Yellow

It was summer, the 4th of April when I met my yellow. She was wearing a black t-shirt and a pair of jeans. I saw her smile, and I swear to God that smile can light up the whole town. I don’t know who she is, I just got here. But on the 4th of April, she became my yellow. I don’t know if it cringes, but indeed she is. She just makes my boring and full of questions and doubts day into a happy one. Her smile brought me genuine happiness, it feels like it affects me deeply. I don’t even know why. It just did.   *knock*   I heard a knock from the car’s window and it brought me back to the earth.   “We are here. Aren’t you coming inside?” My mom asked. I didn’t realize that it was 5 minutes already. I open the door of the car but before I take my step inside the house. I pause. I look at the window next door. She was gone. I wonder who she is.     I come inside the house and rapidly run upstairs.   “Alright self, this is your new house… again… and again,” I murmured to myself and looked around the messy room. I didn’t know where to start. I walked to the window and there, I saw the window of that girl, it looked like I picked the right room.   “Why isn’t she coming back?” I asked myself and waited in my window. I want to see her again. I wonder where she is.     “Hey, Arthur! Can you help your father pick the boxes?” My mom shouted from downstairs. I let out a sigh and started fixing myself. It was a new hometown for us. We are used to this. I am so used to this picking up things, arranging, and moving again. If your father is a soldier, wherever he was assigned. We are going with him. That’s how my life goes. Technically speaking I have no friends at all. I am avoiding making one. How can I have a permanent friend if this is how my life goes? I mean I did not even finish my school year.     “Yes, mom!” I shouted. I rushed downstairs and when I opened the door, I saw my yellow. She’s with an old man. I don’t know but my dad seems to know the guy. I walked towards them and I saw her smile.   “Hi,” She said. My heart stops for a moment and when she smiles again, my heart starts beating fast. It feels like I joined the marathon. I feel like she can hear my heartbeat.     “Hello,” I said and smiled back.     “So this is my son, Arthur. Arthur, this is Captain Jones and Heather, his daughter.” My dad said and my eyes are still locked with Heather. She looks like an angel. She has light skin and I know it’s soft like cotton. She has brown hair and chestnut brown eyes. When the sun rays hit her eyes, it’s shining.    “Arthur?” I felt a soft touch on my shoulder. It was Heather.   “Yes?” I asked and she slightly laughed.   “Are you ok?” She said and laughed softly. Her laugh is so sweet.   “Y-yes. I am.” I plainly said and smiled awkwardly.   “Are you sure? Dude, you’re like staring for a couple of minutes. Our dads are gone. Did you even understand what I am saying?” she asked and giggled. I awkwardly laughed and slowly picked myself up.   “Yeah, I am. I am just making myself one with this place. You know, I can’t make my adjustments easily—-“   “Since my dad is a soldier,” I said while she duets what I am saying. We both laughed and looked at each other.     “Shall we help them?” Heather asked and I slightly smiled.   “Yeah sure. Just let me take a moment” I said and she patted my shoulder. She walks away and I watch her take her step. She’s lovely like a sunflower. She shines as the sun ray hits her. She’s like… under a spotlight. Indeed she’s my yellow. I take a deep breath and start to help them pick up things. Heather’s mom helped my mom prepare lunch and Heather helped me to pick my things up to my room.   “So you’re now the boy next door!” She said and opened the window.     “Dude! We can talk every night! Your window is facing my window!! How bizarre!” She said and laughed.     “First of all, I didn’t choose this room,” I said and she smiled. How would she react if I told her that I chose this room? Maybe she’ll freak out. Or maybe that will be so obvious that she caught me as I laid my eyes on her early this morning.        “It’s fine. That is completely fine. Don’t freak out, you’re making yourself obvious” She said and stood up. She smiled at me and fixed herself.     “The lunch is ready” My mom pops out at the door and she smiles. “Coming,” She said and left me with a smile. Why do you keep on smiling? Are you making fun of me? Am I that obvious?     The time passed easily and it's now 9 pm. I looked at my window and I saw my yellow sneaking out. I saw her turn around and look at me. “What’s happening?” I mouthed. She smiled at me and a motorbike stopped. I don’t know who picked her up, but I saw her kiss the guy. I felt like my heart was bleeding. How could she do that?       I got to bed and I kept on thinking about the guy. Why did he pick Heather at 9 in the evening? How could he let Heather sneak out? I clenched my jaw and crumpled my fist. Yes, I am jealous of this.        The morning came and I walked up with a sun-ray on my face.     “Hey, wake up. You will go to your new school today” My mom said and I smiled at her. I start fixing myself and look at my closet. What will a 16-year-old boy wear? How can anyone be that cool looking at 16?! I am just. Arthur! I let out a sigh and picked up jeans and a hoodie. My mom drove me to school. My dad has his first assignment early this morning and I am here, stuck in the principal's office. I look at the clock and it’s nearly 8 in the morning. I saw the door open and I saw the principal.       “Arthur?” She asked and I smiled at her.     “Let’s just wait for your chaperone ok?” She said and I smiled at her. The time keeps on running and I am 5 minutes late for my class. Who the hell is my chaperone?        *Knock* I heard a knock on the door. I hope it’s my chaperone. I don’t want to be late.   “Come in,” The principal said. I am watching the door open slowly and a head pops out.      “Hi Ma’am, sorry I am late,” A girl said and looked at me.     “That’s fine. How’s your mom?” The principal asked      “She’s fine now. Thanks for asking” she said and sweetly smiled.     “By the way, Alice, this is Arthur. Arthur, this is Alice, your chaperone.” The principal said and Alice smiled at me. She’s pretty though.      “Hi, ahm? Shall we?” Alice uttered and I immediately got my stuff. Alice keeps on talking and showing me the school grounds. Don’t worry, not the whole school, just the facilities we can see on our way to chemistry class.     “So, how do you find the campus?” Alice asked and smiled at me.   “Uhm, you’re asking me?” I asked.     “Yeah, who else am I going to ask? Did you see someone? Are you seeing something I can’t see?” Alice sarcastically said and giggled.      “Never mind. Anyway, this is our first class.” Alice said and knock on the door “Mr. Frederick, sorry we’re late. By the way, this is Arthur.”  Alice said to the teacher. They seem to be close. I don’t know but I can slightly see the resemblance.      “Arthur, you can sit beside Alice.” Mr. Frederick said and Alice smiled at me while tapping the seat beside her. I smiled at him as I could feel like everyone was watching me. I hate it. I hate every first day.  The class went fast. It all went well and at least I am with Alice. She’s helping me a lot. The bell rang and we all packed our stuff.     “Arthur?” A voice behind my back seems to be familiar. I turn around and look at the door... It was... my yellow. It was Heather.   “Uhm- hi,” I said. I was caught off guard. I stutter.    “Why didn’t you say that we are going to the same school?” She said while crossing her arms. I smiled at her and I felt a soft touch on my shoulder. It was Alice.   “Hi, Heather,” Alice said and smiled. I saw Heather smile back.    “Wait, do you know each other?” Alice asked   “Yes, I'm the guy next door. It was a pure coincidence” I laughed and they both giggled.   “So you know my best friend. I was about to make you meet her.” Alice said and hooks her arms at Heather’s arm.    “So... Are we having our break right now? I am really hungry.” Alice said and led us to the cafeteria. I can see how Alice and Heather get along. We had a small talk and finally got into our classes. I am with Alice, Heather is busy as far as I can see. She’s like a Star on the campus and right now... I feel like— we are heaven and Earth. “Hey!” I saw Heather smiling at me. She ran towards me. I can see her running in slow motion, everything turns bright and all I can see is her. She stopped in front of me and looked at me eye to eye.    “Are you going home now?” She asked and smiled at me genuinely. I am sweating. My heart is beating so fast. I can’t understand any of this. I am new to this.    “Y-yes. I guess so.” I stutter again. I am always caught off guard.    “Are you sick? Why do you always stutter?” She teased me and I smiled. I saw her extend her arms and brush my hair. I feel like I am turning tomato red. This is so awkward.   “I am not sick. I am just... never mind” I said and immediately looked away. I felt something hang in me and it was Heather. She hooked her arms in mine.    “Shall we go home now?” She said and smiled at me genuinely. That smile can light up the whole town.      “Why do you always smile?” I asked. I don’t know, I just felt like she always smiled.     “Because you never know when you can smile again.” She said and started to look at her phone.     “Just appreciate every smile... You’ll never know when you will see that smile again.” I looked at her and saw her look away, but a minute passed and the light in her eyes immediately came back. That was the prettiest smile I saw. Her eyes glistened as the sun ray directly hit her face. I don't want this scene to end.    “We are here.” My mom said and Heather immediately opened the door.  “Thanks for the ride, Mrs. Blossom.” She said and bid her goodbye. I entered my room and my mom knocked.     “How’s your day?” She asked and I smiled at her     “What’s with that question mom?” I sarcastically said and she laughed.    “What? I mean Heather is pretty. She’s really good-catch honey... Don’t you like her?” My mom asked      “MOOOM!! Get out of my room.” I said and she continues to tease me.     “If ever you have a change in mind, just remember that you have my vote!” Mom shouted from downstairs. I locked my room and smiled at myself. I walked to my window and I saw Heather smiling at herself. She’s talking to someone on her phone. I saw her look at my window and wave at me. I smirked and immediately closed my window.    I sit on my bed and stare at myself in the mirror. How can another 16-year-old guy look so cool while I look like this!