The One That Got Away.

chap 3

I was in the drawing room with my brother and my cousins, still had a twitching pain in my left foot.
They asked me what happened and I told them what had really happened but I didn't include him.

All of us decided to watch our favorite TV show - F.R.I.E.N.D.S on the laptop.
So we gathered around and sat on floor, after finding our comfortable positions, we played the first season's first episode.

I just sat there. Still and awfully silent.
It was the first time I didn't laugh while watching F.R.I.E.N.D.S.
It was weird.

I couldn't stop seeing his laughing face, shining in the bright daylight.
His arms around me, supporting me to walk.

I suddenly realized that I never asked him his name.
He was with me and I didn't ask him his name.
I was angry with myself.

I had bleak chances of meeting him again like I did today. I felt bad.

This kind of made my tears show and I had to get away somewhere, somewhere I could be alone, before anyone noticed my unusual condition.

So I quietly vacated my place and left for the terrace. Telling them I was going to the washroom.

Sitting there on the roof all by myself I could only feel the regret.
But I also felt kind of amazing, that I saw him so closely.

____

"Do you mind if I join?" Lauren asked, standing at the window.

She had followed me up here.
She saw my tears. She Always does.
She always sees through people. It was her special talent, I considered.

"No, I don't mind at all." I replied with no sense of enthusiasm.

She broke the ice with a straight comment," You look sad and not so okay."

I had nothing to hide from her.

"I am sad and I am not okay. Correct." I added.

"Since the first day, I am noticing this sense of stress on your face. Wanna talk?" She asked, showing concern.

I shared everything with her, not only because she understood, but also because she gave me solutions.

And yes, I wanted to talk to her about everything and so I did. I told her everything. What, why, when and how. Everything.

She seemed to be shocked at first and said nothing,
but suddenly she started to speak,

" if I would have been in your place, I would have confessed it to him. Honestly. The way you describe him is very precious and clearly you like him. There is not much time left, you will leave for your studies at the university soon and this small regret that you feel now will become large and eat you up from inside. So, I suggest whatever time you have left with you, try to spend it with him. Tell him you like him. Then we'll see what happens."

I hugged her tight and thanked her for that amazing talk.
I loved her to the moon and back.

Lauren stood up to leave and said ,"now stop weeping like a nine year old and be a girl that boy would want to have for the rest of his life."

This hit me hard and gave my dreams a driving force to turn into reality.

" Every time I see him, I become speechless. How am I supposed to talk to him?" As helpless as ever I questioned her.

"Just be you. Things will work out. Cause you are amazing."

An how could I not love her. She was the best.

I sat there alone for a while and tried to relax because I knew that I needed to relax.
Also, i needed to put some ointment on my foot. It was hurting now. Really hurting.

I tried to think less and focus on tomorrow's plan.
Well, it didn't have to be planned out because I just needed to tell him how I feel and the rest of story would be depend on the answer that he gives.

So, I went to the room where all the three were having a little brother- sister time and I joined them , forgetting about the worries that made me weary since day one.

__________

Night went well. I had a great sleep.
And also I woke up early today. So no more bitter words.
Although I still walked funny, my foot felt a little better than yesterday. But it was still sore.

I wanted to go to him and get it done with, but I didn't know anything about the houses on the other side of the river. Neither did I know where he lived on the other side of the river. So, ultimately I had to do what I had done yesterday. Go and sit by the river.

I left sharp at 2 pm just after lunch.
Lauren wished me luck, quietly.
And I went away to conquer my quest. Hoping for the best and prepared for the worst.

_______

I sat on the sand staring endlessly at the flowing water, for the first time, in the last few days, I felt like I was finally free from all those thoughts.

I kept staring and suddenly felt the weight of someone's hand on my left shoulder.
I shook it off and stood up fast with that soreness of my left foot.
It hurt me, and it Took me a while to stand straight.

When I looked up to see who was it. I was surprised.

It was him standing right in front of me.
Both of us looking at each other, face to face.

And he smiled.
Only then I realized how I wanted this to last for all eternity.