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Chapter 43: Valentine's Day

Keanu talked to his father and thought about speaking out about his ordeal almost two years ago. He felt now more comfortable coming out clean in some way and letting the affected families hear from him for the first time. Kendall agreed with a few questions in mind to be sure that this was what Keanu wanted. Keanu nodded.

Keanu and Kendall sought a journalist or a reporter to cover Keanu's flight. But what Keanu didn't know was that the journalist that Kendall brought in was Hannah, the female wolf whom they met at the lighthouse with her daughter Lizzy. It was indeed a small world here in Rexville.

Kendall had hung out with her a few weeks back in late January, so it was enough to get to know each other and the occupations of their work. Keanu knew this was a serious relationship that Kendall was committing to, and he was happy to see him moving on like himself.

The little gathering in the living room was nice, Hannah started with the simple questions and Keanu slowly told his tale of flight 8085 from the start at the hotel in Denver to the end of the flight's destination in Rexville. During his time in the hospital where, one-by-one, he heard the news of every patient passing away from their injuries and now he talked about what he had done so far in the past years since the crash.

"Sometimes, I would think about the incident and then a dark cloud would come over my mind and feel so sad. It made me feel lonely. I get episodes in bed until I fall to sleep. I have taken therapy to cope with my trauma and my physical therapy treatment to recover my walking. I spent an entire summer school in a wheelchair. All I could think about was hoping to walk again but I still remained on crutches in my senior year in high school."

Hannah said with a smile, "But you have made a fine recovery. Look at you, you're in great health."

He replied with a smile. "Thank you."

"So, what made to feel so quiet until now?"

"I felt conflicted and unsecured. The media could not stop talking about the accident without mentioning me without a name, just being called the sole survivor of flight 8085 and they had mistaken me for an arctic fox. Though that kind of helped me to hide a little bit under the shadow. I did not want that kind of attention. I wanted to start fresh, and Dad had plans, so we moved here to Rexville for college and his career. The airline gave us a big compensation for the damages, so we spent it on the hospital bill, my health treatment, and now for my college."

Hannah had a voice recorder on the coffee table, but she also wrote it down on her notepad for details.

Keanu continued while petting his tail on his lap, "So, I started college and met new friends here, it was so different than high school, and I'm having a good time here so I would never exchange it for the better. I now have a boyfriend who helped me to open up more than ever I felt before and... I had a bit of a hurdle because one student was tracking me down and wanted answers from me because I'm the only survivor of the crash. I was in denial because I never spoke of it, and I was afraid of being judged of what others think of why I survived when others didn't... it all came back down to rain on me, and I felt hopeless. But Hunter didn't give up and tried to unlock me and embrace it. I was in love, and I didn't want to lose him, and he talked to me about his personal family issues with his brother and I then made the big step to relive the past for the first time.

"I had dreams about the experience, they weren't nightmarish but reliving it and seeing their faces always gets me. There was nothing I could do but cry a little in bed. But this time I was in the arms of my boyfriend who helped me to warm up when I needed it.

"Hunter and Dad helped to cheer me up by doing some outdoor activities like hiking to the cliffside, going out for some exercises to release some stress, and going out to distract myself. It helped me well and also being in love kind of made things better for me." Keanu chuckled. "One day I talked to the student who tracked me down for answers and gave him closure. He wanted to know if I was sitting next to his girlfriend at the time of the flight, which was true, but I later exchanged seats with her mother who was sitting a few rows ahead and I sat on the last row seat. They sat together as a family...

"I never knew that decision would change my life forever. I shiver whenever I think about it, just one change made a big difference to me. I will never forget that. I always have questioned myself; why? Why me? I will never know. I recently have logical explanations as to how and why I survived in the aftermath, but it felt so different when you're there, firsthand, and not knowing what will happen to you."

Keanu breathed and relaxed, releasing tension on his shoulders while his father held him with one arm around his shoulders. "Thanks to everyone's encouragement, I could make up my decision to speak up about my experience on flight 8085. Now, I'm here talking to you."

Hannah wrote down her notepad. She picked up her voice recorder and turned it off. "Well, this should be it," she smiled, "I'll let guys know when we'll publish it, but it won't take long."

"Thank you," Keanu said and leaned to his father's shoulder next to him, it had been a while, but this was how close they were as father and son.

Kendall whispered, "I'm proud of you."

"I am, too."

The new semester went in smoothly and the university was in Valentine's Day spirit on Monday. Keanu looked forward to the holiday and bought a simple gift for Hunter, some chocolate bars, and a small stuffed arctic wolf plushie with a cute purple and cyan scarf like his jacket. He never felt so corny in his life but felt enamored at the same time as this was the first romantic-related gift he had ever given. He even made some Valentine's Day cards with a chocolate bar for his friends.

It was lunchtime and searched for his boyfriend and friends around the cafeteria. He saw so many students receiving cards, flowers, plushies, and candy as gifts. So romantic and exciting.

When he found his friends gathered at the table lunching, he noticed Hunter absent. Keanu tried to give Hunter the gift at the station, but Hunter missed the train that morning, so he held it until noon hopefully. Hunter texted he was coming to join them for lunch sooner, so he patiently waited and joined his friends for lunch. Maybe Hunter was bringing him a nice surprise at any moment.

Xavier pulled off a small bouquet of red roses for Milagros under the table and a heart-shaped box of chocolates. The parrot was stuttering but did an effort on what to say to her and he did not mind his friends' presence. "Uh, th-these are for you, Luisa. Happy Valentine's Day..."

His hands were shaking a little, his limited facials of smiling quivered, and he was sweating under his feathers. Sol was mentally laughing out of his mind because he knew if he blew out one little chortle, he would be dead meat.

Milagros smiled and accepted the gift. "Aw, thank you, Xavier. Happy Valentine's Day to you, too. Come here~." She stood up and offered a hug and Xavier nervously opened his arms shakingly and wrapped her around cornily.

"Gl-glad you l-like it." Xavier stuttered and froze when he felt a pair of lips resting on his left cheek. His body turned steaming hot.

They parted their hug and Milagros saw the parrot having a romantic meltdown. It was only a kiss on the feathered cheek. Maybe it was too much... or not... maybe he was exaggerating. But Xavier must be satisfied with his achievement and slumped on his seat looking dazed and numbed at the bay windows.

Keanu stood up and handed over at each his own Valentine's gift card with a chocolate bar. "Here, this is my treat."

"Aw, you too?" said Milagros. "You shouldn't have! I'll give this one to Natasha when I see her."

"Thanks!" cried Xerxes. "This is better than the love plunger." The pink dragon stood up from his chair and showed everyone the toilet plunger painted in pink and red with a heart on the top end and... it was stuck on his butt cheek.

"What the hell, man?" Broderick cried. "What kind of cupid would do that?"

"Some dude plunged it to me while running by on the campus. I tried to take it off, but I can't, and there's also a letter written."

Sergio and Sol looked closer and tried to pull it out, but I was air-tightly shut. "Forget it!" Xerxes said. "But can you read what it says on the letter?"

Sol looked closer and read. He looked up at Xerxes and said, "You have a secret admirer and they plunged you up on your ass?"

"It's not a guy, right?"

"Do you know who plunged you?"

"Just some dude who ran away and he said it was from his sister."

"There's a phone number and her social media account. Are you gonna go for it?"

"After plunging my ass? No way! I'm not having a repeat of Sol's crazy drama and ending up duct-taped on the wall."

"Well, your loss," smiled Sergio. "I bet she's pretty."

"If she could have asked me nicely then I'll go."

Finally, Hunter Montana arrived to join his friends for lunch and with Keanu who was eager to give his final gift.

After placing his lunch tray, Keanu greeted, "Happy Valentine's Day, Hunter."

"Happy Valentine's Day, love." Hunter kissed him on the cheek and caressed his furry white cheek. "How are you?"

"Great! And look what I got for you~." Keanu picked up the small basket gift under the table and placed it next to his lunch.

Hunter looked at the gift and the wolf plushie had a blue shirt that said, "I'm your moon that shines your heart." Hunter chuckled.

"Thanks, Keanu, I also have a gift for you~." Hunter picked up his backpack and fetched out a box of chocolates and a pink t-shirt. Hunter stood up and unrolled it, showing a red text that said, "Wolves in Love," and between them was a pair of simple wolves' heads in minimal-styled cartoons with the same fur palette of their furs.

"Oh my!" Keanu cried and laughed. "Is that us?"

"Oh, my god, that's so cute!" Milagros cried. "You made that?"

"My sister made it, she really nailed it," he said. "Here, Keanu, it's your size." Hunter handed him the pink t-shirt and Keanu placed it over his torso.

"This is so corny, Hunter," Keanu said. "I like it."

"I also have a shirt for me, too."

"You too?"

Hunter unbuttoned his green shirt and revealed his own shirt underneath, the same style and color. Hunter was blushing to death.

"You want me to wear it?"

Hunter shrugged as he smiled. "If you want."

And so, for the whole afternoon, the wolves wore their new shirts semi-shamelessly around the campus for Valentine's Day. Very corny at its finest. But they had fun and adored their given gifts, and even shared eating the box of chocolate together. They each ate a different flavor of orange, coconut, dark chocolate, bits of walnuts, strawberry, peanut butter, and caramel. They loved every moment of it.

...

In the afternoon by the time Hunter and Keanu left the campus to their homes, Sol came out of the soccer field building with Broderick and Xavier, all exhausted from their soccer practice. They had a match this weekend against a soccer team from Los Angeles.

"I'm beat," said Broderick. His horns were slowly growing back.

"You're always beat," Xavier said. "Coach Soto is always above standard."

"Yeah, and every time I get a hang of it, she raises up the bar."

"That's her strategy and it somehow works," Sol said. "She wants us to keep moving from doing the same limbo. Every practice is always something different."

"Hey, Xavier, are you planning to ask Milagros out on a date?" Broderick asked. "That Valentine's gift was something."

"Can't a guy... ugh, just let me be, okay? I'm doing this on my own and..."

"Isn't it weird that you want to out with a gender-bender of Sergio?"

Xavier gave him an are-you-serious face. "Should I be concerned? I know they're fraternal twins, but it never crossed my mind whenever I look at her is always Sergio's face. You're really taking this too far, Broderick."

"My bad." He guilty sneered.

"How long have you been crushing on her, Xavier?" Sol asked.

"A while, we get along just fine. I was praying you wouldn't poke fun about it, knowing you, but you didn't."

"I was, I knew you would kill me," Sol laughed.

"Whatever, well, speaking of boyfriends here comes your old admirer." Xavier pointed at the walking raccoon.

Sol smiled and greeted. "Hi, Robin, how's it going?"

Robin waved and threw a chocolate bar. "Here! Think fast!"

Sol caught it with his hands. "Thanks! Happy Valentine's Day!" He quickly realized he had a small gift of his own for Robin. "Oh, wait!" He moved his backpack from his back and rummaged through its contents. He picked up a small box of heart-shaped candy. "Here, it's not much but you know the message."

"I know, thanks."

"Do you want to talk in private?"

Robin shrugged. "Sure."

Broderick and Xavier left the raccoon and the leopard by themselves and made for their respective dorms.

The odd couple sat on a nearby bench. Robin had his hands in his pockets and relaxed. Sol followed and steadily started the conversation. "So, how's it been for you?"

"Just fine," he shrugged, "everything started anew and not much has changed. It was only mandatory that I should give you a gift for this silly holiday."

Sol smiled. "I wasn't expecting it, but it was nice of you."

"Thanks, you, too."

"I also have a gift for Topher like yours, I just haven't seen him all day."

"Then call him."

"I can't I don't want him to spoil him."

"It's just another box of heart-shaped candy treats, I'm sure he won't be disappointed. Also, I saw him buying a gift, so I assume it's for you."

Sol felt unsettled. His small gift for Topher was looking like shit. He picked it up from his backpack and said, "Uh, he won't be mad or anything if I give him this, right?"

Robin shrugged uncertainly. "I'm sure the thought will count."

"I'm not exactly the most romantic guy on the campus, so..."

"So he has to suck it up."

"Hey, easy, he's probably my future boyfriend..."

"I'm sure it should be expected from you, but I'm sure Topher will understand, it's rare of him to be upset..." he shivered at the thought, "...unlike last time, he gave me a huge lecture about blackmailing."

"Oh, yeah, I remember, I told him about that. He can be feisty when he wants to be. So, how did you two meet?"

"Around the start of last semester, we stay in the same dorm building, we're not roommates, we're one floor apart. I was looking for a hookup and found Topher there and..." he shrugged, "we had fun and got along. Nice guy and all. He's the first friend I ever made in this university after struggling in high school."

"Do you want to talk about it?"

Robin sighed and spoke quietly, "Alright, uh, in high school, I met someone who seemed friendly at first, he was a leopard, he seemed a bit of a jerk at first, but he never meant anything hard or anything else personally. I also met a fellow teenager who went to another school, but he hung out with me at home and his time to time and met the leopard, too. One night I had a sleepover with him at his home and one thing led to the other and we slept."

"What's his name?"

"Uh, Evan, let's call him Evan. We weren't in love or anything, we just started to fool around in his house and then mine and explored each other. I already knew I like guys, but for Evan was a little more complicated like either bi or pansexual. I wasn't sure, but he seemed to keep looking and... you know, but he did enjoy my company, so it was a win-win for both of us...

"One day, we were doing it and my future bully entered my room for a surprise visit and caught us in the act. He was disgusted and ran out of the house. Evan and I were worried, so I didn't know how severe it would be in the future and this was at the end of my junior year, so I wasn't sure what would happen in my senior year.

"Boy, I was screwed, it was quiet on the first week until I received hate from the leopard and the rest followed. It was a nightmare and then Evan moved out with his mother after a divorce to another town and I found myself alone in this mess. Evan apologized to me that he was moving and kept me in touch as best he could as I struggled in school. Bystander syndrome was an all-time high in school and no one could help me and stand up for me. I was defenseless and knew of the double standards of the zero-tolerance policy in schools, so I was afraid of getting in trouble for standing up and speaking up. It was awful, I know, but what could I do back then?

"I did go to school counseling by my parents and tried at least file a report on the leopard and they did, and transferred him to remedial English. He was further upset and knew it was because of me and that did not help, and he stopped doing physical harm to me but kept insulting me and calling me a fag. Verbal abuse was worst than his hands could hit me." He sniffled. "I'm glad he went to another university last time I heard from him. I hope karma gets him for what he deserves."

"But what about Evan?"

"Oh, he's still around, he's in San Diego University. I still keep in touch with him. I haven't talked to him about what I did last semester. You know, the whole prank wars fiasco?"

"Oh yeah..." Sol said a little awkwardly and a little silence came out between them.

"Hey, thanks for listening to me."

"No problem, I'm sorry you went through with that."

"I'm okay, I grew a lot from it and from you, too." He wiped off his tears. "You're a good leopard, Sol."

"No prob..." he didn't finish the sentence as he saw a maned wolf holding a gift basket with heart-shaped balloons walking toward them.

"Happy Valentine's Day!" cried Topher. "Oh, hi, Robin, didn't see you there. Did I interrupt anything?"

"No, not at all, we just had a talk," Sol said.

"Good, it's so nice to see you both had makeup after your melodrama." He handed over his gift basket to Sol. "This one is for you, Sol~!"

"Holy, shit..." he held and looked at the gift. The usual stuff like chocolate, a love card, some flowers, and a stuffed maned wolf plushie with a corny message t-shirt. Similar to Keanu's gift for Hunter, but bigger and with balloons. This maned wolf was very into him at heart.

"At least say, Holy Valentine, because it's Valentine's Day."

"Uh, thank you, Topher, it's very thoughtful of you, so this means you..."

"I want to be your Valentine, Sol, I want to go out with you tonight. I know it's Monday, but we can go out and eat and do stuff together..."

"Sure, I'll be your Valentine, I also have a gift for you..." he awkwardly pulled out his small box of candy treats to Topher. "Uh, don't take it the wrong way, I... I didn't mean to..."

Topher looked at the candy and scoffed. "Well, that should be expected of you."

"Told you he would understand," Robin said and showed the same candy box in his hand to Topher. "He also gave me the same but I'm not mad."

"I see, well, come here," Topher opened his arms for a hug and Sol gladly reciprocated. Topher whispered in his ear with light-hearted humor, "You owe me a real date after this lazy gift." He shook the little box right to his other ear, and the contents inside made a maraca-like sound.

Sol guiltily smiled as he rubbed his nape. "Sure, maybe this weekend."

After they parted the hug, Topher saw Robin's dried tears. "Have you been crying, Robin?"

"I little, yeah, I talked to Sol about my ordeal in high school."

"Oh, wonderful, you're making yourself some good effort on you."

"Whatever, I'm going back to the dorm. I'm tired." Robin stood up and waved at the two. "Have a good date, you two."

Sol watched Robin leaving them to his dormitory and turned back to his new love interest. "So, where are going this evening?"

"Let's go out and eat and go to the arcade. Do you like dancing games?"

"Sure, I'm good at rhythmic games and other stuff. I can finally show off my moves."

"Cool, I'll wait for you at the tram station." He gave Sol a quick peck on the cheek and left him with his gift in his dorm.

Sol picked one rose from the basket and sniffed it, he smiled almost stupidly like someone falling head over heels. He knew what love was like and never felt anything like this since his first crush on Johan. They had their fair share of time together, but they never were official. Sometimes Sol wished he could have told him how he felt but their career paths were so different and went their separate ways. He assumed it was expected to be that way but told himself that there were plenty of fishes in the sea. And Topher was among them. He was happy to find it and to give an official opportunity.