Wear - Chapter 35

As The Rejects explain the club to Tina, Rose showed up at the principal’s office. “I’ve got some rather… surprising news” Rose says.

“What is it?” Ryan asks, sitting up in his chair.

“Well, that laibah student” Rose says, “the one I requested a dorm for during last semester… seems to be pulling something odd. His name is Darren Forray. Well, he’s one of the members of The Rejects club, and it came off as a surprise to my homeroom class. He’s popular for being a class clown, and surprisingly has made plenty of friends through that method. Friends, who’ve asked him to join their clubs instead. When they discovered that he joined The Rejects instead, the class was rather… surprised. I’m not sure what all was discussed before I entered the classroom, but rumors of this student openly supporting laibah are spreading quickly”.

“And now he’s in danger, correct?” Ryan asks with a sigh.

“No… actually” Rose says. “Students don’t seem to know exactly what to make of it. Now, because of him, The Rejects club is becoming widely talked about. Students are slowly coming forward about it suddenly being cool to support the laibah community. Do you know what this means?”.

“That you’ve been pulling strings behind my back?” Ryan asks.

“We’ve already been over this, gramps” Rose says. “Besides, what’s important is that it’s now becoming easier to find supporters for the bill. We can save the school, Ryan!”.

“And you’re suggesting that we directly ask students to support this bill now?” Ryan asks.

“I’m not suggesting” Rose says, “I’m telling you that I’m doing it! It’s going to happen, but I’m not going behind your back on this one. Please, let me help you for once!”.

“You’ve been helping me for the past ten years of working here by my side” Ryan says.

“Then you know you can trust me to handle this!” Rose says.

Ryan thinks for a few seconds, then asks “What drives you to help the laibah out in this school, Rose?”.

“Are you kidding?” Rose asks. “It’s my job… what else? I’m supposed to help the students, not pick and choose favorites”.

“You’ve always has issues talking to people” Ryan says, “and when I saw that change… when you first became a teacher, I was so proud. I was more proud when you worked with me directly to resolve incidents revolving around laibah students. Everyone has a story about their views… so what’s yours?”.

“I don’t get along with a lot of people, gramps” Rose says. “You know that. However, I’ve never been like most people, likely because of my inability to socialize well. So when I met students who were honest about being a laibah, I felt no difference between them and humans. That’s all there is to it… and you?”.

“Well…” Ryan says, “you’re going to try to help solve this issue regardless of what I say, so I may as well let you know why this is important to me. Have I ever mentioned my brother, Franklin Schafold, to you?”.

“I’ve heard about his name” Rose says. “But I believe that’s all you’ve ever told me, was his name”.

“Well, it’s kind of a long story” Ryan says. “So take a seat”.

Nearly 40 years ago, when Ryan was only about 20 years old, he lived with his brother in Terrio. His brother, Franklin, had different views about the world than Ryan did. Franklin believed so much that human and laibah were created equal. That the two should put aside their history of violence and bloodshed, and embrace a new world that the two could forge together. He believed laibah were as ever magnificent creatures as humans, and that it was wrong to try to keep laibah out of humanity’s every day lives. Ryan, on the other hand, did not share these views. Ryan hated laibah, and thought his brother’s ideals were ridiculous. One day, the two of them were in a heated argument about the difference of their opinion. Suddenly, their arguing was interrupted by the sounds of knocking on their front door. Ryan went to go check to see who the visitor was. “Frank!” Ryan calls out, “it’s your girlfriend!”.

“Can I come inside?” The woman asks. “It’s too hot outside. This summer weather is killing me”.

The girl entered the house, after Ryan opened the door a little wider. Her name was Remi Bertlett. She had long blonde hair and bright brown eyes. Her eyes would shine like gold when exposed to the sunlight, and she always wore a smile on her face. She was the type of person who could make any room light up with her sweet and loving personality. “Oh! Remi!” Franklin calls out as he runs up to hug her.

Remi laughs and says “I missed you!”, then briefly kisses Franklin on the cheek.

“Anything new going on?” Franklin asks. “How’ve you been?”.

“Actually…” Remi says, glancing over to her side, “not so well. I ran into my sister, and well… you know how I am around my family. She makes me so nervous, and I haven’t spoken to mom in months… b-but my sister said she’s getting married. So I guess it’s not all bad”.

“Married!?” Franklin asks.

“I didn’t even know your sister had a boyfriend” Ryan says.

“She… doesn’t” Remi says. “It’s an arranged marriage. Dad set it up, or so she says”.

“I’ve never met your sister” Franklin says. “S-should we… go introduce ourselves to her while she’s in town?”.

“That’s right” Ryan says. “Your family lives outside of the city. Isn’t there a bunch of laibah out there?”.

“Ugh- don’t remind me!” Remi says.

“See?” Ryan asks as he looks at Franklin. “Even your girlfriend is bothered by the laibah”.

“Oh, shut up…” Franklin says.

A couple days pass, and Remi stayed with Ryan and Franklin. One night, as the three of them were getting ready to go to sleep, a forceful knock was heard at the door. Once again, Ryan was the one to answer the door. Standing at the door, was a woman who had long blonde hair, just like Remi’s. She also had green eyes, and looked perpetually angry, like the opposite of Remi. “I know my sister is here” she says.

“Sister?” Ryan asks.

“Remi Bertlett…” She says in an annoyed tone.

“Tera!?” Remi asks as she approaches the door.

“Is this your sister?” Franklin asks.

“I don’t know who you people are” Tera says, “but I’d suggest staying out of my way”.

“How rude do you have to be” Ryan asks, “to come to MY house, demand me to listen to YOUR demands, and command ME on what to do?”.

Tera points at Ryan and says “You… I don’t like you”. She then points at Franklin and says “I especially don’t like you”, and then points at Remi and says “and you! Mom said she wants you back, now! Come on, you’re coming home with me”.

“No!” Remi says. “I’m not going home so mom can… can… force to me marry some guy that I don’t even know! Tera, how could you just go with whatever mom says without questioning it?”.

“It’s not my place to question it” Tera says. “As well as, I wasn’t asking you to come home. I’m telling you to come home”.

“Make me!” Remi shouts.

“It’s that woman!” A man shouts as a group of three men approached Ryan’s door. “That’s her! She’s the one who knocked out Tyler, cold!”.

“Oh my g- what did you do!?” Remi asks.

“What?” Tera asks without showing any remorse or worry. “Some of these city people annoyed me on the streets… they needed a lesson in manners. Just like you, Remi”.

“Get her!” The man shouts as the three of them run up to Ryan’s porch.

“Tera!” Remi shouts. “Tera, get inside now!”.

“Don’t you tell me what to-” Tera says.

“Just get in here!” Ryan says as he pulls her inside and locks the door.

“Excuse me” Tera says, “but I didn’t say you could touch me”.

“Hey, you’re welcome!” Ryan says.

“This is ridiculous” Tera says as she unlocks the door.

“What are you-” Ryan asks.

“I’m leaving” Tera says. “I’ll be back in about a week. You have until then, Remi, to prepare yourself to leave”.

“Wait!” Franklin shouts.

The three men start banging on the door as Tera prepares to open the door. “I’m not going back” Remi says. “You can tell mom and dad I said that!”.

“Suit yourself” Tera says. “But know this… we will bring you home one way or another”.

Remi holds onto Franklin and says “I’m not going to let mom hand me over to some random family! I love this man, Tera! Please, tell me you have a heart beating somewhere in that chest of yours…”.

“If the world ran on heart…” Tera says, “then life would be a lot easier, now wouldn’t it?”. Tera opens the door, and the three men stand in her way. One of them looked like he was preparing to swing his fist at Tera, but Tera grabbed him by the collar of his shirt and head-butt the man. The man got dizzy and went limp, then Tera throws him onto the ground and stares at the other two men. One of the men step backward, and the other punches at Tera. Tera dodges and grabs the man’s arm, bending it backward until you could hear a loud snapping sound. That man falls to the ground, writhing in pain, and the other man runs off. Tera continues walking off towards the outskirts of the city, without showing remorse or worry about the fight that just happened.

The man with the broken arm looks up at Ryan as he stands at the doorway, tears in his eyes. “Get out of here before I call the cops for trespassing” Ryan scoffs. The man makes sure his friend was still conscious, and the two slowly limp away. “Your sister is kind of… a psycho” Ryan says as he turns around to face Remi.

“Yeah…” Remi says as she looks down. “I’ve never seen her like this. I wonder where she went wrong… we used to be so close, but now… I can’t even tell if she’s the same person anymore”.

“Harsh…” Ryan says. “Anyways, I’m calling it a night”.

“All of that happened and you just… don’t care?” Franklin asks.

“No, I really don’t” Ryan says. “Goodnight”.

Ryan walks away to his bedroom, but Franklin and Remi remain in the living room. “Are you gonna be okay, Remi?” Franklin asks.

“Y-Yeah, I hope so” Remi says. “Do you think… those men from earlier know?”.

“About you and your sister being a laibah?” Franklin asks. “I doubt it. They seemed focused on revenge, but not quite… well, you know how a lot of people in the city are about laibah. Fire and pitchforks and all that”.

“At least you’re different” Remi says, planting her head on his chest. “Thank you”.

“Good thing Ryan doesn’t know” Franklin says. “He’d definitely lose his mind”.

About a week later, Remi was preparing to leave again. She told Ryan that she was leaving for “business”, but she was actually leaving to avoid confronting her sister. However, the moment she walked out the front door, Tera was already waiting for her. “It’s time” Tera says.

“T-Tera!” Remi jumps. “I told you, I’m not going back!”.

“You’re not staying here, obviously” Tera says. “You don’t belong here with… these things”.

“Whoa, watch the offensive behavior!” Franklin says. “Leave Remi alone”.

“Or what?” Tera asks as she walks up to Franklin. “A HUMAN is going to tell me what’s right for MY sister? Get out of my face before I rearrange it for you”.

“What’s going on here?” Ryan asks as he approaches. “I heard violence and- oh… it’s you again”.

“Good evening, swine” Tera says as she looks at Ryan.

“What’s your problem?” Ryan asks. “Haven’t you ever heard of being respectful?”.

“Don’t you humans ever dare talk to me about respect” Tera says. “You’re the ones who started that war, you’re the ones who kick us out of our homes, you’re the ones who threaten our very lives!”.

“W-… what is she talking about?” Ryan asks. Ryan glances over at Franklin and shouts “What is she talking about!? Have you been keeping a LAIBAH, IN MY HOUSE!?”.

Franklin sighs as he rolls his eyes. “Look, Ryan, I know it’s-“.

“So you knew!?” Ryan demands.

“And… there… we… are!” Tera says as she seems to enjoy this scene. “The first reason why I hate humans. You’re ignorant, and hateful due to your ignorance. It’s unfair to say that humans are the only ones ignorant though. It’s impossible to know everything, and like so, laibah are just as ignorant. But when is the last time you’ve seen a laibah start a fire for humans being different?”.

“Tera!” Remi says. “Leave the humans alone! It’s not like all of them are the same person! What have either of these two done to you?”.

“Are you… defending me?” Ryan asks.

“Well for starters” Tera says, “they’re in my way”.

“In your way of what?” Ryan asks. “Kidnapping your sister? She said she isn’t going!”.

“Ryan…” Franklins says.

“Don’t get me wrong” Ryan says to Franklin. “I’m still pissed about this… but I’ll be damned if I let some… bitch just stand at my front door and call me names like that!”.

“You humans are all the same!” Tera says. “This is why we laibah hide from you! You’re all a terrible mess!”.

“This is all coming from someone whom agreed to marry some… guy with weird shifting abilities!” Remi says. “I know about your fianc, Ferris! That Amethyst guy with the many forms! I’ve met him before! I don’t know why you agreed so easily to marry such a strange laibah, but you don’t even know him!”.

“It’s what’s best for our kind!” Tera yells. “You know nothing about what it means to be a laibah!”.

“A laibah, eh?” One of the men from the week before says as he approaches. The man was wearing a cast for the arm that Tera broke now, and was holding a gun in the other hand. “I’ve been waiting to pay you back for what you’ve done” he says, “but now that I hear this mess about laibah and whatnot, I guess the police won’t do anything if you… disappear”.

“Tera! Look out!” Remi says as she stands in the way of the gunshot. However, when the man pulls the trigger, Remi closes her eyes in fear… but nothing happened. When she opens her eyes, she sees Franklin on the ground, bleeding profusely. “Oh my god! Franklin!” She says as she kneels beside him.

“Frank!” Ryan says as runs to his side.

“Now, now” the man says as he points the gun at Ryan, “no cops this time”.

However, Remi jumps on the man with the gun. “Remi, no!” Tera shouts as she races towards the two of them. When Remi tackles the man to the ground, another gunshot goes off. Remi swats the gun out of the man’s hand, and Tera pulls the man away from Remi. Picking the man up by the top of his skull, Tera slams his face into the concrete. After Tera’s heavy breathing subsided, she looked over at the rest. Remi had crawled over to Franklin, and had him laying his head in her lap, as Ryan sat beside the two of them.

“Remi…” Ryan says as he looks down at Franklin. “I’m sorry… I should’ve been there for him”.

“Don’t…” Remi begins to say as she begins to wobble. Suddenly, she collapses next to Franklin, exposing a bullet hole in her stomach. She was losing a lot of blood quickly, and was passing out. “Don’t… put this on yourself” Remi says softly.

“Remi!” Tera says as she rushes to her sister’s side. “You!” She says as she looks at Ryan, “this is all you human’s fault!”. Ryan was frozen in disbelief. He couldn’t quite come to terms with what just happened. “Humans ruin everything they touch!” Tera continues to say. “You’ve taken away my sister! I hope you’re happy!”. Tera then stands up and slowly backs away from the scene, eventually running, with tears in her eyes. Once Ryan was left alone, the light in his eyes quickly faded as all he could do was watch as his brother, Franklin and Remi die before him.

“As his breathing stopped” Ryan says to Rose, “and the reality began to sink in… I realized where I went wrong. The ambulance never arrived on time. He never grew any older, nor did Remi, yet here I am today. Old, alone, and I’ve been trying to fix what I’ve done”.

“Gramps, I-” Rose says.

“I know things would’ve been easier if I could’ve just… seen past my own short-mindedness” Ryan says. “I wish I could at least… see Tera one last time, so I could properly apologize for what I’ve done”.

“It’s not like you pulled the trigger” Rose says softly. “It wasn’t your fault that he-“.

“What part of that isn’t my fault?” Ryan interrupts. “It took me a long time to adjust to life after that… but, eventually, I decided to fix what was wrong with the world. Even if the changes had to be made slowly, I swore that I’d make it up to my brother”.

Rose was silent for a few seconds, then asks in a low and soft voice “The universe works in mysterious ways, huh?”.

“Yeah” Ryan says. “Yeah, I guess it does”.

“Well” Rose says, “you know I care about you, gramps. This is just all the more reason for me to help”.

“I knew I couldn’t stop you to begin with” Ryan says. “You and Sarah have always been like that”.

Rose laughs then says “Yeah… I guess we have. Which is why I’m definitely helping. This is clearly more important to you than some silly job… so let me help this time, please?”.

“Listen, Rose” Ryan says as he looks up at her. “I trust your sense of judgment. You’re not the type of person to make a careless move. So if you feel it’s time we change our methods to get this situation taken care of, then so be it. I just want you to know that I worry about our student’s safety. I’m not sure if the world is ready to accept what we’re doing without enacting such a… a rash response. Times have changed, but I just don’t know by how much”.

“Let me handle that part, gramps” Rose says as she stands up. “I won’t let someone just come up to this school and attack our students. Trust me, it’s going to be alright”.

“Yeah… I guess you’re right” Ryan says. “Starting next week, on Monday, we can address this bill publicly to the students. I’ll ask the other teachers to explain to their homeroom classes about the purpose of this bill. No more hiding in fear, for me and for the laibah. We take care of this now”.

“Yeah” Rose says, “and I’ll be here to help you. Just call me, and I’ll be there, alright gramps?”.

“Alright…” Ryan says.