Hello Again
-----
She swept away a stray strand of hair from her face to take a good look at the scenery. She frowned at the overgrowth that surrounds the whole place. A beautiful place shouldn't be wasted like this. The gazebo was full of thick vines. And the picket fence? Almost not visible because of the waist-high grass. At least, the pond's still clear and the air still fresh. She sniffed the sweet, sweet air that took no time in refreshing her. As long as this place is still here after all these years, she's happy.
She glanced at her watch and winced. I'm this early? She shrugged dismally at the information. Well, she should do something to waste time but what would it be? She took one look at the place, a smile playing on her lips. There's still 5 more hours, right?
*
"I'm bored..." she grumbled as she sat on the cold pavement, throwing chipped bits of cement dejectedly. The boy beside her grinned and took her hand.
"We should go 'exploring'!" he suggested excitedly, eyes sparkling with anticipation.
"No way! If we do, where?" she said, blowing a raspberry. What if he chose a playground to explore? That seems dumb.
The boy, losing not even the slightest bit of hope despite the girl's negative comments, grinned back at her.
"There's this forest I've been eyeing since my first day here...."
She blinked back at him in surprise. A forest? Is that some type of garden? It's not bad at all. Actually, she felt an unusual thrill in her heart. Hmmm...
"It's a deal then." she couldn't help but smile.
She scrutinized the shops that covered the cobbled street. The citizens just finished their lunch and the crowd's gradually getting thick, leaving an uneasy feeling in her stomach.
"I'm alright... I'm alright." she breathed out, clutching the end of a stall for support. Good thing the garden was near the road. She took a deep breath and forced herself on the raging crowd just like when the both of them passed through the trees in the forest 10 years ago.
*
"We're lost..." she muttered in despair as the trees started getting narrower and narrower. The boy looked back and pouted at her apologetically.
"I'm sorry! Don't worry, I'll take all the blame!"
"You'd better..." she mumbled as she clutched her chest.
"Kevin... I didn't know that the forest could be this thick." she whispered, as she held a tree for support. Kevin looked at her incredulously.
"Of course the forest is thick! Who wouldn't know that?" he chuckled as she glared at him. Her sight became unfocused as she took another glance to where they are.
"I-I'm claustrophobic," She mumbled out, embarrassed. Kevin turned back, thoroughly confused.
"Claus-whatsit?" he asked.
She glared at him despite her difficulty in breathing.
"F-fear of narrow places."
"But this place is narrow..." he spoke out in shock and rushed to her in a second.
"Are you alright?" he asked worriedly. She nodded though she's slipping away from consciousness.
"I'll get us out of here" he said. The girl felt herself smile, reassured, and then things turned black.
She grinned as she put on the last rubber glove on her right arm. She grabbed the odd but familiar gardening shears and took a last look of the overgrown garden. Her heart sank as she took notice of the impossibility of the task. She has less than 4 hours to bring the old garden back?
*
She woke up to find herself behind Kevin's back. She groaned as she remembered what happened before the blackout.
"Kevin, I'm fine." she said, trying her best to make her voice stable but no luck.
Kevin laughed and shook his head.
"No you're not." he breathed out, obviously tired. She looked around and found out that it's already late in the night.
"It's already dark. You've suffered enough." she said, struggling to get off his back but he held tight. She gave up after a while and took another glance at her surroundings.
"Less trees." she mumbled and he nodded.
"We're getting nearer to a clearing or something." he said cheerfully.
"I'm sorry, Kevin." she muttered.
She snipped the last weed and stood up. She stared at the garden that looks exactly like what it was 10 years ago. She wiped a sweat and pulled off the gloves from her sweaty hands. She checked her watch and to her surprise, 4 hours have already passed and he's running late. She sighed and dusted away the dirt from her dress and walked to a moldy bench.
"I really hope he'll be back," she grumbled.
"Who said I won't come back?"
She immediately turned around and saw him. She felt herself smile slowly as the boy stood under a worn trellis, vines and flowers overflowing over him as he stoop because of his height. The boy grinned as he saw her looking at him.
"Long time no see, Kevin," she smiled at him
And he smiled back.
*
"Kevin! Look! A clearing!" she pointed out and rushed to the bright place. She'd been walking on her own for a few hours already and it's nearly dawn. Kevin grinned and went after the girl.
The both of them 'Whoa'-ed as they stared at the awesome place in front of them. The whole garden looks like it came from a fantasy movie. It almost seems like fairies were going to sprout off the flowers a second later. The girl was too preoccupied with the flowers when Kevin poked her back.
"A gate!" he crowed.
"The road!" she whooped.
Kevin jumped in delight and saw the sky.
"Look!" he said, pointing to the newly risen sun.
"Whoa. A sunrise!" she cheered as the sky slowly turned lighter. Kevin faced her and smiled.
"It's very pretty right?"
"Yep!" she replied, grinning brightly. "I guess the sunset here will be pretty too! Let's go back here later!"
Kevin's face fell at those words.
"We're supposed to go back to the city today." he mumbled.
She felt her eyes widen at the revelation, a tear almost escaping her eye.
"Why today?"
"School starts next week."
"But our class starts next week too and I'm staying here 'till the end of summer!" she protested. Kevin sighed and shook his head.
"I can't..." he muttered uncomfortably, hiding something."...but! We can still see each other!"
"How? My family's not coming back here again..."
"Let's go back here when we are adults. I'm sure we'll have our own money so we can come back here without the interference of grown-ups!"
She gaped at his suggestion. When the both of them are grown-ups? That's too long.
"Ten years and I'll come back here," she muttered in defeat. Kevin grinned and held out his pinky.
"Pinky promise?"
"Pinky promise," she smiled as she entwined their pinkies.
