Forever and Always (English Version)

“Erika, guess who’s staying over tonight?” her mother called from downstairs. She paused mid-sketch, her eyes lighting up. “Alex!” she shouted, bolting out of her room and thundering down the stairs. “Hey, Pepper,” Alex greeted, holding up his fist. They bumped knuckles. Everyone else called her Erika—but not Alex. For as long as she could remember, he’d called her Pepper. No story behind it. No deep meaning. It just stuck. And she liked it that way. She smiled and offered a quick hug to Aunt Dinah and Uncle Jordan. “We’re heading upstairs,” she said, already tugging Alex along. She could sense the tension between him and his parents—could feel it in the way he didn’t even glance back. He just lifted his hand in a lazy wave. She caught the flicker of his father’s clenched jaw. “Did you and your dad fight again?” she asked once they were inside her room. “What else is new?” he muttered, flopping sideways onto her bed. Her chest tightened. She didn’t even scold him for getting dirt on the sheets. She just walked over and gently tugged off his sneakers. Erika’s room was the kind of chaos that made sense only to her—canvases lined the walls, old paint stains tattooed the desk and parts of the floor. It smelled faintly of turpentine and lavender. Messy, yet everything had its place. Alex on her bed just made it feel more comfortable than it already is. She had been dying to tell him but the time right now is just not right. Not when Alex looks like he had the whole world in his shoulders. She laid down beside him. He smelled like fresh linens and mint—clean and warm, like comfort bottled up. “Why don’t you try going to one of those dinners your dad always drags you to?” she asked softly. “I did. Hated every second. Everyone just expects me to become him.” He stared at the ceiling. “But I don’t want to be a lawyer. You know that, Pepper. I tried to fit in but I got suffocated by merely trying. I feel alive holding my camera. I feel an undeniable surge of happiness everytime I see the world through my lens. I can never be a lawyer. I never wanted to be. My heart belongs to photography.” “You could be both,” she said, nudging him. He glanced at her, raising an eyebrow. “Are you serious?” She nodded. “I got Dad’s painting hands and Mom’s business brain. I’ll be both. Watch me.” He tapped her forehead. “You can only really love one thing. One passion. One focus. That’s how people succeed.” She grinned. “Well, I’m not most people. I’ll make both love me back.” He laughed. “You and your twisted logic.” “It’s the same with love,” she added, flipping onto her side. “You can love more than one person.” “Not true,” he said, sitting up to unroll the extra mattress on the floor. “Totally true,” she countered, tossing him a blanket. “You know I love you, right?” “Of course.” “But someday, I’ll love someone else. Like… fall in love with my one true love. But I will love you just the same. Just like art is my greatest love, but business is my best friend.” He didn’t answer. Just looked at her for a moment, unreadable. Then muttered, “Whatever you say, Pepper.” He pulled out his laptop and Canon DSLR—his pride and joy. She smiled dreamily. And without even thinking she poured out what she had been dying to tell him the moment she heard his footsteps down the hall. “I think that day was yesterday, Alex.” She tried so hard not to squeal. He glanced up as if she is talking with alien language. “Come again?” She leaned in like she was sharing a secret. “What do you think of Lance?” “Which Lance?” his brows frowned. “Aunt Betchy’s son. We used to play with him as kids, remember? He’s back now—and wow. I almost did not recognize him. He's like that perfect guy I've read in every romance novel. He is so tall, handsome, smart, gentle and has a good sense of humor. And his smile is everything. He could light up the whole city and I am not even exagerrating!” She said feeling giddy. “Oh. That guy,” he said, typing something into his laptop. “Pretty sure he’s gay.” She couldn't believed with what she heard. Her hands automatically launched a pillow at his face. “Ow! What was that for?” “Take it back!” “Take what back?” “That Lance is gay!” “Okay, okay,” he said, dodging another pillow with a laugh. “Maybe he’s not gay… yet.” “You’re impossible,” she grumbled. Her ears started to feel hot. She is seriously getting mad now while Alex was just laughing at her. She was about to throw another pillow when her mom passed by the open door. “What now?” her mom sighed. “Didn’t you two promise no more fighting?” “It’s Pepper, Auntie,” Alex whined, trying so hard to look like a lost puppy. “She hit me.” “Erika…” her mom warned, eyeing the pillows on the floor. “I was handing him one. His big head got in the way.” She tried her best to answer calmly when her foot is itching to kick Alex in the shin. Her mom shook her head, barely hiding a smile. “Don’t stay up too late. And keep it down—your dad’s resting.” “If she talks too much, I’ll gag her,” Alex offered helpfully. As her mom walked away, Erika tried to kick him—but he moved, and she hit the side table instead. “Ahh!” she hissed in pain, clutching her toe. The camera clicked. “Perfect,” he said, grinning. “Priceless expression.” She put on her best fake smile and fluttered her lashes through the pain. Click. Click. “Wait—you actually like that guy?” Alex asked, amused. She knew he was just trying to get a reaction from her. She tried to launch another pillow but Alex dodged, laughing while clicking his camera, watching her reaction from his lens. God, he is such a kid! "Happy?" she asked in a sarcastic tone but he just nodded happily. "You will always be my favorite subject, Pepper." He smiled. And she was little taken aback. Because Alex's smile could light up the whole city, too. Well, he rarely smiles. That's just it. "Whatever, Alex. I love, Lance no matter what you say." Her answer wiped off the smile from his face. "You just saw him yesterday.” “Yes, it is a whole new version of him. And I love him already.” “Seriously, Pepper?” Alex asked as if disgusted seeing her swooning. “It is love at first hello,” she said, hugging a pillow to her chest. “You’re insane.” “No, really. If you see him you'll know exactly what I mean. He even opened the door for me. A total gentleman.” “Yeah... He’s so gentle… to be a man.” She flicked his lips. "Aw!" Alex flinched. "How did you become so violent?" “Stop insulting him! I don't want to hurt you!” "Alright," Alex said raise his hands in surrender. "But are you really sure you are in love?" She proudly held up her sketchpad and turn its pages with sketches of Lance. “See? I've never been so inspired!” His face darkened. “Not a single one of me, even though we’ve been stuck together for years?” She blinked. “Why would I sketch you?” “I take pictures of you all the time. You are my favorite subject.” “Yeah—and you always took the ugliest ones.” He smirked. “Because those are the real you. The you I love most.” She plastered a smile. She is used to Alex capturing her in her worst. Those ugly pictures of her are his treasures. And he is really good with his craft which made her remember he is doing a photo shoot with Lance for the school publication. “You’re doing his photo shoot, right?” she asked, eyes wide. “Can I come? Please?” He looked at her with disbelief. “You wanna stalk the guy now? Isn't that a cheap move, Pepper?” Her eyebrows raised. “It’s just a shoot. Please let me come with you.” “No.” He answered firmly. “Why not?” “Because you’ve lost your mind. Besides, I won't let you do so much effort over something that is so fleeting." "That's the point, Alex. I don't want this feeling to be fleeting. I want this to last... you know...forever. I feel he is the one," she answered dreamily thinking of Lance smiling at her. He didn't answer. "I'm serious! I like him a lot." He just shook his head and mouthed, "No." She groaned, flopping back onto the bed. She can't believe Alex is saying no. “Come on, Alex. I helped you write those dumb love letters. I baked cookies for your psycho exes. I’m just asking for a little support here!” She's too upset to talk now. She just wants him to be on his side. “Pepper…” She turned away, scowling. He sighed. “Pepper.” She grabbed a pillow and pulled it over her ears. “Four o’clock in the afternoon tomorrow.” She frowned. “What’s at four?” He grinned. “Your prince charming. Studio. Shoot.” She gasped and lunged for his laptop. There it was—a message from Lance, confirming the photo session. She squealed and tackled him into a hug. “You’re the best best friend ever!” She almost squealed and showered kisses on his face. “Don’t slobber on me,” he muttered, wiping her kisses off his cheek. “Thank you, Alex,” she whispered, curling into bed. “Sleep. You can daydream tomorrow.” “I’m so happy, Alex.” “I can tell.” “I think he’s the one.” She looked like she was about to blabber so he stopped her. “Go to sleep. Stop over reacting.” “I love you, Alex.” “Love you too.” She drifted off, smiling—certain her dreams would be beautiful tonight. Alex stayed awake. He watched her sleep in the dim light, the sound of her breathing soft and even. He didn’t know why her words stung so much. Maybe because she’d never gushed like that over anyone else. It is the first time he saw her swooning over a guy. And he didn't like the feeling. Maybe because he wasn’t ready to share her—not yet. She was more than a best friend. More than family. He even loves her more than anything in the world. She is his everything. He could still feel her kisses on his face. And he felt a little uneasy. He shrugged off the weird feeling and picked up his camera. Click. “Perfect,” he whispered. Pepper is smiling in her sleep. He stared at her through the lens, his heart heavier than he expected. "I do hope that guy won't break your heart. Because I'm gonna break every little piece of him if that happens." he muttered to himself.