We just finished practicing our play in school. The room brightened with bright red color. I glanced momentarily on my watch, which told me it was almost 5:30 pm. Some of my classmates had left the classroom. I stared at the window, where the sunset can be vividly seen. Smiling, I closed my eyes for a moment and didn't care about the world. Everything was silent until...
"You know, people usually don't sleep while standing, Erica," a familiar voice said.
Opening my eyes, I turned my head to where the voice came from. I saw a skinny, tall, pale young boy about my age wearing the boy's uniform. His messy black hair looked like it wasn't brushed for a month and his black eyes were full of concern. I couldn't help but frown at him.
"What are you doing here, Ryan?" I snarled, "And I wasn't sleeping."
"I was waiting for you," he straightforwardly answered.
This is Ryan, my secret crush. Though he may look dumb on the outside, he is surprisingly intelligent. During our previous mock exam, he scored the highest in our batch. Everyone admired him. What about me? Don't ask.
I sat on a chair near me and Ryan followed me. There, I examined the classroom. For sure, there aren't any other living souls inside the room. I saw his face with a smile. I responded with a glare. But deep inside, I was hiding the real me. My heart was beating so fast.
"We both love the sunset," he suddenly said while looking at the window, "I like how the early stars appear that time of day."
"It is kind of nice..." I said, "And correction, I used to love the sunset."
"Why? It's like the trademark when we usually go home together after school."
"It's not only that, idiot."
Sure it was nice that we go home together after school. But actually, we both go to the arcade and play games together. We would stay there until late night. If he's good in academics, then I'm good with the other world and that is gaming. He was always so stunned whenever I play video games and defeat someone.
It was fun while it lasted. But there was something I dislike about Ryan. He is also quite oblivious to everything. He can't even tell that I'm in love with him. I haven't told him my feelings. So I played a little trick on him.
"Hey, Ryan. Do you remember that time when I ignored you all day?" I asked as I stood up.
"If only..." my tears were flowing out continuously, "If only I didn't ignore, you could still be here. You, the Ryan I am talking to, are just a figment of my imagination."
I crouched on the floor, crying like a baby. I was such an idiotic person. I hid my face away from him. Those memories with him were painful for me. Regret and despair consumed me.
Suddenly, I recalled why I now hated the sunset. That is because it was the time of his apparent death. The last light of sun slowly fading away from the horizon was like saying goodbye to the person you love and never see him once more.
But then, I felt a warm touch on my shoulders. I didn't want to look up but my body moved on its own. I stared up, I saw Ryan smiling at me contently.
"Erica, you're a strong person. Don't blame yourself because of my death." He said. This was the first time I felt his real emotions. The one I am seeing is the Ryan I mostly loved.
I stopped crying and my face was red not because of my childish cry but of blushing. I stood up from the floor and smiled.
"Is there anything you want to say before I go away?" He asked.
"I'm sorry and... I love you, Ryan," I finally confessed my feelings to him.
Then, I closed my eyes and the next thing I saw was nothing. Ryan was no longer there beside me. All I knew is that everything that happened was just a daydream of mine. Still, I gained a strong will to live on tomorrow. I no longer carry regret from Ryan's death.
I stared outside the window, the sunset almost disappearing. The last ray of light brightens the dim room and I was all by myself inside. I will always remember those memories I had with him.
Goodbye and Thank You, Ryan...
~~~~
thanks to my classmate. this is her award winning short story ^.^
