Hearts in Bloom

Chapter 13

The exams ended and the week of graduation arrived faster than Aria had expected. Everything was changing so quickly. Her acceptance letter to the university had come in a few weeks ago, and while she was excited about the future, she couldn’t shake the hollow feeling that had settled inside her. The university was in another city and she needs to go away from this city where she spent her 18 years of life. She is in this city since she was born.

It wasn’t about leaving high school or leaving this city and starting a new chapter in her life. It was about Tobias.

Their friendship had continued to fade, even as the end of the school year loomed. She had tried, countless times, to bring back the closeness they once shared, but Tobias remained distant. Conversations between them were short, almost awkward, and the easy laughter they once shared had disappeared into strained silence.

Aria felt a lump form in her throat every time she thought about it. She didn’t understand why things had to change, and with graduation coming, she feared that they might never be the same again.

---

The day of the graduation ceremony was warm and bright, but Aria barely noticed the weather. She stood on the stage in her cap and gown, smiling for the photos, but her mind was elsewhere. Beside her, Mia was practically buzzing with excitement. Although Jaxon was sad cause they both are going away to another city for university, but he still stood off to the side, making jokes and trying to keep things light. But everything will be okay once he and Tobias goes and join them next year right?

And then there was Tobias. He was standing a little further away, not really talking to anyone, his expression distant. Aria couldn’t help but steal glances at him throughout the day. He seemed so far away, like a shadow of the boy she used to know.

Later that evening, after the official ceremony had ended and they had all said their goodbyes to teachers and classmates, Mia suggested they go out to celebrate. “One last night before we separate for 1 year.” she had said with a bittersweet smile. Jaxon immediately agreed, and even Tobias, though still distant, had nodded.

---

They found themselves at a small, cozy bar on the outskirts of town, a place that didn’t mind letting in high school graduates who were technically not supposed to be there. The music was soft in the background, and the dim lights cast a warm glow over everything. Aria hadn’t planned to drink much—just a glass or two—but the sadness that had been building up inside her for weeks seemed to press down on her harder with every passing minute.

Before she knew it, she had lost count of how many drinks she’d had.

Mia and Jaxon were still chatting and laughing, but Aria’s focus had narrowed. She kept glancing at Tobias, who was sitting on the other side of the table, nursing his own drink but not really engaging in the conversation. The distance between them was more than just physical now, and it hurt more than she was willing to admit.

Eventually, as the night wore on, Mia and Jaxon left to dance, leaving Aria and Tobias alone at the table. The silence between them was thick, but Aria was no longer in the mood to hold back her feelings.

She stood up, a little too quickly, and stumbled slightly, the alcohol making her movements clumsy. Tobias noticed and immediately stood to help her. “Aria, maybe we should get you home,” he said, his voice gentle but guarded.

Aria swayed slightly, blinking up at him. “Why are you always like this now?” she blurted out, the words spilling from her before she could stop them.

Tobias frowned, confusion flickering across his face. “What do you mean?”

“You’ve been avoiding me for weeks,” Aria said, her voice trembling. She hadn’t meant to confront him like this, but the alcohol had loosened her tongue. “You don’t talk to me anymore, you don’t sit with me, you don’t even ride the bus with me. What happened? Why are you pushing me away?”

Tobias’s expression tightened, and for a moment, he didn’t respond. He looked away, his jaw clenched.

“That’s it, right?” Aria pressed, her eyes stinging with tears. “You’re just… done with me? You are just done with our friendship?”

Tobias’s eyes shot back to hers, and before she could say anything else, he gently took her by the arm and led her outside. The cool night air hit her like a wave, sobering her up just enough to realize that she was on the verge of tears.

He guided her to a bench near the bar and sat down next to her. For a moment, neither of them spoke. Aria stared at the ground, feeling the weight of all the unsaid things hanging between them.

“I’m not done with you or neither I'm done with our friendship.” Tobias said quietly, breaking the silence. His voice was low, and Aria could hear the strain in it.

She looked up at him, her eyes searching his face for the truth. “Then why have you been acting like you don’t care anymore?”

Tobias ran a hand through his hair, frustration etched into his features. “I do care, Aria. That’s the problem.”

Aria’s heart skipped a beat. “What do you mean?”

“I didn’t know how to handle it,” he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. “You’re leaving. You’re going to university, and I’m staying behind for another year. And… I just didn’t know what to do with that. So I thought maybe if I distanced myself, it wouldn’t hurt as much when you left.”

Aria blinked, trying to process his words. “So you’ve been avoiding me because you’re scared of me leaving?”

Tobias nodded, his gaze fixed on the ground. “I didn’t want to admit it. I didn’t want to make things harder for you. But in trying to protect myself, I hurt you. I’m sorry.”

Aria felt a tear slip down her cheek, but she quickly wiped it away. “You didn’t have to push me away, Tobias. I’m still going to be here on vacation. Just because I’m going to university doesn’t mean we stop being friends.”

Tobias finally looked at her, his eyes filled with regret. “I know that now. I just… I didn’t handle it the right way.”

For a moment, they sat in silence, the weight of the past few weeks pressing down on them. Then, without warning, Tobias reached out and pulled Aria into a tight hug. She stiffened at first, surprised by the suddenness of it, but then she relaxed into his embrace, her arms wrapping around him.

“I’m sorry, Aria,” Tobias whispered into her hair. “I promise, I’ll stay in touch. I’ll be there next year. And when I join you at university, we’ll pick up right where we left off.”

Aria’s heart ached, but it was a bittersweet kind of pain. She held him a little tighter, her voice barely a whisper as she said, “You better.”

They stayed like that for a long time, holding onto each other in the cool night air, knowing that this was the beginning of a new chapter—but also a promise that they wouldn’t let their friendship slip away.

---

As the sun began to rise, Tobias walked Aria back home, the two of them silent but no longer distant. The future was uncertain. Although Aria felt that he wasn't entirely telling the truth and the reason of Tobias being distant to Aria was something more bigger reason than just this, but for the first time in weeks, Aria felt a sense of hope.

They would be okay.

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My Random Silly Thoughts:

The Homework Helper:
Mom: "Why is the dog covered in glitter?"
Kid: "I was teaching him math, and he needed a little sparkle."
Mom: "You’re sure that’s the only reason?"
Kid: "Well, he also failed art class last time."
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