Jason and I wandered through the school grounds, hand in hand, the night air cool against our skin. The laughter and music of the alumni after-party still echoed faintly in the distance, but here it was quiet, almost sacred.
He stopped suddenly at the hallway near the old classrooms. I frowned a little in confusion until he looked at me with that mischievous smile.
“Do you remember this spot?” he asked softly.
I blinked, and then it hit me. My cheeks instantly flushed with heat. “Oh my God, Jason… don’t remind me. That was the most embarrassing day of my life.”
He chuckled, squeezing my hand. “The day you got stained and you didn’t even know?"
“Ugh, please don’t say it out loud.” I groaned, covering my face.
He gently pulled my hand down. “Tiara, do you know why I never forgot that day? Because even in your most vulnerable, most embarrassing moment, I saw you, your beautiful, even though I didn't allow myself to think of you, because of Sharon, but you had already started evading my mind. There was just something about you I couldn’t let go of.”
I felt my chest tighten as his eyes searched mine.
He took a breath, his voice deepening. “I never thought I could love anyone after Sharon. I thought what we had was it. But then you came along, and you changed everything. Tiara, I never knew I could love someone this much… until you.”
Tears stung my eyes. “Jason…”
His face fell slightly, pain flickering across his features. “It hurts, knowing you’re leaving. It hurts so much, T. I don’t want to say goodbye. But I promise you, this is not the end. I’ll work harder than I ever have. I’ll get that scholarship. I’ll come to you, no matter what it takes. I don’t care how far, I’ll find my way back to you.”
The lump in my throat made it hard to speak, but I managed, “Jason, I love you. And leaving doesn’t mean forgetting. You’ve been my rock, my best friend, my first love. I’ll carry you with me, always. And maybe… maybe fate will bring us together again.”
We both had tears rolling down by then. He brushed one from my cheek with his thumb, whispering, “Don’t cry, T. I want to remember you smiling.”
I gave a shaky laugh through the tears. “Then stop saying things that make me want to cry.”
He pulled me closer until our foreheads touched. For a long, quiet moment, it was just us, two hearts trying to hold on in the face of goodbye. Then, with all the gentleness in the world, he kissed me.
It wasn’t just a kiss. It was a promise. A farewell. A hope.
And for that moment, nothing else existed.
~The end~
Finally.
Sorry for taking so long to finish this story.
I had a lot going on.
Thank you all for reading till this point.
I appreciate it.
Let me know your thoughts on the comments section.
I love you all ❤️❤️❤️
Expect a sequel from me,
Tiara and Jason would reunite. ❤️❤️❤️
