“You shouldn’t blame her like that. She had nothing to with your mother’s death.”

Arin leaned back to his chair and stared at the garden view in the backyard. He’s home now, after visiting the cemetery with his dad.

“I know. But she wasn’t here either.” He found himself staring at the grass and when Kimberly’s face started to annoy his thoughts he shook them away.

“Not a single news, pa. She left like I was useless to her. She told me she loved me but then she left. What was I supposed to do?”

“You’re supposed to hang on to her and be a man! Jesus.”

Ric – his dad – got up from his seat and left Arin alone in the yard. He was stunned by those simple words that he hadn’t thought of before. Hold on to her? Could he? He can’t even be apart from her for one second, how can he endure long distance relationship?

Serves you right, kidday! Now you will forever be in a long distance relationship with her!

Arin can hear faintly sounds of his bandmates’ voice nagging at him. Especially Matt. That guy was like his own big brother, always looking out for him no matter what he does.

Speak of the devil, his phone rang and Matt’s picture came up on the screen.

“Yeah?”

“Kid, I heard you’re going back to your hometown today?”

“Yep. Just arrived. What’s up?”

“Uh, nothing. Just wondering if you got a few space left in your house-”

“WE’RE COMING TO VENTURAA!!”

A voice yelled in the background – a female voice.

‘Wh-what?! Matt, is that your wife?”

Matt sighed heavily. “Yeah. That’s Val. She’s excited when she heard that a girl was looking for you the other day…”

Arin snorted out a nervous laugh. “Why would she?”

“Um..she..uh..hold on.”

After a few moments, suddenly Valary - Matt’s wife was on the phone.

“Arin, listen to me. This is the first time I heard a girl looking for you.”

“Pfftt. Come on, Val. Am I that bad?”

“I meant not a groupie.”

“How do you know she wasn’t a groupie?”

“Matt said you gave your pass to her brother. She must have meant something to you. And have you forgotten about that one time when you were drunk and you called me ‘Kimberly’? I really hope this is the same girl, Arin.”

Arin stuttered and didn’t know what to respond. His cheeks reddened with blush as he recalled the memory when he was drunk about half a year ago and he accidentally grabbed one of Valary’s boobs and called her Kimberly. Matt’s reaction to it was priceless.

“I’m...still sorry about that.”

Valary laughed. “Don’t be! I’m flattered that you still found me attractive eventhough I’m almost due with River at the time.”

“Ehm. So, what exactly does this have anything to do with the girl?”

“I wanna know everything. Every little detail about her.”

“Val….I don’t think that’s a good idea..”

“It’s time you need a relationship advice, Arin. I hate to see you trapped in our old lifestyle. You deserve so much more than that!”

“I’m happy with the way I am, damn it!”

“Really? Then why am I reading about you in some groupie’s blog, saying that you ditched them in the morning? You got ‘asshole’ written all over your rep, kid.”

Arin rustled his hair into a mess and realized he can’t win with her. If Matt has always been like a brother to him, Valary has always been like a mom. Even Johnny admitted it and experienced it before.

“Fine. When are you leaving?”

“In 20 minutes.”

“What?! That fast?”

“Yep! Matt is dressing up River right now and then we’re all set! Save a room for us, will you? Oh I hope we’re not interrupting your family. Is your dad okay with us coming?”

“Yeah, of course. It’s just me and him anyways.” Arin replied weakly. He never had uninvited visitors before, so he literally don’t know what to expect. After Val said goodbye and hung up, he ran ahead looking for his dad.

“Pa! Pa! We have a visitor coming!”

His dad was in the family room, sitting across the fireplace and stared at the photo frame in his hand.

“Pa?”

Ric looked up when Arin approached him closer. He smiled bitterly and showed the picture to Arin. It was a picture of the three of them, and Arin was still a little boy at the time.

“You were so little. Look at your tiny hands.” Ric chuckled and felt his eyes pooled with tears. Arin took the photo frame and studied it. According to his mom, it was around that year that she was diagnosed with the cancer. She’d never thought that she would live long enough to see her son grew up to be a successful musician.

“Who knows those hands have now become so important in people’s lives?”

Arin stirred a cackle and put the picture in its rightful place again. “Come on pa. I’m just a drummer. Nothing more.”

“That’s right.” Ric got up from his chair and looked Arin straight in the eye. His hand rested on Arin’s head and rubbed his hair softly.

“Don’t steer away from what we really are, son. We are nothing more than just what it is. Don’t you ever become so cocky about it, you understand me?” Ric patted his son’s hair and shoulder gently and Arin felt like he was slapped to reality.

His mother once said to him;

“No matter what we achieved, we can’t do it without the people around. Always remember that.”

Then he stared straight back into his father’s eyes and nodded. “Yes, pa.”

“Right. Now what were you saying about visitors?”

---

Kimberly walked leisurely, pushing the cart ahead while browsing in the fruit section. Once in a while she would pick up an orange and smelled it, smiling as she did. Then she decided not to buy it because it reminded her of how awful her memories with oranges, and with Arin.

Ever since she saw Arin in his rock star attitude, every beautiful memory she had with him turned ugly. She didn’t want to remember him anymore and right now running away was the best choice.

But she was done with that. She chose to stay and grit her teeth, letting the time healed all of her broken parts and prayed that someday, someone will love her the way she loved Arin.

Her phone beeped of incoming text and she immediately reached her pocket to read it.

Don’t forget my goddamn cereal. – Ev.

She rolled her eyes and texted back.

If you stop cursing I’ll buy your fucking cereal, Ev. – Kim

Then she stuffed her phone away and looked up.

“Jesus Christ!!” she yelped when she saw a figure in front of her, smiling ever so sweetly with both of his hands tucked inside his front pockets.

“Hello, Kim.”

Notes

A/N: 2 chaps today because i missed you guys :)