A Debt Unpaid (Original)

Walter

Today was another ordinary Sunday afternoon. The sun was shining, the bees were buzzing, and I'm stuck here in this boring class.

We read a lot of books then, but we ended up borrowing 3 books to read: Angeline borrowed 2 and told me to keep the other. I ended up with a novel called "Serendipitous". It follows the story of a Girl who, after her troublesome life, ends up meeting a guy who makes her change her view about herself. I haven't read far, but so far so good.

RIIIIINNNNGGGG!!!!!

The dismissal bell rang, pulling me yet again from my thoughts. I stood up, swung my bag over my shoulder, and headed out the classroom without saying a word. As I headed into the halls, I glanced left and right, trying not to attract much attention as I passed through the crowd.

Bzzzzzt

I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket. I pulled it out, and read the message on the screen. It was from Angeline:

Meet you in the canteen. Lets finish the next chapter within this week. Hurry up!!!

Really couldn't say anything about it. With a sigh, I shifted my footing, and headed for the canteen. Once I reach the canteen, I saw Angeline sitting a few tables from the entrance, waving at me.

"Want to join me? And complete the novel as we eat our snack?" she ask.

"Sure" I reply.

We discussed about the novel but we don't seem to be in sync of ideas, then randomly she asked, "what had happened the other week and what did my mother tell you?"

My heart skipped a beat. The room felt suffocating, my lungs couldn't inhale air, let along exhale it. I got up.

"I-I got to go somewhere."

Then I walk away, not turning back. Turning the corner out the canteen to the hallway, down to the classrooms, when suddenly I heard her call out.

"Wait!" she said, grabbing me from the shoulder and turning me to face him. "My parents have been hiding things from me lately, and I don't want one of my friends hiding from me, too. I need to know the truth, even though everyone thinks that I don't need to know what's happening. It's part of my life as well, and I'll have to face it soon or later. So PLEASE, tell me, what's happening?"

I didn't reply, instead I turned and start to walk away. The feeling of guilt deeply piercing down my heart.

Was I going to run away from this again?

Was I going to make the same mistake?

Or will I make this better, for the greater good?

WilI take this risk?

Will she hate me if she learns the truth?

Countless thoughts run my mind.

She grabbed my wrist, making me freeze into place.

"Walter! Please..." with her pleading voice, I gave in.

I've never heard or seen her plead for anything, ever since we were just little kids. Not even once.Not even to the things she want. She'd never plead for anything, and seing her plead now, is all new to me.

She'd sacriface humility for the truth?

I took a deep breath and said, "Lets...take a walk..."

My heart was racing in my chest. I knew this would come sooner or later. Just, wished it was later. A lot later.

"Well, if you want the truth..."

I tried my best to muster my courage. Somehow, I wanted to say everything I wanted to. But, I was scared... Scared things might change if she knew. So scared, that I took the cowards way out, and stayed quiet.

"Walter, answer me!" Angeline got impatient, shouting at me from behind.

I pursed my lips and clenched my fist. The words rammed at the barrier I formed in my head. It was frustrating how scared I was right now. "What am I supposed to say?"

"Everything!" She snapped, as of I said something really stupid.

There was no running away from this. I wished I could, though.

'Just give her the key and get over with it!'

My conscience shouted, but I ignored it. I wished I could listen. I really do. I wish I had the courage to just give her the key and everything else. Instead, I said:

"On Saturday."

"On Saturday?" She repeated with a rising pitch.

"Yes. On Saturday. Meet me at the-"

"But why not today?"

"Because."

"Because what?"

"Because we can't visit her now!"

Angeline's eyes widened in confusion. "Who's 'her'?"

I glanced down slowly, looking away from her eyes. "Its...an old friend..."

"An old friend?"

"Yeah..." I said lastly, turned on my heel and started to walk away. I begged for her inside to just let me leave.

Silence befell the two of us. But, not an uncomfortable one; it felt more like relief. At least she didn't ask anymore.

I didn't dare look at Angeline; it was enough that she wasn't talking anymore. I only then realized we had walked into the nearby park.

It was a large square lot of clean cut grass, with a cross of concrete walkway running along the middle. Wooden benches lined along the walkway. A chess table lay up ahead to the right. A single large tree stood tall and strong to the left. But the best part of this place was the small stream that ran across the park, and the two bridges that help people cross the stream.

I walked over to one of them. It was quiet, as it was the middle of the afternoon. The only ones here with me were an elderly couple, enjoying their day feeding the birds with a bag of seeds. Angeline followed behind. We just exchanged glances. It only lasted for a second though, before I turned away.

I noticed an old couple sitting on a bench on the pathway. The older man wrapped his arm around his wife, giving her a quick peck. I always admired eternal love, and a sliver of delight passed through. Sometimes, I wished I could just go back to the past somehow. It just seemed...easier back then.