Five Years Later ......... And We Meet Again

1

It was five years ago, when they were in their final year of university.

Tess and Gerald had been best friends from primary school. They were six or seven when they met; it was something they often argued about.

They were an instant hit and were teased as a couple since day one. In school, they were always the best of the besties. By secondary school, the rumours were really flying around.

They and their parents’ always had a good time when they told them stories of students gaping at them, others trying to copy them, albeit hopelessly.

Their teachers trying to come between them. Boys trying to pry her away, girls drooling over him. It was a fun filled life for them.

They even refused to attend different universities, and when he was refused admission into their choice university, Tess refused her admission and waited an extra year just so they could go in together.

The very next year, they got admitted, and a whole new world of mischief opened up for them. The day they got in, they made a pact to fulfil one request to each other at the end of university. It was just a joke. One among thousands. They forgot about it, and lived their lives to the fullest, receiving roses every step of the way.

Four years down the line, and graduation came by quickly. They breezed through university, getting grades like they were jokes.

Graduation ceremony went smoothly, even though they slept through most of it. In the party after the grad ceremony, Tess tilted her head ever so slightly, and caught the eyes of at least 10 drug high friends. It sent chills through her body, as she didn’t get high. She dug Gerald out of the crowd, and they were headed home in no time.

It was raining cats and dogs on the way home, and out of the blue, Gerald said, ‘Remember our pact at the end secondary.’ Tess giggled at his question, as memories of what she had fantasized asking him came. ‘Yeah, what about it.’ She said, still giggling.

‘Let’s do it. You go first.’ He said.

‘Alright,’ she said, the word lingering on her tongue. ‘Don’t end up with anyone that makes you sad. In other words, don’t end up with anyone that takes you away from me.’ She said, her fingers intertwining with his. She was enjoying his warmth.
The rain got too heavy, and they decided to take shelter in a bus station.

‘Your turn,’ Tess said gingerly.

Gerald began playing with her fingers, the way he did when he was nervous. ‘What you said about not wanting me to end up with someone who takes me away from you. It does not have to be like that,’ he said, trying to get her eyes.

‘What are you suggesting,’ Tess asked, snuggling against him in the wet atmosphere.

‘Let’s get married.’ He said flatly.

Tess looked up and saw his dead cold eyes, and knew he was serious. His face was expressionless. The main impulse in her was to say yes, but heard herself blurt out, ‘No I can’t.... we can’t get married. I don’t know, we are just too close as friends, let’s let it be what it is. I’m sorry, ask me for another thing.’ The problem was with her, not him.

Over the years, she had conflicting emotions about Gerald. At times, Gerald was just a friend, and most times, he was just that one perfect guy on the planet.  She generally pushed out these emotions aside, not wanting to damage their already existing relationship. As things were, he was her de facto boyfriend. He was her date to literally everything. To her, they were already way past dating, and she did want to marry him but....

Gerald sat there, stunned. Here she was, all cuddled up in his arms, refusing to marry him. It was the most baffling scene of his life. Things are never as they seem, do they. Tess spoke really quickly, but somehow, he picked up every word one after the other, each one stinging more than the previous. He didn’t believe such cruelty existed in this world.

Tess was everything to him. Tess meant staying away from his friends just to hang out with her. She meant turning a blind eye to all the girls that made not so subtle passes at him. She meant paying less attention to the world and its pleasures.

All the disappointment began to form in his eyes, but he managed to make some speech and said, ‘let’s get out of here.’
It was still raining, and Tess made a fuss about it, but Gerald was determined get the hell out of here, for the lack of better reason, to cry in the rain, as the rain provided the perfect cover for his tears. He managed to get her quiet by offering her his jacket.

He offered his hand to her, and in that moment, Tess felt her worst. He was still this caring after all this. She held his hand, and they walked silently down the block, and took a corner into their street.

Because of the route they took, they arrived at Tess’ house first. Hers was a two storey building overseen by her dad and his team of architectural geniuses. It was draped by a stunning horticultural masterpiece of a garden, a project executed to perfection by his mom. They had so many good times while playing in that garden. The roads were paved, and were flanked by stunning sculptures and a breathtaking swan fountain in the middle.

Gerald walked her to the door, and she handed him his jacket. It was soaked. So was he. Tess saw the look in his eyes, and she felt scared for their friendship. The dead glow surrounding the pupils of his eyes was something new to her.

They said their goodnights, and Tess went in feeling bad, knowing she had just hurt her oldest friend. Her parents were sat in the living room, and they seemed a little too excited when she came in, and when they didn’t see a shred of excitement from Tess, they assumed that she was just wanted to wait until morning to break the news to them officially.
Gerald had strolled out of the house slowly, taking in all the aesthetic features of the sprawling building.

He finally got to his house, and was too dazed to take in the Greek temple like features of his own house. He slumped at the bottom of the spiral stairway that led to his bedroom, and cried his eye sockets out. He sat there, wondering over whatever the hell it was that just happened. He cried a lot more, albeit silently, in his wet clothes, not minding anything at all.