Unchain my Heart.

Chapter Seven

Honestly, I don't really know what is happening now. Richard calls me every time and comes around more often now. He's not giving me the chance to stop myself from thinking about him.

He always wears that smile that I secretly love. It's like he reads me. He does all the things I love about him more often now.

Eben is graduating this week and as sad as it is, we are happy for him. He has been annoying Mariana and I with it.

What does he think? That we will also not graduate next year? Well, yes we will but the fact still remains about he graduating before us. And that is what is killing us.

We also can't deny the fact that he entered before us. So it's only fair he comes out before us.

Today is our free day. I have actually been waiting for today, so I can have time for myself and the things I love doing but can't get time for them.

So I decide to go out and take pictures of every nice thing I see. I like taking pictures of nature.

They are silent but it shows many things and lessons. We don't hear them speak but they tell us a lot. Just a moment of stare and ideas and great stuff come into mind.

Whenever I feel depressed, I'll just go out and stare into the sky and for a moment, I feel lost. It's like my pain is being taken away.

When my mother died, I felt as if there'll be no one there for me, again. My dad was always away. Trying to work his bones out to put something on the table. I felt like right in my eyes, a better part of me was being ripped out and stolen from me.

For a teenager to lose his or her mother was like gradually losing the peaceful and happy side of him or her and that was exactly how I felt when my mother died.

I sorted comfort with nature. I'll go out to take pictures. It was like staring alone wasn't enough. I needed to keep them with me. So i asked my dad to buy me a camera and he did. I named my camera Alicia; that was my mother's name. The camera became the next big thing after my dad. They were all I had left.

My dad became close to me. We became like best friend. He came home earlier than he used to. He paid attention to my every need. He listened to me whenever I felt like talking. I became more happy. He took care of me all the time and it meant a lot to me.

Then it all went to a new, beautiful and nice level and moment when I walked into that room and found Mariana. At first i wandered why on earth will God let this happen to me? I didn't need a parrot as a dorm mate, neither was I looking for a rich spoilt little girl to hop on my bed all in the name of friendship. I didn't want someone to always make me late; all in the name of fashion and looking good.

But with every little action that came from her, made me smile. She gave me the opportunity to tell and remind myself I have a friend! That was the first time I had a friend who happens to be close to me. I had friends...because they were my classmates.

Mariana has been a perfect friend in her own imperfections. In her own definition, she has earned my trust, love, compassion, and every emotion I have in me.

Her family loved me the same way she did. It was as if my mother was given back to me. Mariana's mum is like what every child will need to bring back that stolen smile, that piece that was taken away from him or her.

My journey with Mariana has been smooth and lovely. We went through high school together and before we blink an eye, we'll be done with university by next year.

My dad loves her too. She's not hard to love. People mostly mistake us for sisters. Some even go far to say we are twins. She brings joy into my life.

And for that I will be forever grateful. And to say I love Mariana, will be an understatement.

I gather my things. Mariana prepared food for me as well. I notice she packed a lot of food and water. She's not expecting me to eat all these.

"Stop thinking too much, I'm coming along," she said.

I smile widely at her. I love her more for this. I hug her tightly and say, "Thank you! Today's pictures and adventure will be very nice because I've got my best friend with me."

She smiles and I smile back.

"Richard is coming along. Hope you don't mind," she finally said.

I widen my eyes. He's coming a long. I don't know if it's good or bad. I want to avoid him so I can forget about the feelings I have for him from the very start I set eyes on his smile. And again, I'm glad I'll get to see and spend some time with him. So I don't know what to feel and what I'm feeling.

"He's coming? Why not Eben instead?" I asked.

"Eben is graduating this week and he's got a lot going on. He has to submit four essays and some stuff. He isn't free for now. But then we will go together when he graduates and he is free," she tried reasoning with me.

"It's been long since we spent time together. I just miss him when it comes to stuff like this," I said with a sad smile.

"Don't worry, you've got Richard! Let's go. I know you love taking pics of the early sun. We'll meet Richard on the way," she said while packing the things into the car.

What exactly does she mean by I've got Richard?!

                        ***
Thanks for reading.