Waiting For Summers

CHAPTER 7

I remember that summer.

It was the last week of summer. I was playing with Pogo, my malamute, when Mom called to pick up the ringing phone. I left Pogo in the front yard with his ball. When I went out, Pogo was nowhere to be seen. I kept calling his name, looking for him in the streets. I gave up.

I sat on a bench at the park and started sobbing when Laura approached me. She was wearing a pink unicorn shirt and shorts with her pigtails on the side of her head. "What happened?" she asked, her eyes filled with concern. I told her the story and we went together looking for Pogo. The sun was almost set and I was losing hope.
We kept looking, shouting Pogo's name in every street and alley. An hour later, we found him in a manhole as deep as our height, near the park. I did not know how he got there, I was just relieved to see him.
"How are we going to take him up?" I asked.
"I'll go down and reach him out to you," she immediately suggested. I did not object. I was too afraid to do such things.

She tried to reach Pogo with her hand first but Pogo kept barking. "I won't go down," she suddenly changed her mind. My eyes grew big. "Your dog won't come with me cos he doesn't recognize me. You do it."
"But I can't," I chickened.
"Well, either you get him or we tell your parents or worst, he'll be stuck there forever," she raised her hand in surrender, "if your dog will come with me, I would. You have to do it. He'll save you for sure, in case of fire. Why wouldn't you?"

I panicked at the thought of losing my Pogo and I toughen at the thought that Pogo will do everything to save my life. I jumped.
I passed Pogo upwards to Laura and he jumped immediately away from Laura's arms. I extended my hand to Laura and she started pulling me up.
As soon as I reached the top, I stumbled. I fell on top of her. The movies are not right there's no slow motion or whatever. I immediately stood up and awkwardly shake her hand. "Told you, you can do it. You save Pogo!" she said as she shook my hand. Then, she hugged. Never in my life did I felt so brave.

From that moment, we became friends. That's how.

*****

"Do you remember that?" her question echoes to my mind again.
"Not much," I lie. I look back at the skyline. "Do you remember it?"
"I do," she answers. She is also looking at the skyline. I wonder what's on her mind. "I was going home that day lonely. I was from a game with some of the girls at school. And I lost it. I lost the game, Red," she sounds so serious.
Amazing, how people can be dead honest when they're drunk. "I felt that I'm good for nothing. Until I helped you."
"I am grateful for that."
"But the truth is, you helped me. You made me feel that I can still do something good. That I'm better at something. Even if it's just encouraging other people."

I stay quiet. My watch beeps. It's already 3AM. Deep conversations and late night confessions.

"You are good with a lot of things, L," I glance at her, "You made me feel brave. You made me realize I can conquer my fears."
Finally, she smiles. I am not sure if she wipes a tear away but I'm sure I hear a short, soft laugh.
"I miss hanging out like this," she says with relief. She lets out an exhale and stretches her arms, "especially I am going away for Paris for the next months of summer."
"I miss you too," I reply. I froze.
"I am just grateful you became my friend, Red," she stretches and pushes me to the other end of the bench. She then comes close to me, "So, who do you like Red, huh? You have never told me anyone."
My mind starts to panic. I struggle on what to say and who to answer.
She then flicks my nose, "Don't miss me too much, okay?" I give out a snort and she flicks my nose again, "I'll be back. Red."

I look at her. With my eyes locking with hers, she gently lays her hand on my face. I can feel my heart beating. I feel butterflies in my stomach. She leans to kiss me, on my cheek, a little bit under my lip.
"Stay with me tonight, Red, will you?" as she falls asleep on my lap.
"Sure, L, even if everything will not, I will. I will stay," I softly answer.

I feel like exploding for unknown reasons. The lights of the skyline shine brighter than ever. I feel the stars are dancing and the clouds are waving back at me.

I feel like I can conquer a lot of adventures at the moment. Maybe Paco's right. Maybe, I just did not know. Maybe I like her. No, I am falling in love with her.