Novel Square
15
15
PERCIE
Eight months ago…
“Nothing, Percie. I thought maybe she’s tired in the flight, and she wanted to take a rest first,” Grandpa
explained.
I wasn’t entirely convinced. There was more to it than what these oldies were telling me.
“Grandma, since you’re done and ready, can you check on Emma while I’m in the shower. Please?”
“Of course, Percie. You go ahead. I’ll be with Emma. I’m also famished.”
There was something odd going on that I couldn’t point my finger on it. I stared at both of them intently.
Grandma took her purse and walked out of the door.
“What’s going on, Grandpa? Is there something you’re not telling me?”
“Like what?” Grandpa asked back.
“Like secrets, you, Grandpa, and Emma are not sharing with me.”
“Go shower, Percie. I don’t have secrets to tell you.”
Disappointed, I blew a huge breath before I walked into the bathroom.
Emma is okay, right? I talked to myself in the mirror after my shower. I put on my clothes quickly and
joined them.
“Oh, did I take that long in the shower?”
“Yeah. I thought you sleep in there.” Emma rolled her eyes.
“Yeah, Miss Sarcastic. Can we head out already? I’m starving.” I walked to Emma’s side to grab the
back of her wheelchair.
“One purpose of EPW is to avoid the fatigue of pushing or man-handling like those manuals. Why are
you pushing me?”
I smiled. “Why the bitchiness tonight, Emma? I just want to walk beside you, and I’m not pushing you,
look?” I showed her my hands that I was not holding her wheelchair. “You look beautiful, by the way.”
She applied light makeup on her face and curled her hair with her pastel maxi dress.
“Thank you, Perce. Now, I love you more. You complimented me.” Emma giggled with Grandma.
“She’s weird tonight.” I exchanged looks with Grandpa.
“Seriously, Em. You’re always beautiful, but I can compliment you every freaking day if that makes you
giggle.”
“Hmph.” She hit me playfully on my arm. “And that makes you handsome too.”
I laughed. “Yeah, that’s true. If you believe you’re beautiful, then you have to believe I’m handsome
too.”
“Shut up already,” Grandma said.
We choose the nearest restaurant to our hotel.
“Are you ready for tomorrow, Emma?” Grandpa asked.
When I looked at her, she shrugged. “Where your confidence goes?
“Just a little bit nervous.”
“Em, if you change your mind, it’s okay. We can just go and watch. You don’t have to race.”
She frowned. “Nothing can stop me from racing tomorrow, and it’s only 200m. If I can’t make it to the
finish line, then I’ll stop. I promise. I just want to experience racing.”
“Okay, Emma dear. Don’t be upset. No one is discouraging you from backing out. We just want to know
if you’ll be okay tomorrow,” Grandma explained.
“Thanks. It means a lot.”
We enjoyed our dinner.
“Em, you didn’t like your food? We can always order another.” Published by Nôv'elD/rama.Org.
“I’m good, Perce. I’m eating.” Emma didn’t touch much of her food. It worried me because I knew she
loved the meal she ordered. She just toyed with her fork.
“Thought you loved that, and you said you’re hungry.”
“I love it. I’m just a little bit nervous about tomorrow.”
“Don’t be. You’ve been preparing for this for five months. You can do it. If you’ll get exhausted, all you
have to do is move to the side. It doesn’t matter that you won’t get to the finish line. What is important is
you’ll be a part of this event.” I was thankful to Grandpa, trying to cheer her up.
Emma started picking up her fork and eating her meal.
After our dinner, Grandpa and Grandma went back to the hotel. I let Emma stayed with me for a while. I
walked beside her while she was maneuvering her EPW forward.
“Em, whatever happens, tomorrow, always remember that I’m proud of you. Your strength, your
courage, and your determination are unmatched. You’re the strongest woman I know. You’ll make it to
the finish line or not, nothing’s gonna change of how proud I am of you.”
She stopped her EPW, and I moved myself to her front. “I know, Perce. No matter what will happen
tomorrow, don’t blame yourself, never. I choose this. I want to do and experience this. For once in my
life, I found a purpose. I wanna make you proud. I want you to stop blaming yourself. I want you to
know that that night happened for a reason, and one was to determine your faith and your strength.
You almost gave up, Perce. Now promise me that you’d be strong for me, that you’d be happy for me
for whatever I chose and decided in my life. I want you to move on and enjoy your life and do whatever
you love doing. Just remember that I’m always here.” She jabbed her finger at my chest.
“Don’t say something like that, Em.” For a fraction of a moment, she terrified the shit out of me.
“In your heart, Perce, and you will always be here forever in me, a part of me.”
I looked up when my eyes felt like on fire. I swallowed hard the overpowering emotions not to cry.
I knelt in front of her and gathered all the strength I had left. “Why are you saying this to me, Emma? I
love every word you said to me, but I don’t like the thought of it. The last time you said something like
that, that incident happened. It felt like you’re saying goodbye to me. And I freaking hate it. None of us
is saying shit like that again, okay?”
Her lips started to tremble.
“Emma, please, don’t cry. You’ll always be a part of me, in my heart and my soul. Nobody could ever
replace you. No one. You are my one and only, Em. I love you. I still need you. I still enjoy annoying
you, making you laugh. I still love listening to you babbling about your plans, and I can still stomach
listening to your crappy favorite songs. Be strong for me. I need you in my life, Emma. I have no one
left but you.” I wiped the tears away from her face. “Don’t tell Grands I said the last words. They’ll
gonna kick me out of my apartment.” I squeezed her hands and kissed her knuckles.
“Keep that bracelet on your wrist. It’s actually beautiful.” She chuckled while playing the bracelet
around my wrist—the reason why we almost died together.
“I’d never take it off, beautiful.”
“Good. It will always remind you of me.”
I stared at her with my mouth hanging open. My heart just stopped beating.