Promises - Joel Pimentel

Chapter 27

Ever since my run away incident a few days ago, I decided to take a year off from college and take the time to figure out where I really want to be. I'm in no rush to finish my education and I felt that I made the right choice.

"Ingrid, please pick up" my phone was attached to my ear as the call had put me straight through to voicemail.

Meeting with the William family really made me open my eyes and realise that life is too short to keep grudges and you never know when or how your body decides to deteriorate. It made me want to improve my life with the people around me and appreciate everyone who has ever loved or cared for me. The call ended with a sudden beep before I groaned and hung up.

"I can't believe she blocked me" I say to myself, hanging up.

"Can't believe who blocked you?" my mum asked entering the kitchen.

"Just someone I know" I placed the phone back in my pocket. "Actually, I think I might go over there myself".

I told my parents I would be at Ingrid's house and that I would be back soon. I caught a bus to her house and when I was finally there, I nervously knocked on her front door.

"Hi, um is Ingrid home?" her mum had opened up.

"Yes of course Maya come in, she should be upstairs"

I made my way to Ingrid's room as I carefully knocked; not too hard or not too soft either.

"Come in!" she yells.

I step inside and nervously wave.

"Hey" I smile, hoping she still wouldn't be mad at me.

"Oh, hey. What are you doing here?" she asks.

Ok, so she wasn't exactly mad at me.

"I came here to talk to you. Is that fine?" I was still standing in the doorway.

"Yeah sure" she moved her things aside on her bed to make space for me to sit.

We both took a seat on her bed right before it was complete silence.

"Look I'm just going to be straight up with you Ingrid. I came here to apologise. I came here to say how sorry I am about the way I treated you. I thought about what you said and you were right, I was being selfish and was only thinking about myself"

"Yeah, you kind of were" she speaks up.

"I know and I feel terrible. I wasn't thinking properly and I'm hoping we can start again? Forgive me?" I bat my lashes at her.

"Maya don't do that" she looks at me with a serious expression before bursting out laughing. "Dammit Maya"

"So, that's a yes?" I ask.

"Yes. Only because I did some thinking and realised that you were actually going through a lot. I forgive you Maya"

"Yay!"

"Uff!" I had jumped onto her, causing her to let out a painful groan.

"Anyways, I just came here to apologise and win back your heart. I'd love to stay but Joel and I were planning to go out later on. I'll see you tomorrow?"

We said our goodbyes before I headed out to the nearest bus station. The weather had gotten quite hot and humid in a matter of seconds. I was waiting at the bus stop for my next bus to arrive. My attention was on my phone the whole time as I sat on the bench waiting. I looked around for a second just to see if my bus was on it's way but instead, I see a silver car pull up near the kerb.

"Maya? Is that you?" I hear a boy's voice.

"Hey Emmanuel, didn't see you there"

"Come jump in, it's too hot to be waiting in the heat I'll drop you to your house" he offers after he had winded his window down.

As much as I wanted to decline, I couldn't. He was right, it was way too hot to be waiting in this intense heat. I grabbed my bag and jumped into the passenger seat.

"You didn't have to you know, I feel bad about you having to give me a ride"

"Don't say that Maya, you're practically like a little sister I've never had. I was on my way home anyway so it's no big deal"

It wasn't long before we had finally reached my house.

"Thanks so much for the ride dude"

"Anytime"

I waved him off and went straight inside, ready to take one nice cold shower.

1:35pm

"So, tell me why exactly we're driving this far to meet a couple of old people?" Joel asks as one of his hands was resting on my thigh was the other hand on the steering wheel.

"They're not just a couple of old people Joel, they're my friends. They took care of me when I had nowhere to go" I replied.

"I didn't know they were that special to you" he looks at me before his focus was back on the road.

I took his hand off my thigh and intertwined our fingers.

"So, what are your thoughts on my decision? You know, donating a kidney to someone like Mr William?" I ask, looking over at Joel.

"Is my opinion going to change your decision?" he asks.

"No not really. So, you're saying you hate the idea? Just like everyone else?"

"I didn't say I hate it, I'm just saying you should listen to the doctor. You heard the man; donating a kidney can lead to death Maya and I don't even want to begin to imagine-"

"Joel, he meant only one in a hundred people die from donating organs. He doesn't necessarily mean me"

"You're right. I'm happy for you Maya" he fake smiles.

He's lying, I know he is. He only shut his mouth because he doesn't want to fight.

"Thank you for understanding" I lifted our intertwined fingers up and kissed the back of his hand.

We continued to drive on the highway and noticed a gas station sign only a couple hundred meters away. I couldn't wait because I needed a boost of sugar and caffeine to keep me awake.

"Do you hear that?" he asks.

"Hear what?"

"That noise. It sounds like the engine is acting up"

"Why don't you pull aside and check it out?" I suggested.

I spoke too soon, as soon as I had given the suggestion, Joel's car slowed down and came to a sudden stop on the side of the road.

"Uh... what the hell just happened?" I asked.

He steps out of the car and opens the front hood of the vehicle. As soon as the hood was lifted up, ashes of smoke bursted out. He comes back into the car with a not so happy face.

"The car broke down"