Chapter 17: Chapter 17

Quite as bright and when we look to the sky, its not mine, but I want it so

The familiar smell of petrichor made me wince as I stepped out of the porch. I placed my hot coffee beside the threshold and positioned myself on the chair. The brewed coffee Gab sent me automatically calm my nerves as I opened my book. It was my 8th book since Christmas Break.

I spent the break at Tita Annly's house because my parents were still in Singapore. I refused to join them because I don't like to pretend I was enjoying a vacation when I have a lot of things going on in my mind.

I started reading the book Aae left as a gift for Christmas. He went home while Tita Annly spent the breaks at the hospital. Like me, she's not fond of celebrating. I just visited the church during Christmas Eve and watched the fireworks outside the porch. It was sad, but I like it. I made a lot of realizations these past few days.

I already touched the soft edge of the book when my eyes caught a glimpse of the flower pot near my coffee. The pink-fern like petals were swaying a little as the wind brushed against my hair.

I ignored its presence since Zack gave it to me as a present for Christmas. But, I could no longer ignore it.

I closed my book and moved on an inch closer to reach the flowering plant. I don't have a green thumb, so I think I should figure out how to make this flower last longer. Should I put it inside my room or leave it outside enough to get sunlight?

Uh, Zack should have left any notes with regards to how to take good care of this plant. Well, he did leave a letter, but I was not sure if it's about the plant. I haven't take a glance at it yet. I just left it on my study table, afraid of its content. I don't want to read goodbyes from him.

I put back the flower pot on its place when I heard the gate creaked. The smell of ripening grapes from the flowers stuck in my nose as I rubbed them.

Aae was wearing a blue shirt paired with khaki pants. I somehow smiled when I saw him wearing the baseball cap I made for him as he walked towards the porch.

He immediately stopped upon seeing me. He placed his duffel bag on the threshold and removed his rubber shoes to put on the side shelf before asking me, "You're early?"

"I spent the last year here," I replied. "Happy New Year!" I greeted him with a smile.

"Why?" He arched his brow, confused. "You didn't go home?"

"Yeah, my parents are still in Singapore. How's your vacation?" I asked. I sipped my coffee and winced at its bitterness.

"I just came back from Singapore. I bought you a lot of chocolates." He unzipped his duffel bag to show me different kinds of chocolates.

"Uh, I'm not fond of chocolates," I answered.

"How about banana milk?" He pulled a pack of banana milk from inside his bag.

I automatically recalled Zack's expression every time he sipped on his banana milk. I hesitated at first and decided not to get it.

"No, it's okay. I've got a lot of that."

"Really?" Aae dropped the pack inside before clutching his bag on his left shoulder. "Or is it because I am not Zack?" He titled his head.

"Hmm," I scratched the back of my head. Why is he so straightforward?

"I get it," he nodded. "Have you eaten yet?" he asked. He opened the door while I picked the book and coffee on the side to follow him inside.

"Yeah, I did."

"Wait, you don't know how to cook," he stated.

He placed his bag on the couch, and I followed him to the kitchen. Aae glared at me upon seeing the pack of noodles and plastics from the fast-food chain inside the trash bin.

"You should have told me you are staying here," he scowled. "So, I didn't bother going home." He washed his hand on the sink while I surveyed his back.

"Don't worry, I ate a lot of fruits," I replied. "And, I also learned how to bake." I proudly said.

"You what?" he turned to me while leaning his hand on the sink.

"I know how to bake." I pointed at the cabinet beside him. "So, stop worrying. I ate a lot of cakes and cupcakes I made."

He curiously opened it and saw the ingredients I used for baking. I have all the time to practice cooking but ended up baking when I craved a banana cupcake.

"Are they even good?" He frowned, not trusting my abilities.

"Of course."

"How would I know?" He opened the fridge. "You didn't leave anything for me," he pouted. "Is that something you do for someone who cooks for you every day?"

"Sorry, I'll bake for you next time."

I almost lose my balance upon hearing him say.

"After you bake for Zack?"

Why is he making it awkward for us?

I pulled my scrunchies to tie my hair in a messy bun.

"What makes you frustrated?" He titled his head.

He was supposed to meet my gaze but remembered something, so he avoided it. He's been avoiding my gaze, and it quite helped a little to forgot about my brother. But, his mere presence was the one that kept me from remembering my deceased brother.

"What do you mean?"

He pointed at my scrunchies. "You always tie your hair whenever you are frustrated."

I was caught off guard. How did he know that? Isn't that obvious?

He inched his left brow. "Do I frustrates you?"

"Yeah," I frowned. "Like, why make things awkward?"

"Hmm." He twisted his lips. "I just like to see how you will react."

"You find that amusing?" I shake my head in disbelief.

Aae chuckled. "I like that." He traced my face with his index finger.

"What?" I wagged my hand between us.

"I like you." He smiled. "But, Zack likes you more than I do. Don't worry, I will not challenge Zack just to date you on the Graduation ball."

"What, why?" I asked, confused.

"Oh, you don't know?" he smirked. "Why do you think no one asks you for promenade? Do you really think it's because no one likes you?"

"Yeah?" I left my mouth open. Though, I never really cared as long as Zack asked me.

Aae titled his head, thinking if he's gonna spill it, then shrugged. "I'll share this with you, so you won't be forever dumb."

"Do you have to say dumb?"

He nodded. "The guys find Zack as a threat to have your attention, so they usually challenge Zack," he explained. "If they beat Zack, he will wholeheartedly stay away from you. But the fact that you still have Zack roaming around you means he'd been beating those guys since seventh grade."

"That's..." I blinked as I tried to find the right words to say.

"Sweet?" Aae completed it. Though, it wasn't that. I felt like it was even an understatement to describe what Zack had been doing.

I rendered speechlessly. Damn! Zacky! You're too uh, how do I describe him? I really couldn't find the right words.

"Uh," I brushed the side of my hair as I twitched my lips. "Legit?"

"Do I look like a joke to you?" Aae frowned. "Well, just tell me if you want to date me. I'll challenge, Zack." He declared.

"What kind of challenge?"

"Football?"

I shake my head. "You can never beat Zack on football."

"Okay." He nodded a little. "I'll take that as you don't want me, so don't even try."

"You're kind of quits. He cannot beat you on baseball."

"We're not, Zee." He smiled a little. "I may be able to beat him, yet I still don't have your vote, right?"

"Aae..."

He moved an inch closer. His chocolates breathe sent chills to mine when he whispered, "Go, Zack is waiting outside."

"What?" I said, shocked. "Seriously?"

How long has he been waiting outside?

Why didn't he call me?

"I'll count. If you are still here after three, I'll keep you to myself." He made that clear.

I froze for a moment until he started, "One."

Aae, why are you doing this to yourself?

I bit my lower lip before mouthing, "Sorry."

I quickly ran to my room and searched for the letter Zack wrote for me.

My Katie,

Uhm, hi?

Hello?

Banana milk?

Well, lame?

I don't know what to say, so let me just say these three words.

Wait for me.

Your Zack in maroon jersey jacket

I put the paper down and grabbed the box of banana cake before running outside. My hands were shaking as I opened the gate.

What would I tell Zack?

I mean, yeah I got mad. But, I realized and understood how hard it was for him. I couldn't stay mad at him and the rest of my classmates. It will just make us further away. I couldn't afford to make our last years like that.

If I stay mad, what good will it do to the both of us?

I guess I would just have to make our remaining days memorable, so I won't have any regrets at the end.

I bit my lower lip upon seeing Zack's back. He had his hands on both of his pockets while looking at the ground. His rubber shoes made a rough sound as he scrapped them on the ground.

"Hey." I stopped an inch closer to him and gulped when he turned his back.

Uh, this is somehow awkward.

"Hey," he greeted with a smile.

He stared at me for a moment, looking for the words to say. When he couldn't, he just smiled a little.

I coughed to break the silence. "Banana cupcake?"

"You baked for me?" His eyes inched a little as I handed him the paper bag with the banana cupcake I made. I was supposed to send it to his home, but he was right in front of me now.

I noticed his fringe falling on the left side of his ears. Zack's hair grew really fast, so he usually cut them every month. I guess right now he doesn't have the will to cut them anymore.

"You're growing your hair," I commented. "Sister will get mad at you when we come back."

He used his index finger to twitch his fringe while pursing his lips. I believe he was thinking of what to say. I watched him do that until he sighed deeply.

"You're not mad, aren't you?" He finally asked.

"If I'm mad, will you stay?" I joked.

Zack bit his lower lip. "Sorry." He was trying to look at me but decided to just shake his head down.

"Sorry, if I act like that." I pointed my foot upward to reach him. I lifted his chin up and made a smile. "It's just I cannot bear the thought of you leaving without saying anything."

I rolled my eyes upon hitting his head. He didn't avoid it and I figured he would just let me hurt him if I wanted to. But how could I do that to him? I love him.

"I would..." He didn't continue what he was about to say nor would I want to hear it. Guess, it would just hurt us.

"I promise to text, call, and send you letters." He finally turned to me, making me stare at the shot of liquid he was trying to hold in his eyes.

"Just go and make me proud, okay? Although, I am already proud of you. You better invite me on your first flight as the captain," I sincerely said.

I know he would be able to reach his dreams, and I was in no position to stop that.

"I won't ask to be your first patient, but please become a doctor, not something you don't want. Please?" I saw the sadness that registered in his eyes.

I nodded, even though I was not sure.

He curved his lips. Finally, his gaze softened.

"Are we talking now?" He asked.

"Yeah, sure," I shrugged. "I just wanted to make you feel how it was like when you did not talk to me because of that simple thing," I scowled.

"I'm jealous. Should I rent a room inside?" He pointed at our house.

I shook my head. As if his parents would allow him.

"Wait, so you baked for me?" Zack said when he remembered the banana cake. He scanned what's inside, "Woah, don't tell me you put love potion in this?"

I rolled my eyes. That's it, just be the Zack I know. Let us end your last months with happy thoughts.

"Baka! If I am going to put something, it'll be poison."

"Woah, this Woah. Legit? Really, did you make this banana cupcake?" he unbelievably said.

He opened the lid of the Tupperware and got one cupcake. "No lies?"

"Psh! Of course, I did, if you don't want--" He hugged the paper bag and turned his back on me as he chewed the whole cupcake.

I smiled. I spent the whole vacation trying to perfect the recipe I've seen on Youtube. I know it wasn't perfect like how his mother baked, but I hope it is something he would like and remember when we parted ways.

"By the way, I got you something. Call it my apology." I pulled the flash drive from my pocket."What is it?" He mumbled as he gobbled the cupcake.

"It's a recording of all my favorite songs, well Mayday Parade songs." I hesitated to give it at first, but he excitedly grabbed it.

"Woah, you recorded songs for me?" His eyes widened, and for a second I felt like he blushed.

"Baka! I ain't that good at singing." I rolled my eyes to hide from smiling wider. "It's instrumental, harp and piano. I remembered you got problems with sleeping, so it might help as a lullaby."

"I'm having butterflies in the stomach," he straightforwardly said. "You are amazing, Zeekiee!"My chest was pounding so hard like it was going to explode when he locked his arms on mine.

"What should I get you then?" he said excitedly. He stared at the flash drive before keeping it in his pocket.

"Just answer my math activity. Will you?"

"Oh easy, just that? Nothing else?"

I want to say stay, Zack. Please, stay!

But, how could I get selfish when he would be chasing his dreams?

Instead, I said, "I will wait."

"I promise to come back as soon as I become a captain." He made that clear. "Will you promise something, then?"

"I promise to wait," I replied.

"No," he wagged his head. "Promise me you'll become a doctor."

"I promise."

"Very well, then."

"But wait," I remembered something. "Is it true?"

My jaw almost dropped when he said.

"What? That I'm gonna marry you?"

"No," I rolled my eyes. "Will you let me finish?"

"Oh sorry. I know you'll say yes, but okay let me hear it," he grinned.

"Baka!" I said, trying to hide my smile. "Fine, if you continue that I'll find every guy you'd beaten and ask them for a date."

His eyes widened upon hearing those. "What the-" He blinked. "How did you know that? Uh, Aae must have said it."

"You mad?" He scratched the back of his head. He looked like a kid scared of being scolded upon being caught.

"Why do you need to do that?" I said, acting mad.

He bit his lower lip. "I'm your selfish best friend, who easily gets jealous!" He pouted.

"You don't need to do that. I will always choose your invitation over those guys." I made that clear.

My smile widened at the thought of him beating all the guys, making all the effort to win me over them. I found it really cute. Sorry, boys! I got a very reliable best friend.

"Even Aae?"

"Aae, really?"

"He likes you and it's not like I can kick him away by playing sports or what?" he scowled.

"Aae is exactly my type."

I laughed when I saw his eyes turned darker.

"You really know how to ruin a moment?" he frowned.

"Well, Aae is exactly--"

"Really, for the second time?"

"He is exactly my--"

"What? Do you need to say it again? Do you find it amusing when I get jealous?"

I laughed, really hard. It's payback time. Huh! Now I know what makes you weak.

"Do you like him, better than me?" he seriously asked.

"What would you do if I say I like you?"

"Jump?" He arched his brow.

"You're not sure." I frowned.

"Kiss you?" He ducked his lips and pretended he was about to kiss me, so I moved backward.

He chuckled upon seeing my blushed cheeks. Uh.

"But seriously, this is what I will do."

He crossed the distance between us and lowered himself to face me. I automatically closed my eyes upon feeling his lips on my forehead.

His mint breath lingered throughout my body as he whispered, "Wanna skip the ball with me?"

"What?" I asked when my heartbeat recovered a little from his presence. "What made up lies would we tell them?"

"We elope?"

I choked. "Really?"

"Why not?" he grinned.

I frowned to myself.

"But Zack," I bit my lower lip.

"Why are you biting your lips? Are you seducing me?" He teased.

"Eh," I inched my brows. "Just wondering," I hesitated.

I was about to ask, Is there any way I could stop you from leaving? Do you really need to leave?

But instead, I told him to look at the skies. It was a clear blue sky after it poured cats and dogs a while ago.

"What is it?"

"Let us continue to stare at the same sky until we finally both see the same star again," I said, leaving a peak on his cheeks.