CHAPTER 5
1425 Words
"Hey, Vielka! Water?"
I saw her slightly panting at the stage where we put all the flowers for tomorrow's celebration- Graduation Day. Yes, you read it right. Tomorrow will be our last day in grade school. Real quick, yet worth it.
"Thanks," she responded and immediately held the water bottle from my hand.
But instead of loosening my fingers from gripping it, I clutched the bottle. And unknowingly, I just held her hand with my other hand.
Our eyes met as we were both unconscious about what happened. It was nostalgic. It was like the old sweet movies who shyly do skin ship to their secret loved ones.
It was hot, thin, but soft. Her hand seemed to be fragile. I wanted to hold it for a longer time, but I thought it wasn't a good idea, so I decided to remove my grip from the bottle and let her drink it.
I smiled at her, and I immediately went back from carrying the flower pots to the stage. The motif was elegant. Placing the black, white, and gold fabrics for the backdrop makes everything special, for it resembles the resilience, perseverance, and time that the students have had dedicated.
I've also recovered from the accident I've encountered and went back to my normal routine. I'm still clueless about what just happened on that day of the accident and what happened to Vielka, but I don't care as long as I'm with her.
"Don't be sad, Zach," Lawrence said while we were arranging the chairs. He's here with his teasing phrases again.
"Who told you I'm sad?" I faced and asked him.
"Me," he said and laughed as if it was funny. I shook my head, realizing how his teasing techniques never improved.
"Hey! You're fighting again?" Clyde asked when he walked across us to put the amplifier he was carrying.
"Lawrence is crazy, Clyde. Indeed," I said while smirking.
"No. You're crazy about her," Lawrence insisted, and he even pointed his finger to Vielka who was sitting on the bleachers with her friends.
"Right Clyde?" Lawrence asked Clyde.
Clyde just shrugged and Lawrence immediately put his arms around Clyde's neck, and they pulled me to have some snacks. There's really no day without them teasing or joking around.
***
Everything is done. From the stage, the lightings, the chairs, the sound system to the rehearsals; they are all finally done. We are all settled for tomorrow's event, and I am very excited.
Before I reach the school gate, I bid Clyde and Lawrence goodbye because they got home early. While I was on my way to the gate, I saw Vielka walking straight at the right side of the road. I caught her again, just hovering her hands like she's explaining something to nobody. The hell, I just shook my head. Maybe I am just hallucinating all this time because of tiredness. I can't think of something unrealistic when I don't have any evidence. I walked fast to level her.
"Hi!" I excitedly started while locking my both hands on the straps of my backpack, and I didn't expect her to be shocked but the hell, she was like an angel who just fell from above.
We're classmates, but it feels like we just see each other once a while because I've confessed to her- twice. I just stare at her from a place, and it's fine.
"Hi," she said, and it sent shivers through all the parts of my body. It feels like we never talked before.
"Where's your grandma? Is she not coming to fetch you?" I asked her because it's unusual to see her without her guardian who usually sends and fetch her to school.
"No. She's at home taking a rest," she answered seriously and looked down, watching her steps before letting out a sigh.
"Why? Is there something wrong happened?" I asked because of my curiosity and for the second time, she sighed.
"I forced her to have a check-up because I don't know why. Her skin just became yellow," she answered.
"So, how're the findings?" I asked.
"The doctor told me that there's nothing to worry about. They just gave her medicines to take," she calmly said.
"Good to hear that. Um... if you need someone to talk to, I can be that person," I offered without hesitation. I was carried away when she forced herself to smile.
It was awkward again. Especially when she already knows that I have feelings for her. I was thinking of something that I could ask, but I was astonished when she spoke.
"You, where's your father?" she asked. I smiled a little, for it didn't sink in. Vielka just asked me.
"Oh, I told him I'll be coming home late today because of the preparation, and I told him too not to fetch me anymore. I'm glad to get the chance to accompany you on your way home," I answered. It felt comfortable. The words, the way I told her those things. It was perfect.
"So, you're coming to our house again?" she asked in confusion.
"Yeah. What's the matter?"
"No, it's fine Um... I mean, I can go home by myself," she insisted.
I saw the intersection approaching, but I didn't care. I'll send her home- safe. Silence covered all the spaces between us. I just coughed a little to get rid of the silence.
"Thanks for dropping me home by the way," she spoke.
"No problem. I hope it won't be my last visit here," I said, but she just turned her back in front of me and went inside their house immediately.
I walked back home, and I carried a smile that no one can see and no one can feel, but only me. I think we've easily forgotten how mysterious were the things happened to us on that day of my accident and on that day of her unexplained disappearance.
***
I can hear the babel of people around me, and I could feel my ears near to be broken because of the ear-deafening volume of the sounds currently playing.
It's 1:30 PM when we finally arrived at the school auditorium. At exactly two o'clock, the ceremony will start. I am ready to finish the day with my grey long sleeves, cutely partnered with a black bow bought by my mom yesterday when I got home. I am also wearing slacks and a pair of black shoes with my hair combed to perfection. I am sitting here at the left side of the auditorium together with mom and dad, and I witnessed Clyde together with Lawrence coming over here.
"You're early, dude," Lawrence said while removing his plugged earphones.
"Yeah, I wanna graduate early," I jokingly said, and we both chuckled.
"Congrats Zachary Isaiah!" it was Clyde formally greeting me for the graduation.
"Congrats!" I greeted them both.
The ceremony was just filled with excitement as we finally received our diplomas. We were happily dancing with our white graduation gown and throwing our graduation caps as if we are already graduated in college.
My grade school years were filled with various experiences, but what made it more memorable was the moment I met Vielka Takahashi.
"Congrats!" I said after the whole program when I saw Vielka with her grandma. She's right. Her grandma's skin was yellow, including her eyes. It seems like there's something wrong on her body, but anyway, I hope she'll be okay.
"Nice to see you here again grandma," I also greeted her, but she just smiled and said the word congrats with a sound enough to be heard. She looks really weak, tired, and she became thinner than the last time I saw her fetching Vielka.
"Congrats too," Vielka said after noticing me reviewing her grandma's appearance.
"Can we talk?" I asked her. And she nodded. She then let her grandma sit for a while, and we went to a school area where there were few people.
"I am sorry, but I hope your grandma will be okay soon," I started while we stood under the dawn experiencing the sunset.
"I'll be missing you. I hope to see you again around," I said willingly, for I will be really missing her.
I know we just finished the basic stage of our life, but it doesn't mean that I will stop admiring and liking her. She's too precious not to be treasured.
"I think we could still see each other anytime," she said amusingly because I know she's really happy for the occasion that had happened. But in the middle of our conversation, we were interrupted when one of her friends just came to tell something.
"Vielka! Your grandma just collapsed over there. Hurry! Come see her!" Amanda said in panic to Vielka.
"What!?"
Vielka just threw a gaze at me and immediately went back to see her grandma.
- Writer
