“Dude, she’s talking to you!” The young man on his left whispered loudly to him. Howie quickly turned the book to the first page and found that it belonged to a one John Backett. He’s John Backett? What kind of a name is that?
“John, we don’t have all day for you to come up with an answer.” The teacher said.
Howie cleared his throat, surprised at how hoarse he sounded. “Um…could you repeat the question please?”
“Of course Mr. Backett, it’s my pleasure…who was the 32nd US President and give me the year of which he was appointed President and the year it ended.”
Howie swallowed the huge lump that had suddenly took refuge in the middle of his throat. He should know this, he had been in high school before! This shouldn’t be difficult. Unless if he had hated History back in school. Did he?
“Anybody here would like to help Mr. Backett out?”
“President Roosevelt, 1882 to 1945, and that’s two questions Mrs. Foreman.”
Howie froze. He knew that voice! He turned around and there he sat, looking back at him with a wide grin on his face.
“Thank you for saving us from boredom Mr. Littrell, and I know I asked for two but I have the authority to do that…now Mr. Backett, the next time I said prepare yourself for a quiz, make sure you come to my lesson prepared.”
“Brian?” Howie whispered, glad that he wasn’t totally alone now.
“I told you I studied!” Brian giggled. “But only because they cancelled the Lakers game last night.”
Howie smiled and shook his head, he forgot how carefree Brian was when he first met him. The thick Southern drawl almost causing him a laughing fit but that didn’t happen when he realised he had the same accent too.
“Now if you had paid attention to the questions I just asked, you will find this written quiz a breeze to answer. I want no talking and I expect them to be handed in by the end of this lesson.”
Howie sat in anticipation. It had been awhile since he was in school, anything that had been taught then were pretty much erased from his memory. With all the lyrics and dance routines he had to memorise, there weren’t too much space left for those stuff. He knew he was going to fail badly for the quiz.
“I hate quiz.” Howie muttered.
“I hear ya.” Brian mumbled at the back. Howie smiled and turned to face the Southerner. “At least you studied this one.”
“I’ll help you out, no biggie.”
“I know I can count on you.” Feeling much better, he turned to face the piece of paper now lying on the table. Twenty multiple choice questions, this shouldn’t be hard. He started to fill out his particulars.
Name: Johnathan Drew Backett
Howie sighed, how sad he had such a name.
Date:
Date?
Howie turned back. “Rok, what’s the date?”
“April 19th, do you need the year too?” Brian asked jokingly.
“Er, yeah?”
“93 idiot, one more stupid question and I’m not helping you out.” Howie rolled his eyes and started writing down the date.
“93…that’s when it all come together.” Howie muttered. “Backstreet Boys was born.” Suddenly, his mind was invaded by memories. He remembered how it had all started with the frequent meet ups with AJ and Nick. How both AJ and Nick really thought his real name was Tony Donetti. He thought Sam and Charles completed the group but when they stepped down, meeting with Kevin was fate. And then he remembered how they had auditioned Brian through the phone all the way in Kentucky. Poor kid, he was so nervous at first, but that voice…it was the magic that the group needed to be complete. If Kevin hadn’t called him up in the first place…
Wait a minute. Something felt familiar.
Wasn’t Brian in American History class when Kevin called him?
Howie’s eyes quickly searched for the class clock. 1.55pm. What time did Kevin call?
“Ow!” Somebody had hit him with a flying rubber band.
“Mr Backett, I’m not entertaining to any sudden stomach flu of any kind just so you can skip my paper and head for the sickbay.”
Howie felt his face flushed red. He glared around the classroom, looking for the culprit.
“Don’t make me throw my stapler at you.” The guy to his left whispered discreetly.
“What?”
“Stop dreaming John, I called you twice and you didn’t hear me.”
Howie relaxed, leaning his body back on his chair. He was tired and still confused, all he wanted was a bed he could crawl in to.
“4, 2, 1, 2, 3.”
“Huh?”
“The answers you moron.” The guy whispered. “If you pay attention, you’ll get the rest too.”
“Am I the only one who didn’t study for this quiz?”
Another rubber band hit him, this time, it was from the back. Howie quickly turned around, knowing he’d see Brian’s satisfied grin.
“I gave him those.”
“What do you want Brian, a star?” Howie retorted. “Genius for one damn period and you got your head all swelled up.”
Brian dropped his pencil and folded his arms in protest. “That’s it, you’re not getting anymore answers from me buddy. May the Lord save you.”
Howie rolled his eyes and turned back to his paper. So what if he flung? He doesn’t have any plans to stick around in this world for too long.
“Mr. Littrell, you’re wanted urgently at the General office.” Mrs. Foreman announced. The class was momentarily filled with ‘ooohhhh’ and ‘aaahhhh’ as Brian abandoned his seat.
“Gotta go guys, duty calls!” Brian announced like a Batman on a mission and left with the kid who had entered the classroom to inform the teacher. Howie stole another glance at the clock.
2pm.
That would be THE call.
--
It felt like forever just waiting for his return. Howie ended up reading the questions and even answering most of them. Be it the right answer or not, he couldn’t be too sure. The guy who had nicely hit him with the rubber band was called Jason and from him, he learnt that the three of them were practically buddies. Jason reminded him so much of AJ.
At 2.15, Brian entered the classroom, much to the questioning eyes of everyone.
Brian’s reaction was a huge grin, it seemed to be his trait for everything.
“So, what have you got to say for yourself Littrell?” Jason asked out loud.
“Look, I was young and needed the money.” Brian joked. The class erupted with laughter, Howie included. It was nice to be reminded of just how carefree Brian was.
“Glad to know that mystery was solved Mr. Littrell, now if you don’t mind, you have fifteen minutes left to finish your paper.” Mrs. Foreman interrupted.
Howie couldn’t hardly wait for the class to be over. If that was really Kevin who had called him, then at exactly 9 pm that night, Brian would be auditioning over the phone for the Backstreet Boys and if he still remember it right, by six the next morning, he’d be on his flight to Orlando. Everything was falling into place so far.
-
“Are you gonna tell us what that phone call’s all about or do we have to force it out of you?” Jason asked as they walked back home. It was another one of those things that Howie didn’t know about Brian. They walked back from school instead of driving a car or riding the school bus. He heard Jason said that they lived not far away. The walk was almost an hour long, Howie estimated, and as far as he was concerned, that was long enough.
Howie also learnt that he lived just next to the Littrell’s while Jason was a few rows down. He couldn’t wait to get back home and see who his family was and how he looked like, he had avoided the mirror for long now, part of him still unsure if he wanted to see someone else’s face on his reflection.
“Was it Kevin?” Howie asked.
“Kevin?”
“Your cousin…you do have a cousin named Kevin right?”
Brian giggled. “Of course you nerd, but it wasn’t him.”
“Oh.”
Brian nodded. “Yeah, it’s Dr. Becks.”
Jason stopped on his track, Brian sighed, and Howie was wondering why all the dramatic effects?
“Please tell me something good.” Jason said.
“I could lie.” Brian grinned.
Jason rolled his eyes. “You can’t lie if your life depends on it.”
“Dr. Becks as in…” Howie let the words lingered, hoping that Brian would finish it off without being suspicious.
“As in the doctor I have to see about my heart.” Brian sighed.
“Oh…he called you up in school? That must be really urgent.”
“It is.”
“SOOO?” Jason whined. “Tell already!”
“Same old thing…Brian, please reconsider you decision, it’s wise to have that surgery now than later…oh, the hole is getting bigger Brian, we can’t afford to hold the surgery this long.”
“It’s not funny Brian.” Jason snapped.
“I didn’t say it is!” Brian cried. “It’s just that, all the calls won’t change anything, I’m gonna have to say no.”
“What did you tell him exactly?” Howie asked as they continued their walk.
“That I can’t afford it.” Brian grumbled.
“What did he say to that?”
Brian sighed and it felt like forever before he replied. “He told me if I really treasure my life, I’d do anything to get that money to pay for the surgery.”
“He’s never been this persistent before Bri, did he tell you about the result?”
Brian nodded, Howie decided it was safe to play along, as if he understood what was being said.
“They found another hole.”
“God…your parents know about this?”
“Yeah, he talked to them too.” Brian replied. “I’m sure we’re gonna have a long talk about it tonight.”
“You have to go for that surgery Rok, we could do something to get that money.” Howie suggested.
“I’m thinking of robbing the bank, you guys wanna join me? We’ll split the money equally.” Brian said.
“Not the time for jokes Brian, this is serious.” Jason said.
“Don’t you think I know that? It’s my heart.” Brian snapped.
“I’m sure your parents want you to go for that surgery Brian, money is nothing compared to your life.” Howie said.
“Yeah well, I can’t help but feel like a burden to them.” Brian said.
“Go for that surgery and you won’t be a burden to them anymore.” Howie said.
“I hope so too John.”
-
The Backetts apparently consisted of an elder brother Jordon, who worked as an accountant in the local bank (so much for robbing it) and a dog named Bone. Howie had called him AJ secretly when his ‘brother’ wasn’t within earshot. Silently, he learnt that their ‘parents’ had passed away a year ago in a road accident.
Jonathan Drew Backett was a handsome young man, it got Howie wishing that he could stay that way for a while. He was as tall as Kevin, with short dark brown hair and piercing blue eyes. Jonathan definitely had Jordon’s eyes, but where Jonathan’s eyes gleamed with the sparkles of a teenager, Jordon’s was dull with experience and age. Howie couldn’t help feeling sorry for the both of them. In his world, family was everything, he couldn’t imagine not having a big family where home is often filled with the laughter of loved ones.
At seven in the evening, Howie had met up with Brian at his garage as promised. Brian promised to tell him everything about the family meeting the Littrells had held that afternoon. Howie also promised Jason that he’d fill him in when he stopped by the grocery store where he was working later on. Howie couldn’t quite explain the friendship he had with Jason, he felt like he had known the young man his entire life.
“Well?” Howie asked as he watched Brian took a shot at the basketball.
“They’re gonna start borrowing from my aunts and uncles, and then we’re moving to a smaller house…and”
“But you’re going for that surgery right?”
Brian groaned as he missed the shot. “Yeah, I’m going.”
“Good, that’s all that matter.”
“It’s not good John,” Brian snapped as he tried for another shot. “Do you know how embarrassing this is? To stoop this low? My parents had lived in this house ever since they were married and now they’re selling it away because of me.”
Howie sighed. “What’s the use of living here if you’re dead Brian? It’s the people who live in this house that makes it everything, without you, this house will be incomplete.”
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to hurt you.” Brian said, now standing a few steps in front of him, guilt written all over his face.
“Hurt me?” Howie asked.
“I know it’s been hard for you and Jordon…you keep telling me how difficult it is to step into your own house.”
He shouldn’t have felt anything, for the family that he was in this world meant nothing to him, but Howie found himself in the brink of tears. He missed his family, he yearned to get out of this twilight and be back to where everything was real.
“Well bro, imagine your mom and dad having to step into that house for the rest of their lives knowing that they’ll never get you back.” Howie said. He liked his temporary physique, it was easier to have people listen to him. Must be the extra height, he thought. “You think of that before you start saying no to that surgery, okay bud?”
“Yeah, I guess you’re right.” Brian said.
“I am right.” Howie stressed. “Look, I promised Jason I’ll stop by the grocery…why don’t you get back in there and tell your parents you agree with them?”
“I will…I think I made them worry for far too long.”
-
Like everything else in this twilight, Howie was unfamiliar with the surroundings, but it didn’t stop him from going to that grocery store. He decided to trust his instinct and legs to bring him there. He found the store with little difficulties and even met with some friends from school whom he had no idea of. Fortunately for him, acting had came in handy.
He decided to make spaghetti for dinner and surprised his brother a little. He had sensed some tension between them and he figured a little love in the Backett’s house wasn’t bad at all. Jason was exceptionally surprised when he saw the ingredients laid out on his counter. It was then that he learnt he and Jordon didn’t get along ever since the sudden death of their parents.
“Some things have to change some day right?” Howie said when he told Jason of his intentions.
“I’m glad bro.” Jason had replied. “You’ve gone through the worst, I hope Brian can handle his too.”
The talk ended up with Howie waiting for Jason to close the shop for the day. By the time they reached Jason’s house, it was already 8.45pm.
“I think you’re gonna have to cook dinner tomorrow.” Jason said. “I think your brother’s in bed by now.”
“Are you serious? It’s not even nine!”
“He works hard John,” Jason reminded him. “don’t you start mocking him again, remember, you’re trying to be nice here.”
Howie smiled and parted ways soon after.
The moment he reached the stretch of road to his house, he saw the dancing lights of the ambulance parked along the road in front of the Littrell’s. Jordon was leaning against his car in their porch, arms folded near to his chest.
“Hey, what happened?” Howie asked as he approached his brother.
“It’s Brian…Harold told me he collapsed all of a sudden, I’m sorry Drew.”
The paper bag dropped from Howie’s grasped. Brian was fine just two hours ago! “It’s his heart, isn’t it?”
“I don’t know kiddo.”
The ambulance wailed again, now pulling out of the side road and about to speed through the darkening night, bringing his friend along. So this was how it was going to be without the Backstreet Boys? “He’s a great kid Jordon, if he dies, it’d be a shame that the world wouldn’t hear of him.” Howie said.
“I know D, I know.”
“Did you just call me D?”
“Drew, D…” Jordon rambled. Howie nodded.
“If he dies, he wouldn’t meet Leighanne and Baylee…and he couldn’t help all the other kids…and God…they wouldn’t hear his voice…”
“Drew, what the hell are you talking about? Are you okay? Who’s Leighanne?”
“No time to explain, drive me to the hospital please? I need to be there.”
“Drew you’re acting exactly like when you found out mom and dad died…you have to calm down.”
Howie was already in the car, putting on his belt. “Drive this car Jordon, I need to be with him!” Jordon got into the car still confused and worried for his little brother, but Howie was oblivious; as the car sped away from their porch, he knew time was running out. Ironically, his wrist watch showed that it was exactly 9pm.
-
Brian was wheeled out of the emergency room by 5 am. He had been in the ICU ever since. Slowly, the waiting room was filled with his family and relatives. Howie recognised some of them while a few, he had never met before. Howie wanted to ask why Kevin wasn’t around since his parents and brothers were there, but he decided that would sound disrespectful coming from him.
It felt so wrong. The guys should be there giving him support. Leighanne should be there too. He wasn’t suppose to be in the ICU fighting for his life, he should be safe and sound, because they could afford the best doctors in the world to take care of Brian. Singing had been a gift that would eventually save him, not condemned him!
If this was how Brian was going to lead his life without the Backstreet Boys, then Howie didn’t want it at all. So what if they had their differences and would occasionally argue? At least they have each other. Yes, they had to sacrifice a lot of things for their dream, but it was worth it. Every single ounce of hard work was worth it.
Out of nowhere, Mrs. Littrell started to cry loudly as her husband comforted her. Men and women in white were rushing into the ward where Brian was. Howie wasn’t stupid, he knew something was terribly wrong with his friend.
“Please God, don’t take him away.” Howie whispered. Howie glanced at his wristwatch. 6.00 am. “Not now.”
“Howie?”
Howie’s head shot right up at the mention of his name. The serene of Vinhorian’s face was all he needed to stop him from going crazy. “Brian’s dying in there Vin.”
“We don’t know that for sure Howie.”
“Then let me see him, please!”
“I’m afraid it’s time to go Howie, your purpose here is complete.”
“I can’t leave him just like that Vin! He needs me!”
Vinhorian smiled, much to Howie’s disgust. “Brian’s waiting for you to go back, so are the rest of the guys. You’re not leaving him Howie, you’re going back to him.”
Howie nodded, caught in tears, he couldn’t find his voice to speak. He was going back to his Brian, not the one now ICU fighting for his life. This Brian doesn’t exist in his world. He still has his Brian waiting for him. “Take my hand Howie, we’ll end this right now.”
