The Summer Bucket List

Chapter 9

It’s been a week of summer bucket list quest. It’s also been a week of staying here in Morehead. I was lying on the couch at the moment when suddenly someone knocked on the door. I walked and stood at the front door.

“Who’s there?” I asked, yet there was no response. I asked again for the second time, but still no one answered. He just kept knocking. I started to get a little scared. It’s already dark and the fact that I’m alone. I pressed my ear to the door and listened. But it’s quiet, almost made me want to scream and call for help. “If you don't answer me, I’ll call the poli...” When suddenly, “It’s me, August.”

I was stunned. Why is he here? I slowly opened the door. “What are you doing here?” He didn’t answer for a long moment, but his expression gives nuance that is persuading.

His voice thinned. “Can we talk?” I looked keenly into his eyes, and instantly figured out his walls, gone. “And is it alright if we talk at the beach?” He followed.

I didn’t answer his two questions. Instead, I locked the door and walked outside with him. He opened the car door for me and I couldn’t stop but wonder, what gotten into this man? It feels new with his coldness suddenly gone.

We drove to the beach. I was enthralled astonished to see the blazing flames in the center of the beach, with a mattress and with a set out of two cans of soda. He prepared this. A slight smile slid across my face. I glanced at him. “You prepared this.” I told him. “Yeah.” He answered even though it wasn’t a question, as he laughed out of embarrassment. I sat beside him. He opened the soda and handed it to me. “Thank You.” I spoke. I took a sip of it.

Then suddenly, in the stillness of the night, he cleared his throat and his voice dropped low and locked up his gapes at me. “I want to apologize for everything, Farah.” I could see how his brows crossed, and his prevailing ocean eyes gloom from the light of the fire that burned in front of us.

“But I hurt you a lot,” I said, tone, trembling with guilt.

“Honestly, I hate you, because when I lose you, it’s like I lost part of me. You’re my best friend Farah. You’re the most precious person to me. So, how could I not feel broken when you’re gone?” He answered without a hint of lies. An unfamiliar feeling started taking over in the pit of my stomach. It flutters down to my chest, yet my eyes grumble with the warmth of sudden tears. I glanced away, and wiped the falling tears on my cheeks. His embracing words wrap around me like a warm blanket mending my heavy heart.

“I should be the one apologizing for not being able to be with you through every summer. I should be the one apologizing for leaving you, August,” I whimpered. He just leers his eyes on me.

“I know you have a reason, and I was an i***t for not thinking about your side of the story. I know you more than anyone else, but I let my pride occupy me.”

At that moment, I was stuck on that thought of confessing my truth to him, but I demanded not to. I still refused, looking vulnerable to him. That maybe was my greatest red flag.

“ We’re still best friends, right? “ I asked with a convincing smile. “Always.” He answered as he smiled genuinely. My face lit up with impish glee while my eyes slowly burned red.

I jumped out of my spot and wrapped my arms around him. I don’t want him to see my face with thousands of tears. He hugged me tightly and longer. “I waited sixteen years for this, August.” I whispered. “God knows, I yearned for this to happen.” He hugged me tighter in his arms.

…

It should’ve been a vibrant day after the reconciliation of hatred that happened last night and a blissful morning that greeted me when I woke up. Birds chirping in the morning sky, the sun peeks through the glass window of my room, and yet I was there walking back and forth held up on a deep, troubling thought. Before August left last night, he actually asked me if we could continue the Summer Bucket List instead. Of course, I said yes, although the truth is I have doubts because of Caden.

It was just a Summer Bucket List, but why do I feel like it’s much bigger than that?

…

“Caden,” I called outside his house. He opened the door, “Farah? What are you doing here?”

He smiled brightly, and it was affecting me, almost making me want to shut my mouth and cease. I don’t want to ruin his vibrant mood. But somehow, I need to make things clear.

“Do you wanna come in first?” he said. “Sure.” My voice trembled. “Is there something you want to tell me?”

“There is,” I said in a high-pitched tone out of tense. Then instantly my voice dropped. “Actually, August and I talked last night. And, we’re okay now. And he asked me if we could do the summer bucket list... instead?” My voice stretched.

His vibrant face flattened. “Sure, it’s fine,” he shortly answered. I swallowed hard and gave him an embarrassed smile. So does he. But for a moment, his mask of apathy cracked and I witnessed the quiet disappointment underneath. I felt selfish and foolish in front of him.

I quit the act, and stopped smiling. “Okay, listen, I didn’t know this would happen. He said in my face that he didn’t want to do it. But honestly, I’m happy that he changed his mind.”

“You don’t have to explain to Farah, I understand.” He stopped me. “I think both of you should continue it. It was your Summer Bucket List after all,” he spoke. My face lit when he said that. “Thank You, Caden.”