In This Lifetime

Postlude

There is this place I always go every time I feel blue.

I don't know but it's like a spot I call safe haven in our old house which I used to hide when my parents are about to scold me. Obviously, as an immature person I was when I was a kid, I would always run away from the things that might hurt me even if it was my mistake. When one of the most important persons in my life was taken away, it all lead me to emptiness, loss and despair. Everything I knew about life was no longer applicable anymore.

Yesterdays became nightmares instead of lessons. Over and over, it kept on haunting me and I thought there is already no hope for improvement, nor room for happiness.

Until one day, I found a place I first thought dark and haunted.

"Hi! I'm Win, nice to meet you." The person beside me exclaimed after the game concluded and now, we're just sitting on the benches in front of our building. The freshmen orientation is almost done now but we're still on a 20-minute break. I badly want to go home now.

"I'm Bright." I nonchalantly said and just shrugged as I notice how his eyes can turn into crescents every time he smiles, or even laugh.

He then talked continuously as he told me stories when he was just a high school kid and even some of his childhood memories. To be honest, when people try to talk to me, I always get irritated every time since I'm not really interested at talking with people at all. Let's just say I'm really an introvert.

But this guy? I don't know. I can't even find a reason to be annoyed at all. His smiles are always captivating and it's like my day wouldn't be completed if I'll not see a glimpse of his face. He radiates warmth with which I always wanted to be be around him.

"Hey Bright! He will melt if you keep on staring at him like that!" Adrian whispered at me and I immediately came back to my senses as I let out a sigh.

"Shut up." I looked at Win who's now walking towards us as he carries a tray of food. He looked so innocent and cute at the same time and I couldn't help but smile.

"Bright! Look! The stars are so beautiful." I looked at Win who's now sitting beside me as we looked at the blanket of pitch black sky above us. His eyes were gleaming and his face was lit by moonlight. I couldn't help but notice how small things can make him happy in any simple way, and all I have ever wanted to do was to never make this smile fade away.

"Yeah, it's beautiful." I grinned, still looking at him yet he was too preoccupied gazing the horizon which made me chuckle.

"Why do you always enjoy taking pictures?" He asked out of the blue as he looked at me with those innocent eyes.

"I don't know... it's just like, I wanted to capture memories." I tilted my head as if finding the right words to answer his question. "It is what I really like about photographs. They are proof that even just for once, everything was perfect." I chuckled as he just stared at me curiously.

"Can we take a picture then?" He smiled giddily as he crouched his way to me and took his camera which made my mind fell into places. He really caught me off guard.

"Bright do you believe in soulmates?" Win asked as I looked at him reading a book with his brows furrowed.

"I guess?" I shrugged and he immediately lifted his head to look at me. "If two points are destined to touch, the forces in this world will always find a way to make the connection even if all hope seems to be lost. What's meant for you will always be yours, even if you'll try to push that person away at some point. Nature always finds its way."