The Best friend

I never knew his worth not until he was gone in my life….

He’s Patrick, Bettina’s guy best friend.

They were friends since grade school. He’s always there to protect Bettina and they never had a fight that lasted for months.

Bettina may be a brat girl who always gets what she wants but then she loves and cherishes her best friend so much.

He always took care of her. She never had an older brother that’s why Patrick acted as one.

Every time Bettina would have a problem regarding any thing, Patrick is always on the rescue.

She broke up with guys, those guy’s faces were also broken by Patrick.

He doesn’t want Bettina to get hurt for she never had a father neither an older brother to protect her.

“Pat, can you come with me on Saturday?” she’s talking to her friend over the phone.

“Actually, I have something to do on Saturday but okay then never mind, I’ll go with you,”

“Thank you so much! You’re really such an angel and I love you so much! Bye! See you later!” she hanged up the phone.

“And I love you more,” Patrick just said it on the other line wherein no one listens to him.

Saturday

“Where are we going?” Patrick asked her while they were on their way. Patrick drove her car.

“To meet the love of my life!” she said on an exaggerated tone.

He pressed the breaks so hard, “What?”

“Do you have to that?!” Her head almost bumped in at the head board thanks to her seat belt.

“I’m sorry. I just thought you already learned your lesson. Bett, it was just one month ago since you and your so-called love of your life broke up, then now there’s new?”

“Pat, I have to move on. And I have moved on!” she explained to him.

“So, what is my role here? Your personal driver slash chaperone?” he said sarcastically.

“No, of course not! You’re my best friend so I want you to be the first to meet him.”

Patrick stopped the car on the side walk.

“You know what Bet, supposedly I had a very important thing to do today but I need to cancel it just for this stupid meet up! You go by yourself,” he went out of Bettina’s car.

“Hey, Pat! Don’t leave!” she shouted at him but he chose not to listen.

“You know what you’re doing. You don’t need me,” he stopped a passing cab and hopped in.

She didn’t understand why Patrick should react that way.

She got mad but the hell she cares with Patrick! She has her own life to live. It doesn’t matter to her anymore if he won’t exist in her life again.

15 years were already enough for their friendship.

Just like Patrick has said, they were already grown-up and can manage their own lives.

They don’t need each other anymore.

From that day on, she stopped bothering her friend. Their communication has lost for a long time.

She’s happy now with her new boyfriend but somehow she misses her best friend. It was just that pride always let her stopped to make the first move.

Days, months and later on years have set them apart, five long years of having no best friend.

Until one day….

An unexpected visitor came.

She saw a pale looking man, thin as a stick, white as vinegar.

“Pa-patrick? Is that you?” she couldn’t believe what she’s seeing right now.

“Yeah, it’s me,” Patrick smiled shyly.

She didn’t realize that she’s already hugging her best friend so tight and at the same time, crying.

She just felt that his strong arms and muscular body were already gone.

“I’m so sorry, Pat. And I missed you,” She said between her tears.

“Me, too Bett,” he softly said.

She stared again at her friend, “What happened to you? Are you sick?” She asked him although the answer was really clear.

“Yes. Actually dying,” Patrick’s voice was almost breaking, “I have cancer. Prostate,”

She couldn’t help but to cry again, “But it’s curable.”

“Not in my case, Bett. It’s too late when I discovered it,”

“I’m so sorry, Pat. I was not on your side when all of this happened. I truly don’t deserve you as my best friend,”

“It’s okay. Let’s forget it. I just had one last favor to ask,” Patrick begged.

“What is it? I am so much willing to help,”

“Please take care of my son. Her mom left us, a couple of years ago,”

“I didn’t know you had a family,”

“We weren’t a family. How about you, how’s your life?”

“Got separated with Bryan last summer,”

Patrick smiled wryly, “We really had so much to catch up but I doubt if we can still do it.”

“Of course we do! You will still live, Pat. Your son and I still need you in our lives and you used to take care of me so don’t you dare leave me!” she tried to kid about it.

“Anyway, where’s your son?”

“He’s at school. I’m going to pick him up at 3. Can you go with me?”

“I would love to! I missed you so much, Pat…I wished I never let my pride won,”

The two friends hugged each other again.

After two months, Patrick passed away.

 His son, Marco who’s now four, already lives with Bettina.

He’s now her new found best friend.