Under This Old Oak Tree (One Shot)

HIS POV

"Do you still remember the day we first met? I hope you still do. Because if you'd ask me, my answer would always be the same, I still do. I will never forget that day. That day you came into my life. That day was the start of everything. Everything, that has become a part of me and changed me. How I wish to hear your voice once again, to see your smile, to be with you and to talk to you again...But I know it would never happen again. It won't. So for now, just please listen to me, okay? Because this is my only way to reach you."

So he took a piece of paper and started to read something.

It was a one humid and typical Monday when I first saw you in this place...

I was sitting under this big shady oak tree near the school wearing a wet and dirty uniform, feeling frustrated and solitary. Whenever I feel frustrated about my classmates, I would automatically rush towards this tree, sit beside it and express my anger by carving cusses on its bark. While doing that crazy thing, something caught my attention. It was the piece of paper behind the tree being brought by the wind, and eventually, fell on the grass. I looked around trying to know where it came from but I saw nothing, no one.

So I stood up and walked towards the direction where that paper was to know what's on it, but you suddenly pop out from behind the tree and ran hurriedly to get the paper before me. You seemed like trying your best to hide it. Your sudden appearance caught me off-guard. I looked at you and you smiled at me sheepishly. As a response, I shrugged my shoulders as if it was nothing because you're just a stranger to me. Then I turned around, walked back towards the tree and sat again. I was surprised when you followed and sat beside me under this old oak tree. I looked at you with questioning eyes but you just smiled at me, again.

For the second time, I saw you smile. My heart skipped a beat. I don't know why. You're beautiful, I just realized that day. I felt a sudden shyness so I turned my head down. I had this urge of curiosity to know why were you sitting next to me, yet I didn't know how to approach you. After a few minutes, you broke the silence. You asked what my name was. I told you that my name was Chris and I asked for yours. You said it was Anna. What a beautiful name, I thought. You smiled again; then again, my heart was melted. Then after a while, the place encountered silence for the second time. It seemed like you're shy too to start another conversation.

After a while, the cusses I carved on the tree caught your eye. I immediately hid it with my hands and with my eyes full of embarrassment. You laughed at my expression. And I don't why, despite of my frustrated emotions that day, you made me laugh too. You asked why I wrote those and why I looked frustrated. I told you why. I felt the willingness to tell stories about the bullying of my classmates. I'm expecting you to laugh but you didn't. Instead, you just smiled and told me that being bullied is not a sign of cowardice, but a sign of having self-respect because it just meant that you're not going down their level.

I don't know how and why, but I thought to myself, you made me feel at ease that day. You comforted me. You made me happy. You even told me that there's a way to express your deep emotions and to feel at ease. So I did as what you said; I shouted out loud, cussed and cursed to express my anger and all of my frustrations. After that, we laughed hard! I feel like I'm comfortable being with a stranger like you that day. I asked you what was written on your paper but you just smiled and told me that it's a secret with shyness in your eyes. Well, I understand you.

On the next day, I simply searched for you in our school but I cannot find you. I felt sad and empty. So again, I went to this tree where I often used to sit at. I was surprised and at the same time happy, because I saw you here that time, sitting and gazing at the clouds. It also seemed like you're drawing something that time. I suddenly pop out in front of you and you were startled so you immediately hid your paper. What was in it? I asked you but you didn't answer me. I laughed because of your funny reaction and you laughed too. I sat beside you and told you stories as if like we're close friends. I just felt like I'm comfortable with you that's why. Since then, we used to chat, laugh and share stories to each other every day. Until I slowly realized that I'm becoming closer and closer to you and that I already have feelings for you. I already like you.