Flickers

Chapter 122

At the time I arrived home I just finished having a group practice for our PE subject. My old friends and I just met and didn't have much time together since they too occupied the plaza and went on to practice; both Espe and Alex are like woods as they try to dance while moving their waists from left to right.

The door creaked as I placed my bag into my bed and took off my shoes only to throw it into the cabinet with a bang. I plopped myself into the bed, letting the cold sheets seep into my warm body, and let the electric fan blow to my side.

Not before long I changed clothes, went to the kitchen to cook our dinner; tilapia that my brothers fished yesterday, and decided to saute it in a sweet and sour sauce.

"Smells good- aw!" I slap my third brother's hand as he tried to pinch some meat from the fish.

"Wash your hands first!"

The others ran to the bathroom to wash their hands and after placing the plates on their corresponding seats we chowed down our meal. Mom praised me for my delicious cooking while my second brother said that it was too salty which I ignored. The rest of my brothers have their heads bowed down and their plates cleaned off.

Soon I went to my room, dragged my exhausted body to my bed, and take the charger off from my phone.

69%. 7:30 pm. 20 minutes before he replied.

I called him. The line connects. I heard someone the sounds of yells from a man, the singing of a woman as the karaoke blasts; the door closed, the voices decreased and his breathing resonated from the call.

"Sorry, it was my cousin's birthday today"

"No worries. I also got into practice and my phone charged that's why I didn't see your message early on" my voice lowered till it reach the end of my statement.

The two of us were stuck, no one wanted to move— to take action of the inevitable. My palm sweated and so are my eyes; I thought I would be alright but I was just making it seems like everything would be alright.

"I'm sorry"

Sorry. You've been saying that an awful lot in the past, never thought I'll hear you say it again.

My eyes closed tightly and I took a sharp intake before opening my chapped lips.

"Me too. I'm sorry for not trying"

We did try but it wasn't enough. Remember the countless hours we spent on video calling each other? The wacky interactions we do and funny stories that we tell each other on the phone? How about the numerous letters and gifts that we have exchanged with one another?

Now no one wanted to move to the next step; I feel my heart racing as if I went on a racecourse. The light of my eyes dimmed as the future I once envisioned broke and turned to dust.

"I'm sorry for breaking my promises. For breaking your heart. For wasting your efforts"

I tried to hold back my sobs but one particular statement of his hinders it. My throat rolled uncomfortably as if I had eaten fish bones, a fat drop of tears rolled off my face continuously that I didn't bother wiping it anymore.

"I'm sorry for being weak. For not being understanding and for breaking your heart as well"

I was weak and insecure; my feelings aren't always still and sometimes we've reached some stagnant points in our life. But I remember the adoration that always show on your face, the delicate words that were handwritten by you, the careful and sweet deliberate actions that you do as well as the goofy things you say to make me happy at times I'm sad.

And this time, we reached a consensus, I hung up the phone with my heart hung up in my throat.

Then my phone buzzed and I burst into fits of tears and laughter. It was written in Hangul, the Korean language and it dug up some memories in my head.

Will you still be my friend?

***
Not so Fun Fact: Yes they broke up after the first month of college went by. They're still friends and they have reached a civil breakup.

Chapter 122 is up!

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