Companionship

Chapter 1: The Present Is His Presence

Chapter 1: The Present Is His Presence

Today is my art exhibition. I'm paid with a hundred thousand prize per month by Mr. Elleson, the CEO of Livelihood of Aspiring Artists. This is a business built for an open opportunity for the youths. I was noticed when I took an application at the age of sixteen, examining my skills in arts. They were astonished with my originality. My subject is a vintage color of a carefree children, living in the slum places of Asia. Each masterpieces revealed different stories, just through the expressions of those children.

Now that I am twenty, who's still young and can afford already my desires. I can say that I'm still in the middle of my journey. Being an artist is my part-time job. I'm still studying, since I'm a college student. Even though I love arts, it wasn't my pride to pick it as my course.

I'm taking a medical course. I have to. The reason beyond my subject in painting was my will to help those children, who are unconsciously suffering from a severe sickness. If I finished this patiently, it will be an honor for me to join medical missions. I'd really love to help.

"Allora!" My friend, Glossie, waved her hand from afar, as I finished discussing the artworks.

Glossie is my first fan. Not just my best friend. She's my supporter in every exhibitions. It will be a shock for me if she will not come. She never forgets to support me and fail to show up.

I pinched the bridge in my nose, before beaming. I went across to her direction, then gave her a hug."I'm really, really grateful to have you."

"Silly!" She giggled."By the way, I have a--"

"I know." I cutted her off."Just give it to me directly." I laughed as I demanded. I was referring to the gift. She usually gives me a gift as a reward for my attainment.

She smirked."It's not that easy to give it to you directly, hunny."

I raised an eyebrow."Oh, it's a huge present, huh?"

She just smiled before pulling my hand to go upstairs. She was walking really fast, and it even made me exhausted, so I started whailing as a complaint. She never changed. This is how her personality functions.

I remember a humorous memory of her during our high school days. She had to jump over our professor for giving us low marks. We all got a C in class. We complained a lot and that professor didn't mind with our comments. He hates our generation. He even made a way to pulled the intelligent ones down. That's how he works and it's freaking unfair.

She pulled the professor's collar and shook him multiple times. He was dense and naive, to critic it. He wasn't listening to Glossie's squeaky voice, throwing discriminations at him. As of, he's deaf or something.

The students, including me, surrounded them and enjoyed the scene.

No one has mercy. We all just watched and embrace perfectly a short clip. None of us even dared to tell the issue to the principal. He deserves it, anyways. We had our endless laughter from that hilarious moment.

"Ahh, finally we're here." Glossie said, while panting.

"We should've taken the elevator, Gloss!" I snarled, when I realized we were at the roodtop of the enterprise.

"Oh, yeah." She rubbed her hair, when it just lately sinked in to her."But here we are. You better go out there now. I'm going to get something. You have to. No buts. It's an order."

Before I was about to open my mouth to utter something, she ran down fast as she could.

So now what?

I took a deep breath. Please, don't tell me it's a giant teddy bear. Glossie came from a prominent family. And I can't tell if she wasted another huge dollars just for a present. But I hope not. It's not like I'm a gold digger or something. She should've made it simple. A hug is enough.

Most importantly, her presence.

I smiled around the ambience. It's turning winter soon. Snowflakes dancing by the wind. It's frigid. It's almost nine and it's going to be late. I should probably back out now. I can't see something here. It's just boxes, scattered everywhere.

And, of course, the beautiful view of the urban place. I finally love it up here. Is this a gift now? To make me realize that the value of these surroundings? The breathtaking view of it?

"Allora." I heard my name from the whispers of the wind. It sounded like a man's voice.

I didn't know why my tears are streaming down, but that voice is really familiar. I covered my mouth with my right hand, as I felt someone's arms entwined around me. I know this scent. This floral scent that I love, instead a manly fragrance. These hands too that I always hold on to.

He's here. He's finally here. We met at an international camp at eighteen and he lived somewhere far away in Lebanon. While, I lived in Canada. He never stops on teasing me in those times we had shared in the camp. That's how the both of us started.

When we drifted our paths, when we had to leave and go back to where we truly belong, he swore to me that he'd go here. He'll be with me. And now, he did. I missed this. I missed him. I missed him so much. It's really difficult to maintain a long distance relationship and we made it. We had a couples of fight, but he didn't give up on me. The distance proved that we would last. So here we are.

"G-Ghazi." I sniffled. I turned around and hugged him tightly.

"I'm sorry for making you wait, Al." He said."A promise is a promise."

I bursted into tears even more when he added, "But I still have to go back. It's only my break here for five days. We'll finish medicine together, okay?"

I nodded. We will.