The Last Letter

6

Chapter VI

The view you can see when you sit by the grass is the other side of the hill where I live. Our university is also located in a high place so you could see the full view of both the hill, the river and its background, a clear blue sky. This scenery is calming and extremely beautiful, most especially at sunset when everything suddenly turns orangey and you feel like you’re in a melodrama scene. I have painted and sketched this scenery numerous times in different angles and art styles.

I sat there for a couple of minutes, just dozing off since the first class I skipped isn’t done yet and I still have almost an hour before my second class starts.This is the perfect place to rest since it is not that humid and the breeze feels so nice up here.

I layed on the grass and planned to take a quick nap but as I turned my head right, I saw Ben running towards me. He’s wearing a gym or P. E. clothes

“Skipped class again?” He asked me, almost shouting. He asked me as if he’s a professor who caught a student cutting his classes. It was embarrassing to shout back “yes!” because there are other students nearby so I waited for him to come close before answering his question.

“Hey don’t ask me questions shouting like that.” I told him in a stern voice, burrowing my eyebrows.

“Okay calm down brother. You did cut class! It’s your life, they won’t give a sh*t.” He said jokingly then laughed loudly.

“You seem to be in a good mood today. Did something happen?” I asked to which his laugh turned into a shy smile. It’s actually disgusting to see him acting like that.

We both sit on the grass, side to side. It suddenly breezed and it felt so good.

“That girl… at the bistro last friday.” After staring at the view in front of us for a couple of seconds, he finally speaks. “I actually know her.”

“Really? How?”

Spending the weekend, I actually thought about Ben’s behavior that night we went to the city. I think I know why, he likes that familiar girl in the bistro where we ate snacks. We thought he’s attracted to some girls in the club but Ben rarely likes someone, to the point that before I thought he might be gay. But he isn’t. He’s just picky and only two girls caught his attention ever, after all these years. He had crushes, but they’re either fictional characters or actresses.

With all the years we spent growing up with each other, I discovered Ben only behaves like that when either he’s excited or he likes someone. I should know, I grew up with him and I know his behavior pattern. You know what, I think I picked the wrong profession, I should’ve studied psychology.

“We actually saw her. Two years ago but in a different restaurant. And she’s in your department, you dumbass!”

I looked at him with my face full of confusion. I guess that explains why she’s familiar but I’m startled to hear that she’s in my department. Well, there are just a few departments in this university but how come I don’t know her?

“Freshman or sophomore?”

“Fresh” he answered.

“Ohh… Eng, ar?

“Ar”

“Ohh” That explains it. She’s a freshman and the school year just started so it’s understandable that I still don’t know her.

“I like her.” He said and smiled shily. Though it’s disgusting and creepy to me, It’s nice to see him like this since for him to like someone is rare.

“It’s obvious Ben. The way you looked at her last Friday and the smile you wore when you drove us home, says it all.” I told him while mimicking his creepy smile that night.

“Did I smile like that?” He asked me while he showed his disgust.

“Yes, now you know how we feel. You looked so creepy we thought you were possessed.” I said jokingly

We sat there in silence while smiling. It’s nice to know he likes someone now. I always thought he’ll stick to me until we graduate. I don’t like that, I still want to have a girlfriend.

“Wait, we saw her already? Two years ago?” The words he said a while ago came into my mind.

“Yes, at the small restaurant not far from the town. We ate there once when we were freshmen. That’s the first time I saw her, she worked there, I think. Right then up until now, I liked her. And I actually became a regular at that restaurant she worked at two years ago.”

I nodded at every word he said.

“Have you talked to her?” I asked.

“Yes. Before we’ve become really close. Everytime I ate there I would always talk to her and walked her home a couple of times. But now it’s different.” He sighed. “I also asked her out about a year ago, but she said she’s too busy to date. I was rejected, but now that I saw her again I’ll continue to pursue her not now, but soon.”

Hmm. She knew Ben likes her. That’s good, he won’t have a hard time confessing to her.

“How come I didn’t know about this?” I asked after a short silence and thinking.

“I purposely did that so that the next time you’ll see her again, she’ll be my girlfriend. I’m planning on asking her out again, but not now since she just started college here. And… I don’t know, I just feel like we're not on good terms right now but I’ll soon make up with her.”

I just nodded and agreed with what he’s saying since I don’t have a clue on what to say. I’m still in the process of digesting every little thing he said.

“If you ever see her, please take good care of her as her senior in your department and as my friend. I’m counting on you. You're the only friend I can trust, that's why I’m telling you this.”

For some reason, I felt a tightness in my throat when I saw my friend, Ben, looking at me intently as he said those words. Normally when he asks for favors, he would tell it as a joke but now, he looks serious as ever. And it’s uncomfortable on my part.

“Sure. Best of luck.” I brought out my hand and we did our signature handshake, the sign of our lifelong friendship.

We stood up and tidied ourselves since it won’t be long before the second class starts. We walked together to the building and parted to the 3rd floor since his class will be in one of the rooms there while mine will be on the 4th floor.

***

“Class dismissed.” I snapped back to reality when I heard those words from my professor in my last class.

The words Ben said stuck in my mind for the rest of the class I attended and the rest of the day. I haven’t even noticed that my classes ended and many of my classmates asked why I’m not in my usual talkative and lively self. I just told them I’m feeling sick and tired, which is somewhat true.

I’m just dozing off all day, sometimes staring at the window. Fortunately, none of my professors caught me staring blankly across the room or else, I’ll become a laughing stock again. No, don’t worry, I’m not being bullied.

For the rest of the day and going home, I haven’t seen Ben or the familiar girl from the bistro. Maybe they were together since I think they are closer now that they are in the same university. Come to think of it, I didn’t ask Ben what her name was. I guess I’m too occupied when we were talking before. But she’s in my department so sooner or later, we’ll have a meeting with the freshmen so I’ll take that as a chance to observe her. All for the sake of my friend’s love life.

Even when eating dinner and before going to sleep, I would occasionally remember the words he said today.

The part where Ben said that he trusted me, bothers me the most because he said that with so much sincerity that it’s making me uncomfortable. This was probably the first time Ben told me something that I could tell, came from the bottom of his heart. Ben is a really good and pure person, though people might see him as arrogant because of the way he speaks.

During the 15 years we knew each other, we fought a lot but the reason is just small things like eating each other’s snack or not sharing answers during exams. Other than that, we didn’t ever fight about something serious.

One thing I promise to myself is that whatever the reason is, I would never ever betray a friend, especially if it’s Ben.