Ephemeral

Flutter

Throughout the course of one month, Yvonne and Austell's relationship goes smoothly. They now recognize each other as close friends-- they tease each other a lot, they joke with each other, they commend each other, and most of all, they feel content with each other. Yvonne now also has new friends from his reconnection with playing basketball. Due to his natural talent of the said sport, he garners friends easily around his age. Yvonne simply enjoys his new life slowly.

The main source of his enjoyment is now sitting in front of him, frowning because of his inattention.

"If you are just going to daydream all day long, studying your lessons would be a futile thing to do. How can you enroll to University if you have the attention span of a fish? Seriously though, you should make an effort to learn. Let me tell you this Mister Hotshot-- learning is fun. Not because you have to master it as a means to an end, but rather the whole process itself is the fun thing. You get to appreciate things which goes beyond aesthetics. You get to unveil things that are unrecognizable if you do look closely. You can even see through the disguise of many things trying to hide beneath its alluring facade. Isn't it great?" Austell is smiling when saying those words of encouragement.

Yvonne on the other hand, is just staring at him with fondness in his eyes.

"Okay, next time I will concentrate but now, I feel so tired. Can we take a break though?" Yvonne pouts at Austell.

"It will not work, Mr. Casanova. But because I want some fries and sundae, how about I reintroduce you to mainstream fast-food chains. Like... McDonald's! Yes, that's it! We will go to McDonald's. After that, we will go to the City Library for a change of scenery. Is that okay? Well actually, I am not asking for your opinion. Come on! Stand up! We have to be fast." Austell proceeds to arrange their things before literally dragging Yvonne outside.

When they arrive at McDonald's, there is somehow lesser amount of people compared to its usual days of business. They easily fall in line. They have ordered a large size of fries, two sundaes, two plates of spaghetti, and a pair of hamburger. They also add two Mcfreeze as their drinks.

Austell is quite excited to eat here in McDonald's since not only he gets to satisfy his cravings, he also gets to spend his time with Yvonne. For a month now, his tutorial lessons with the other teenager, seem to be the highlight of his week. He finds Yvonne so funny and so easy to be with. They connect with each other like it is just natural for them to do so. Their conversations flow smoothly like they have been doing these for so many years now. It is like they are just reenacting those days of their childhood. And every time they look at each other, there is that tingling sensation that the both of them seems to feel, but has never been addressed. Based on Yvonne's subtle glances, Austell knows that he is not the only one imagining it.

"You have to try this." Yvonne dips his fries in the ketchup and in the sundae. Austell is weirded out by this. "You are one weird creature, Yvonne."

Yvonne disregards the comment. He just keeps on munching the fries and burger simultaneously that even the remains of the ketchup and the sundae are painting his lips with both combined substances.

"A messy eater too." Austell decides to help him. The smaller teenager tries to wipe the mess on Yvonne's whole lips. But before the hand of Austell could land on the messy eater's lips, the said teenager bites a finger gently and sucks on it as if there is a ketchup on the said finger. He then winks at the smaller boy and proceeds to eat the remaining fries like the whole biting thing did not happen.

Austell, on the other hand, is feeling something he should never feel. His heart is beating so fast as if he is running while the devil is behind him. The way Yvonne's dorky grin gives him a sensation of a million butterflies inside his stomach. Austell, for the second time, is afraid to address such feeling. He does not want to subject himself into something that would lead to misery. He does not want to repeat the pain of not being  enough. He does not want to hope again. And most of all, he does not want to experience the longing he have had while enduring the agony of waiting. He is too weak now to inflict himself another pain he knows too well.

"You are such a dork. Can you please hurry up? I want to read some old novels." Austell feigns his irritation while Yvonne finishes the last piece of his hamburger. Then he gives Austell his charming smile. "Love you too. Come on let's go."

The two teenagers are now in the City Library. Yvonne is reading about Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban with a look of concentration. Though he is not particularly fond of reading, the theme of the story is drawing him as if it calls for him. Austell, on the other hand, is reading the The Time Keeper by Mitch Albom. Austell is surprised when Yvonne picked the book. Secretly, he smiles at the action since Harry Potter is one of his all time favorites, particularly The Prisoner Of Azkaban.

"I particularly like the part where Hermione and Harry goes back in time to correct some error. And I also like the part where Professor Dumbledore throws them a knowing wink. It is just so epic, right?" Austell cannot stop himself from ranting due to his love for Harry Potter.

"Uhm. I'm only in the first five pages. You know that right? We only just arrived."  Yvonne exclaims in a teasing tone. As a result, Austell becomes embarrassed.

"Oh sorry. I get easily excited when my favorite books are being read. I want to talk to it with someone who equally loves such stories. You know what? I will just read to you that book."

And that's what they did for the whole afternoon. Austell reading the book while Yvonne, as usual, is just staring at him fondly with a smile that speaks of the beginning of the emergence of the buried affection.