Do Johan, Sara and Akiko know about Alicia's abuse from Chris? And if they do, does Sara have no empathy or sympathy for Alicia because she only cares about wanting Chris' attention and love?
Yes, it took a while for Chris to feel confident and open up about her torments, even to Akiko, who met her in WonderWorld.
Johan already knew for a long time (they are best friends) and as for Sara, she has a hard time admitting her similarity (?) to Ali.
I think I'll do a little arc about Chris' group of friends, as they are very important people to him.
"I still love you, I don't want you to leave me, I don't want you to keep searching for your best friend. Come on Chris, let's have this chance for our future to shine, together, just the two of us."
A small group forms in the airport lobby, as do other groups composed of families, friends, colleagues and others.
One in particular, says goodbye to two friends who are ready to start their lives in their graduate careers, but also to go in search of "someone".
These boys are Christopher and Johan, who are traveling to find Alicia, the girl who has been missing for 10 years.
Chris and Johan are seen off with hugs from their friends Akiko, Franco and others. But what caught their attention is Sara, who is still absent.
Christopher felt sad as he thought that his friendship with her had healed after the last fight he had with her and that now, this would be the last time they would see each other for a long time. The man was aware that Sara still had a bit of resentment for Alicia, since she always cut the subject for every time the group talked about Chris' best friend, so, he supposed that she was uncomfortable to attend the goodbye.
With still half an hour to go, everyone was waiting for a sign from Sara, so they kept talking. Chris, chatting with his friends, is shocked, silent and wide-eyed, when he feels two small hands touching his back. The boy turns and sees Sara, agitated and her mint green eyes swollen.
Chris could only blurt out a word at the appearance of his expected friend.
"Sara!"
The woman takes his right hand and stares at the tall boy.
"Chris, let's talk in private."
"Okay"-the boy replies lowering his head slightly. They both walk away from the group and Johan sighs and covers his forehead with his hand.
"Argh, she's a fool!"
"Johan, don't say that," Akiko exclaims.
"The best thing is for Chris to leave his closure to that problem. We all know how Sara is"-Franco opines while stroking Johan's hair-"And stop that jealousy already, you mocker."
Johan blushes and walks away from the sturdy group man. Johan becomes upset and stammers.
"Sh-sh-shut up, old man! I'm not!"
The group friends are shocked at Johan's reaction. It is the first time Johan is seen in such a state, nervous, embarrassed and blushing. They held back laughter until a friend of theirs shouts out loud.
"Hahaha! Johan! This rascal, I think you've already changed your suitor!"
"IT'S NOT WHAT YOU THINK, YOU CRAZY SHRINK!"
"Psychotherapist, Johan, my title is of very important psychological hierarchy. And I'm not crazy, I think. If you want..."
"I don't want any of your crazy sessions."
While the nervous Johan argues with the woman, the rest couldn't resist and also burst out laughing.
...
...
...
...
Away from the group, in a corner near the exit door, Chris and Sara stand silently, waiting for who would start talking. In a minute, Sara ready, begins to blurt out her words.
"Chris, don't go. It won't be worth it."
The boy was not surprised by Sara's decree, but still, he felt sadness from inside his being.
Sara takes his hands and with her eyes looks into the eyes behind Chris's glasses.
"Chris, your life is here, with us. You grew up here, you studied with us, we formed our circle of friends and also your future will be more accommodating living here. Please forget about that country and let's follow our future together.
Chris only listened, but did not react. That makes Sara more uncomfortable and she continues with her insistence.
"Come on, don't hold on to the past, for what? In life we have to move forward and the leave behind as our experience. Now we have our friends, our new careers, your parents and, we can form our new "nucleus" here."-Tears fall on the girl's cheeks and her gaze shines with illusion.
"I still love you, I don't want you to leave me, I don't want you to keep searching for your best friend. Come on Chris, let's have this chance for our future to shine, together, just the two of us."
The girl cries and Chris just hugs her wrapping his long arms around Sara's head and covering her face with his torso.
From afar, a pang in the chest hits Johan and his usual ironic expression changes to one of disappointment. Another expression that Johan impresses on his friends. And now it is no longer a matter of laughter for them, but of apprehension.
The 5-minute consolation is over and Sara manages to pull herself together after crying. Chris strokes Sara's head and she catches her breath.
She, with her eyes more puffy looks at Chris and this time, he had a sad expression.
The boy takes off his glasses and the look in his eyes already revealed his decision. Sara understood that there was nothing more she could do. The pain in her chest appears in Sara and about to cry, Chris stops her by caressing the small face of the girl and wiping her tears with his big thumbs.
"Sara, you are as important to me as Alicia, Johan, Akiko and the others. You are my most treasured friends whom I never want to cut off and I am who I am because of all of you.
But if some of you disappear like Alicia, I would certainly move land and sea to find you. I cherish you all."-Chris reflects with a tender expression, looking at Sara's delicate face.
"I don't believe you"-the girl murmurs.
"I understand you and I will no longer insist. I can no longer afford to stand by and do nothing. Besides, my intuition tells me that this is the moment where I must leave and find my other family besides Ali...my aunt Rosy, another mom whom I adore, Elicia, the baby I wanted to take care of as a thank you for taking good care of me both Ali and my aunt and, punch that asshole Omar who hurt us."-Chris expresses while remembering the De La Estrella family, the humble family that raised him, and grew in Chris all kinds of emotions and knowledge during his 15 years of life at the time.-"And don't worry I will never lose contact with you or our friends, besides, I will be stopping by for the vacations. So Sara, I beg you..."
Chris' words were stopped by Sara's index finger. Chris remembered when Alicia calmed an upset young Christopher in those times when her friend was mistreated by any circumstances. Now, he, a man who had matured, was afraid of hurting another important friend again, of breaking a girl's heart again. Sara didn't need any more explanations.
"I won't stop you anymore, but if you forget about us, I'll hate you forever."
"Trust me, Sara."
"You've made it very hard for me, Chris, and only because I'm not over you yet."
"..."-A smile leaves Chris' lips, feeling guilty for forcing her friend to make a decision she's against.
They both hug each other tightly, as it will be a good while before they both see each other again.
The friends, seeing from a distance the reconciliation, are relieved, but Johan, for some strange reason, is disappointed.
