Sunsets and Memories (Epistolary)

040

Elijah's POV

"Brodie, sama ka? May gig sila Lev tonight, nood tayo!" Helix approached me the moment our last period teacher left.

From my spot, I glanced at Amie who was busy talking to her bestfriend.

"Maybe next time. Amie finally agreed to talk to me so..." I shrugged and stood up.

"Uy, ayos yan! Good luck, pre!" He patted my shoulder before he left.

Napansin kong umalis na din si Chelsea pati ang iba naming mga kaklase hanggang sa kami nalang ni Amie ang naiwan dito sa room.

"Hi." I greeted and took her bag para ako na ang bumuhat. Muntik akong mapasimangot. Bakit ang bigat nito?

"Kaya ko na yan." akmang kukunin na niya ulit pero pinigilan ko ang kamay niya sa ere at pinagsiklop nalang sa palad ko.

Her eyes widened at sinubukan pang hilahin palayo ang kamay pero mas hinigpitan ko ang kapit. I chuckled and pulled her out of our classroom with a smile on my face. Cute.

I smiled more when she didn't pull her hand away hanggang sa makarating kami sa Celes'. We ordered drinks first bago sa sulok umupo para mag-usap. That's when i had to let her hand go.

"So, is everything okay?" alangan kong tanomg.

She shrugged and played with her drink's straw. "I'm sorry for ignoring you... I just... I don't know, honestly."

I nodded and sipped on my drink. "Care to tell me your thoughts? Let's talk it out and see if maybe we can fix this."

"What's there to fix?" She chuckled humorlessly. "We're not friends anymore, Elijah."

Natigilan ako at matagal siyang tinitigan. I thought we were already okay. I mean, we really were. We started hanging out and talking again before she ignored me.

"Amie-"

"I'm scared, Elijah." she smiled sadly and looked up at me. "About... what could possibly happen."

Mataman akong nakinig. I wanted to know her side because I knew she had her reasons.

"I'm starting to get used to your presence again and I don't want that... I'm afraid that you might leave again." napayuko siya at marahang umiling. "I can't bear another heartbreak because of you again."

"Amie, I already explained why I did that... I thought you understand-"

"I do! I do, Elijah. Trust me, I do..." she cut me off. Nagtama ang mga mata namin at nakita ko ang namumuo niyang mga luha.

"I understand, okay? I just..." she sniffed and covered her face with her palms. "I've loved you too, Elijah. Since we were kids. I honestly think I loved you even before you loved me. I loved you when we were young and I— I was so broken when you left my life. I couldn't bear going through that again, E-lai."

E-lai. She called me E-lai!

My tears fell one by one as I stared at her. She loved me?

"Why didn't you tell me before?"

"Because we were young! What did we know about love at that age? We were kids." she cried. "I just... somehow knew that I love you. I don't know why, how, when, but I knew that we were friends so I restrained myself from feeling that way because... I didn't wnat to lose you." marahas niyang pinunasan ang mga luha niya at tumitig sa'kin. "If I knew that I'd lose you either way then I would've told you."

I sighed and wiped my tears slowly. I stared at her with gentle eyes and smiled a little.

"I love you, Amie. I still do. And I have no plans on doing the same mistake again." I said carefully and reached for her hands. I caressed it and let out a soft smile.

"Please, give me another chance."