Dreamers

Prologue: Final Part

After Claire's revelation, I found myself pretty much sulking throughout the entirety of the Monday morning I woke up to. Such a thing of course, couldn't really slip through the cracks with a friend like Jake.

"Hey, what's up with you?" He asked me as I ate my lunch in complete silence as we sat on a bench in the inner yard of our school.

Jake was the only guy I was friends with at school, and I hung out with him mostly through all the school hours, as Claire had her own female group of friends.

"Nothing..." I voice while not even turning to look at him.

"...It clearly doesn't look like nothing to me, pal." He replies after a deep sigh.

"Claire is moving to Chicago..." I utter while still looking at my feet.

"Claire as in your childhood friend?" He asks while bringing a hand to his jaw.

"Yeah, that Claire..." I continue eating my lunch after revealing the secret behind my behavior.

"And why are you devastated? Are you... in love with her or something?" He hits the nail on the head yet again as I sigh deeply.

"Yeah, I think I am..." I say while resting my back on the bench.

"Then why are you depressed, you idiot!" He suddenly flicks my ear.

"What do you mean?!" I clutch my ear in pain as I revert my gaze back to my feet.

"I mean that if you actually, genuinely love her then you should confess right away! Who cares if she's moving to Chicago? You can visit her during vacation and she can visit you too! It's not like she's going to a different planet. Then come graduation, you can move there too in 4 or 5 years' time, right?" Jake voices passionately and I can't help but raise my gaze from my feet for the first time since I sat down.

"...Don't be so quick on giving up on the things you love, pal." He says with a smile and I feel myself smiling back.

"You're... right! You're right, Jake! Woohoo! I didn't even think about that! You're a genius!" I say while jumping up from the bench in a feat of celebration.

"Heh! You can call me master from now on..." He replies making a dramatic pose but I'm too preoccupied to deal with him.

"I can confess my feelings to her, and if she feels the same, we'll make this work, right? I can't give up now! Thanks, Jake!" I voice with my brand new goal in mind.

...

After getting my friend's help on the matter, I reverted back to my usual self and the week flew by without us even noticing. But before Claire could leave, we had arranged for a last cycling excursion on Sunday, to our secret spot where I had decided I would confess my feelings.

"Hah... hah... haah..."

I pant heavily while I drive the bike I had rented onwards up the hill, as I feel the muscles on my leg tighten with every movement. But this time, instead of seeing the back of my childhood friend, all I see is the steep hill in front of me.

For once, I'm in the lead!

A sense of accomplishment fills me as I reach the finish line before Claire for the first time ever.

"Yes!!" I pumped my fist in the air, celebrating my first win.

"Hahh... You won!" Claire commented as she tried to catch her breath.

"Hey, don't tell me you let me win!" I turn to her with a glare to which she giggles.

"No, I didn't! You won fair and square! I told you that one day you'd surpass me... And that day is finally upon us. It seems I won't be able to win ever again, though..." She replied as she got off the bike and followed the same old path beside me.