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Emma, remembering how things were for the past year:
( Valentine's of 2026)
White bright ceilings, white wide walls, and off-white tiled floors, can't believe I'm surrounded by them again. The enticing scent of alcohol, medicine, and hope caressed my nostrils like it missed it so much. But grief, the feeling of hairs from head to toe in attention, and moist in people's eyes, they're still here. Cold breeze touched my cheeks as I walked through the door to Mr. Gracey's office.
"She's here!" The ladies in white oxford pair of blouse and pants whispered.
I sat in front of the table, checking the rack for a new issue of BTS magazine to say goodbye to my boredom. "Last year today, Ms. Emma looked so scary, she was..." they stopped when I tilted my head to them while still looking at the magazine, but pretended that I did not hear any. I thought a year was enough for them to forget about that, I hoped. Suddenly, a red thing flew at the edge of my eyes as I leaned my back to the spindle of the wooden chair. I realized it was a heart-shaped balloon that appeared in the window, flying towards the sky which made my feet move me to stand, looking outside the window.
His cool voice filled the room – When you looked over your shoulder for a minute, I forget that I'm older. I want to dance with you right now, oh... And you look as beautiful as ever and I swear that every day you'll get better. You make me feel this way somehow. I'm so in love with you and I hope you know. Darling, your love is more than worth its weight in gold. We've come so far my dear. Look how we've grown and I want to stay with you until we're grey and old. Just say you won't let go. Just say you won't let go. — I grinned as I remembered that it's been a year since I've heard those typical love songs. I swept the curtains aside to see how busy the streets are today. A grey-haired couple caught my eyes as they crossed the street, guided by a kid who kept on looking above the sky. I think he unintentionally let go of the balloon. A bustling street it is. Flower stalls, chocolates, teddy bears, cards, balloons and heart-shaped eyes filled the Lincoln Street though it's still eight in the morning. Last year was the opposite.
"Happy Valentine's Day!" I said over the phone as he was about to hang up.
Beeps answered me which wrinkled my forehead. Gosh! Is he really that busy that he forgot what day it is? He's really so not romantic! Why would I even wonder? He had never done anything that would activate the butterflies in my stomach other than his intimidating stare and unpredictable forehead kisses. Why did we even last for nine years? Maybe it is because after all this time, I'm still into him.
We grew up in the same neighborhood, in the same street. He was this kid who wears his favorite brick game printed blue shirt during weekends with his silvery blue bicycle, roaming around the village. That was the only thing he reminded me of him, but that changed a couple of years after when he laid his beautiful dark brown eyes on mine. His are the prettiest. Since then, we knew destiny kept us together. Every time I ask him to be my boyfriend, he would give me an answer of rejection, which confuses me. I mean, our parents are close and they have no problem with us being in love, we're closer than how friends are, and our Labrador- Chihuahua Sammy and their Persian Chloe doesn't fight like cats and dogs usually does. Isn't it a match made in heaven? Well, I get that back. We're not.
