Inspired by a true story. The story of what if. What if we didn't deny our feelings? What if we were brave enough?
Arrie: I can see the longing in his eyes just as much as my heart aches for him.
Nathaniel: She's so close but felt so far. Is there...
The results just came out. I am still in disbelief. I got into a prestigious school in the city. Me?? I did?? I'm just a village girl and I didn't even study for the exam. I don't wanna move away from my bestfriends and stay far from my family.
I flopped onto my bed. Did everyone lied to me? I couldn't possibly have passed and tommorow's gonna be the worst. Why does my cousin have to get married now?! Now I gotta meet everyone in my extended family and they'd be asking a whole lot of questions. I hate this. I hate talking to people. I don't even wanna show up.
But how will my life be like in that school? I heard its strict with the students and I have to stay at the school's hostel. Do I really have to live in a hostel? Oh god I don't wanna go...
The next day
"Hey Arrie, come over here. I heard you got in! Congratulations, what are you gonna do now?" here comes one of my nosy aunts.
"Everyone! This is my niece and she just got into the city school!" and that's how everyone in the ENTIRE FAMILY knew about me. I'm so embarrassed. I just wanna go hide and not see anyone ever again. Even my most distant cousin knew about it.
Little did I know, the thing that I hated the most, which is being the centre of attention will lead me to the person that will change my life and perception about life.
New years eve the next month
As usual our family hosted an annual new year's eve party. This year it was at my eldest aunt's house, we called her Aunt Reese (the mother of my cousin that just got married). It is the most festive event of the year but this year seems like the most festive ever. Around a hundred of our relatives came; from my aunts and uncles, their children and their children's children (there were so many because my mom had 12 siblings including herself). There were water slides with pools, lamb, chicken and seafood barbecue and various delicious foods as well as activities for all of us to enjoy. The adults would play some games and have lucky draws. The children flock to the water slides and bouncers.
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As a kid the water slide is our obvious target. Me, my older sister Jenna and my cousins changed clothes and jumped right in right as the sun started to set. It was definitely a blast! Good food, good people, good company, great fun! For awhile, I managed to get the attention of getting into the City school away from me.
Around 10 pm my life started to change. They came to the party. The kids of my mom's cousins. They lived right across the street from Aunt Reese's house and they were close with her children. Honestly, they look very intimidating, not so friendly looking. I've never talked to them before and it seems like the don't wanna talk to others too. They joined us on the water slides but I guess we were just kids so we let them play along but we DEFINITELY didn't interact.
As the hours went by, it's already 2 am. Time really flies when you're having so much fun but the fun have to end sometime. Since its already so late, people also started to leave. Now there's only 3 people left on the slides. Me, my sister Jenna, and him. Now that I look back, it was kinda weird that he decided to stay while his family went back home hours ago.
Who is he? Honestly I didn't know but all I know is he's always there with his siblings and cousins playing around during every family function. I decided to just continue playing and not be bothered by him. I slid down the slide.
* splash! * That was a refreshing dip in the pool. Suddenly a boy's voice echoed behind me.
"Arrie...?"
I turned around. It's him! He's sitting in front of the stairs up the slides but why is he calling me? Wait, he knows my name and who I am? I looked around and there's nobody else there but us. He looked at me shyly and pat the space infront of him. So I swan closer to him and lie down on my sides. I didn't know why I did that. Oh god what am I doing?
"So... I heard you got in?"
I just calmly nodded.
"so how's your new school's like?" Uhh... I haven't got in yet??? I start next year.
"it's okay so far" Wait, why am I lying??
"so, is studying there hard?"
"it's okay I guess"
We both fell into a deep silence. It's strange. I feel at ease and comfy despite speaking with a stranger. Soon after I realised there was a full moon out that night. As I turned my head to the sky, droplets of rain started to touch my face gently. I turned to look at him. The moonlight shone on his face and that was the first time I saw him so relaxed that night. His small smile was gentle. His eyes looked soft and comforting gazing up at the sky. He's no longer that intimidating stoic boy I always see him as. I felt calm and at peace around him.
Something inside of me started to change. A void I never knew existed was filled with something. Something strange I've never felt before. Our eyes met and I felt suffocated, my heart started beating fast like never before. He smiled and I felt warm and cold at the same time. Just about he was to talk
"Arrie!!!!" I closed my eyes as my almost perfect moment got ruined by my own sister.
"COME INSIDE !!! IT'S RAINING YOU'RE GONNA GET SICK!!"
with heavy heart I stood up and walked towards the door. As Im about to enter the house, I stopped and turned to look for him. I wanted to at least wave goodbye. Then I saw him walking back towards his house. His steps looked heavy and I think he was disappointed. Guess we felt the same. He turned around and we both stared at each other and as if the time stood still we fell into our own world. A world with just only the two of us.
