Unwritten Love Story

BONUS

                     Xander's pov

We were moving out when another family just moved in. I always like people to feel welcome, so I made them a welcoming moving-in letter. I saw a girl my age, so I came up to her and handed her my letter. I brought her to a treehouse that was near my house. I was leaving this place and I was not sure how long I'd be gone, so I decided to let her be in charge of that treehouse. She promised that she would take good care of it. That treehouse became my sanctuary. I would go there often; it became my home, and I wanted it to be someone's home, too.

I was about to leave when her mother called out her name. All I heard was, "Ro!"

That happened 10 years ago. My grandfather requested to live in the house where he raised my Dad. That's why we went back to that place. I immediately visited the treehouse. I can tell that Ro kept her promise.

"What's so special about this place g-paps?" I asked my grandpa.

"I raised your father here. This was the place that had special memories for me. This place will always have a special place in my heart." He said. "If my life will end now, I hope it ends meaningfully." He added.

I could tell that Ro still visited the treehouse, but we never crossed paths. I never thought about it that much and I went on with my own life. I went to a different school now. My brother, Magnus, got easily comfortable with our new school. I can't say the same to me. I was quiet and busy scribbling through my notebook. Until there's this one girl that caught my attention. She likes to write letters and leave it on her desk. I guess she was a love letter girl in this double-tapped world. I impulsively began to start writing a letter to her. I was writing letters to her continuously every day.

As I was going to the treehouse, I saw Magnus talking to a girl outside our house. It was not my intention to eavesdrop, but what I heard shocked me.

"Are you the guy who gave me a letter when we first moved in 10 years ago?"

I went to see who the girl was and I was surprised to see Rosella. The girl I was writing those letters to. I couldn't keep this a secret so at one of the biggest events of the school year, I wrote her a letter telling them that I was the guy she was referring to. When I was about to leave I was startled to see her. I then confessed that it was me who was writing those letters. We began to talk for a while and then she left. I was disappointed to see that she forgot to bring my letter, so I decided to just throw it away. What's the point of writing these letters, I can just tell her. But I never got to tell her about it, the thought of her liking Magnus won't get off my mind.

Although, Rose and I became good friends. We enjoyed each other's company. We listen to each other. But I'm also guilty of how I'm not as open to her as she is open to me.

But it all became messy when my Mom kept telling me to stay away from her. For what? But I found out that Rose would get in trouble if we continued talking, so I avoided her.

"Stay away from Rosella, Xander!"

"Why, Mom? Why do I have to stay away from her? I don't see any problems."

"Just stay away from her. I don't want you to get close to any of them."

I was about to say something, but she already stormed off. I turned to look at Dad.

"You're from the treehouse, weren't you?" He asked.

"How'd you know?"

"Do you know who owns that treehouse?"

I kept quiet and waited for him to say something.

"It was my treehouse."

"Your treehouse?!" I exclaimed.

"Me and my first love would often hang out there. We would carve out initials, and watch the sun go down..."

"You and Mom used to do that?" I asked.

"Not with your Mom. With Rosalinda. She was my first love, but your Mom was my last. So don't think that I never loved your Mom, because I always did."

"Rosalinda? Rosella's mother?" I asked and he nodded. He came closer to me and told me. "You're falling for her, son. And if I'd learned something from the past years of living, that is, do not fight what you're feeling. Do not let a moment pass by, if not now, then when? But you're still young, son. You will have to go through more in life."

"Dad, I made a promise to her that I'll always be here for her. She kept her promise and I will keep mine. Please let me stay. And in that way, I can look after Grandpa." I turned to look at Grandpa and smiled.

"Let him stay here, son," Grandpa said.

"He's not old enough yet, Dad."

"I want to witness my grandson fall in love. Let him continue his story. That's the last thing wanted. To see my grandson happy with the girl he truly loves."

As I was waiting by the treehouse, I saw her coming.

"You're leaving?!" She asked.

"No, my family's leaving."

"What do you mean?"

"They're going back to the city and I'm here to take care of my grandpa. They all agreed that at least one person has to take care of him, and that would be me."

"So, you're not leaving?'

"For now..." A smile planted on my face and I wrapped my arms around her.

"Why did you stay?" She asked.

"There was one person that made me stay. I cannot just leave this place. Not yet. I said as I stepped closer to her. "Rose, I can love you..."

"Spend this summer with me." She said.

"It's always summer when I'm with you."

From that moment, I don't want to leave this place again. I found all kinds of homes in this town. When I hear her voice, I feel so alive. And when I'm with her, everything feels right. She is my home. With her, I am home.

Don't wish for someone to return, but wish for someone to arrive and never leave.