Brave for Once

Tyler Robinson laughed and patted my head.

"Cleo, were you scared stupid? Your courage hasn't improved, and you've grown even dumber from the scare."

Freya Green bickered with him skillfully.

"Don't worry, we'll slowly help her get better."

I pursed my lips tightly, looking seriously at the two of them bantering.

"This isn't helping me. It's bullying."

Freya's smile froze.

"Cleo, that hurts. I spend time helping you, yet it's bullying in your eyes?

"Fine, then I will also go ride what I am most afraid of. That way it's fair, right?"

She walked toward the roller coaster as she spoke.

Tyler frowned at me and grabbed her.

"Don't force it. Last time you even cried from fear. I'll go with you."

I just stood there, unmoving.

Just now, when riding the drop tower, Tyler had said to me, "You can't be this childish, needing someone to accompany you just for an amusement park ride."

The roller coaster stopped, and Freya chattered away.

"It's so much fun when someone plays with you! Cleo, look, it's not even that scary at all!"

However, nobody accompanied me.

Tyler looked at my expressionless face.

"If you're still angry, how about we accompany you to ride the drop tower again?"

But this time, they chose the two-person drop tower, the "couple special".

Only by hugging tightly face-to-face would the seats not tilt during the ascent.

An advertising slogan was engraved on the equipment: [The deepest trust for the closest person.]

When the staff mentioned there was an extra person, Tyler glanced at me.

"Since you were so frightened last time, Cleo, skip it. I'll go on with Freya."

They laughed and sat down face-to-face.

How strange.

When they needed amusement, I wasn't allowed to be afraid.

Now, I was allowed to be?

I stared at them as they buckled their safety harnesses.

"Tyler, let's call off our engagement party in five days."

Tyler looked at the seriousness on my face, and his expression changed.

"Cleo, don't be silly. Let's talk about it once I get down!"

After the round of the game ended, they finally caught up with me outside the apartment complex.

Mom was sitting and chatting with people downstairs.

She frowned when she saw me.

"What's wrong? Not having fun?"

Freya suddenly linked her arm through Mom's with an aggrieved look.

"Andrea, I was helping Cleo build her courage, but she said I was bullying her. She also wants to break up with Tyler."

Tyler also followed up to join the conversation.

"Andrea, it's okay if Cleo doesn't want to, but breaking up shouldn't be mentioned so casually."

Mom's face darkened instantly.

She pinched my ear.

"Just because you say you won't marry means you won't? Are you trying to rebel?"

Neighbors gathered around, and Mom spoke louder and louder.

"This child is cowardly. Tyler and Freya were kind enough to help her, and she doesn't even know what's good for her!

"Do you want to stay cooped up at home and be useless for the rest of your life?"

Looking at the neighbors gossiping, my face felt hot, like I had been slapped.

Tyler stood out and defended me.

"Andrea, it doesn't matter if Cleo is like this. I will protect her."

Hearing this, Mom grew even angrier with me and dragged me upstairs.

The door closed, and my tears could not help but fall onto the floor.

"Mom, why is it that even though I'm your daughter, you always believe others?"

Mom let out a cold laugh.

"Don't I know you? I gave birth to you, after all.

"You've been afraid of everything since you were small, not like Freya. You can't do anything well... Just like your useless father!"

Her words carved into my bones like a knife.

But I also really wanted to be brave.

When I was young, money was tight. Mom had high expectations and took my father's honesty as uselessness, scolding him about how this was why he couldn't make money.

So she "built" my courage from childhood.

At three years old, I was afraid of the dark. So she locked me in the storage room. I cried until I lost my voice and still got beaten when I came out.

When I became afraid of water, she pushed me into a basin. If I didn't endure it, there was another beating.

She said this was desensitization.

However, I grew even more afraid.

Because doing something wrong meant being punished, and being punished proved even more that I was useless.

Later, when I turned eight, Dad divorced Mom, even if it meant giving me up.

From then on, I dared not do anything.

I was afraid that if I were wrong, Mom wouldn't want me either.

However, Freya, who grew up with me, was elegant, sweet-tongued, and liked by adults.

Mom would always say, "If only Freya were my daughter."

Later, she simply took her in as a goddaughter.

She told me to get into my room and reflect.

"If you leave Tyler, who else doing charity would look at you favorably?"

She called Freya and Tyler, her tone as gentle as if she were a changed person.

"Freya, I'm making Cleo apologize to you guys. Come to the house for dinner tonight."

I leaned against the door panel and wiped away my tears, dialing a friend's phone number.

"Are you still short of people for the team going to the mountains to teach in five days?"

"Are you sure? There is no internet or signal, and there are snakes. Aren't you afraid?"

"No."

"Then what about your engagement? How will you explain this to your mom? Won't she tear you apart?"

I gripped the phone tightly.

"Elsie, I want to run away. For once, I want to be brave."