Dear Neveah,

28. Dear Neveah,

Shoving her hands deep into the pockets of her designer Chanel jacket, Allison takes slow strides into the popular cafe opposite their school park where most of the students liked to eat. The chiming sound of the bell above her head makes her sigh before stepping into the large room. The heater in the corner was warming the room and some parts of her wanted to sit undisturbed at a table sipping her hot chocolate.

Large groups of students surround most of the tables, murmuring or laughing loudly. Some tables had books spread over them and the rest had leftover food. Alli looks away from the numerous groups huddled around and heads straight towards the counter where Kimo, her classmate was serving.

His cheeks flush a bright pink colour as soon as they make eye contact, a shy smile spreading across his face. He tosses the rag aside and throws on his green apron, running a hand through his sandy blonde hair.

"It's okay to work and school at the same time, Kimo. You don't have to be shy or kowtow to those bullies, you're obviously better than them in many ways.", Allison mumbles and he nods his head shyly, another blush coating his cheeks.

He disappears behind the counter to get her usual order, giving Allison time to look around the shop for familiar faces. Locking eyes with a couple of people from her class, she waves them politely and turns around to face Kimo packaging her breakfast in a pretty paper bag with hearts printed all over it. He had always gone the extra mile of giving her extra cupcakes or cookies on her every order and giving her a pretty paper bag was over the top.

"Isn't that too much?", she teases him while handing him his cash with an extra tip, just like usual. The sweet aroma from her paper bag wafts in the warm atmosphere and she inhales slowly.

"No Anna. Have a beautiful day."

"It's Alli. Finish your shift and I'll see you later.", Alli laughs lightly and waves at him before hurrying out of the noisy cafe packed with students from her college.

Alli eats her breakfast in her car, enjoying her own company. She still had thirty minutes left before the start of her first class. Her pale face reflects from her car mirror and she lets out a pained sigh. Staring back at her image, her eyes start to water as old memories flood her mind.

What was she thinking? That she could control everything going on without getting hurt? She had been there for him on worse days and the only thing he could do was cause her more pain and leave her alone to deal with it? She thought and let the tears spill down her cheeks.

She had a hint of his feeling for her but it was blurry but why did he have to admit it and break her heart at the same time? She harshly cleans under her eyes with her silk handkerchief and breathes in deeply, still hiccuping. She sharply inhales the fresh aroma of food mixed with the sweet scent of the cedar wood air freshener in her car.

A knock on her window startled her as she whips her head to look. Kimo was standing outside wearing a faded denim jacket, holding a brown envelope in his hand.

She checks her reflection again before rolling down the windows to lock eyes with Kimo. He eyes her and a look of guilt and sadness wash over his face as he examines her.

"You left this. Were you crying?", he whispers and she shakes her head, faking a small laugh to ease the tension. She takes the envelope from him and offers him a smile of appreciation.

"I didn't think you'd show up for first class.", she teases and they both chuckle before getting distracted by loud yells from Aina, his younger sister.

"I'll see you around but I'm here if you want to talk about anything.", he smiles at her one last time before walking away.

In the last five minutes left for her class, she quickly retouches her make-up and steps out of her car, getting lost in the large crowd of students making their way to their respective classes.