Ángela
I dry my sweaty hands on my jeans, I am nervous because it has been three years since he was admitted to the clinic, and I haven't seen him since.
I remember only seeing him on the first weekend. I had to muster all my willpower to go to the clinic and not cry the whole way there.
And now I feel exactly the same as that last time.
The sweat accumulates between my chest and collarbone, not literally; I hate hospitals or clinics more than cemeteries.
I run my fingers through my hair because I don't know what else to do in the waiting room.
Neither of his parents says a word, his father reads the newspaper and his mother reads a book on natural medicine.
There are a couple of pots with eucalyptus plants resting on columns of matte blue, the same color as the walls.
Unlike hospitals, there are no lines anywhere here.
Is it like this in all clinics?
Suddenly, I hear steps, we all stand up; Axel's parents step forward, and I cross my arms behind my back and bite my lip.
In a matter of seconds, he reappears, and well, he is much thinner now and no longer has his blonde mane.
His eyes look tired but so happy. He hugs his parents warmly, still not noticing my presence, and I need to hug him for both him and me.
For the horror of hospitals and bad doctors.
But I don't want to get closer... he looks over his father's shoulder, and our eyes meet.
He is surprised because I am no longer the bad guitarist with a hoodie who played deathly melodies in front of his window.
A long story before becoming a more feminine girl, to describe it somehow.
I smile automatically and approach slowly; he quickens his steps towards me, and finally, we hug.
Since medical negligence took my father from me, at least another team of doctors has returned my friend to me.
"You should have waited until I got home," he scolds me in jest. "You try too hard for..."
"God, you're still a talker with heavy charm," I scold him with a half-smile. "I'm glad you're the same."
"I mean it, I love that you're my neighbour and my best friend... my extraordinary nuisance," he says, squeezing me tighter against his chest.
His accelerated heartbeat vibrates with health and vitality against his skin.
"I no longer live there," I confess.
"What?" he asks, putting some distance between us, so I can see his furrowed brow and his beautiful green eyes.
I can't answer as his parents approach us.
"We have a surprise," his parents announce to us. "We are going back to being neighbours," they say, looking only at me.
"How?" I ask, feigning total nonchalance.
"We are moving to the house across from the boarding house where you now live," he says, and the smile already feels heavy to me.
Suddenly, Axel pulls me towards him with his arms and kisses my cheek.
"Thank you," he says to his parents without letting me go.
"Thank you," I say, and we start walking towards the exit of the clinic.
We pass through the double entrance door, and there are Bob, Mira; the twins, and Mirabella, a friend of his ex, Emilia.
But I better not think about Emilia or my stomach turns, and I'm already nervous.
Bob throws confetti in our faces, some falls on Axel's parents; however, they seem quite amused.
And why not? Miracles happen very occasionally, and Axel is a miracle.
They all wear party hats, blow horns, and hold a sign that says: WELCOME, CHARM.
Charm is how I sarcastically nicknamed him because our first interaction as neighbours was not the best; quite the opposite.
Axel and I lock eyes, and we see our promise marked: "Friends until death."
Friendship is ours forever.
All is joy, but the horn-blowing stops when we see the ex, Amanda.
"How dare you come here?" I retort, glancing sideways at Mirabella, who looks as surprised as I am.
She remains a walking beauty; slender, coffee-colored eyes, tall, and wears shorts and a blouse that probably cost more than I can earn monthly from my side job.
I will definitely buy platforms like hers; I no longer feel inferior next to her.
"Please," she pleads, but Bob steps between her and me.
"Enough," says Axel, stepping forward to approach Amanda, he looks at her with a calm expression, to my surprise. "I'm happy that you're doing well, Amanda. I'm glad to have been able to contribute to your happiness at some point in my life, even if I wasn't aware of it."
We are all surprised by the - how to call it? - "exaggerated maturity of his words" and... at the same time not.
"Will you... forgive me?" she asks.
"I have nothing to forgive you for," he assures her, and his gaze is devoid of any resentment. "I am very happy and wish for you to remain happy."
"You've always been so good," she tells him with a touched expression.
"No, no one is good; it sounds cliché, but it's true," Axel says with a genuine smile.
"What you missed out on," Bob snaps at Amanda.
"Don't start," Axel pleads, and the twins step in to prevent him from continuing his outburst.
"Stay happy, goodbye," Amanda says, heading towards the blue car parked nearby.
She starts the engine and finally drives away.
"Alright, party time," says Mira excitedly.
But I have nothing but admiration for Axel, besides how patient he is in teaching me to play the guitar.
"Undoubtedly, my charm is back, and this time, it will be forever."
YOU ARE READING
Shipping Game
Romance"If I ship you here, here and now I love you... I love you more than you can imagine." Axel has just recovered from cancer and wants to win back the only girl who refused to leave him in the worst moment of his life, his ex-girlfriend and now best f...
