The Boy on the Other Side

by Aki_kaze

  Gareth and Joshua were his old friends. They were, that is, before the accident, before the moving out, before everything when he was just Keith Derringer, a typical, cheerful youngster. Only a year had gone by, but to him it felt much longer than that.

  “Is the house easy to find?” Diane’s voice came from behind. The two visitors greeted her. She turned to Keith and answered the question he wanted to ask but did not, “I think you should hang out with your friends sometimes. So, I contacted them. I received some help from your old school so thank them, too. Well, you two, come in first.”

  The two entered the house. Keith noticed the backpacks they both carried. His friends said they were going to stay a night. Gareth was old enough to have a driving license, so he offered to take him on a trip.

  After breakfast, Keith invited the two to his bedroom even though Diane had prepared a room for them. He knew they had a lot to talk about. He thought he’d find Sam in his bedroom since the spirit wasn’t in the kitchen, but he was wrong.

  “You never contacted us.” Gareth didn’t reproach him, but he could catch a glimpse of hurt in his voice.

  “Everything happened quickly. I’m sorry.”

  “We are not here to make him feel bad,” Josh protested, his sparkling eyes roaming the room as if trying to find something worthy of special attention.

  “Nothing interesting in my room.” He said, knowing the other’s intention. Josh shrugged.

  “Do you have a girlfriend?” The question from Gareth didn’t make him feel any better. Taking his hesitation as the answer, the two visitors looked over to each other. “You’re dating someone?”

  “No, of course not.” He replied. His thought supplied him with Sam’s word. Their mutual feeling was all they needed.

  “Good to hear that.” Gareth rested his big arm on Keith’s shoulder. “Where should we go today?”

  “Be our guide, Derringer.”

  “Sorry to disappoint you, but there aren’t many attractions here,” he answered honestly. It was a big city the three came from. So, this area was relatively uneventful.

  “At least there must be some good ice cream shop, right?” Josh opened the door, ready to hit the road.

  “Since when did you like ice cream?”

  “Since he got a girlfriend,” Gareth replied with a laugh. The three went downstairs, said goodbye to Diane, and left the house.

  It was an extraordinary sight to have a flame red convertible parking in front of his house. Gareth came from a rich family. His academic and career paths were clear and firm. He was a senior to Keith and would be attending the university this year. Keith always wondered why this kind of guy became friends with him.

  “State your destination, sir.”

  Keith laughed. He felt like he was back in junior high school once again, the time when everything was perfect.

  The three of them reminisced about their past and talked about their present life. Mostly it was Gareth and Josh. Keith could sense that they didn’t want to address the accident. A reunion with his old friends brought him back to the time when he still got friends to talk to and do dumb things. He didn’t understand why everything had to change after the accident.

  Keith got the answer as Gareth took them to the city’s scenic viewpoint. From up there, they could view the old and modern building areas clearly divided. Even the square where they pulled over for ice cream was visible. Keith then saw what other could not. He saw an aged man crossing the safety barrier before dropping himself off the cliff without hesitation.

  That scene paralyzed him. He snapped out of shock from the usual ruckus made by his two friends. But they still noticed something was off and asked him with concern.

  “It’s nothing.” Keith denied. He chose not to tell them about his new ability. That they knew or did not wouldn’t change his current state. And he wouldn’t dare risk their friendship.

  “Then come stand here.”

  Josh maneuvered Keith by his shoulder towards the cliff. Garett walked to his side. Both of his friends then shouted out a swear word. He shrank his neck at the sudden loud noise.

  “Your turn.”

  “Why must I do something like that?” Despite his complaint, Keith’s eyes were determined. Still, giving a shout at the scenic viewpoint was not a thing he usually did.

  “Then let’s do it together,” the black-haired offered. Josh then counted to three before they all let out a shout.

  He felt the heat spreading over his face. He shouted again and laughed at his silly action. It was his first time doing this.

  “I miss you, Sydney!”

  “He’s gone crazy.” Gareth pulled an ashamed face.

  Keith looked between his friends and the city below. He held up his camera he carried around his neck and took a picture. His thought of the camera’s owner, and the things which happened between them.

  “I love you, Sydney Willow!” Gareth’s word failed to stop Josh from expressing his love for his girl.

  Keith was envious of his friends: they could voice out their thought with ease. Many things he, too, wanted to say or make happen. It was good he got to hang out with his friends. But it didn’t make him miss Sam any less. The spirit couldn’t hang out with him or get to know his friends. Neither in the photo at the scenic viewpoint could he appear.

  “Let’s go grab something,” Josh proposed. His voice still hadn’t grown coarse despite many minutes of yelling.

  Keith tried to rid his thought of every concern. Both Gareth and Josh drove for hours to see him. He should enjoy the time with them to the fullest. Who knew when it would happen again?

  Endless conversations they held while having lunch in a city-famous burger restaurant. Josh updated Keith about the life of their classmates, each of them didn’t change a bit from what he remembered. Carefree time came to an end when Gareth brought up the college topic. Both Keith and Josh needed to do well on the exam in order to attend top tier universities.

  When talking about the future, Keith couldn’t picture himself. He only knew he wanted to move out and become independent from his aunt. But he didn’t know if that would be possible.

  “It’ll be so much fun if we all can study at the same college,” Gareth said. Josh made a face like he didn’t want to see this man even a second longer, earning himself a hard hit in the head. It was so loud Keith was surprised.

  “You could have damaged my brain.”

  Keith and Gareth laughed at that. And, instead of getting furious, the victim also joined them. He laughed so hard that he ran out of breath, his hands wiping the tears off his eyes.

  “It’s been a long time since I have a laugh this good.”

  “Think so.” Gareth’s voice grew serious out of sudden. Keith could tell from the other’s look that his aunt must have told him something. “I won’t say I’m worried about you because you must already know that very well.”

  He could only give him a shrug as a response, unable to deny it.

  “But I am worried about you.” He was about to roll his eyes when Garett gave him a sharp and resolute look. “We both do. When your aunt told us what’re you like now, it was like…” Gareth turned towards Josh, as if they were discussing whether he should continue, “…it was like, you weren’t you. Josh and I can’t truly relate to your loss, but it sounds unbelievable a loss could change a person that much… You were talkative and amicable. I wonder if there’s a way to get the old Keith back.”

  “Believe me, I ask myself that, too.”

  “The treatment didn’t help?” Josh inquired, his voice and face no longer playful.

  “It’s not just that.”

  But when he was asked what it was about then, Keith didn’t reply.

  “If you can’t talk to us about it, I hope there’s someone else you can.”

  He thought of Sam. He understood though that his friends were talking about a psychiatrist. Perhaps he would be better off listening to their implied advice.

  “I’ll tr
y.” His answer brought smiles back on their faces.

  After lunch, Keith took them to the market. They wandered about the streets, but never reached the church or the cemetery. He didn’t want to go to the place which led his mind back to the spirit. He would feel sorrowful being unable to bring the other along and might have ruined the mood.

  Josh got especially excited over the shops by the street. Gareth had to admonish him now and then, like a father watching over his two sons.

  They traveled back home, having chosen a cake as a gift for Diane. Gareth wanted to express gratitude for her invitation. Keith seated himself comfortably in the car gazing at the twilight sky. The wind blowing against his face seemed to also blow away bits of grief in his heart. At least, he was reminded he still got his friends.

  The three were welcomed back with a big feast: Roasted beef emitting rich, savory smell and colorful salad with Diane’s homemade sauce. The dining table was strewn about with plates and dishes more than any other days. All the 8 chairs were occupied, but one. The vacant slot made him think of Sam.

  Since his friends arrived, Sam had disappeared.

  “I’m putting away the camera.” Using that as an excuse to get back to his room, Keith rose from his seat. He hoped that, when he opened the door, he’d find the familiar back of someone, standing by the window. But he found no one.

  “Sam,” he called, his voice soft like a whisper. But nothing happened. He still felt no presence of the other.

  Keith placed the camera on the bed then looked around the empty room. Disappointed, he went down to the kitchen and rejoined his friends and family.

  The dinner that day wasn’t like others: rather extraordinary, just because his two close friends were there. Even John could get along well with those two. Laughter and smiles which filled the room made the feast even more lively.

  “I’ll be back.” Keith said to his friends, who were laying out thin mattresses upon which they would sleep tonight. The two refused to sleep in the room Diane had prepared for them.

  “Where’re you going?” Josh’s question trailed behind as he closed the door.

  Keith walked past the staircase, hearing Hector and Diane talking from downstairs. Alice and John were in their own room, but the light shone though the gap under the door frame told him they didn’t go to sleep yet. Climbing the ladder, he went up to the attic.

  “Sam, are you here?”

  Keith’s question pervaded the silence; it went unanswered. He walked to the spirit’s favorite spot. Dim light shone through the semicircular window. It didn’t quite illuminate the room, but he got used to this place already. For him, it was enough.

  “Sam,” he called again and noticed the other sitting in the corner, “Sam.”

  The spirit showed no response even though Keith was positive the other could hear him. He crouched down beside him.

  “Sam, are you angry at me?”

  “Why should I, Keith Derringer?” Sam’s voice sounded like someone who had had enough with everything.

  His eyes brimmed with distress never known to the boy. But before Keith could utter anything, the spirit said,

  “You should go back to your friends. Your real friends.”

  “You’re one of mine,” he replied promptly, noticing a small smile tugging on the other’s lips. “And you’re more than that. You know it.”

  The look on Sam’s face was like he wanted to express something, but he decided to just smile instead.

  “I know. Don’t worry about me. I’ll stay here tonight. You go back to your friends.”

  “Sam.” Keith’s face turned serious. “You’re my boyfriend. Don’t forget it.”

  He leaned his face forward and placed a kiss on the spirit’s forehead. His body could feel only a chilling sensation; but his heart, much more than that.

  “Goodnight, Sam.”

  “Have a nice dream about me, Derringer.”

  They smiled at each other. Keith left, but his worry did not. The spirit was on his mind all night.

  Chapter Thirty Seven

  If We Were Together

  A beam of light shone through the window onto the room floor. A pair of green eyes looked at it as if it was the last light of his days. His face lay flat on the wooden desk, his shoulder drooping. He let out yet another sigh.

  A hard object hit the back of his head. But he was in low spirit, so he ignored it, knowing full well that the object was a pen and the thrower was no one other than Sam.

  “I’ve never seen someone who doesn’t want to go to school this bad. Even I can’t compete…”

  “You have the reason to be there.” Keith sat up immediately as soon as he realized what he'd said. He stole a glance at Sam.

  The spirit walked over to him quietly.

  “I’m sorry. I…”

  “It’s okay.”

  “It shouldn’t be,” he objected, “I was being inconsiderate.”

  “Keith,” Sam said. He looked like he was about to say something but decided against it.

  “Just say it.”

  The spirit’s eyes went wide. But he then only gave him a sheepish smile.

  “Is it about Oliver?”

  Keith’s chest tightened at the name on his lips and he could do nothing about it.

  “I don’t want to talk about my past,” Sam said, pausing for a while, his eyes cast down. “I don’t want you to overthink it. I don’t want you to feel hurt.”

  Keith spoke up after a while.

  “It’s part of you. I don’t have a chance to know you when you were alive. If it will help me get to know you better, then…”

  “You already know me well. More than anyone.” Sam’s voice was firm. “I don’t want to talk about it because it hurts here.”

  He put a hand over his left chest.

  “In my current state, I feel nothing but pain. It’s still here; I can’t get rid of it. I still stand by the window even though it doesn’t hold any meaning to me anymore. And that hurts you.”

  Keith reached his hand out, which Sam quickly grabbed. Coldness spread to his fingers where they contacted. He knew Sam was trapped in this house because he was still attached to that guy. He wanted to save him. But what would happen after that? If Sam got to meet Oliver again, what would happen?

  “See? You make this kind of face when I talk about it. I don’t want to see it.”

  Keith forced a smile.

  “I’m sorry.”

  “Your last day of summer. Spend it wisely.”

  When school was brought up, he let out another long sigh.

  At noon, Keith went to the kitchen for lunch. He found cooked chicken meat and a jar of tuna mayo spread. Diane told him she’d made spaghetti with tomato sauce, but the boy still made himself a sandwich though. John and Alice were still upstairs, so he ate alone.

  His smartphone rang with a notification sound. He knew at once it was from the chatroom Gareth and Josh created. They even took the liberty to use his phone and accepted the group invitation. Josh sent the photo of him and his girlfriend, which earned him a curse from Gareth. Keith shook his head at both.