Amor Vincit Omnia

IV.

AVO || all that matters

Looking at Sam straight in the eyes was getting harder and harder as the days passed. He didn't tease me about it like he did before but I could feel him staring at me when he felt like it.

Despite my embarassment, the scene kept replaying in my head. When I'm cooking, doing the dishes, buying groceries, it would slowly creep from the back of my mind until it takes over my whole brain and it would stay there for the whole day.

"Sam?" I placed the phone on my ear as I ate the last fry on the plate.

"Hey, baby." He sounded tired and I could imagine him leaning back on his swivel chair and massaging his temples.

"Is everything okay?"

"Everything's fine. It's just that Sarah is busy with a meeting right now so she asked me to pick up Kevin instead."

I smiled when I felt the word 'but' slowly slipping from his mouth so I cut him off, "But you can't so you want me to pick up Kevin in your place. Is that right?"

"I could pick up Kevin myself but my boss will have my head if I cancel this meeting."

"No one is cancelling any meeting, okay? I'll take care of Kevin while you nail your meeting," I smiled and stood up from the chair, "I love you, Sam."

He chuckled and I heard a rustle on the background, "I love you too, Liz."

Kevin's school was a walking distance from where I ate but I brought my car so I had no choice but to drive my way there. Kevin's class ends in five minutes that means when I get there, I still have three minutes. Mothers were already line up on the waiting shed. I stayed inside the car and waited until the reamining three minutes finish.

I smiled when I saw a little girl knocking on the door of the school and her mother running towards her to stop her. She must be excited to see her sibling.

I look down on my phone and typed a text for Sam.

I'm at the school now. Good luck at your meeting.

Sam has been working in that company for years and he has proven that he is truly an asset. That's why his boss has no plans on letting him go.

One minute until three, I turned off the car and went out. A minute left and kids will run out of those doors with a huge smile on their face to greet their parents. I let out a breath and placed my hands inside the pocket of my coat and waited for the door to open.

I came here with Sarah when Kevin started his third grade. She looked so happy as she watched Kevin ran towards her. She can't pick up Kevin frequently anymore because of her work while her husband is at Canada for their business.

The little girl who knocked on the door was now standing with her mother as they wait for it to open while three dads were talking a bit far away from the door. I smiled as they kept glancing at the door when a new guy arrived with his shades.

Something about him made my stare linger. It could've been his hair which looks so soft to touch, or his manly style of clothes that made every person - including those three dads - turn to steal a glance, or the way the side of his thin, red lips pull up into a grin like he was enjoying the attention we were giving him. I could think of a lot of possible reasons why I just couldn't take my eyes off of him but one reason made it to the top list.

This man... looks like Kris.

My posture straightened and my eyes were locked on his every movement. How is it possible? Every feature on his face screamed Kris to me. Even the smugness on his face as he watch me gawk at him reminds me of Kris.

Is it really him? Is he really Kris? He came back?

I didn't realize that I was already walking towards him until he raised a brow at me; completely amused by my actions. I was embarassed at what I was doing but I just couldn't stop. I had to make sure. He was close. A few more steps and I'll be right infront of him. A few more steps and I'll know for sure if he was really Kris.

Until the bell rang.

Suddenly, it felt like a heavy hammer collided with my head and I stopped in my tracks. I held my head as I heard the children's loud voice. What was I doing? It was already three pm, I need to find Kevin.

I forced myself to look at the man one last time but he wasn't there anymore. It was like he was just my imagination. But how could it be an imagination when all the people here saw him?

"Ellie?"

I quickly turned to Kevin who was looking up at me with curiosity. I blinked a couple of times before smiling at him and ruffling his hair.

"Hey, Kevin. I'm your escort today. I'm going to deliver you to your mother."

"I thought Sam was picking me up today." I bit my lip to stop the smile from showing as I looked at Kevin who looked arrogant but at the same time sounded disappointed.

"Why can't you just admit that you love your uncle Sam?" I grinned as we entered the car.

"Ew! I hate him, Ellie." He exlaimed as he frowned at the dashboard infront of him.

I smiled and shrugged, "Well, the more you hate, the more you love."

I glanced at Kevin who was now pouting. Got him. I chuckled and drove away from the school.

By the time we reach Sarah's house, she was already waiting at the porch; still on her business attire. The moment I unlocked the car, Kevin ran towards Sarah to give her a hug.

I smiled when I saw how the tiredness in Sarah's face was instantly wiped away the moment Kevin wrapped his arms around his mom. It was a wonderful thing, the relationship a mother shares with her children.

"Liz, you wanna come inside and have dinner?"

I shook my head and smiled, "No. I have something I need to do back at home."

For five years, I have kept it inside a box. I never thought about looking at it again even just for a few seconds because I was so sure that I have already moved on. So I hid it inside a box for safe-keeping and I swore to never open that box again.

Until now.

Sweat was dripping from my forehead down to cheeks as I fumbled in search for that thing. I threw the other contents inside that box. I was beginning to get tired but I didn't want to stop. I won't stop until I found it.

When there was only one object left inside the box, I know that that was it. There was a rectangular box lying at the bottom and my hand started to shake as I reach for it.

It still looked as brilliant as it was when he gave it to me. And when it was already at the palm of my hand, the memories came flooding in my mind.

He looked so beautiful in the sunset as he gave the necklace to me. The way his eyes twinkled as he looked at me wearing his gift. He was my everything.

But he's gone now. I have to accept that. Whoever that guys is, it wasn't Kris. Maybe he just looks like him but he will never be Kris. He was gone. He disappeared. And through that painful situation, Sam was there to wipe my tears. He was there to comfort me when I was all alone.

With one last look at the necklace, I put it back inside the box and sealed it there forever.

Sam is here now. And that's all that matters.