Our Last Summer

Prologue

"Life is the most exciting opportunity we have. But we have one shot. You graduate from high school once, and that's it. You're going out of that nest. And you have to find that courage that's deep, deep, deep in there. Every step of the way."

-Andrew Shue

KYLEE

"This is just the beginning of our journey as we enter the real world." I smiled as I heard everyone applaud at the end of my valedictorian speech. I slowly walked down the stage hoping I don't stumble on the four-inch heels I was wearing. I have always hated wearing high heels but the school had required us to wear them for graduation. God, our school can be annoying sometimes. As I reached the last step, I was engulfed in a hug by a tall and lean person almost making me fall. "You did it Kylee! You didn't fall down the stairs with those bloody high heels!" I laughed at my best friend's corny joke. "Well, you almost made me fall down the last step," I replied laughing.

I gave Joe one last hug before I ran off to my family. "I'm so proud of you sis," Kiefer, my older brother told me as he hugged me.

"I'm proud of you too. It's crazy how I graduated high school at the same time as you graduated college," I told him as I released myself from the hug. My dad then gave me a hug, I started to feel a little claustrophobic with all the hugging. After my dad's long speech of how proud he is of me, I started wondering where mom went. I didn't see her during my speech. "Your mom had an emergency meeting," my dad told me. Ugh, typical mom always business first before anything else.

"Hi, Uncle! Hi Kiefer," Joe greeted as he sat down on our table. We were currently at Ippodu Ramen to celebrate with Joe since his Aunt had to do something. Kiefer just rolled his eyes because for some reason, he hated Joe ever since he met him. "So Emily, what do you plan to do this summer before you leave for Harvard?" my dad asked me all of a sudden. You may be confused why I'm called Emily but my full name is actually Emily Kyle Lee. Joe gave me the nickname Kylee as a joke. However, I learned to love the nickname Kylee so I began to use it too.

"Actually dad, I'm planning to spend my whole summer with Joe since it's our last summer together. I want to make the most out of it before we part our ways. No offense dad but I would rather spend my whole summer with Joe because you, mom and *kuya can visit me anytime in America."

"You're so sweet and corny Kylee," Joe teased. If you didn't know Joe and I, you would probably think we're a couple. "I'm okay with that Emily as long as you don't fall in love with him because long distance relationships can cause a lot of trouble," my dad stated seriously. I scoffed at the words 'fall in love', Joe and I would never be a couple. We agreed on this when we tried being one two years ago. We weren't meant to be, we didn't even feel a spark. We agreed to never try falling in love with each other for we are both meant to be best friends and only best friends. "I cannot promise you anything Uncle. I mean your daughter is pretty and who wouldn't fall in love with her," Joe joked. I nudged him on the shoulder and gave my dad a reassuring smile that Joe was only kidding.

*kuya- Filipino for older brother