The Last String

|11| Coffee break!

|11| Coffee break! 

Two weeks after the halloween party Maria started asking me what happened that night because according to her, everything changed since then. 

Well to feed you with information, Gavin and I won the best dressed award that night and we’re hailed as the couple of the night. Everyone thought we’re being clingy and cheesy that night but what they don’t know is that Gavin helped me to make a change. It’s hard to be someone without putting any pretense when I’m used to act every single time. I felt like I was n***d! Now, I had to deal with Maria’s weird looks because I know she’s waiting me to open up but I just can’t but I promised to myself that if ever she asked, I’ll answer her honestly. 

And now that she asked what happened, I’m formulating an answer to explain her the situation. 

But first, where do I start? 

These last two weeks Gavin has been visiting me every night to talk about myself. He sure had a future to be a shrink because honestly I am comfortable around him and he has this charm that makes me talk about what I think and feel. He’s a good listener and his advices are bombs, too. If I hadn’t met Gavin then my life would still be all pretense. 

I barely talk these days because I’m not much of a talker and more like a listener kind of girl. Unless it’s needed or I felt like I need to talk, then that’s the only time that I open my mouth and talk. When Maria’s asking me then I’d answer her with a nod, or yes or no if it’s applicable. I don’t want her to feel bad about me but I’m in the middle of transition of accepting who I really am and forgetting the mask that I’ve worn for years now. 

Live life freely. That’s what Gavin told me. Live without restrictions but know your limitations. 

Thank God I’ve met Gavin. 

“Tell me!” Maria moaned and clung on my arm. “Promise I’ll shut up and listen very carefully! I can’t help but to miss you.”

Sighing, I removed her hands on my arm and rested my hands on her shoulder. 

“Get used to me being this monotonous b***h with short, blunt answers and awkward smile. For the first time, I’m being myself.” 

“Get used to it, Maria.” Her forehead creased, obviously confused with what I’ve said. 

“Look. I’m in a middle of baring myself from all the shitty pretense I have been using throughout the years.” I explained as calm as possible but it still sounded monotonous. “I’m sorry if my actions hurt you but I’m really trying to be real for myself and to enjoy life with you guys.” 

“Don’t,” Maria said, shaking her head with a small smile on her lips. “I get it now. I know it’s confusing you and all but don’t you ever apologize for doing something that will make you grow. Baring yourself is courageous enough and I’ll settle for that.” The genuine smile on her face warmed my heart. How can a person smile like that and have an effect to someone? Maybe that’s the reason why Taehyung fell in love with her. 

She got us with her genuine smile. 

“Maybe that’s why every time I look into your eyes they were not sparkling. You need to find peace Finn, for you to be happy. Let go of your burdens.” She slightly pinched my cheeks and laughed. With her misty eyes, her words echoed in my head. 

“Forget the pain but not the memory.”

***

With a slight frown on my passive face, I watched Maria and Taehyung keeping my learning materials and then grabbed my backpack to fix my things before throwing it to Gavin who’s as clueless as I am. What are they up to? 

“Okay lovebirds, time out. I know you’re smart asses but can you freaking take a break?” Maria said with a sad face and her hands clasped together like she’s praying or something. 

“The exam week’s schedule is next week and it’s only Wednesday! Give me a break!” Taehyung on the other hand, was looking amused watching Maria act but he can’t help but to laugh and the latter gave him a glare but being used to it, he just winked at Maria who looked like she’d barf any minute from now. 

“Just tell them that you wanted to try out the new café near the condo,” Taehyung said nonchalantly. I saw how he grimaced as Maria pinched his side. That must’ve hurt so bad.

“Pretty please?” Maria said with her eyes twinkling and blinking. Gavin looked at me and shrugged like he’s letting me decide what to do.

Seriously, who can resist Maria’s charm?

“Fine,” I sighed and got up from my seat which cue Maria to cling on me like the usual. “It better be a good one.” I mumbled.

Carl the chauffeur was waiting for us by the school lobby with his shining clean white limousine. I’m still confused who owns this big baby but I can’t help myself to bring the topic so maybe I’ll ask Gavin some other time. 

The ride to the café was kinda chatty with Maria and Taehyung doing their usual routine of bantering with Gavin fueling the fire. They honestly knew the sore points to pick on so it ended up with Maria frowning because she’s such a sore loser. 

“C’mon babe cheer up!” Taehyung said as we entered the café named The Tasty Bean. Maria flicked his forehead before stomping her way to a vacant table near the glass wall where we can see everything outside. 

“Iced americano and strawberry cake for me,” I told Gavin left him there to order for me. 

Maria’s sighing exasperatingly with her hands massaging her temples. She looked like she’s got a problem and a bad one, if I may add. Stressed, she groaned in annoyance before huffing air. 

“My Mom’s setting me up for a date,” she said and pulled her hair like she’s so angry but can’t say it to her mother. She’s a good daughter. If it were me maybe I would’ve talked back to my Mom and tell her off. I’m a bad kid, I know that for a fact. 

“Do you know the guy?” I asked. Maria nodded her head with a hint of anger on her face. 

“Brandon Jackman. He’s a schoolmate and he’s literally the biggest asshole ever. He bedded almost three-fourth of the cheerleaders!” 

I don’t know where her anger came from but having an active s*x life doesn’t mean that he’s an asshole. Well, I don’t know him so I’ll just listen to Maria. 

“Did he offended you?” I asked. 

“I just hate his womanizing ways ugh!” Maybe there’s a root of her anger? I don’t know. She sounds like her boyfriend cheated on her—wait a damn minute. 

“Is he your ex-boyfriend?” I asked carefully. With her eyes almost popping out of her eye sockets and her mouth gaping wide open, I knew I hit that one right. 

“You still like him?” I mumbled. That’s sad if ever she’s still into him. Liking someone still despite of being hurt by their actions—that’s stupidity but we can’t invalidate her feelings so yeah. 

“I don’t like him anymore. It’s just that I don’t want to be connected with him anymore after he played with me,” she said and sighed heavily. Falling in love is indeed scary, huh? 

“What am I gonna do?” 

“Don’t worry I’ll talk to Aunt Mary,” Taehyung popped out of nowhere and sat next to Maria whose eyes are wide open again.

“You’re eavesdropping again, V.” Maria said with an annoyed expression and rolled her eyes out. Taehyung, with a flat expression on his eyes, suddenly smirked. 

“I’ll use the best friend card,” he said. I arched my brow as soon as I heard him saying that. The both of them have this weird thing going on since I’ve met them. They have this best friend card which means that they can’t bicker for a day and listen to what the other will say. Twice a month, I can see them not bickering and actually acting like good friends. I mean they are good friends already but minus the bickering. Usually they use this when they have favor that the latter should help. They are weird but that’s how their friendship grow stronger. 

“Whatever. Excuse me for a minute,” Maria got up from her seat leaving Taehyung and I alone. For the first time since I’ve met him, there’s this uncertainty in his eyes that’s so foreign. 

“Why don’t you tell her?” I asked which made him still and as his confused eyes met my bored gray eyes, he put down his pretense and sighed deeply. 

“I’m still waiting for the right time,” he said and looked away and settled his eyes at the scene behind the glass walls. “She’s still not over it.” Taehyung added. 

“There’s no such thing as right time, Taehyung. Wake the f**k up. Don’t settle for something less when you can have the best.” 

I can see it. For months I’ve seen how he cares for Maria and how he treasure every single moment they shared together. From the sparkles in his eyes, to the small smiles while looking at her, to the oblivious stares—he sure is whipped. 

“I’m afraid of what I have to risk, Finn. We’ve been friends for years now—no scratch that. We’ve been best friend since forever! The sudden change might scare her and for the record, I don’t want to lose her.” A small sad smile crept into his lips. I can see the struggle of him bottling up his feelings and I know any moment from now, he’ll slip because he can’t contain it anymore. 

I’m so sure of that. 

“Funny how everyone can notice my love for her but she’s still blinded by the pain that asshole gave her.” Chuckling, he shook his head like he can’t believe it himself.

“She’s the best thing that ever happened to me,” he whispered but enough for me to hear.

“Take a risk, V. You’ll never know,” Gavin said with the tray full of treats and coffee in his hand. He settled beside me as he gave me my strawberry cake and Iced americano and afterwards, he gave his friend the advice of the century. 

“It wouldn’t hurt to try, V but I’m telling you it will hurt if you don’t give it a try.” He said like it was nothing but it sounds so deep actually.

“You’ll never know, V. You’ll never know unless you try.” With a mysterious smirk on Gavin’s face, I was enlightened by what he truly meant. He’s Gavin Wraith Smith! He knows everything! For months that I got to know him, I’ve observed how he knew things beforehand. Damn. This conniving guy knows something! I swear to God his smirk means something!

We definitely needed this coffee break. 

#

end of chapter eleven