Fading Love

Fading Love 2

"Hey, dude. Wake up. My mom's going to kill me for holding a party without her knowledge."

Well, if it's not Isaac Benedict De Leon. Fuck, my head and my body feel so heavy.

He offered his hand to me, which I didn't decline because I can't really find my balance right now.

"Last night was a blast, dude. Congratulations, by the way. I should go check on my friends."

Their team snatched the championship, but I know we can do better. I hugged him sideways and went on my way to check on my friends.

"Get up, you dumbass!"

I lightly slapped Dylan's face because he's still not waking up.

"Just a minute. My head terribly hurts."

He groaned. Well, if he hadn't hogged the liquors last night, he wouldn't be in this much suffering.

"Of course, it does."

I stood up and went to Alec, who still didn't have the slightest idea of where he was.

"We should really head home, boys."

We helped ourselves to my car, and I drove each of them back to their houses safely despite this wrenching headache.

There was no one in our house when I arrived. My parents must be in their office or on a business trip.

I immediately went into my room, threw myself into bed, and drifted into sleep again.

I've got no idea how long I had been sleeping, but I woke up with my mom's voice being so worried.

"Jesus Christ, Elijah Mikhael De Jesus! Where on earth have you been, and what have you been up to? You look awful!"

She exclaimed, and I proceeded to cover my face with a pillow.

"You stink of booze and cigarettes. Are you on drugs?"

My ears got heated upon hearing her say that.

"No, mom! I'm just a wasted teenager who had his first party last night."

I sat up to face her.

"You did?"

She calmly said.

"I did."

I yawned.

"Okay, but you really are in desperate need of a bath."

She said this before shutting the door behind her.

I got up and shaved my face. I also did my hair. Maybe now I already look decent.

I sat at the edge of my bed and started looking for Jessica Galanza on my social media.

There's not much I saw about her. It's just a bunch of old photos, but I found out that she's working in a flower shop near our university. She's been really cute ever since.

I fixed myself, wearing my casual white button-down shirt with my faded blue jeans and plain white shoes, and headed to our university.

"Mom, I got to go. I love you."

I said this to my mom before heading out.

I sat outside a cafe just across from the flower shop where Jessica was working. She was wearing a white well-fitted polo shirt and a skirt, paired with her white plain shoes and brown cap. A white well-fitted polo shirt and a skirt, paired with her white plain shoes and brown cap.

I took some time admiring her from a distance and gathering some courage to approach her. When I felt it had already taken me too long, I stood up to get her a cup of iced coffee, and I entered the flower shop.

I awkwardly walked up to her, and she was obviously trying with all her might to avoid eye contact.

"Hi. I'm Elijah."

I greeted her as I awkwardly smiled at her.

"What are you doing here?"

She asked in almost a whisper while focusing her gaze on the floor.

"Oooh, is that how you talk to your customers here?"

I roamed my eyes as if looking for somebody.

"I know who you are. What can I do for you?"

She slowly lifted her face, and our eyes met.

"Now, that's more like it. You're so beautiful."

Why can't I stop smiling? Fuck! There's just something so enchanting about her voice.

She just stared at me, and an awkward silence fell upon us.

"Oh, I'm sorry. Could you possibly, uhm, make me a bouquet? I don't have anything particularly in mind, but could you just please make it out of the flowers of your liking?"

I nicely asked her while still awkwardly smiling.

She didn't answer; rather, she took out some paper of different designs and picked some flowers.

I cautiously studied her every move, almost drowning in them that I didn't notice she's done arranging them.

"That is going to be 2k."

She plainly said this to me as she was preparing my receipt, and I handed over my payment.

"What name should I place on the card?"

Her eyes landed on mine. Fuck, she is going to be the death of me.

"Jessica."

I said this to her, which made her brows scrunch, but she still wrote it in the note.

She handed over the bouquet and thanked me. I picked up the pen and added more writing to the card. Just as she was about to leave, I held on to her arm.

"Uhm, I didn't mean to startle you last night or whenever at all, but this is for you."

I gave her back the bouquet with her name on it and a note saying, "Maybe it was love at first sight after all."

I also gave her the coffee I bought her before entering. She still doesn't know how to react, let alone have the words for it, but seeing her again was more than enough.

"It was nice meeting you again, Jessica."

She stood there jaw-dropped, and I made my way towards the door. I also waved at her friend at the counter, who was obviously still shocked too.

"All the nerve was worth it after all."

I laughed to myself as I sat down in my car. I was relieved, and I actually feel like I'm floating right now.

Jessica. Such a beautiful name for a beautiful girl.