E3 - A Promise That Never Faded
1296 Words
Andrew blinked in confusion.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
Instead of answering, Mina quietly began packing her things.
Andrew stood up.
"Hey... are you okay?"
Mina gave a small nod but avoided eye contact.
Andrew watched silently as she slipped her sketchbook and belongings into her bag.
What's wrong with her?
Once she finished, Mina picked up her bag and turned to leave.
Andrew almost called out to her again.
But he couldn't bring himself to say another word.
He simply watched as she walked away.
Maybe... I was wrong.
He remained standing beside the table, disappointment weighing heavily on his chest.
Outside, the afternoon sun slowly sank toward the horizon.
Before long, the final school bell echoed through the school, signaling the end of the day.
Tuesday, February 16, 2021
Andrew had barely slept the night before.
I really don't understand what's wrong with her...
Just as he was about to close his eyes again—
BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!
His alarm blared.
7:00 A.M.
"Ugh..." he groaned, burying his face in his pillow.
Later that day, after class, Andrew, Kevin, and Julia met in the cafeteria.
Kevin leaned forward.
"So... did you talk to her yet?"
Andrew kept his head lowered, avoiding their eyes.
Julia sighed.
"I told you it wouldn't go well."
"Julia, come on," Kevin said. "Don't make him feel worse."
He turned back to Andrew.
"Maybe you should try talking to her again. There's a chance she just doesn't remember you."
Andrew looked up, uncertainty written across his face.
"What if she's not the person I think she is?"
A brief silence settled over the table.
Julia tapped a finger against her chin as she thought.
"Wait... did she ever give you something before you two were separated?"
"Like a toy... or maybe a gift?"
Andrew froze.
Then his eyes widened.
"Oh..."
"You're right, Julia!"
He quickly reached into his backpack and carefully pulled out a small, neatly wrapped Christmas gift.
The edges of the wrapping paper had faded with age, but he had kept it in remarkably good condition.
"I've kept this ever since we were kids."
He looked down at it, his expression softening.
"She gave it to me on day we were separated."
For a moment, none of them spoke.
Kevin clapped his hands.
"Yes! That's definitely going to work!" he said excitedly.
Julia looked at the wrapped gift in Andrew's hands.
"What's inside it?"
Andrew glanced down at it.
"It's a jacket... She made it herself."
Kevin and Julia exchanged excited looks.
"Go for it, mate!" Kevin said with a grin.
Julia smiled encouragingly.
"She won't be able to ignore that, Andrew. Maybe it'll help her remember."
Andrew smiled back.
"Thanks, guys."
With the gift in hand, he left the cafeteria in search of Mina.
Julia watched him disappear through the doorway.
"I really think this might work."
Kevin nodded confidently.
"I'm sure it will."
The two remained seated as they watched Andrew head across the campus.
Andrew made his way to the library.
Just as he had expected, Mina was sitting in her usual spot by the window.
This time, however, she was wearing earphones while quietly sketching in her notebook.
Andrew took a deep breath.
I can do this.
He walked over and sat in the chair beside her.
"Hey, Mina," he said softly.
She didn't respond.
Completely absorbed in her drawing, she hadn't even noticed him.
Andrew tightened his grip on the wrapped gift.
"Mina?" he called again.
Still nothing.
After a brief hesitation, he gently tapped her shoulder.
Mina finally looked up.
She removed one of her earphones and looked at him questioningly.
Andrew offered a small, nervous smile.
"Can we... talk for a moment?" he asked hesitantly.
Without saying a word, Mina removed her other earphone and closed her sketchbook.
For the first time, she gave him her full attention.
Andrew took another steadying breath.
"Um... we knew each other a long time ago, didn't we?"
Mina quietly held his gaze.
Andrew swallowed, suddenly unsure of what would happen next.
Slowly, he brought the wrapped gift out from behind his back.
"Do you remember this?"
Mina stared at the wrapped gift for a long moment.
Andrew held it out with both hands.
"When we were little... on my birthday... you made this for me and gave it to me."
Mina's eyes lingered on the gift before she quietly looked away.
Andrew lowered his gaze.
"I guess... maybe you don't remember."
He forced a small smile.
"Or... maybe we're just not friends anymore."
Silence settled between them.
After waiting for a response that never came, Andrew slowly stood up.
"I should go—"
Before he could take a step, Mina stood up as well.
Andrew turned back to her.
"I remember," Mina said quietly.
Andrew's face lit up.
"Really?"
Mina gave a small nod.
"What does being separated have to do with our friendship?"
For a moment, Andrew was speechless.
Then he hugged the gift tightly against his chest, unable to hide his smile.
"Thank you, Mina."
She blinked in confusion.
"For what?"
"For remembering... and for still cherishing our friendship."
For the first time, Mina's expression softened ever so slightly.
Without another word, she sat back down and reopened her sketchbook.
Andrew let out a quiet sigh of relief.
She's still the same...
His eyes drifted toward the clock on the library wall.
His expression changed.
I'm late for soccer practice!
He slung his bag over his shoulder.
"See you later, Mina."
Mina gave a small nod without looking up from her sketch.
Andrew smiled one last time before hurrying out of the library and making his way toward the soccer field.
After school, Andrew spotted Kevin and Julia near the school gate.
"Guys! It worked!" he called as he ran toward them.
Kevin threw both hands into the air.
"Seriously? Yes!"
Julia smiled warmly.
"Congratulations, Andrew."
Andrew grinned.
"Thanks. I couldn't have done it without you two."
Kevin gave him a friendly pat on the back.
"That's what friends are for, mate."
Andrew smiled.
"See you both tomorrow."
"See you!" Kevin replied.
"Take care," Julia added.
The three waved goodbye and headed their separate ways.
Before going home, Andrew decided to look for Mina one last time.
At least I can say goodbye.
As he approached the bus station outside the school, he spotted her sitting alone on a bench.
There she is.
He jogged over.
Mina was listening to music through her earphones, quietly watching the road ahead.
Andrew sat beside her.
Smiling, he gently tapped her shoulder.
She turned toward him and removed one earbud.
"Hey, Mina," Andrew said softly.
She gave him a small wave before looking back toward the street.
Andrew smiled.
"You really like listening to music, don't you?"
Mina nodded.
In the distance, a bus approached the station.
Andrew glanced at it.
"Oh... so you live in Antipolo now?"
Mina didn't answer.
Instead, she quietly watched the bus pull closer.
Andrew stood up.
"Well... I guess I'll see you tomorrow, Mina."
Mina removed her remaining earbud and slowly packed away her earphones.
Then she looked at him.
"We can't guarantee there will be a tomorrow."
Andrew blinked, caught off guard by the unexpected reply.
A small smile returned to his face.
"...I guess you're right."
The bus came to a stop.
Its doors folded open.
Mina climbed aboard.
Andrew stood outside and waved.
After finding a seat by the window, Mina looked back and gave him a small wave in return.
The doors closed, and the bus pulled away.
Andrew watched it disappear down the road.
For the first time in days, the weight on his chest felt lighter.
As the sun slowly sank below the horizon, the evening seemed calmer than the ones before it.
- Writer
