Crossing the Darkness Towards Happiness

CHAPTER 14

Rayno and Jake walked towards the cafeteria, chatter and laughter of other students filled the air. The smell of freshly cooked food greeted them as they entered the crowded space. 

Rayno invites Jake to an empty table and they sit down, ready to enjoy the food and continue the conversation.

As they eat, their conversation flows freely, the two boys share their dreams, interests, and fears.

They find similar hobbies and realize that they have more in common than they ever imagined. 

Laughter replaces tension, and a sense of friendship begins to build between Rayno and Jake. 

"Rayno, I want you to know that I am very grateful for listening to my story and forgiving me for my stupid words. I know it won't be easy, but I promise to be a better person and... "

jake said sincerely, pausing and sighing, Jake's gaze locked with Rayno. Then with a small smile Jake spoke again. 

"...Become a better friend to you." 

Jake then looks at Rayno, and Jake is afraid that Rayno will reject his invitation to become a friend. But Jake is wrong, and Jake sees Rayno smiling sincerely at him, leaving Jake frozen. 

Rayno smiled, her eyes filled with sincere warmth. "Jake, we all make mistakes. What matters is how we learn and grow from those mistakes."

Rayno chuckled at Jake who was speechless, then continued speaking. 

"I believe in second chances, and I believe in you. Let's be friends, we'll be able to support and encourage each other."

Jake's face was beaming, a radiance of happiness emanating in his eyes.

"Yes, Rayno. Together we will confront each other's fears, this for ourselves and for our friendship."

As the bell rings, signaling the end of the lunch break, Rayno and Jake walk back to class with their same hearts feeling lighter. 

Throughout the remaining classes, Rayno finds solace in the learning routine, letting academic challenges distract her from the emotional turmoil within.

Whether that's when Rayno suddenly remembered the accident with her mother made Rayno's mood decline again. 

As the final bell rang, signaling the end of the school day, Rayno felt a heavy burden in her heart once again. 

The incident continues to repeat in Rayno's brain makes Rayno quite depressed with his memory that continues to revolve towards the accident. 

Leaning in her locker, Rayno closed her eyes, trying desperately to regain her composure. 

The echo of his mother's voice seemed to echo in his mind, reminding him of the pain he had been enduring for so long.

Rayno gasped for breath, Rayno's vision grew blurry with Rayno frantically blinking and trying to calm down. 

At this time the school was deserted because Rayno had gone to the library alone. Then Rayno wanted to walk back towards the school gate when her business was done in the library.

But suddenly a memory of her mother whirled around in her brain, as if trying to tell Rayno that she should never forget it.

Rayno re-experiencing her PTSD, it has often made Rayno continue to be tormented because of it. 

[Info: PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) is a mental disorder that a person experiences after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event.]

A while slowly Rayno calmed down a little, as Rayno looked around the already deserted school slowly Rayno walked towards the school gate.

Her father had not picked her up so Rayno wanted to walk around for a while to calm down.

Rayno sat alone in the Park near the school, her mind wandering as she stared blankly ahead. 

The conversation and laughter around him felt far away, drowned by the flood of memories that resurfaced. The day is getting darker like its thing the day when his life is changed forever.

Tears welled up in her eyes as she gripped her chest tightly. 

His breathing over time became heavier as memories continued to flood him, Rayno's head grew dizzy and things became indistinct in his vision. 

The shadow of her warm Mama smile and her loving eyes carried a bitter pain in her heart. 

He missed her more than words could express, and the emptiness he had left in his life seemed impossible to fill.

"Why... Must now? Why is this happening again.. I thought I was cured?"

Rayno spoke softly while hitting his head firmly to try to eliminate the memory that continues to hurt his heart and soul. 

"Dam.. Damnit.. Damnit.. Please stop this, stop it"

Rayno increasingly raved indistinctly, by continuing to hit her head, Rayno lowered her head while grabbing her hair tightly. 

Rayno remembers the day when they had a car accident, the pain of losing her, and the emptiness created in her life.

Rayno can't help but think of her Mama and the car accident that took her away from her. The pain is fresh, the wound has not healed completely.

"Why doesn't this stop..? L'm.. I don't want to remember this"

Rayno increasingly shed tears, do not know what to do other than grab his hair that has been tangled, then Rayno saw a glass fragment that is on the ground. 

"Only... Just a little to get rid of this pain.."

With unknowingly Rayno continued to make wounds on his wrist that had bled quite a lot. 

As Rayno wanted to stab deeper, her hand was instantly stopped by someone who was holding her hand tightly. 

"Rayno- RAYNO STOP!"

Hearing a familiar voice Rayno blinked her eyes confused by slowly Rayno saw the person who had held her hand and it was her father. 

Rayno was silent, not knowing what to do because she also did not realize that she had hurt herself again. It happened again making Rayno feel more and more like giving up. 

"Silent... Relax, baby, Daddy's here.. I am with you You are not alone. Rayno has a father here"

Jace hugged his son tightly, seeing no response from his son who just stared at him blankly. 

Jace must be faster to pick up Rayno so that this incident does not happen, this is all her fault, her fault must hurt herself again. 

Jace's breathing was heavy because he was running to find his son who was not at school.

While searching, Jace finds Rayno who is already in a state of chaos with Rayno who continues to injure her wrist. 

"I'm sorry Dad was negligent in taking care of you again... Please don't hurt yourself again Ray"

Jace spoke with great sadness, Jace hugged his son tightly and continued to say tranquilizing words. 

After a while Rayno's body slowly relaxed and realized what she had done. With tears flowing Rayno hugged Jace back tightly. 

"Dad.. Fathering.. That dad you?"

Rayno cried while constantly calling her Father. Jace stroked Rayno's back, his heart filled with guilt and worry. 

"Yes, it's Dad, Ray. Dad's here. I'm always here for you, my son."

Rayno's tears wet Jace's shoulders as she hugged her father, seeking comfort and comfort in his arms. 

Jace gently stroked Rayno's back, trying to soothe her pain.

"You're not alone, Ray. We experienced this together. I know this is hard for you but we're gonna find a way to heal, to deal with this pain together"

jace whispered, his voice filled with love and determination.

Rayno sobbed, trying to calm her breath. "I don't want to hurt myself, Dad. I don't want to go back to that dark place. But sometimes it feels so painful and I don't know how to handle it."

Jace cupped Rayno's face with his hands, his gaze filled with the sincerity of a father to the child. 

"You don't have to face it yourself, Ray. We'll seek professional help, we'll seek therapy together. We will learn how to be at peace with ourselves. Remember that me and the others will always be your supporters at every step."

Rayno looked into his father's eyes, seeing the sincerity and love that radiated in his father's eyes made Rayno calm. 

"Promise?"

Jace nodded, his voice full of confidence. "I promise, Ray. We'll do anything to help you heal and find happiness again."

Jace smiled as he held onto Rayno's cheek then looked at Rayno lovingly. 

"You are not alone in this world, there is your Father, Mother and brothers who will always keep you safe and you can always count on."

Rayno's tears continued to flow, but slowly the previously empty and dead-looking eyes slowly let out life's twinkle again. 

"I want to be better, Dad. I want to heal from this pain, I want to be as happy as you want me to be" whispered Rayno, her voice trembling. 

Jace smiled among his own tears, a sense of pride bubbling within him. 

"That's my son. We will go step by step and together we will overcome these dark moments. Remember, healing requires a process, and I will always be by your side my son."

They embrace longer, finding comfort and strength in their bond as father and son. Slowly, Rayno's tears subsided, and a sense of calm swept over her.

"Dad, I love you so much, please don't leave me alone." 

Rayno choked, her voice filled with sadness and fear that someday she would be left by her father just like her Mama who had left. 

Jace kissed Rayno on the forehead, his heart filled with love for his son. 

"I love you too, Rayno. More than words can express and I won't leave you alone, we'll get through this together."

They break free from their embrace, Jace erases the last trace of tears from Rayno's face. He stood up, then held his son. 

Slowly and carefully Jace dropped Rayno in the passenger seat of the car, immediately Jace got into the car and started walking back to the Mahavir mansion.

The car ride back to Mahavir's house was filled with a calming silence.

Jace glanced at Rayno from time to time, ensuring the safety of his son. While Rayno was staring out the window, deep in thought.