The Last Letter

27

Chapter XXVII

After cleaning that mess of an area of the university, me, Suzanne, along with our friends in the department planned to take a tour of the events inside the buildings.

I asked her if she knows where Ben is because I haven’t seen him or even his car today. Maybe he’s planning something for someone… like Suzanne? Just kidding. I know Ben won’t risk doing that surprise thing out of nowhere because he’s afraid Suzanne might become distant again.

On a serious note, I still haven’t seen Ben for a few days now. I don’t know what’s happening in his life now and what makes him so busy these days that I can’t even see him in this tiny campus. I also still haven’t got his pager code number, so the only way I could reach him is just by landline at home.

We all had eaten lunch and were exploring and walking around to find some interesting activities. We were all, about 10 of us walking down the hallway where each room has their own funny little event inside. The only thing I really interested in attending is the band who’ll play tonight at 6:30pm. Other than that, I only aim for the foods sold outside.

Since there were many people passing and talking loudly, rooms playing loud music, my head started to hurt a little. Just some kind of ringing inside my head that was gone in like 15 seconds. I should really stay away from noisy and crowded places after my accident.

We stopped in our main classroom. It wasn’t used for any event so it was clean and peaceful inside. I opened some of the tables to let fresh, clean air inside. I sat by a table, leaned my head and back on a closed window and closed my eyes for a while. After all that picking and organizing the trash,it is only now that I felt tired.

“Do you want some?” I opened my eyes and in front of my face was a small box of chocolate in her hands.

“For me?” I asked.

“To just replenish your sugar for energy. I got them from my girl-friends.” She answered.

For a short while, I felt some kind of excitement before she said that it was from her friends. I thought I might’ve gotten my first chocolate from a girl today. Not that I’m expecting but…

“But it’s from your friends. You should be the one to eat it.”

“It’s okay. I also got more.” She showed me the inside of her bag and she was right, half of her bag is full of chocolates.

“Wow! Whom are they from?” I excitedly said. Maybe I was wrong and Ben got his first move today.

“I said it already. Most are from my friends and some from classmates.”

“Ohh..” I just reached for the box of chocolates in her hand and untied the ribbon. She sat by the chair in front of me, beside the open window.

The pink box of chocolates, I could tell, was made with care. It was even decorated nicely and inside were bite sized bars of chocolates with almonds on top of each. I grabbed one with my fingers and tasted it.

If this was store bought, I would definitely buy one of those. It’s not that sweet and has that bitter taste I like.

“Did your friend buy this somewhere? I like it, it’s bitter, I dislike sweet chocolate so I appreciate this one. I would love some for myself.” I said, taking another bite after another.

“Really? Bitter chocolates? I think that’s homemade though.” She answered.

I pouted while still eating the chocolates. Since I had many bites, I feel thirsty now.

“Do you get chocolates at Valentines?” Suzanne asked after a while of silence. Just to remind you, we aren’t the only ones in the room and in fact, many students suddenly gathered here.

“Yes, but Ben obviously gets more every year ever since our highschool years. I don’t eat sweets that much so I just usually give the chocol I got to mom and my brother. Dad also doesn’t eat sweets so I got that from him.” I answered.

She then handed me two medium sized 5x5x2.5 boxes, wrapped in light red paper and decorated with white ribbon.

“One of them is actually for you and the other one is for your mom. They are sweet so just give it to your mom and brothers. I also have Benjamin’s here, I’ll give it later when I see him.”

I smiled at her. I am amazed by her thoughtfulness to include my mom in this day’s celebration. I patted her head and that made her froze and startled.

“You’re a better child than me. What I do is always make my mom worry. Thank you for this Suzanne, I appreciate it so much and I know mom too. Don’t worry, I can tolerate some bites and sorry I don’t have anything for you. I’ll make it up to you, promise.” I said looking directly at her eyes that she avoided immediately and turned her face away from me.

“She just reminds me so much of my late grandma, they’re both great and loving people, and talk equally as much.” Her voice cracked and she still wasn’t showing her face.

“Are you okay?” I said in a concerned voice. That crack on her voice can be a sign that she’s about to cry.

She just nodded in response. She slowly turned around but looking down and her hair covered the view of her face. She raised her thumbs up but still not showing her face.

I chuckled and turned my eyes on the window. At this point, even though I just met her formally a month ago, Suzanne feels like a little sister to me. She is close to my family as well as to Ben. I wished to have a little sister when I was younger but maybe because of my parent’s genes, we were never blessed to have one. I mean, it is okay for us to be all boys but I think it’s better when there is even just one girl among us, siblings.

It is just 2pm by now so it is still hot, especially outside.

“Do you want to do something or go somewhere? Or should we just stay here for a while?” I asked Suzanne who has now calmed down and back to her normal self.

“I think I’ll rest here. I’ll leave for work soon so I will maybe take a nap. If you want to go outside, sorry I can’t accompany you.” She answered.

“I never said I want to go outside.” I smiled. “You should indeed take a nap since for sure the restaurant will be bombarded with customers later. Don’t worry, I’ll stay here, I’ll wake you up.” I added.

“Okay August. Thank you so much!” She replied. She then crossed her arms on the desk and used them as a pillow for her head.

About 45 minutes passed by without doing much and just talking to my close friends. I woke Suzanne up and she thanked me for today and I also did likewise. She was now on her way to the restaurant while I was left alone, not knowing what I should do for the remaining hours before the live band event. Ben is also nowhere out of sight. I am contemplating if I should head home first and come back at 6 or just waste my time here at the university. But in the end, I decided to just head home for a while.

I walked out of the university with a paper bag in hand full of chocolates that my friends and juniors gave me, as well as the two boxes Suzanne made for me and mom. I walked to the shortcut path I used to take in highschool. It’s a faster way to get to the main road but it’s sometimes creepy walking there since it is across the woods. But as someone who's crossed the place multiple times, I guarantee it is safe but if you’re unfamiliar with it, just avoid it because it is easy to get lost in there.

I got to my neighborhood in about 15 minutes of walking. As I made my way uphill, a car suddenly drove beside me and sure enough, it was Ben. He rolled down the window and looked at me.

“Where have you been? I haven’t seen you anywhere.” I asked.

“I haven’t gone to the university, Suzanne might see me receiving many chocolates there.” He answered.

“She gave me this and this to mom.” I said pointing to the boxes inside the paper bag. “Your chocolate is with her, she hopes she can meet you, she told me earlier.”

“Really she said that?” I see his face lighting up.

“Yeah. Although I miss you, why are you even here?” He acted nauseous when I said that and I stuck my tongue out.

“I was about to surprise you in your room.” He answered, winked and made kissy lips. I felt shivers down my spine.

“Sure let’s go babe!” I winked slowly then acted excitedly.

“Eww August! Stop it! Just hop in, I want to give this to your mom.” He genuinely but disgustedly exclaimed and pointed at the flowers and chocolates on the backseat.

“Why? You rode my jokes, it’s also your fault. Wow, mom got many chocolates this year huh.” I hopped into his car even though it’s only just a few steps to reach there.

“Mom made that and she also baked lots of cookies. She’s a fan of Valentine’s Day as you know.”

I nodded. Ben’s mom is very motherly and feminine. She dresses and presents herself well no matter where she goes and even at Ben’s home, she still wears fancy dresses and jewelry. That’s just how she is.

“How about Suzanne? Have you prepared anything for her?” I asked.

“Yes, I helped mom in the kitchen for the very first time. I made chocolates for her and bought some flowers, I just don't know how I’ll give them.” As soon as we reached my house and he parked his car, he got the flowers and chocolates for mom and then we finally went inside. My friend needs advice again and this calls for an immediate meeting.

To be continued…