. She turned to another page, and fix her blanket when her phone vibrated, it was a text message from an unknown number. She open the message and wrinkle her forehead as she saw the message saying 'thank you for saving me', and so she replied. 'I don't remember I save human' and drop her phone to bed. She was about to read again when her phone vibrated again and with the urge of knowing who it was, she close the book and pick up her phone. The message says 'Oh yes, I mean, our dog.' and from that moment, she knew already the message was from one of the Madrigal, and so she asked 'who are you?'.

'Aiden. Do you still remember me?' she reminisces her memory and remembered Aiden was the one she bumped on in the cafeteria.

'Yes. I didn't see you with them last Saturday'

'I was sick. How about you, I haven't seen you in the whole week. Why didn't come to school?'

'Mom is sick the whole week. I need to take care of her:<'

'Aw. I wish her well. You know what? My week is so boring because I haven't seen you:<'

"Seriously?" She uttered and chuckle.

'Alright. Get well soon Aiden' she replied and was about to drop, but it vibrated again.

'I don't miss you, I don't want to see you, I can live a day with you in school' she raises her brows upon reading the message.

'It was chase! He's messing up with our moment he's so jealous' She chuckled and was about to reply when another unknown number message her.

'I AM NOT FREAKING JEALOUS'

"Chase? How did these guys got my number?"

'I know. Just take it easy alright?' she replied Chase. She open the inbox and open Aiden's message but it just pure 'HAHAHAHAHA'. She just save the number and name Aiden for identity when chase message her, again.

'Looks like you're believing'

'I'm not'

'Really?'

'Yes'

'Good"

That's the last message he sent to her and so finally, her world bring back to normal.

"That's strange" she thought.

"Brige?" Diana entered her room.

"Hi Diana."

"How's your feeling?"

"Better."

"Good."

She watch Diana as it put her food on her headboard. Last week, she didn't remember anything. When she woke up, her mom told her that Diana is going to stay for good because her mom herself can't take care of her. She doesn't attend school for the whole week because of she doesn't want to leave her mom with the condition like that. She just talked to her friends over the phone and Diana just excused her to her instructors which she was glad they understand and said to just give her a note for what she missed in their discussion.

Night came again, and the rain was pouring hard. Eyes widely open and mind is swarmed by different thoughts. She entered her mom's room and give her a glass of milk. She sat beside her mom weak body and it pierce her heart for the sudden change of her mom. From a healthy and jolly woman, she became quiet and isolated.

"Brige. Aren't you tired of taking care of me?" Her mom asked out of the blue that make her question herself.

'am I going to be tired?'

"Tired? I'm not tired mom. Maybe in some other time I will feel tired, but it doesn't mean I will give up, nor doesn't mean that I will leave you. Tiredness will never be my privilege to stop loving you mom. Just like you to me. " She answered smiling sweetly at her mom "Come here let me sing you to sleep."

She let her mom lay on her arm and anticipate the warmth in her heart her mom always gave. Her mom is not a vocal person. She always hid her feelings just so other people think she's fine even if she's not, and she honestly doesn't understand why. Sometimes she can hear her mom silently trying to subside the sob from her room that pierce her heart, and she hates herself because she can do nothing. Her mom is not a vocal person but is good in the act. She look at her mom and cares her hair gently with passion and love. She's so lucky to have her, she thought.

She started humming the song, and so she close her eyes not wanting her mom to see the sudden range of emotion through her eyes. If there's anything she got from her mom, it's her most hateful trait and that is being not vocal, secretive and doubtful. Her mom is a person with a lot of secrets that even her doesn't know and so even if her mom always comforted her and guide her to be vocal as ever be, she couldn't. She couldn't, not because she doesn't want too, but because she doesn't want too burden her mom especially that she doesn't know what she's struggling upon.

'I never thought that you, would be

the one to hold my heart.

But you came around and you

knocked me off the ground from the

start.

You put your arms around me,

And I believe that it's easier for you

to let me go.

You put your arms around me and

I'm home.'

She remembered when she was only seven and her mom was being called to school because her mean classmates accused her of stealing. Her mom never believe the Dean and fight for her saying she knows her well and stealing was her least thing to do. She knew her mom said that not just because she doesn't want her to be embarrassed but because she believed in herself that she raise her well, and taught every good words and deeds in the world. Starting that day, she doesn't care any more of what people will say about her because what means to her is her mother's judgement.

'How many times will you let me

change my mind and turn around

I can't decide if I'll let you save my

life or if I drown

You put your arms around me and I

believe that it's easier for you to let

me go

You put your arms around me and

I'm home

"Oh my G, Brige!" Laide welcomes her a hug and so Ericson and Tomas.

"How is your mom?" Ericson asked.

"She's still not fine, but she pushed me to go to school. I also have to get my uniform for the competition."

They walk to the right chamber and head to the second floor library to get some books and comply what she has missed. They place their bag on the chair near the window and separate their ways of finding their preferred books. She went to the medical section and was scanning Veterinary Anatomy when some tap her back.

"Aiden?"

"Hi Brige." He greeted smiling.

"Hi, uhm, how are you?"

"I'm feel better. How about you?"

"I'm also good. How's your dog?"

"Oh trust us, he is far better now. The wound is already healed, actually." Lennox said and put his arm on Aiden. She looks at the back and saw Maxton and, Chase.

"Hi Brige." Maxton greeted and so she greeted back. She look at Chase give him a small smile, but he just stares at her.

"I believe we have to go. Our subjects were about to start." Remind Maxton to his cousins, and so they bid goodbye and went out.

She went back upon searching the book, but it's nowhere in the selves. She scanned every section, every book, but it's not in there.

"It must be in here" she uttered.

She was about to take another look at the section when someone blocked a book in her face entitled 'Animal Anatomy'. Her eyes went large and excitement sip through her but as she grab the book, it was taken away from behind.

Maxton?

"Give me that." She tried to grab the book, but his hands are much faster.

"Seriously?"

"Seriously what?" He asked.

"I need the book and you didn't. Give me that." Again, she tried to get the book, but he put it high out ranging her height.

"Not because I'm not in medicine doesn't mean I don't need this book. What if, I want to learned something new?" He asked smirking.

"But I need it the most. I thought your subject was about to start why are still here?" She demanded.

"Don't talk to Aiden ever again."

"What?" She look at him suspiciously.

"I said don't talk to Aiden, ever again."

"But, why? Aiden and I are great casuals, and you have nothing to concern about it." She said mockingly.

"Then come with me later." He demanded.

"Why would I?"

" Because if you don't, you wouldn't get this book. There's only one book in this whole town, and its content doesn't even posted on the internet. How sad." He said and smirk. "Meet me at your usual spot with your friends after class. I believe it will only end at 2 pm." After that, he made his way, leave her and wave with the book on his hand. She stood there watching him as he left throwing the book up and catch it with one hand. The nerve of that guy, she thought.