Chapter 24 - Help me!

It has already been a week since Kier flew back to New York, the days passed by so fast, but Ayesha's daily routine is still the same. Nothing's new to her life, she would wake up, go to school, arrive at school with gifts on her table and after the last period, she would either bond with Aria or go home and Knight would pester her at night.

"Ayesha dear? Is your dress ready for tomorrow?" Grandma Alicia asked Ayesha. They are currently having their breakfast. Ayesha looked at her Grandma and nodded as a response to her Grandma's question, Tomorrow is her twentieth birthday party and as always she doesn't feel it. She hurriedly finished her and then stood up after she was done eating.

"I'm going now." she simply said and walked away from the dining area.

Everyone present in the table looked at Ayesha's back

"She still doesn't like to have a party whenever her birthday comes." Grandma Alicia uttered as she watch her granddaughter who is now walking towards the front door.

She just wanted her to feel happy that is why she had personally organized a party tomorrow.

"It has already been eight years since that day happened to her and to her brother but she is still stuck to that day and still stuck to his memories." Sadness can be felt in Mrs. Gonzales's voice as she uttered those words, she too can feel pain as she remembered what happened on that day.

The two Gonzales men watched their wives who are already getting emotional in front of the foods. Grandpa Felix was also getting emorional as well and he spoke, "She love her brother very much. That she can hardly forget of the past. As I remember that boy also doted her sister so much. They were almost like twins if not for their age gap." His eyes showed sadness. Remembering that his only grandson lost his life on the same day as Ayesha's birthday Party also make him feel pained in his heart.

"Let's not talk about it anymore, it just makes me feel sad." Ayesha's father said when he feel that the three are starting to tear up. As a father who also lost his only son, he also feel hurt but accepting his death is the only thing he could do. His son's life will never be returned again. They just dropped the topic because it made the atmosphere gloomy.

The class 4A's classroom was a little bit lively, every student where roaming around and talking to there friends. Midterm exam is already approaching and they are already asking for notes.

"Ayesha are you ready and excited for tomorrow's event?" Aria asked as she reached Ayesha's table. She was the only one who is always very calm when exams are approaching because Aria is always listening to the teacher's discussion, and she always take down notes.

"Not so!" Ayesha answered while she was busy typing something on her phone. Aria also picked at her bestfriend's phone.

"Who are you texting?" Aria asked while trying to read the content of Ayesha's message. She is a little bit far from Ayesha, she's quite struggling reading the message.

"Flower Shop, I'm going to visit his grave." Ayesha answered while not looking at Aria, and when she's done in sending the text, she then faces Aria, "Wanna come with me?" she asked. Aria just shooked her head, she have something to do also after the last class that's way she needs to decline Ayesha.

One of Ayesha's classmate came in and called Ayesha's attention, "Ayesha, Mr. Salvador wants you to go to the faculty office, he have something to tell you." Ayesha nodded and said thank you. She then stood up, "I'll go to the office." she said to Aria and went out. Aria just watched Ayesha's back getting further away from her, "Something's off with her today." she thought still looking at the door where Ayesha just went out.

As soon as Ayesha arrive at the faculty office she directly went to Knight's cubicle as soon as the other teacher permitted her to go in.

"Good Morning Mr. Salvador, my classmate informed me that you have something to tell me" She politely said to Knight when she entered the cubicle. Knight frowned, he observed Ayesha for a couple of minutes and he felt that something's off with her today. He stood up and walked towards her.

"I just wanted to give this to you." He handed Ayesha a box, she opened it and saw that it was a wing shaped bracelet. "Tomorrow is your twentieth birthday right? This is an advance gift for you. Happy Birthday baby." he added and gave Ayesha a kissed in the forehead.

"Thank you." Ayesha replied and look at the bracelet again. Knight just watched her looking at the bracelet. "I finally gave your birthday present for her. I have been keeping that present of yours for eight years." He thought to himself.

"I have to go now Brother Liwei. Thank you again for this gift." she said and immediately made her way out the office.

"Ayesha what did Mr. Salvador said?" Aria immediately interrogated Ayesha when she arrived back at the classroom.

"Nothing much, he just gave me something." Ayesha replied and went back to her seat. The whole afternoon Ayesha was just listening to the teacher's discussions, she tried her best to focus on the lesson because their midterm exams is already approaching. After the last period, Aria and Ayesha immediately went out from the classroom and they bid goodbye to each other as soon as they reach the school gate where their drivers are waiting for them. Ayesha went inside the car.

"To the usual flower shop please." She said to Antonio, her personal driver. Antonio just drove the car and when they reach the flower shop, Ayesha went out from the car and went inside in the flower shop. She was greeted by the owner.

"Good Morning Ayesha, here is your order and I also made another one, this one is free. I also want to give him some flowers." She gave the bouquet of fresh sunflowers and chrysanthemums.

"Thank you. I'll come back next time." Ayesha said and she made her way out. The driver helped her in bringing the bouquet of flowers and he placed it in front. He then revive the car's engine and drove to the cemetery.

Ayesha was the only one who went out from the car when they arrive at the cemetery, she brought the bouquets and walked towards her brother's grave.

She stopped at the grave and spoke "Brother, tomorrow is your death anniversary and also my birthday." she placed the bouquet of flowers on her brother's grave. She sat there and just stared at the name engrave on the stone. Spade Ezekiel Gonzales is the name that was perfectly carved on the stone tomb.

"It has been eight years already since you passed away and left me, us your family. Yes, eight years have already passed by but still when I recall that very day... the day you sacrificed your life for me, I cannot stop blaming myself that day would still haunt me in my sleep every night. I always asked this question to myself, Why did you sacrifice your life for me? Why?, I wasn't a good sister to you because I didn't listen to your warning. I followed my instinct that lead us both to danger." Ayesha said and asked the grave in front of her even if she knew that she couldn't get an answer, a tear escaped from her eye and rolled down to her cheeks as she read his name.

"I... I should be the one buried in... in this grave not you, it should be my name engrave in this name, not yours. You are a very good person and a good brother to me, you don't deserve to die early brother but because of me, you did." her voice cracked and she started crying as she remembered his face, he would instantly smile to her whenever he sees her, his face that was full of fear when he shouted at her to run away, his pained yet happy face when he finally gave up his life just to save his dearest sister.

"Forgive me brother, I missed you so so much, please... please help me let go of your memories. Please help me ease this pain I'm feeling whenever I remember you. Please help me accept your death brother." Ayesha was trying to control her sobs even if her throat hurt. She is now willing to let him go but she don't know how. A sudden gust of wind blew and made Ayesha felt cold as if someone is hugging her, and she heard a voice softly and sweetly whispered to her ears.

"You can let go of me now baby Ayesha, I don't want to see you suffer and feel guilty anymore. I don't want you to blame yourself because I also don't blame you, it is not your fault why I died. I was not strong enough to protect both of us that's why I chose to protect you first because you are my baby sister and your life is much more important than mine, I willingly died because I knew that I have protected my baby sister in exhange of my life. I wish I could still meet you in another lifetime. Forgive yourself already. And always remember that brother loves you, I love you so much. Happy twentieth birthday baby, I hope you like my gift for you. Be happy and always remember I am still watching and protecting you. Goodbye baby sister, I love you." Ayesha closed her eyes when she felt cold in her forehead, it feels like someone just kissed her forehead and then the coldness disappeared. Ayesha cried hard, her throat aches from trying to control her sobs and also her heart, she looked up into the sky, she smiled and said, "I love you to brother and thank you."

She took a last glance at the tomb, she wiped her tears and made her way back to the car, she felt a little better now.