Chapter 29: Chapter 29

Aliyah's POV

A week ago.

Lewis and I have always been together for a week. I carefully considered his request… and I’ve decided to grant it. Not because my feelings for him have returned, but because I wanted him to become happy for the remaining days of his life.

Ruzzel and I rarely get along but the communication between us is still constant. The last time, he said that he was jealous of Lewis but I tried explaining everything to him. Even though I hate explaining, I did it for him. Just for his sake. Just for him to shut his big mouth.

Just a while ago, I decided to send him a text message.

‘Let us meet at the park. Seven o’clock in the evening. Do not be late even just a single second or else I will punch you.’

How sweet right? So if you have gotten the news that someone punches Ruzzel on his face, you know who to blame.

I did not wait for his reply. I turned off my phone. I know he will be overreacting again the moment he knows that I wanna meet him. He will be happy as hell for sure.

I came back to the present scenario when Lewis patted my shoulder. He is asking if there is something wrong and I just shook my head as an answer.

Lewis is telling a lot of stuff right from the moment we have met this afternoon. I am just nodding in everything he tells. I am trying not to build an argument with him. I know his remaining days are so precious and he treasures every single second of his life a lot.

In advance, I already told Lewis that I will be leaving an hour before Ruzzel and I was about to meet. I expected a yes from him as an answer but he just utters another request.

“Let us go to the market. I want to cook our favorite dish. ”

I have formulated in my mind the different kinds of excuses that I will tell. I tried telling the first excuse, but I just failed.

I looked in the opposite direction then rolled my eyes. Just be patient Aliyah. Yes, a little more patient. Do not hurt nor tell any foul words to Lewis. Just don’t.

“Okay, but after we buy everything that you need, I will go separately to fill my schedule .”

He didn’t answer.

I sighed. Okay, come what may. I am already in this kind of situation so better just deal with it.

I drove fast as I could. We are now heading to the supermarket.

Lewis bought all the ingredients. I am just following him.

I looked at my wristwatch. Thirty minutes left before seven in the evening. I should be heading now to the park.

After we are done buying everything Lewis needed, I drove fast going to his place.

When we got there I quickly bid my goodbye but Lewis is not participating. He asked for few more hours. He will cook. We will eat together. And after that, that is the only time that I could go.

Deep inside my being, I was so frustrated. Frustrated that I am spending some more time with Lewis than Ruzzel.

I went straight to Lewis's kitchen. I hurriedly looked for some cold water then drink almost half of the pitcher. I asked Lewis to cook fast as he could. I sat on the kitchen counter. I planned to text Ruzzel but the battery of my phone is drained already. How pathetic Aliyah, got drained without even noticing it. And because I was so unlucky on this specific day, my charger was left home. How will I charge my phone when everything around me is not cooperating?

Right?

No to avail.

Borrowed anything from Lewis? A charger? A phone? No thanks, it is not in my character to borrow things.

I am not borrowing something from someone else.

I just decided to lean my head on the table. Watching Lewis while preparing and cooking is kinda boring.

I should rest my mind this time. I am so stressed out since this afternoon and my brain cells need to breathe.

Several moments later, I have not realized that I have already fallen asleep. Lewis woke me up and tell that the dinner is ready.

I eat quietly and hurriedly.

I looked at my watch and it's already nine-thirty in the evening. Yes, I know right, two and a half hours late.

I am two and a half hours late and I wonder why if Ruzzel stayed or just went home.

I said goodbye the moment I finished my meal. Lewis offered me a ride but I refuse his offer.

I drove fast while heading to the park.

When I got there, I immediately looked for Ruzzel but unfortunately, he was not there.

The frustration I felt earlier got doubled up.

I am the one who commanded him not to be late and look at me now, hours late.

Maybe it is just fair that he did not stay and wait for me. I know it is my fault.

A fault that leads to hurt. Maybe it is wrong that I assumed this much. Assumed that he will wait for me no matter what.

I just decided to went home.

Just right upon opening the door, there I found Ruzzel who is sleeping on the couch while holding his phone.

Time check: thirty minutes before midnight. Is he sleeping this early?

“R-ruzzel...”

I tried to wake him up but it seems that he is sleeping oh so tight.

Oh and I admit, just by seeing his face, all the frustration I felt earlier suddenly gone with the wind.

I walked closer to him. I choose to sit on the carpet. I took a closer look into his face.

I can’t help but pinch his nose. That made him wake up.

"What are you doing here Ruzzel?" I asked.

“I was so worried about you Aliyah! I’ve waited at the park but you didn’t come... I tried calling you but your number was unattended. I went to Joana but she can’t either contact you. I went to the hideout but they just bullied me, in the end, they mentioned that you were not there. I even asked for the help of the policemen but they did not entertain my report because you were just a few hours gone. You don’t know how much I felt worried for you.”

He explained. His entire explanation made me smile. I thought he will be angry with me for not showing up oh well, I came to the park, but it was too late.

“Am I that crazy Aliyah that is why you are smiling? I am sorry.”

My smile becomes even wider. I am not fond of telling my feelings and so the smile is the only thing I can give to Ruzzel. He is like an innocent child for misunderstanding the smile I just did.

“You are not crazy. Go home Ruzzel, have some rest.”

“Supposedly, we are having our date tonight right? Can I ask you a favor?”

“What?”

“Let us have a date. It's not too late for everything. And besides, I have not taken yet a dinner.”

He was not eating his dinner yet while I ate with Lewis.

"Follow me, I will prepare some dinner."

Maybe it is the last thing I can do for him, to grant his request and made him some dinner.

I cooked a simple dish. I decided that we will be eating on the rooftop. Good thing there is a lot of stars tonight, this is one thing that I love to do, eating while stargazing.

“Aliyah, why you did not come to the park? Are you just trying to say some joke when you said you wanted to meet me?”

I looked at his eyes. He is so serious. I shook my head.

“I am sorry Ruzzel. Something came up that is why I didn’t show up.”

“It is about Lewis, right?”

I felt pain in his question. And I just could not answer him. I know it will double the pain if I admit that yes, it's about Lewis.

“A-aliyah.”

He stopped for a while. He let go of the spoon he was holding and focused his eyes on his plate.

“I- I love you so much. I love you so much Aliyah to the extent that I am already badly hurt from what is going on between us. Please...p-p-please just be honest if I have to stop loving you already. The pain that I am feeling right now is killing me… I am sorry for saying all of these. You are my girlfriend but it seems that your commitment, time, and attention were tied to Lewis and not on me.”

Hearing those words from Ruzzel makes me so numb. I wanted to cry, I wanted to hug him tight, I wanted to explain everything but I just can’t. I hate it! I just can’t!

Ruzzel suddenly stood up.

He fake a smile.

“Are you done eating yet?” he asked as if nothing just happened.

I nodded as an answer.

He fixed all the plates. He went inside our house. I followed him. We are both quiet. He is now washing the dishes.

A few minutes after, he said he will go home.

Again, I nodded as an answer.

I hate myself. I hate it for a lot of reasons.

Ruzzel turned his back on me. Seeing his face just right before he turned his back made me sick.

Sadness was drawn on his face.

Just right before he took his final step on the door, I managed to speak.

“I--I miss you Ruzzel. I wanna see you because I missed you. That is the reason why I wanted us to meet.”

Ruzzel immediately run our distance and hugged me tightly. So tight that I find it hard to breathe.

“I miss you too,” he whispered.

And that was the time that I hugged him back.

Being in his arms feels like it’s the safest place in the world.