Part 7

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This is my chance to confess to Keif. I have the entire day and I want to make the most of it. I make a mental list of what I want to do on our "date".

The first in my list is pole dancing. Keif hates exercising and I have to drag him with me every time just to exercise or else he'll just be a couch potato. I've been wanting to try pole dancing and I think it's gonna be fun to experience it with him even though he will surely hate it. But since it's my day, he has to do what I say. I message him to prepare and he's dreading the exercise already.

Our pole dancing session is intense and exhausting. I find it enjoyable to learn something new and test the limits of my body but it isn't the case for Keif. He's trying and I can see his agony, and there's something appealing about this kind of pain that he's expressing. Our session started on a serious note but ended in a comical way.

After pole dancing, we have a delightful brunch. Keif orders his desserts first since according to him, he needs sugar to replenish his energy. And let us not forget his daily staple - coffee. We then go to the park to do some leisure walking that ended in running and some more playing. I miss this about us. I miss those times when we were kids and all we did was play and not think about anything. I'm just living in this moment with Keif.

The day will not end without Keif doing his favorite hobby - shopping. Retail therapy is real with Keif. Because I'm in a good mood, I hand him my credit card.

Time flies and next thing we know, we're off to somewhere we don't know. We're just enjoying the ride, listening to good music and having a good time in each other's company.


Night Changes

By One Direction

"We're only gettin' older, baby

And I've been thinkin' about it lately

Does it ever drive you crazy

Just how fast the night changes?

Everything that you've ever dreamed of

Disappearing when you wake up

But there's nothing to be afraid of

Even when the night changes

It will never change me and you"


We stop over at an open field to appreciate the night sky full of stars. We sit at the back of the car, staring at the full moon.

"Today was fun. I thought it's going to be your day but I think I enjoyed it more...except the pole dancing part."

"That's the part I enjoyed the most." I just like poking fun at him.

"Cause you saw me in pain, that's why you enjoyed it." He retorts back.

The moon is exceptionally beautiful tonight so I take out my phone and capture a couple of shots. As I'm finding a different angle, my view suddenly shifts to Keif who's focused at the moon while drinking a cold can of beer.

"Beautiful." I mindlessly utter.

"Hmm?"

"The moon is beautiful." My slightly panicked answer.

"Do you remember when we were in elementary, our teacher asked us to draw something that would symbolize our friend?"

"Yup, I drew you as a sun because you're cheerful, always smiling and there's just this positive energy when you're around. You drew me as a moon right?"

"Yeah, you know why?"

"You said because we're opposites. Our personalities are very different. You're cheerful and bubbly, and I was this quiet, mysterious kid."

"Partly true but thinking about it now, I guess I could not explain the real reason back then."

"The real reason?" I'm getting curious now.

"Yeah, I could not articulate it before but it's like..you're the moon that lights up the dark sky. When you're around, I feel comfortable and safe just like this. Just like how the moon watches over us.

When dad died, you were there. When mom left for Japan, you were there. When I was sick, you were there. When Amanda broke up with me, you were also there.

You're always there for me. So...I think what I'm trying to say is...I'm thankful to you, for our friendship and...I just can't imagine life without you."

There he goes...making my heart beat again.

Before I get lost in his words, it's time to accomplish my real agenda. I look at my watch, it's 11:53PM. "My night is not yet over. I still have...seven minutes."

"You told me before that your happiest school memory was our pre-grad party, right? The time when you and Amanda played Seven Minutes in Heaven?" Keif nods.

"I was absent for 2 days after that."

"Yes, you had stomachache because you drank too much, right?"

"No, I lied. I was absent not because of a stomachache but because I was so sad and disappointed with myself.

That day, if I was just brave enough to tell you how I felt, I wonder what it would be for the two of us...but then, I realized if I confessed to you that time, it would not be the happiest memory of your teenage life.

So I just hid these feelings hoping that it would go away. I had no right to tell you because you were already with someone else and seeing you happy and in love with her..I just can't..ruin that.

You, loving someone else while I was back at square one, it was disheartening and I couldn't tell you how many times I was hurt. I admit that there were times I wished you and her would separate and...I felt so bad and guilty about it but seeing you hurt and lonely and heartbroken like that..it pains me more.

And you being hurt because of her brought the what-ifs again..if I could take that seven minutes back, you wouldn't be with her and you wouldn't hurt like this.

Yes, I'm always there for you but I don't want you to only remember the times I was there when your sky is dark. I also want you to remember that we're together when the sky is clear and the sun is up.

I just...I think I just can't contain this anymore..I just want to say that I have feelings for you for a very long time now and you don't have to answer right away. I just want to be honest with how I feel. Please think about it carefully...just take your time."

I can't believe I let it all out. Everything happens in a blink of an eye and all I can remember is Keif's eyes lovingly looking at me. It's like telling me that it's okay and he accepts me for who I am and what I feel about him - about us. He reaches out his hand and caresses my cheek. I touch his face with my hand, touch his forehead with my forehead, and touch his nose with my nose. I close my eyes to savor every sensation. I can feel the warmth of his breath on my face and I can smell the bittersweet scent of the beer he just drank. I trace his wet lips with my fingertips and I can hear my heart beating. And like a dancer, I dance to the rhythm of the moment. I slowly lean my face and gently touch my lips to his. It's a kiss light as a feather and we stay like that for a while, as if reading each other's movements. Our lips separate briefly and this time, he grabs me for another kiss.


"We're only gettin' older, baby

And I've been thinkin' about it lately

Does it ever drive you crazy

Just how fast the night changes?"


It's the greatest seven minutes of my life.


                                                                           -END OF ACE'S SEVEN MINUTES -

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