3-Minute Passion (BoyxBoy)

Chapter 38

2 more chapters. Thank you for the support! :)

I feel like I was back where I began. A party full of intoxicated teens, loud music booming, and a trashed house. The night that Nicole left me for that nerd. I wonder how that guy ended up. The only difference now is that I'm done with polo shirts and khaki shorts. I can feel the new James sprouting from the ground. This is exactly what I need. The need to get out of high school with different shoes on. I'm not saying that I will just forget who I was before. It's more of an improvement than change. Speaking of change, some people believe that we should change every now and then for the people who matters for us. I beg to disagree. I think improving ourselves into better individuals rather than changing ourselves is more sensible.

And now drinking my first beer, waiting for someone I know to pop out of the kitchen door; which is the only place that's not that packed. I wonder why they hate it here. Is it because they're all traumatized by the unwashed dishes on the sink. Or is it the solitary that scares them? One thing's for sure, I think too much. I should be enjoying this last day, our farewell mad party. Thanks to Andrew, again, we have a big party in our neighborhood. I'm thinking of staying for the night since all my stuff's in the car already. I bade my goodbye to Lei, I told her that I'll be back. And yes, I did the Arnold Schwarzenegger tone of voice.

"Dip shit, what are you doing here? Daydreaming?" Nicole slurs as she leans her elbows on the counter. She looks like she's about to throw up. We've been here for an hour and she's already that wasted.

"I got beer." I raise the bottle. I don't know what kind of conversation I could have for a drunk Nicole, one thing's for sure, I need to get out of here. I haven't seen Nick.

"Have you seen Nick?" I continue after a minute of so. She begins to throw up in the sink and that's my cue to leave. As much as I want to help her, since I'm her best friend, there are things I'm still not willing to do. Regardless of who you are in my life.

I step out of the house and walk toward the most peaceful place I could lay my eyes on. And I've chosen the tree house supported by an oak tree. There's dim light radiating from it. Either someone's having sex there or someone's looking for the same peace that I want. There aren't any moans or screams coming out as I stand below it. I climb up the wooden planks nailed on the trunk.

"James?" Nick sniffs. He is sitting on top of what I think is an old tarpaulin. He's drinking from a flask. He looks like a tomato and I know he is still sober.

"What are you doing here?" I take a seat on a small wooden chair. The hole that I came in from fits me perfectly. It's covered with thin wood, so it was easier for me to get in. The inside is lit with a candle, that's about to die down in a couple of minutes.

"Looking for peace." He leans his back on the wall. I don't know if his type of construction can support us, I hope it can.

"Me too. Final day, huh?"

"I don't know if I want to go to NYU."

"What?! I thought we're going to be roommates? I thought everything's all set?"

"Plans change, James. Feelings don't. I'm in love with you and if I am reminded of that every day then I can never get over you. Unrequited love can be survived in a way that once-requited love cannot."

"Don't use John Green on me. I understand what you're saying. I'm sorry that I can't give you what you want."

"Don't be." He gulps from the flask. "Proud people breed sorrow for themselves. It just so happened that I was too full of myself to even think that I can make you grow some feelings for me."

The sadness in his tone is contagious.

"Emily Bronte? Seriously, Nick? I can't believe that you still find humor in sadness. I look up to you for that."

"Well, I learnt that good novels give good lines."

"Now you're definitely drunk." I laugh.

Our laughter soon fills the tree house.

I've never thought of the best goodbye scene with Nick, but this will do. We know it.

**

Knock. Knock. Knock.

There's this saying that goes, cat got your tongue. And that's what I'm dealing right now. I feel like someone stole my tongue. I didn't think that I'll be back at Red's doorstep. I wasn't able to say good bye to him in our graduation. We both left a mark that will remind us of our love and it's altogether fitting that I should give him a decent goodbye.

The door opens and I feel like I'm back in day one. I'm greeted by Red only wearing his blue pajama. His body is in perfect shape as always.

"James." He smiles.

I walk inside and the silence fills my head. I know that he's alone.

"What's up?"

"Red, I came here to give you a decent goodbye."

He smiles and leans his body on the wall, crossing his arms.

"I still love you, but that doesn't mean I want to stay with you. I think we both know that we're destined to be like this. I just want to know, do you have any regrets?"

"James, you should know by now that I'm not like that. I hope you know that you've taken a big portion of my heart. And I can't take it back. Hell, I don't want it back. And I hope you feel the same way."

I don't know where we're going with this.

"How is it possible that saying goodbye can be so hard?"

"Then we shouldn't say goodbye."

"See you later?"

"No, we're not going to be like the ones in the movies. We need something unique, something we know that we're the only ones to use it."

I stare at the tattoo dedicated to him. And I know from there on he knows what's on my mind.

"A forever with you." We say in unison.

**

They say that true friends are often found in high school. All the years we share with our friends, from petty fights to stomach aching laughter, we know that they're treasures kept in our hearts. One of my greatest adventure is travelling to New York with Nicole. It put me on a roller coaster of emotions. And my ride is about to start again. Nicole's all packed up for Ohio Uni and seeing her load her luggage in her pick-up truck breaks then fixes my heart again, the feeling is crazy.

"Ohio, aye?"

"New York, aye?"

I don't know what else to say. The tears are enough to tell her that I'll miss her. She replies with even more tears. We've always been an emotional duo. And the best form of communication for us is this.

"Keep your friends not by your side, but in your heart."

"I'm not good in quoting emotions, Woot."

"I just thought that I should give you something for your new adventure."

"It won't be the same without you."

"I know."

I walk closer.

She closes our distance with a hug.

**