You promise?

Chapter 18

Char

"Do you think if I ask for a copy of the photo, they'll give it to me?" Jora frowns, looks away from her phone, and stands next to me to see what I see.

"You know them?" the redhead asks as she looks at the display case with trophies.

I nod, seeing my brother's beautiful smile. Seeing his slanted eyes, his sweaty t-shirt and the big trophy he and Alex are holding in their hands.

"I wouldn't think there would be any problem." My friend says this without asking the reason for my interest. "Come on, Char, it's time."

Jora takes my hand, adjusts my cap, and smiles at me after telling me that I look perfect.

We go out to the soccer field, where all the students are gathered, taking pictures with their families, and approaching the chairs assigned to each graduating class.

Jora's boyfriend approaches me and smiles shyly, and I smile back.

I watch as family members begin to leave the building, bidding farewell to the school with their sons and daughters.

It has been three months since I last saw Alex.

Three months have passed since I ran out of his house, only to return a couple of hours later, ready to tell him everything, only to find out that he went on an internship abroad.

Internships that could last up to six months.

The devastation I felt when I desperately called Mosi that night when Alex didn't come home sent me crashing to the floor.

I push the memory from my mind, smiling at Jora as she makes me take a picture of her and her boyfriend.

The assembly passed quickly, and the words of the teachers, principals and the students selected brought out more than one smile and some tears.

The ceremony ended smoothly, and the students began to say goodbye to each other before going to their families to celebrate.

"Char, my parents are making lunch for me, you know you are more than invited. I would love for you to come." Jora turns to me, and her radiant smile makes me want to mimic her.

I grab her hand and pull her close to me, giving her a little hug that surprises her as much as it does her boyfriend. They remain silent, processing what happened.

"Thank you so much, Jora, thank you so much for these years. I'm sorry I haven't been a good friend." The redhead's eyes moisten. "I'm having lunch with my family, but I appreciate your invitation."

She nods, hugging me once more.

"See you at graduation then," she says, winking at me.

I nodded, waving goodbye to them.

I start walking inside the school, wanting to say goodbye to my brother one last time.

My heels are the only thing to be heard as I enter the hallway, everyone is outside.

I pull down the hem of my black dress, the only one I found inside my mother's closet, but it is hidden perfectly by the gown.

I turn into the main hallway to arrive right at the trophy case.

My steps stop when I see a guy in a suit. The only thing I can see is his back, he's a little bent, overlooking the picture in the middle of the display case.

My steps make him turn around.

His smile grows as he sees me, he turns completely around, letting me see him in a suit, with his black hair slicked back, as elegant as only he can look.