withering petals

01

I was staring at the window with coffee in my hand. Enjoying the view outside this coffee shop until my best friend asked me.

"Are you sick?" Ysabelle abruptly asked. I was startled by her question. I couldn't speak as if my lips were glued together until she broke the silence.

"Never mind , it was absurd and quite out of the blue for me to ask you that-" she said.

"n-no, it's okay. And yes I'm sick..." I quietly said after I interrupted her. She became silent.

"Hanahaki disease, that's what they called it." I softly said as I chuckled ruefully. and looked upon the window again. staring at the people passing by.

"Hanahaki is a rare disease in which a person coughs up flower petals when they suffer from a one-sided love." I said.

She looked at me as if I answered the question on her mind that was bugging her to ask me. Her facial expression was a mixture of gloom and sympathy.

"I'm sorry i asked you that, I didn't know..." Ysabelle said barely audible for me to hear.

"It's alright, was time for me to tell you anyway." I said as I let out a small smile. I was assuring her that it was okay for her to know.

•••

A soft sunlight drifts through the window of my room. Snuggling myself deeper into my blankets. I glazed upon my clock, it was already 6am. I stretched myself to gain more consciousness from my sleep. It's the first day I'll attend in Maxon University again. I thought to myself. I lazily brought myself up to prepare myself to bath.

Suddenly, I had the urge to throw up. I saw my sink full of flower petals. my eyes were drip with tears as I thought if I ever deserve to be sick with this kind of absurd disease. I forced some petals out of my throat for me to be able to breathe clearly. I couldn't afford myself to attempt to get rid of this troublesome illness. Even if it means to get rid of the pain and hardships I have because of him. I can't imagine myself being void of emotions for my entire lifetime.

I tried to pick out what clothes I should wear to forget about what happened earlier, I decided to wear my casual cotton fitted blue shirt that is tucked in my mom jeans and paired it up with my white shoes that I recently bought from the mall when I was hanging out with Ysabelle.

I grabbed my essentials, and hurriedly went to the bathroom. After bathing myself I put on a light makeup just to bring out some color to my dull and pale face. I got down stairs and went to the kitchen to prepare some breakfast.

Suddenly, the doorbell rang. I immediately went to the door and answered it. It was Ysabelle, I then remembered she said she was going to my house before we go to the university.

"HI, GOOD MORNING KAMARIA!" Ysabelle shouted upon entering my house while I covered my ear, trying to block her loud voice. We then went to the dining room , "What are you loud for?". I jokingly asked her while I walked towards the kitchen, preparing to cook some breakfast for the two of us. She then sat on the chair watching me cook our food.

Her smile never left her face better yet to say it became bigger. "It's our first day in university, of course I'm excited!" she happily said. I laughed at her silliness. I remembered that I'll get to see him again. I was dazed at the sudden thought that came through my head. I was snapped back to reality when Ysabelle waved her hand in front of me.

"Hello, earth to Kamaria." she said while waving her hand in front of my face. "o-oh, I'm sorry a thought came in my head." I said while I was putting our food on the table. She then looked at me as if she knew what

I was thinking. "You were thinking about him are you?" she curiously asked. "W-what? No!" I nervously answered her back. She looked at me with the kind of look that says "I don't believe you". "Well okay yes, I thought about him but not that much" I blabbered getting my things that I need in Maxon University.

"Are you okay with him being around the same university as you?" She asked looking concerned as we walk out of my home. "It's alright, I can manage to cope up with it" I said and gave her a small smile. Suddenly, a familiar figure walked out of the house across the street. "It's Lucas..." Ysabelle said in an audible voice that only I can hear.

He ran towards us as he waves is hand right and left, I felt ambivalent but nevertheless, I gave him a smile. I stared at his features, his eyes that stare back at me were soft light brown that you could easily get lost in , his skin was tan, his hair were in the shade of brown and as silky and smooth as a cotton, and his figure was tall and slim. He is the kind of guy every girl could ever dream of.

"Hey guys!" Lucas cheerfully said. He was always this jolly when we were young. "Oh hey, Lucas." Ysabelle said with a smile on her face. He looked at me waiting for me to greet him. "Hey Lucas, I haven't seen you in a while." I said as I chuckled softly.

"Mind if I accompany you girls in going to Maxon University?" he asked with a questioning look on his face, Ysabelle looked at me for a response as if her eyes asked me if I'm okay with it. "Sure, why not?" I said to him. "Great! Let's go!" he happily said. We started to walk to the bus stop and patiently waited for the bus to arrive.