Part 1
Scene: Mater Dei Institution
Time: 10:45am
Date: 24th July 2019
Story: 3rd person point of view
"Aperi Domine os nostrum..."
Invoking God to listen to their prayers for the deceased, the Piarist Brothers started to chant the Office of the Dead ad Tertiam. The chanting, being rather haunted and funereal, echoed throughout the entire hall.
Standing beside the coffin that was laid in state, a rather tall, lean figure, overlooked the coffin. He placed his hands onto the glass showcase of the coffin as if to say his final farewell.
"Brother, I'm sorry I've failed you..." the figure spoke with a slight sniveling as a streak of tears flowed down his cheek. The glass showcase daubed with a few of his teardrops
Unbeknownst to the figure, another figure stood just a few feet away from him; a rather disconsolate look painted over his face.
"Wallace..." a rather forlorn whisper greeted the figure. "Wallace, we've got to go... It's almost time." It was Danny, and the sight of seeing his best friend weeping inconsolably pained him tremendously - as if a sword of sorrow too had pierced his own mortal soul.
Danny placed his right hand upon Wallace's right shoulder. Wallace turn his gaze slowly to face Danny, as if approving of his presence there. His eyelids slightly swelled, eyes bloodshot from the weeping and lips trembling ever slightly. It hurt Danny to see Wallace this way.
Ever since Wallace lost his dad to a car accident when he was just a young child, Brother Addams had been like father figure to him. Losing Brother Addams was like having Wallace reliving his past memory of losing a father once again.
Danny pulled Wallace into a brotherly embrace, patting his back as he continued to weep dolorously. Eventually, they both left the school hall as Wallace couldn't bear to see the sight of Brother Addams in the coffin.
Wallace couldn't accept that this is the new reality. He just couldn't. The thought of having to part with yet another father figure who had played an important part in his life is just insufferable.
Stopping along the corridor, Danny whispered to him, "Wallace..." as he stood beside him trying to console him.
Tears were still falling down his face as he wiped the tears off. Danny turned to face him and placed both his hands upon Wallace's shoulders.
"Wallace... I know what you're going through, and know that I'm by your side," Danny tenderly reminded Wallace as they held gazes.
Danny sensed that Wallace was not convinced with what he had just spoken due to the concerned look painted upon Wallace's face.
"Always," Danny whispered as he pressed his hands slightly harder upon Wallace's shoulder.
Wallace's expression relaxed tremendously. He got a grip of himself after being reassured by Danny, knowing that he will be there through his greatest hour of agony.
They then shuffled to the school chapel to get things ready for the Requiem Mass later at 1.00pm.
As they reached the chapel steps, they saw two persons leaning along the main treshold. The first had a rather tall figure to compliment his rather tan skintone and spiky hairdo; the other a rather plump figure to compliment his rather fair skintone and classic slick back hairdo.
The two figures snapped their heads towards their direction upon hearing the constant shuffling of their feet along the pavement.
"Shane! Alex!" Wallace exclaimed as he darted up the stairs. His face lit up as he gave them both a tight hug. It has been almost 3 years since their graduation that they have met. Shane was donned in a black robe and a sash girdled along his waist. He was also wearing a white mantle and capuce. Alex on the other hand, was wearing a formal yet sleek black suit.
"Shane, you became a Piarist!" Wallace exclaimed, the overwhelming sadness from him flushed as euphoria took control of him.
His eyes lit up when he saw Shane in his habit, knowing that after those 3 years of not communicating, things have definitely taken quite a surprising turn.
"Wait! I'm not a Piarist yet. I'm just a postulant in training," Shane stopped Wallace, a nervous look painted on his face as he placed his right hand behind his head shyly.
"It's the same thing Shane, you're still a Piarist anyhow," Alex barged in midway, supporting Wallace.
They all shared a laugh; and for that few moments, they all forgot about the painful event that brought them together in the first place.
As soon as they all ended their laughter, Alex spoke - the slight tone of sadness can be heard in his voice as he contemplated Wallace intently.
"Wallace, I'm sorry you have to go through this again. No matter what happens, we're all here for you..."
Being reminded of Brother Addams' death drew Wallace back to the harsh reality. He tumbled to the ground, unable to bear the immense sorrow that overtook him. Tears started to form in his eyes as he began to hyperventilate.
Wallace seemed rather dazed, like a deer caught in the headlights. You can see the great sorrow deep within his eyes as he lamented openly. The whole lot of them tried to comfort Wallace but to no avail. It all seems as if Wallace had completely lost it.
As Wallace started throwing a fit of emotions, Ronald came out of the blue from the school chapel and immediately tended to Wallace. He crouched down towards Wallace who was then on the pavement and place both his hands upon Wallace's shoulders.
"Wallace! Wallace! Listen to my voice..." a rather shell-shocked Ronald eyed Wallace intently.
The sound of Ronald's voice broke Wallace from his reverie. He eyed Ronald who was contemplating him worriedly, before shifting his gaze onto the rest who were also doing the same. Their eyes filled with such disconcertment as Wallace sat hugging the knees of sadness, brooding over the entire ordeal.
Wallace clinched onto Ronald by surprise, lamenting loudly. As much as he hated to see this, Ronald couldn't help but to condole with his god-brother.
"I know he's gone Wallace, but you have to let go or he can't be able to rest in peace," Ronald tried hardly to console him as Wallace continued to mourn.
Upon hearing this, Wallace quietened and tried to calm himself down till only a slight snivelling was heard. Around him, the whole lot stood while Ronald was still clasping onto Wallace who now has his head buried in Ronald's shoulders. His body trembling from the excessive crying as Danny crouched down and patted his back tenderly.
After what seems like eternity, Wallace felt like he had no tears left to cry anymore. As he lifted his face from Ronald's shoulders, the eyes of everybody around him contemplated him with such sorrow. His eyes had dried up, leaving behind rheum around his bloodshot eyes and a slight swelling. He left a stain of tears and mucus all over Ronald's while formal shirt. He rubbed his eyes before returning the gaze to Ronald.
"I'm sorry for being this way... It's just... I can't..." Wallace said with a slight snivelling in his tone.
Shane crouched down and placed his left hand upon Wallace's back, patting him as if to comfort him from the constant reminder of the trauma.
"We know what you're going through Wallace. We all lost a loved one before," Shane spoke tenderly as he gazed at Wallace before continuing, "You were there for me when I lost my mum 3 years ago, now it's my turn to return the favour and be here for you..."
