Maybe the Night

prologue

Ela's POV

Home. I was finally going home.

As I buckled my seatbelt on board the plane, I looked out the window. Thank God they gave the window seat. The sun was just about to set. The sky was painted with hues of blue and pinks and yellows and everything in between. The stewardess started to make her rounds around the plane, telling people to buckle their seatbelts, stow away their tray tables and put their seats and windows up. It was all white noise to me. I was so used to the sound of the beverage and snack cart moving, the heat from the airplane food that never seem to get any better, and the faces of parents trying to calm down their crying baby. I guess that happens when a person studies abroad and has to take two plane rides, one 5 hours and the next 12, to go back home.

I put on my earphones and pressed shuffle play on my favourite playlist. And of all songs, it had to land on, it just so happened to be this song. Our song.

The familiar sound of instruments starting the into filled my ears. Suddenly, I wasn't on a plane anymore.

I was inside a small wooden cabana. One with a big table and 2 sets of chairs on opposite sides of it. The roof made of straw covered the brightly lit sky, but we both could see its magnificence across the horizon. I was sitting on top of the table while you were sitting on the chair. Leaning on its back as if it would bring you closer to the stars. We were both gazing at the spot where the sky kissed the sea. The only thing I could think of in that moment was what if that could be you and me? So I took a chance and glanced at you. You were still looking, staring. I couldn't read the expression on your face - I mean I've never been able to - but tonight was different. Was it the air of curiosity? The tension between the both of us in this cabana? Or was it the fact that we both were uncertain of what was going to happen next?

You were always the quiet one. The one who was reserved with their thoughts, while I was quite the opposite. I was loud, wild, carefree. I would always try to make you talk, or dance, or sing, or laugh. Polar opposites. We were completely polar opposites. But thats what they say right? Opposites attract. We were the perfect example of two ends of a magnet: attracted to one another, but always apart.

And then you looked at me. This is it, I thought to myself. This is the moment. It's finally going to happen. You put your fingers on my chin and started to lean in. I began to close my eyes.

Nothing.

Nothing happened.

I immediately opened my eyes. Confusion etched on my skin. You quickly pulled back and looked away as if my skin burned you and the sight of me was so repulsing.

What just happened?

I quickly looked away, my eyes searching for something, anything, as long as it wasn't you. Everything started to look blurry so I tilted my head up, hoping that my tears wouldn't fall down my face. They didn't. I blinked a couple of times and took one more look at you. You were still looking away, an emotionless expression on your face.

"I think we should go back to our rooms now."

Your words broke the silence, yet it couldn't cut the tension. I was quiet for a moment, unsure of what to do or say. My pride was hurt. My feelings were hurt. I was hurt.

The sky was so pretty that night. The scene was near picturesque. The situation was almost perfect. Almost.

I stood up and said, "You're right, goodnight Nico." I turned around and walked back to my room without even taking a single glance to see if you cared. Different thoughts were swirling my mind, I couldn't think straight, words were overlapping each other, I-

Then the song was over. Our song was over.

The plane began to move towards the takeoff runway. A woman was on the screen, voicing out instructions, but I couldn't pay attention. I turned my eyes towards the airplane window once more. The sky was slowly turning to dusk and tiny, little, twinkling balls of light were soon in my view. I focused my attention to my phone once more, debating with myself what song I should listen to next. But before I knew it, my finger hovered over the rewind button on the home screen and pressed it. Again, I was teleported to the past. I closed my eyes and the emotions, the feelings, the happiness, the hurt, the wonder, all came back to me. But that's only one moment from a chain of events. Ones that led me here, playing our song. Because in a couple of days, I'll be making the chain even longer. I'll be seeing you.

Our story is a long one, one that is still going on. How can I explain its complexities? Its wonders? Its downfalls?

Where do I even begin?