Wake Me Up

Chapter 11

19th of DECEMBER 2010, FRIDAY, 8:42 P.M., PHILIPPINES

After hours of having the best party ever, it was finally over. The three of them decided not to take a ride, but instead, Nicole suggested to have a walk-which was a good decision for them, most especially to Josh, who drunk the most of them; to loosen their hangover.

The two assisted Josh while they were walking-Karl on his right, and Nicole on his left. They traipse until they passed 5 blocks from their school, which was 4 blocks more before they arrived to their village. The two decided to sit for a while, under a big old Acacia tree, where underneath it was a bench. The trunk was big, almost accumulated the space where it stood up, leaves that camouflaging the darkness of the night, but still, moon's light stood shining. They sat, putting Josh in between with them, so that anytime he would change his position, they could accompanied him. Then, silence filled the air.

Karl decided to break the silence, and took the opportunity he had to tell Nicole about what he wanted to say to her. He gazed at her for a second, turned his head looking the other side of the road, and said, "It's been months that I felt this closeness we had, the both of us. They were right about what they say that 'time flies when you had good times with your friends'," looking back, and fixed his eyes to hers.

She turned her face to Karl for a second, where their eyes met, then turned back and faced down to the ground, "Yeah, they were right. I should've know you, both of you, earlier."

Looking still at her, he asked her about what she meant, "What do you mean? I don't get it."

"This 20th, we will fly off to Paris, to go there with my dad," she frowned.

"What?! Are you sure of that? I mean, when you will be back?" he asked.

Turned her face to him. "Don't know, we will settled there, and dad said, my education will be continued there."

Whaat!? He was stunned, couldn't answer back to her.

"Karl? I'm sorry, I shouldn't have tell about this, sorry." She pleaded.

"Nah, don't ask for me a sorry. You know, you're like my mother," he changed the topic. "He always said that to me whenever he said something that she thought it was bad for me to hear."

Nicole then looked to Karl, and said, "Hmmm, better for her 'cause she never left you."

"You have the point." He retorted. Come on men! Say it to her! "Ahm, Nicole? Could I ask you somethin'?"

"Yeah? What is it?" she pleaded.

"A-h-h, what's your standard when it comes to men?" he stammered.

"Why'd you ask?"

"Nothin' just askin'"

"Hmmm...just simple guys, as long as he will never leave the way I do to him."

He nodded his head. Tell 'im men! You can do it!

They looked both at each other and said, "I ha-"

"You go first," Nicole said.

"No, after you," he pleaded.

"You should probably go first," she pleaded, raising his one eyebrow, which made him frightened.

"Okay...I just want to say...that...I lo-"

"-love you!" she continued. The two felt awkward about what they said. Karl, felt flattered of what just Nicole said to him, same to Nicole, which made her blush.

"A-h-m, what were you sayin'?" he asked.

"U-h-m, it's I that should ask that," returning the question to him.

Suddenly, a van stopped near them-it was Josh's mother.

"Hey! Goin' home late? How's the party?" his mom asked.

"It was a blast, aunt!" Nicole boasted. "Nah! Josh already found his dream."

"Yeah, I better go get him. Would you mind?" she pleaded.

"Okay!" they replied.

They carried Josh, and put him inside the van. After, his mom asked them, "You want a ride? Both of you?" The two looked at each other. Have a little talked, and then decided, "We will just take the walk aunt. By the way, thanks."

"Are you sure?" his aunt ensured.

"Yes, besides Karl's here."

"Okay, be safe the both of you."

After settling herself, Josh's mother drove the car back to their house. Karl and Nicole left. The two continued their walk, and still, silence and awkwardness filled between them. Maybe, because of what they'd just knew about themselves. It was a long silence that made them reached the second to the last block before they arrived to their village. Suddenly, Karl stopped. Nicole was about to continued her walk when he noticed Karl had just stopped. She then asked, "Why did you stop?"

"To set things out, and to let you know about what I've said earlier," he said. "It's been months I hid this thing inside of me. I was afraid, afraid that I might only be busted. Afraid that I might not be that guys you ever wanted-it's me, sorry for that. If I only had that courage to face you, maybe I said this thing to you early. I don't know if you had feelings for me, but I just want to say that I had, that feelings for you. Nicole, (sigh) I love you!"

Nicole, losing her thought, stared steadily to Karl's eyes, telling that she, too, has something to tell. Unexpectedly, Nicole's mom, riding with their van, stopped nearby them. She was looking at Karl, and then to Nicole, which raised her curiosity about the two. She then asked, "Is there a problem?"

"Nothin'" they both stammered.

"Aw, okay. Would you mind Karl if I take Nicole?" she asked.

"No, no, no. Bye Nicole," he waved his hand to Nicole. "I will go now," turned his face to Nicole's mom, "Bye tita!"

Nicoletook the ride with his mom, while Karl, continued to walk, but this time,alone. Nicole looked at her window and saw Karl walking. She was about to replyto what Karl said to her, but because of her mother, it was interrupted. I'm sorry for not telling you Karl, maybesomeday, same as yours, I can have that courage...