FATED SEATS

CHAPTER 9

ARA'S POV

Alan's silly joke, as ridiculous as it was, had managed to c***k through the wall of misery I had erected around myself. The smile he coaxed out of me felt foreign, unfamiliar, but also… strangely good.

As I walked home that afternoon, the memory of his kind eyes and gentle smile lingered in my mind. It was a stark contrast to the hollow platitudes and manipulative charm of zen.

But then, another memory surfaced - a memory of laughter and camaraderie, of a friendship that had once been a source of immense comfort and joy. A memory of Earl.

Earl… His flamboyant energy, his infectious optimism, his unwavering loyalty. He had been my rock in tenth grade, the one person who truly understood me, who accepted me for who I was, flaws and all.

A wave of longing washed over me. I missed his jokes, his unwavering support, his ability to make even the darkest days seem a little brighter. We had shared so many secrets, so many dreams, so many inside jokes that no one else understood.

A sigh escaped my lips. I had foolishly hoped that Earl would choose the same STEM strand as me, that we could continue our journey through high school together, side by side. But fate, it seemed, had other plans.

He had chosen the HUMSS strand instead, drawn to the study of humanities and social sciences. I respected his decision, of course, but a part of me couldn't help but feel abandoned, betrayed.

Since then, we had barely seen each other. Our paths had diverged, leading us in different directions, and our once-inseparable bond had slowly frayed. It was a painful reminder of the fleeting nature of relationships, of the inevitable changes that life brings.

"You should check him out" I mind

I could only wish for the best to Earl even though we're not talking to each other

"(Boy) pwede bang makipag usap? matagal na din" Ara accidentally muttered

The words slipped out before I could stop them, a soft murmur lost in the bustling hallway. I quickly glanced around, hoping no one had heard me. The thought of contacting Earl after so long filled me with a mixture of longing and apprehension. What would I even say? Would he even want to talk to me?

But the yearning for his friendship, the need for his familiar presence, was too strong to ignore. Maybe, a small voice whispered in my mind, maybe it's not too late to reconnect.

With a surge of determination, I pulled out my phone and navigated to his contact information. My fingers hovered over the call button, my heart pounding in my chest.

What if he had moved on? What if he had found new friends, people who understood him better than I ever could? What if he resented me for not choosing the same path as him?

The doubts swirled around me, threatening to drown me in a sea of insecurity. But then, I remembered his infectious laughter, his unwavering loyalty, his ability to make me feel like I belonged. I took a deep breath and pressed the call button.

The call went straight to voicemail. Disappointment washed over Ara, but she left a short message.

"Hey, Earl, it's Ara. I know it's been a while, but… I was wondering if you'd be free to talk sometime. I miss you. Call me back when you can."

She hung up, her hand trembling slightly. Now all she could do was wait.

That day when I remember Alan's face smiling, "I want to make him happy too because he made me smile in the first place"

I'm still thankful for their time and presence in my life

I am going to support him on whatever his decision he makes

I started to realize that Alan has been with me all the time I am in my ups and downs in life.

Does this mean Alan is for me and I have found the guy that I will never ever lose forever?just for being my best friend forever.