A Promise

The sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm, golden hue over the school courtyard as Fahlada and Earn sat side by side on the steps, sharing a single pair of earphones. Earn's iPod played a playlist they had meticulously curated together, filled with songs that had become the soundtrack of their relationship. The familiar tunes wrapped around them, creating a bubble of intimacy that they both wished could last forever.

"Can you believe this is our last day together before college?" Earn murmured, her voice tinged with sadness she tried to hide.

Fahlada glanced at her, her heart clenched at the thought. Tomorrow, she would be on a plane, leaving Thailand to study abroad, while Earn would be staying to pursue her Economics degree at a national university. They had known this day was coming, but knowing didn't make it easier.

"I wish we could stay like this forever," Fahlada replied, her fingers absentmindedly tracing patterns on the back of Earn's hand.

Earn looked at her, a soft smile on her lips, though her eyes glistened with unshed tears. "Me too. But you have to go, and I have to stay. It's what we've worked so hard for."

Fahlada nodded, though it felt like her heart was breaking. They had both been accepted into prestigious programs - opportunities that neither could pass up - but the thought of being apart was almost unbearable. They had been inseparable for so long, ever since their first year of high school when a shared love of music had brought them together.

As the last song on the playlist ended, the last notes of their favorite song lingering in the air like a goodbye, Fahlada gently pulled the earphones out and looked at Earn, trying to memorize every detail of her face - the curve of her lips, the way her hair framed her cheeks, the warmth of her eyes.

"I don't want to lose you," Fahlada whispered, her voice trembling.

Earn took a deep breath, reaching out to cup Fahlada's cheek. "You won't. We'll stay in touch, write letters, call, and maybe even visit each other during breaks."

But they both knew how hard it would be to maintain their relationship across continents, with the demands of school and life pulling them in different directions. Fahlada felt a tear slip down her cheek, and Earn gently wiped it away with her thumb.

"Promise me one thing, Earn," she said, her voice small and trembling. Almost pleading.

"Anything," Earn replied, her heart aching at the sight of Fahlada's vulnerability.

Fahlada took a deep breath, the words heavy on her tongue. "If we ever meet again, and we're both still single... let's be each other's brides." Fahlada presented her with a promise ring.

Earn's eyes widened slightly, the weight of the promise sinking in. But then she nodded and accepted the ring and a tear finally escaped down her cheek as well. "I promise."

They embraced tightly, clinging to each other as if they could fuse into one being and never have to let go. The world around them seemed to disappear, leaving only the two of them and the unspoken fears and hopes that hung between them. When they finally pulled away, they knew it was time to say goodbye, though neither could bear to say the words.

The next morning, Fahlada left for the airport, her heart heavy with the knowledge that she was leaving behind the person she loved the most in the world. As she boarded the plane, she clutched Earn's iPod tightly, the playlist that they had created together a bittersweet reminder of what she was leaving behind.

=============

The years passed in a blur of study, work, and new experiences. Fahlada threw herself into her studies, eventually becoming a dermatologist with a flourishing practice. The move abroad had been difficult, but it had also been rewarding. She loved her work, and she had built a life for herself that she was proud of. But no matter how busy she became, she never forgot Earn and the promise they had made.