Ocean Eyes

"And that's how you celebrate your accomplishment? Drinking like a fish?" That made him spun on his seat. Only to be greeted by his older brother. He's at their bar counter, drowning himself with his beer.

"Hey." He simply said and spun back to where his can is. The latter frown at what he did.

"Problem?" His voice laced with concern as he sit on the vacant stool beside him.

"I don't know if I can categorize her as a problem. And if she is, she will be a very beautiful problem." He whispered but it reached his brother's ears. judging from the looks of it, Duke can tell that his brother really just lost the battle of the heart.

Duke ruffled his hair. "Are we talking about the same girl?" He badly wanted to cheer him up.

Treyson looked at his brother funny. The latter chuckled at what he did.

"Yep." Treyson answered popping the letter 'p'. "And there has been any other girl but her."

The gloom around Treyson is palpable. As well as the longing, frustration and sadness. Pain.

"Why didn't you pursued her, anyway?" Duke inquired, snatching the can he's holding in the process. Treyson scowled at his brother but the latter just shrugged his shoulders.

"Because I know she'll never be mine no matter what I do." Treyson sighed as if releasing his pain. "Even when he left her without a word, she remained faithful and loyal to him. There was never a moment that my heart ached for her as I watched her torture herself. For years, I'm always by her side. Looking out for her. And I know how hard it is for her but it's much harder on my part. Cause I know I can't do anything for her. And that's what made it worse."

"I loved her from the moment she set foot on the stage. I'm drawn to her from the moment I saw her holding her drumsticks. I cared for her from the moment she swayed her body in a graceful manner. I'm in love with her even though her heart can never be mine. She'll never be mine."

"I honestly don't know what to say, little brother." Duke said with all honesty. He can't tell any comforting words to his brother to lighten up his mood.

"It's enough for me that you're listening." For the whole minute, he refrained to speak. For fear that his voice might break. But it's his heart that's already shattering.

Treyson's pain rolled down his eyes without him knowing.

Duke just patted his brother's shoulder as he watch him silently crying. His heart is hurting for his brother for feeling such pain.

"You know, you're still young to be feeling such pain." Duke commented breaking the brief silence.

"Maybe. But I've never felt this way before."

"And it's your first time feeling it, so how would you know it's love?" Duke asked with plain curiosity.

"Because it wont hurt this much if it's not."

Duke stilled upon hearing his response. Looking at his brother in such state is heartbreaking. But he doesn't know how to comfort him for he didn't have gone in his situation.

"My heart is twitching. Even from the littlest thought of her, my heart pounds and breaks all at once." His tears continue to kiss his cheeks. "Do you think I can move on from her?" Treyson asked, wiping his cheeks when he realized he's shedding tears.

"Do you want to move on from her?" Duke asked instead of answering.

Treyson's sadness doubled. Imagining his life without her is hell. But can he bare the fact that he's in love with the person he can't have.

Fuck! This is fucking insane!

Treyson messed his own hair out of frustration.

"Relax, little brother. Take your time. You can't force yourself to move on from her. It should happen in a natural way." The only thing that he can tell his brother.

"Thank you, Duke. I needed that talk." Treyson never called his older brother with honorifics. Or all his older brother at that. He finds it funny.

"Now, now. Don't make me blush, little brother." Duke kid which made him chuckle. "Cheer up. It's not the end of the world."

"Yeah. It's not." Treyson whispered more to hinself. Maybe not yet.

"And we should be-" Duke's sentence cut midway when their parents entered the house.

But what caught his attention is the little girl his father was holding.

"Son, a hand please. Duke, the things in the car needs taking care of. Treyson, ready the tub." His mother asked in a very sweet way. The worry in his Mom's face is visible.

"Sure, Mom." They both answered as they saunter towards them. They even managed to kiss their Mom's cheek before doing what she asked.

As they both proceed to what they're asked to do, Treyson stole a glance at his parents who's fussing over the little girl. His Mom took the girl and they follow him upstairs.

Treyson didn't know where to go so he proceed to his room and left the door open for his mother. He immediately readied the bath and took out some towel and robe. As he finishes his thing, his Mom entered his room.

"It's all ready." He smiled a small smile at his Mom.

Treyson's eyes landed on the girl his Mom was now holding.

The girl has this long hair, wavy, brownish that reached her small waist. She's also a bit skinny but with fair complexion. But she can't see her face since her back was facing him.

"What happened?" Treyson asked his Mom who walked towards the bath and gently putting the child on the tub.

Treyson leaned on the door frame and watched his Mom bathe the little girl. And while his Mom is doing that, the little girl's head hanged low.

"We saw her on the street when we're on our way back. She's running frantically with her tear-streamed face that she's almost got hit by a car." His Mom, the gentlest person he know is speaking softly as if scare that her voice might break the little girl. Then he heard her Mom sniffed. "When your Dad took her in, she clung to him for dear life. And what's more, her soles are bleeding."

Treyson can't even tell how shocked he was. And when his eyes trailed on the tub, the color of blood started to fill the water.

"Can you step outside, please, my son?" His Mom asked softly. He left without a word for he didn't know what he'll say. His pain was forgotten and diverted to another subject.

If the girl is frantically running, someone must be after her. And her soles. If it's bleeding, then it must be wounded before she start running. Or did she got wounded while running?

Treyson's mind drifted to the bathroom where the sound of the water was all he can hear. And after a couple of minutes, his Mom emerged from the bathroom with the girl in her arms, wrapped in a towel.

"Let me." Treyson immediately saunter towards his Mom to carry the girl to his bed. But to his surprise, the girl didn't let go of his Mom.

Treyson looked at his mother, confused.

"She must be scared." His Mom answered. "It's okay, little girl. Treyson here, won't harm you."

Then slowly, the girl let go of his Mom and let him take her to bed. Treyson carefully lifted the girl then properly carried her to his bed. And as soon as the girl face him, her eyes caught his attention.

It's swollen, all right. But that's not the thing. It's their colors. And it's staring back on him. But they're emotionless. Even after seeing his shocked expression.

His Mom watched him stilled. And out of curiosity, she moved beside him to take a look. And she's beyond surprised when she saw what his son saw.

When her son won't move, she gently tapped him on his shoulder. And out of his dazed state, Treyson move to his bed and gently put the little girl down.

"I'll just get a shirt." Treyson informed his Mom and quickly grab a shirt without waiting for his Mom to answer. His Mom sit in front of the girl and started drying her hair.

"May I ask what is your name?" His Mom asked softly. But there's no response. When he get back with the shirt, his Mom didn't speak anymore.

Treyson sit beside his Mom. He's worried about the girl, but he can't shake the fascination he's feeling at what he saw.

"Here, let me." He offered to help. His Mom move out of the bed and let him do the drying.

"I'll be downstairs to prepare something for her." His Mom announced, then smiled at the girl and gently caressed her face. "Don't cry now, okay? You'll be safe here."

With that, his Mom went out of his room. The silence is deafening. But Treyson don't want to make the girl uncomfortable if he started talking. So he remained silent until he put his shirt on her. He gathered the towel on his hand and get up but a small hand gripped his, making him halt.

Treyson immediately looked at the girl. Her eyes was pleading and glistening with unshed tears. Treyson's eyes softened upon seeing her expression.

"I won't leave. I'll just hang this," and raised the towel in his hand. "I'll be back shortly."

The girl reluctantly let go of his hand. He smiled at her but her face didn't move a single muscle.

Treyson sighed and hurriedly went to the bathroom to hang the towel. When he get back to his bed, the child didn't move from her place. He doesn't feel pity towards the girl. But it is worry and concern that's eating him.

Tresyson comb the girl's damp hair with his fingers since he doesn't own a hairbrush. The girl is still as docile. She didn't move not unless from his motion. She didn't speak. She's just staring at nothing the whole time. Her face doesn't contour any kind of emotion. She's just like a vessel. Alive but no anything whatsoever.

Treyson's worry keep growing by the minute. And he doesn't like how the feeling is eating him. Not one bit. And it grew more when he saw the wounds on the girls soles. He tried to touch them but the little girl immediately withdrew her feet from them.

Treyson looked at her, worried. But, she's still emotionless. And when fear flickered from the girl's eyes, he immediately dropped his hands to his side.

"Come on. Let's go downstairs." Treyson said instead but he didn't get any response. He carried her with all his gentleness. The little girl clung to him as if she depends on him for dear life.

Carefully, Treyson walk downstairs. He's carrying the little girl like she's some kind of delicate crystal that's about to break any minute. Maybe she is.

When they entered the dining area, the whole gang is complete. From his oldest brother down to their princess, together with their parents. They're all seated around the twelve-seater long table. All eyes were on them that made the girl he's holding flinched. He abruptly caressed her back to ease her.

"Don't worry. They won't harm you." Treyson whispered with a smile. The girl relaxed a bit. And when his Mom walked towards him, the little girl immediately held out her arms, as if wanting to be held by his Mom.

With her ever gentle smile, Mrs. Quintana embraced the girl and softly patted the little girl's back. Treyson settled on his chair but didn't sat down. Instead, he lean on the backrest of the chair.

"Little girl, they are my children." Mrs. Quintana introduced them smiling, not even expecting a response from the little girl. But the smile on the woman's lips didn't falter. "I promise they won't harm you in any way. We'll keep you safe here."

All eyes held concern and worry for the little girl. No pity, or anything that's close to that emotion.

Then Mrs. Quintana sat down with the girl in her lap. They are all watching as the woman feed the little girl.

"How old is she?" Quade broke the silence.

"Around ten, maybe. Judging from her built." Israel answered. "And she looks so worn out."

"She was running frantically when we saw her." They are all talking in a soft voices. Most especially, their Mom.

"Figures." Yvonne said. "She can stay with me in my room."

"Thanks for the offer but I must say it's better if she'll be with us for a while." Mrs. Quintana interjected. "I think she'll be at ease if she'll be with us."

"Agreed." Treyson answered for the first time since he entered the kitchen. Which made all eyes trailed on him. "Back in my room, she seems to be afraid or something. She even grabbed my hand when I was about to leave her to hang the towel."

Worry rose in the air making the atmosphere bothersome. After that, nobody dared to speak. Even until their mother finished feeding the girl and went out of the dining area with their father.

"Do you think she's in a trauma?" North asked out of the blue. All eyes settled on him.

"Possibly. She won't act that way if she's not, right?" Duke said pertaining to the girl's flinching upon seeing them.

"Let's just make her feel at home here. We will take care of her, fix her. We will give her all the care she needs. So she can start with her life again." Yvonne's twin, Atreus said. The latter gathered agreement from them.

"I hope she'll be able to be at ease here." Quade said, hopeful. They all agreed to what the oldest said. Then they all went out of the dining area, as if the meeting just got adjourned.

"You think she can feel at ease here?" Duke asked Treyson when they went out. They're the last ones to go out.

"Maybe." Treyson answered, uncertain. "I really hope so."

"Maybe she will. We will do all we can to make her feel comfortable here." Duke said hopefully. Arousing the desire from him to take good care of the little.

Treyson suddenly felt the urge to 'fix' the little girl their parents brought. But he doesn't have the slightest idea how he'll do that. How can you even fix someone if you can't even fix yourself?

Treyson heaved a long sigh.

"What's with the sigh, brother?" Duke queried.

"I'm just worried about the girl." His voice held sincerity. "Her soles are wounded. And what bothers me most is that the wounds. It looks like burn marks. With scratches which, I presume, she got from running that made it more worse. And when I tried to touch it, she immediately withdrew her feet away from me. She's so scared."

"Don't think about it too much. We will take care of her here" Duke tapped his shoulder. Treyson respond with a tight smile, but his mind is still on the girl. "For now, focus on yourself."

Treyson turned to his brother. Duke has this comforting smile ready for him. He returned his smile before tapping his brother's shoulder. He nodded his head and left his brother to go upstairs.

Treyson reached his room in not time. And he dropped himself on his bed, eyes fixed on the ceiling. Then his situation came to his mind like a gust of wind.

Move on. Let go.

Two words that keep on ringing on his mind. It's sounded easy to do. But Treyson knew better. Those words will be the cause of his torture for the days to come. And with that thought, the darkness swallowed him whole. Surrendering himself into complete oblivion.