The Last Letter

19

Chapter XIX

Benjamin’s POV

I called and called August’s name but he didn’t even look back. Well, I understand that he was trying to help me to talk to Suzanne but he left so abruptly that I haven’t had a chance to get myself ready. I wish he could have given me a signal.

Slowly, I sat again on my seat and sighed.

“I’m sorry August left. He’s so perverse, I can’t really read him.” I said.

“It’s okay. This way, we could talk now.” She replied.

A minute of silence passed and the only thing I could hear was the breeze.i closed my eyes for a short while.

“Uhm… how have you been?” I suddenly opened my eyes when Suzanne finally talked after a minute of awkwardness that felt so long.

“I was really shocked to see the restaurant closed down when I went here again a year ago.” I answered.

“Yeah. Me too. It was sad since my grandma loved the restaurant so much.”

“I’m so sorry to hear about you grandma Suzanne, my deepest condolences even if it’s late.” I said.

“Thank you. And I’m sorry too Benjamin. I left without saying anything. It was so sudden, my mind was so blank at that time that I didn’t think of anything else other than my family, especially grandma.” She looked at me and even though it is dark here, I can tell how sad she is, in the tone of her voice.

“I understand how it must’ve been hard for you. You endured so much last year. I’m just glad I saw you again when I honestly thought I would never see you again.” I told her and smiled.

She smiled back at me and laughed quietly. I also laughed, a genuine laugh.

“Thank you. You decided to talk to me tonight.”

“Thank August too. Without his help, I won’t have the courage to even face you. He also lectured me on many things that I came up to many realizations.”

“I know I know. He speaks poetic with wisdom sometimes. He talks so much like my grandpa.” She replied and laughed.

It was nice to see her smile and hear her laugh again. After that year without even seeing her, I now know how much I miss everything about her, even the smallest things she does like tucking her hair behind her ears.

“Yes. He gives me strength. That sounds cheesy right?” I chuckled.

“No. I told August how much I admire your friendship with him. I really think you two are meant for each other.” She said,

“August is like a savior to me. From then until now.” I said proudly.

She nodded and looked at the view in front of us and I did the same. There was silence, but unlike earlier, it wasn’t awkward. It was like both of us were talking through our minds, and even without words, we understood each other.

“Grandma died because of a severe stroke. I was late to go home that day and I think she could’ve survived for more days if I were able to bring her to the hospital earlier. I miss her so much.” She said and looked above.

I looked at her. I hear silent sobs.

I handed her my handkerchief and when she saw it, she immediately wiped her face with her hands.

“Sorry. I get really emotional when I think of grandma. I can’t help it. I’m sorry.” She said,

I opened her hands, placed my handkerchief inside and closed it.

“I understand Suzanne. Take this, I’ll even appreciate it.”

She smiled and mouthed the words ‘thank you’.

I can’t even imagine how hard it is for her to lose her grandma. For so many months that I visited the seafood restaurant, I witnessed how close they were and how much Suzanne cares for her grandparents. Although I haven’t lost a loved one yet, I completely understand how she feels. It breaks my heart that she said sorry to me just because she teared up thinking about her grandma and I saw it.

“Suzanne…”

She looked up to me, still teary eyed.

“You can cry anytime you want to. You can cry whenever you miss your grandma and don't be sorry for it. Also, don’t keep it all to yourself. You have your friends, you still have your grandpa and now that we met again, you can talk to me about almost anything. I’ll always keep my ears open to anything you want to talk about if you will let me.”

I was so surprised when she started crying. Unlike those silent sobs before, now she was really letting it all out. I wish I could hug her but she might feel uncomfortable and grow distant from me again. Instead, I tapped her back.

I just let her cry. I am aware of how much it hurts to act as if everything is okay. It pains me that she’s too young but she had to go through all of this and now, she’s even working to support herself. She could’ve been going all out, hanging out with her friends and enjoying her college journey to its fullest but she’s busy, dividing her attention to both her studies and work life.

She’s a wonderful woman. I’m glad I’m pursuing the right person.

“Thank you.” She said those words so sweetly. It made my heart beat fast. I chuckled and smiled at her.

We talked about so many things after that. Like where her grandpa is now, her school life, work, friends and many more. It feels so nice that we are having a conversation again, even though it's not the same as before. Anyone could really tell that something changed in the way we talk to each other. But at least, we’re still talking and I’m really grateful for everything that happened today.

She also didn’t mention anything that happened to us in the past. I’m actually glad that she didn’t because I don’t know what I would say. I’ll just stick to August’s rpadvise and just patiently wait for the right time.

I heard footsteps approaching us and sure enough it was August.

“Where have you been?” I asked as soon as he was in front of us.

He was holding his chest and panting. I offered him his seat earlier and he sat almost immediately.

“Why what happened?” I asked again with a concerned voice and opened a bottle of water for him to which he accepted and drank it all the way from the very last drop.

He breathed deeply for a couple of times.

“I… walked so much I didn’t notice it.” He said.

I heard Suzanne laughing beside me and it made me laugh as well. Soon enough, all three of us were laughing.

“How far have you gone?” I asked, almost tearing up.

He pointed at somewhere on the right side but the area was dark so I didn’t see anything.

August told us all the details of her adventures for tonight and because of that I almost forgot that Suzanne cried earlier since we were laughing after hearing his stories.

After everyone calmed down, I checked my watch and saw that it was quarter to 2am. I am concerned that Suzanne might be tired by now since she worked up to 12 midnight.

“Shall we call this a day? It’s about 2am now.” I asked.

“Yes. I think we should.” Ben said.

“Uhm guys… Can I ask you a favor?” Suzanne suddenly said.

“Sure. What is it?” I asked.

She searched through her bag and slowly let out a digicam.

“Wow!” August exclaimed and walked near Suzanne to look and examine her camera.

“Can we take a picture? I just want to capture this night. I had so much fun.” She said shyly.

“Sure why not?” August said excitedly.

We positioned the camera at the table and set its timer. Upon clicking the capture button, we stepped back for about 3 feet. August wrapped his one arm on my shoulder so I did the same and Suzanne was in front of us, slightly bending her knees to make us all visible to the frame. Soon enough, a flash came through our eyes.

Suzanne immediately looked at the picture and we saw that it turned out really great.

“If you ever print it, can I have a copy?” August asked.

“Yes of course.” Suzanne said, smiling at our picture. She looked like a young child that got her gift that she thought Santa Claus gave. She looked so happy.

We fixed ourselves and made sure we left the deck as clean as how we saw it earlier. We drove up the hill to drop August first. He bid us goodnight when we reached his house and told us to take care and that I should make sure that Suzanne gets home safely.

When only Suzanne and I were left in the car, she was quiet and I understood it because she was on the verge of sleeping anytime by now. I just smiled as I saw her forcing herself to stay awake. It was nice that our university dormitory doesn’t have a curfew and they let students come home anytime.

We reached the dormitory in just 10 minutes.

“Thank you for tonight Benjamin. I really appreciate your time.” She said and smiled.

“Thank you too. Make sure you get enough sleep. I’ll fetch you at 3pm tomorrow, don’t forget.”

“Okay. Goodnight!”

“Goodnight!” I waved her goodbye. I first made sure she got inside the dormitory before driving off.

I can’t take off my smile all the way home. Even when I was on my bed, still wearing that smile got me thinking that one of the best days of my life has finally come. I’m extremely and genuinely happy. I hope this moment will last for a very long time.