"Yo, Cody, what's up?"

I looked at Monie who was peeking at my door. I grabbed my pillow and threw it on his face, "Go away."

He laughed and picked the pillow. He threw it on me but I quickly dodged, "That's unfair."

"Why is that?" I asked.

"You should have let me throw it on your face."

"Why would I?"

"You're unfair," he pouted which made me raise my eyebrows.

"Life is unfair anyway," I sighed and sat on the bed.

"I don't think life is unfair," he stated and sat beside me. "I have you and you take care of me. Why would I feel the unfairness of the world?" Monie responded which made me look at him.

"You're so cliche," I puffed.

"Am I?" he chuckled. "How are you?"

I looked at him and raised an eyebrow, "What the hell do you want?"

He laughed which made me smile a little, "Tell me about this girl you are seeing."

I raised my eyebrow and looked at him intently, "How did you know? Are you stalking me?"

He laughed again, "What made you think that I'd stalk you? Hell no!" He playfully hit my back, "I just want to go to the park but then I saw you laughing and chatting with a woman so I think you need to tell me stories about her."

"There is nothing much to tell," I responded.

"Come on. Spill the tea," he winked at me which made me furrow my eyebrows.

"You are so cringy."

He pouted like a kid, "I know right. By the way, do you want to go somewhere?"

"Where do you want to go?" I asked him back.

"Maybe do you want to go to the beach?"

His question made me froze. My heartbeat became irregular and my breath hitched.

"Or not..."

I looked at him and nodded, "We can go wherever you want to do."

His hand made its way to his head as he scratched it slowly, "I am sorry. I should not have--"

"It's fine," I nodded at him.

"Really?" he asked and jumped on my bed. "Oh my goodness, yes!"

A small smile formed in my lips. Seeing Monie this happy was making me happy too.

I rode his car as he was busy on the road. The whole road trip was quiet. I was enjoying the scenery. The buildings and the people really looked good, but my soul was searching for something else.

Few more minutes, Monie parked his car near the seaside.

My breathing became ragged as my eyes met the cloudy sky. The strong wind blew my hair into my face as the waves smashed into the rocks nearby. I walked closer to the water but fear began taking over my system. Without a second thought, I backed away from the water and sat on the dry sand.

---Flashback---

"Yo, Cody, my bro, are we good?"

I looked at Monie who was fixing his necktie.

"Are you the one who's going to propose? Why are your suit and necktie better than mine?"

"I am just excited for you! Finally, you are getting engaged!" he chuckled.

"I am not yet engaged. I was about to ask her yet," I answered as my eyes landed on the red velvet box on my hand.

"I am sure that she would say 'yes'," Monie said and patted my back. "I am your best man, right?"

"I will think about it. Maybe yes or maybe no. It depends upon my mood."

He pouted and crossed his arms over his chest like a child throwing a tantrum, "I suddenly hated you for a moment. I literally helped you plan out this engagement dinner then you are just going to tell me that?"

I chuckled at his behavior and ruffled his hair, "You are my best man, Monie. Calm your ass down."

He smiled widely and placed his arm on my shoulder, "Thank you, buddy."

"You are thanking me for what? I must be the one thanking you."

He fixed his disrupted hairstyle and chuckled at me, "You are like my brother, Cody. I mean, you got a real, full-blooded brother, but you chose me to stay by your side. You have trusted me since we were young and you had even given me a share of your wealth from your parents. The money is nothing without you. I am really happy that you are my best friend, Cody."

I was becoming teary at his words but I did not let him know it. I was too shy to give him a response so I playfully answered him, "Why do you sound like I was going to die?"

But really, I did die that day.

"Buddy, the violinist is here. Where is Eliane?"

"I do not know. She is not answering my texts nor my calls."

"What do you mean?" Monie asked with nervousness and fear laced his voice.

My heart began beating faster than normal. I did not know how to react nor respond.

From one hour late to two hours late.

From two hours late to three hours late.

From three hours to four hours late.

"Buddy, the violinist needs to leave. He has a job at this hour," Monie patted my shoulder.

I looked at him with a tint of sadness in my eyes.

"Thank you and I am sorry for making you wait. Please keep the payment," I smiled at him and the violinist smiled back.

"Thank you, Sir. Please take care."

He bowed his head down again and left, carrying his violin in a bag.

I looked at my phone and saw that it was already 10:34 P.M. and there were still no messages from Eliane.

"Please ask someone to bill everything out. Let's go home," I said to Monie with a heavy heart.

He nodded.

I went outside and waited for Monie.

Fifteen minutes had passed and I noticed that Monie had not yet arrived. I was about to call him when someone had caught my attention.

It was Pauline, Eliane's friend.

I wanted to call her attention but there were way too many people and for sure, she is in a hurry because despite of having a four-inched boots, she was running.

"Cody! Cody!"

I looked behind me and saw Monie running towards me. He was panting.

"You have to see these."

"Let's go home fi--"

"No! You must see this!"

Monie dragged me inside and he pointed the television.

"A twenty-four-year-old woman named Eliane Miller together with her boy friend, a twenty-six-year-old man named Kole Robinson, died in a boat explosion."

I froze on my spot. Everything was silent around me. My head was focused on the screen.

boat explosion... together... boy friend... died...

Those were the words that kept ringing in my ears as if they were the only thing I heard.

I unconsciously sat on the floor, looking at the red box fell from my pocket.

"What?" I whispered breathlessly.

"C-Cody..."

"Tell me. This is just a nightmare, right?"

Monie knelt in front of me and pulled me into a hug. I pushed him away to make a distance, but he won't budge.

"Tell me, please. This is only a nightmare. Please wake me up."

-

The investigation said that the accident happened after they went to an island to celebrate their second anniversary.

I did not know what killed me the most that moment.

That the woman I am about to propose left me alone?

That my brother left me too?

Or that they were both cheating behind my back?

---End of Flashback---

"You good?"

I looked at Monie who was staring at me.

"Yes, why would I not be?"

"That was the same thing you told me two years ago."

Two years... It had been two years since that happened.

"I am," I simply said.

He placed his hand on my shoulder and patted me slowly, "I am always here for you."

I nodded and smiled a little at him as my eyes settled on the waves of the ocean, repeating the same thoughts on my head for the past two years.

End of Chapter 3.