Yellowed

Chapter 10; Festival of Rains

Carlo Paul Morris' POV

This afternoon, Flavus was particularly quiet. I don't know why but he hasn't said a word since I arrived almost thirty minutes now. His eyes were fixed on a single flower.

"Flavus, are you okay?" I asked worriedly. Something on his face made me know there was something he was trying to say.

"Do you know if it's going to be sunny tomorrow?" he suddenly asked me while stroking the flower petal nearest him.

"Hmmm... I don't know," I said, lifting my shoulders. "Why do you ask?"

"Nothing," he sighed. Then minutes of silence echoed on the rooftop again, making me hesitant to open another conversation. I was about to comment, but suddenly Flavus speaks.

"We should take a picture with the flowers."

I looked at him, then at the flower beside him, and I  replied with a smile. "Yeah, that'll be nice. But if you don't mind me asking, why do we have to take a picture?"

"Nothing, I just wanted to preserve this memory," then he gets his phone from his pocket. I went beside him but left a space between us so that the flowers could be seen. He quickly took a few pictures without even waiting for me to pose. I'm sure I looked silly in those photos, but I didn't bother to check them because my heart was beating very fast.

"I'll send it to Mr. Gray. Is that okay with you?" he asked suddenly. I can't explain, but my heart skipped a beat when he spoke Mr. Gray's name, making me stutter.

"I... I mean, you have his contact?" I abruptly asked.

"Yes, I did. He messages me sometimes, you know, school stuff," he casually said.

A sense of relief touched me when he said that, and I smiled. "Oh yeah, I forgot you and Mr. Gray were always together," I said with a grin. Then he sat beside me, and we continued gazing at the setting sun. This day was beautiful. The scattered clouds and the sun was shining brightly, making everything on the east gleam. The soft breeze wafting through our hair made the flowers dance joyously. Then a flower petal spun for a while and floated to land on Flavus' shoulder. He smiled at me when I handed him the petal.

"So, are you feeling fine now?"

"What do you mean?"

"You've been absent for two days, and I can't find you anywhere, even in your dorm." My mouth slipped, making Flavus furrow his brows.

"You went to my dorm? When and how did you know it?" he asked, confused.

"I... You ditched me on taking care of this garden two days in a row; that's why I asked the custodian, but when I went to your dorm, there was no one there," I explained, trying to sound casual.

"Oh, I had a fever, then I went back to our house to get some of the things that I need for school," he replied.

"Is that so? A little fever, and you came rushing back to your Mom? What a wimp," I said as I chuckled loudly, but I stopped immediately when I saw him not reacting. He just looked at the ground playing with a dried leaf with his feet.

"My Mom... Left us more than a year ago," it was as though someone had dipped me in a bucket full of iced water. I felt so dumb saying something like that.

"Flavus... I... I didn't know. I'm sorry," I utter silently and awkwardly.

"No, you don't have to feel bad," he smiled. But his smile was sadder. "I'm fine now. Really" he continued. I put my hands on his shoulders and said. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have-"