Burning Passion

CHAPTER 131: SAVING NIKKI (Four) and the Past

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Everything happens in a flash. Jonathan was waving and smiling at her. But a car ran with speed and Jonathan was hit by. She witnessed when the car run over its tires into Jonathan's body. It terrifies her to the bones. She wanted to scream or run toward the body. But her foot nailed into the pavement. Her body froze, and she was like passing out to recall how the car ran over into the body.

"Jonathan!"

"Nikki!"

She hears people screaming. Then someone is shaking her body.

"Nikki! What happened?" It was Maureen and asked her repeatedly. "Are you okay? You are so pale!"

She cannot open her mouth to answer but tears flooded in Nikki's eyes. Her vision fogged with the water, and she lost strength in her knees. She dropped her body onto the ground as she continues sobbing.

"Nikki!"

"My god! Jonathan is dead!"

All she could hear and what she remembered is everyone screaming and shouting Jonathan's name. She doesn't know how she goes home in the White House. She was still in shock until her parents picked her up so early in the morning, and she just found herself inside her bedroom and cried for days.

"Papa, can I go back to Remy Town?" Finally, she talks to her parents after a week.

"I think it's better not now, honey," Seth replied to his daughter.

"But I want to visit Jonathan! I promised him! I haven't bid goodbye to him?" she insists.

"No one they allowed to attend his funeral but only his family and close relatives. Maureen told us. They plan to see your friend for the last time. But even Jonathan's classmates haven't allowed attending the funeral service."

"Why?"

Nikki's parent's eyes communicate. It worries them how to explain to their daughter. They cannot tell their daughter she was blamed for the death of her friend.

"Honey, that was what the family wanted. We cannot force it."

"How about if we go to your soccer practice? The team worried about you. Your captain said the team will join the Summer Tournament next year. But first, your team has to win all games, so you need to start your practice games." Seth attempts to convince his daughter. Maybe this way, Nikki forgets what happened.

Nikki ponders and nodded afterward. She promised Jonathan she will become a regular for the team and win their games. And next summer, she will visit him.

Recalling this, Nikki sobs. Lucy joined her side, hugged her tight while she cries.

"Mama… is it my fault?"

"Don't say that. Don't blame yourself."

"But they saw in the video. I pushed Jonathan!" Nikki's voice shaking from sobbing.

"But you didn't push him with intent. It was he who walked toward the lane unconsciously."

"Don't think about it, honey. The driver of that car confessed that he intended to hit your friend."

"What is that mean?"

"The two gangs have always been fighting. It was more like an act of revenge. It was an intentional murder."

Hearing this, Nikki cried harder. She believes Jonathan has nothing to do with the fight. But it was he who paid the price.

Nikki tried to continue having a normal teenage life. She focused on her studies and playing soccer. Her team won the finals, and they entered the Summer Camp Cup. The camp has all the best schools in the entire country. And from there, Mainland University marks potential athletes to offer a spot and a chance to train for the National Team.

Nikki works hard to be a skilled player for her team. They played for the tournament and become the Champion.

"Congrats, honey! Wait! Stay there, let me take a photo of you first."

Nikki poses with a sweet smile on her face.

"You are so pretty, honey!"

"Ma? My face is so sweaty!"

"You just won a game, so you are sweaty," Lucy told her daughter.

"Okay. Let's celebrate at the shop!"

Nikki's soccer teammates cheered.

Everyone had a great time and enjoyed the food Nikki's parents offered to the team. Including their coaches and team manager. Later, Daichi and the Lawrence brothers arrived with the other boys.

"Congratulations, Nikki!" Daichi greeted Nikki, followed by the brothers and Ben, who came home from studying Medicine in the US.

Nikki thanked them and offered food. It was night already, and so the team went home. Nikki entered the kitchen to look for her parents.

"Mama! Papa! Thank you!" Nikki hugged her parents, thanking them for doing this for the team. They were fully supportive of her, and she almost forgot what happened last year. But of course, there are times she remembers Jonathan. He is a good friend. And she wanted to fulfill her promise to him to visit Remy Town next summer; that was this summer. She wants to bid goodbye at Jonathan. After then, she won't come back to the town and for how long, she didn't know. Or maybe one day. She wanted to end the tragic summer she has in that town.

"Papa. Can I visit Remy Town one more time?"

"Are you sure, Nikki?"

She nodded at her parents. They gave her a worried face.

"Okay, Nikki. We will accompany you. But we will go this weekend." Seth's decision.

Nikki wanted to protest. Jonathan's death anniversary is tomorrow. But she has to wait.

"Okay. Papa. Thank you." she said and hugged them.

"All right. No more drama. Nikki and I will go home first. I know you wanted to stay and drink with the boys. No drunken promises!"

"What are drunk promises, Mama?" Nikki asked innocently.

"Don't mind it, honey. Your Papa just got wasted. Let's head home. You need not witness how they got drunk."

"Okay!" She giggles and helps her mother to gather things to bring to their house.

"I will ask Chris to drive you home."

"All right. Don't you dare drive the car when you are tipsy."

"I know. I won't drink too much tonight." Seth promised his wife.

Watching her parents, Nikki's smile widened. She was happy with how they have a wonderful relationship. She strode closer to her parents and hugged both. They weren't rich, but she was content with what they have. As long as they were together. Everything is perfect.

"Okay. Let's go, Nikki." Lucy is about to get out of the kitchen when the boys get excited, greeting other men who just arrived.

"Bye, Papa!" Nikki kissed her father's left cheek.

"Rest well, honey," Seth told his daughter when Daichi shouted.

"Uncle Seth! Theo is here!" Daichi announced from the dining area.

"Ah, he is here!" Seth's face lightened up, and the smile widened.

Nikki notices her father becomes too happy. "Who is he, Papa?" she asked curiously.

"Come on, Nikki. We will take the backdoor." Lucy holds her daughter in the arm and dragged her to the door.

"Eh. Honey, wait! Your daughter hasn't met—" his wife is not listening but taking her daughter away.

"Some other time. They will meet in the future." Lucy glared at her husband. Shooting a meaningful look at Seth, who just scratched his head, then went out to greet Theo.

"Mama, I haven't bid goodbye yet." She reasoned, but she was curious to meet the newly arrived friends of her father.

"Your father will tell them we left already. I'm tired, Nikki. I know you are too."

She truly is tired and sleepy. But she wants to thank everyone and bid goodbye. However, her mother is acting strange. It intrigues her.

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Next Chapter:

But the next morning, Nikki left a letter to her parents. Apologizing for leaving home.. She promises to come back tonight.