Amaya's Amaranth (Wattys2014)

Chapter 25: Lily and Rayan

It's terrible to lose someone we love, but it's even worse to lose ourselves while loving them.

" To new relations, " Oliver said holding up his Styrofoam cup filled with Sprite.

" Cheers, " we all said in unison. It felt so good to be here with our closest friends. I felt like I was living an episode of Friends or Big Bang Theory or Archie And His Gang.

The guys were getting along pretty well and the continuous mischievous teasing went on. Sky's mother had not changed her loving behavior towards me at all. She was the same sweet woman I had learned to love. Most moms were so overprotective about their sons that they would keep the girl bound tightly under her wing. But she was different. No wander Sky had such a wonderful personality.

" What a night, " Sky said as we returned home.

" Yeah, it was awesome but I feel so tired now, " I said suppressing a yawn.

" Someone's gonna turn into a sleeping beauty, " Sky said slowly. I shook my head and playfully pushed him. I could barely keep my eyes open. I made my way up and bade farewell to Sky with a light kiss. I didn't even bother changing my clothes as I drifted off to a deep sleep.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The days passed by blissfully with no problems whatsoever. Olivia had started planning on our trip back home. Although it was still a few months away. I got to see how Sky cared for his plants ( at last ). The look of pure happiness ad pride on his face was priceless. I listened to him as he described how to take care of each flower, what fertilizers to be used and how he planned on bordering his future house completely with colors of nature. It amazed me that a guy could have such dreams. What else did I not know about him?

" So from whom or where did you develop this hobby from? " I asked brushing a flower lightly.

" You see that plot over there? " he asked pointing to an empty plot nearby. I nodded but really didn't see how a barren and empty plot could have been his inspiration.

" Yeah, " I said slowly, " So did the barren nature of the land inspire you to fill in your barren roof? " I asked looking at him.

He planted his face in a straight line and looked at me. God, even his straight line face was funny. I pursed my lips in to control my laughter and he shook his head.

" A girl used to live there. She was like an elder sister to me. Her name was Lily. She was the one who inspired me to plant, " he said resting his chin on my shoulder.

" Where are they now? "

" No idea, she had faced a huge tragedy in her life which rendered her helpless and so her parents moved out without informing anyone. "

I nodded and wandered what had happened to Lily. I asked him and Sky told me a story which rendered me speechless.

" Lily lived there ever since we moved in here. She was the prettiest girl I had ever seen. Anyways, I will not make you jealous by describing to you her beauty, " the comment earned him a playful nudge and rewarded me with his heart melting laugh.

" She had played a great role in helping me overcome my grief, you know. I used to watch her take care of her plants like they were her babies. I used to tease her always but she shrugged them off with a witty answer. I mean at that age almost anything a tad bit clever was witty to me.

When I was like 13 and began to understand the world bit by bit, a guy had come to our neighbourhood. Rayan. I used to hang out with him a bit and he would always say to me, Just watch, one day I will make Lily my wife. I used to laugh it off given Lily never gave him a second glance. But somehow he managed to get her attention, but he never told me how. Anyways, they were like the happiest people in love. Moreover, there were no objections from either families! What else did they need in this country? But his friends could not tolerate his steady relation and would always say she was just another quest for him. Lily had heard it too but never believed it since she never saw any proof of betrayal on his side.