He Hates Me, He Loves Me Not

Even though the island only sees two seasons—hot and hell—Kaiden and Olivia choose to sit outdoors.

It's not because the pregnant Omega needs more sun, but because every auntie and uncle seems to have gotten wind that he's carrying twins. There's only so much cooing and congratulations Kaiden can stand in one afternoon before it becomes too much for him.

Eating ice cream under a shade is how they decided to escape after the teenager, in midst of squeals and giggles, practically broadcasted to everyone the good news.

Of course, even with a popsicle in one hand, Olivia hasn't forgotten to apologize. "I'm sorry again, Kaiden," she says, eyes on the grass. "I didn't mean to be so loud."

Kaiden chuckles, eating the last of his wafer cone before saying, "It's okay. I wasn't hiding it anyway."

It's true. After all, there's no use in hiding if his midsection is going to look like a bouncing ball soon.

However, no words of consolation can make the teenager lift her head up. She wallows in her guilt, taking small bites of her popsicle every now and then.

As Kaiden waits for her to feel better, he tries to see if there's anything happening at the mini-park. Surprisingly, the place is almost empty. He thought that there will be more people during this time of the day, especially because it has the best view of the sunset.

Kaiden has completely forgotten that there's a barbeque party happening in the courtyard at this moment.

After Olivia has finished eating her snack, she turns to him with a hesitant face. 

Kaiden watches her from the corner of his eye, waiting for the teenager to gather the courage to speak her mind.

Soon enough, Olivia slowly opens her mouth to ask, "Can I add you as a friend on social media?"

"Oh," Kaiden says, surprised at the question, but he quickly gets over it and admits, "I don't have one."

Now, it's Olivia's turn to be surprised. Leaning towards him, she asks, "You don't?"

"Yeah. I don't really like those."

Olivia almost can't believe it. Who, in this day and age, is not on the internet?

Kaiden is only four years older than her as well. He's not some gramps who has to be taught how to text without turning off the caps lock.

Yeah, Olivia can't believe it. It's like the day she was told that Santa isn't real.

"But you can message me if you want," Kaiden says while holding his phone out to her, the QR code for his contact info on display. "Here."

Always quick for her mentality to bounce back, Olivia pulls out her phone and scans the code. "Thank you," she says while sending the request. "I won't bother you a lot."

"It's okay," Kaiden says, understanding her desire to make a friend.

After all, he's probably the one closest to her age at the hospital. Some of the patients' families visit them but none of them are younger than him. Next to her in age are the toddlers that the hospital kindergarten looks after.

In all honesty, Kaiden still doesn't understand why she chooses to volunteer at the hospital instead of enjoying her break.

"Are you not going home for the holidays?" He veils his concern in wanting to know about her plans.

Olivia shakes her head to say no. "My parents know I'm staying here until school starts again."

"Won't they miss you?"

"I'm sure they will but it's okay." She takes a deep sigh, watching the sun slowly set on the horizon. "It's not the first time I'm spending it here."

Kaiden is taken aback. "Huh?"

"My older brother was here for three years. I always came here to spend the holidays with him," she says slowly at first, but the words come out easier the more she talks, "since my parents can't leave my niece alone."

Well, that's a revelation. From the multiple times Olivia has mentioned her Alpha brother so far, this is the first time she's saying that he was admitted here before.

Kaiden hesitates. He doesn't want to pry into something personal, but there's something about Olivia that tells him she wants to talk about it, so he asks, "Did— May I ask… why?"

"Oh!" she says, sounding way too chipper to be talking about something tragic. "It's okay. Our family doesn't like talking about it but I don't think acting like nothing happened helps."

He gulps. After trying to find a way to delicately phrase his questions, and realizing that there's no way to actually do that, he simply asks, "Was your brother rejected?"

"No. They were married and bonded." She sighs again, the sound way too heavy for a girl who has only been in the world for sixteen years.

"So what happened?"

"After she gave birth, she just"—she waves a hand in the air in front of her, the gesture reminding Kaiden of a magician before a vanishing act—"disappeared. She went missing a few days after she got out of the hospital."

Kaiden doesn't know what to say. He's being shocked again and again, so he keeps quiet and allows her to talk without interrupting.

"We searched everywhere for her. We put missing posters, asked everyone, and cooperated with the police. We did everything but—" Her voice trails off at the end, but it returns to normal volume when she says, "And then one day, my older brother collapsed in the middle of the street."

She pats her lap, smoothing the wrinkles out of her pants, keeping her eyes down as she continues, "I was at school then. My homeroom teacher pulled me out of class, and said my brother was sent to the emergency room."

Kaiden already knows where the story is going. He has talked with the other patients, and although not many, there are some who also collapsed out of nowhere even though they were in good health.

"When I saw him, he was having a seizure. We later learned he was fighting for the bond not to disappear."

He sees the fear undisguised in her eyes, the memories too painful even if she's only recalling them. Kaiden can't imagine what that day might have been like. He can't begin to understand the emotions she felt when she saw that her beloved brother was incapacitated on the hospital bed, on top of the exhaustion from searching for a missing family member.

"His bond mark was pulsing like it was alive. I've never seen one like it before."

Kaiden hasn't either, and he's thankful for that, but he saw some of the fading bond marks on the other patients. Instead of gold or silver, theirs are a dark red or violet color while some are a combination of both. It's an angry pattern to his eyes. From a distance, it's like a large bruise or an open wound, neither looking pretty.

"When it started shrinking, that's how we know she's gone." Her voice wavers, hands clenched into a fist on her lap. "Truly gone."

Olivia doesn't speak for a minute. The silence hangs heavy upon them as the two mourn in each other's company.

Then, when she has found the strength to speak again, she continues, "After that, it was a mess."

"My older brother was not in a good condition as well. He didn't sleep while he was trying to find her. He didn't even have time to take care of the baby." Her words come out fast—a torrent that doesn't properly convey how hectic it must have been for them.

"Did you find her?" Kaiden can't help it; he needs to know.

Her voice is small when she says, "No."

"Is your brother okay?" Kaiden knows it's a stupid question. No one who is sent to this hospital is ever okay. Everyone has their own baggage to carry.

"He recovered if that's what you're asking." She offers him a small smile then. "He says he's okay but I don't think he's going to let go soon."

Kaiden doesn't know what else to say except, "I'm sorry."

"There's nothing to be sorry for. It's a cold case by now."

The golden glow of the setting sun reflects on her face, highlighting her childlike features beneath the sadness and grief. Kaiden stares, in silence, at this young girl and the weight she endured so early in her life.

"I just wish we have a proper grave for her," she says in a whisper, more so to the wind than to him. "Sister-in-law must be so lonely."

Kaiden doesn't know since when, but tears are silently streaming down his face. He knows how difficult it is to lose someone unexpectedly. He knows how big of a blow it is to know that the person who used to stay by his side won't be there anymore.

No matter how much time passes, the wound never heals. It scabs, and perhaps it turns into a scar, but the hole won't ever close.. It stays there, a reminder of what was lost and can never be found.