Promises

Chapter 1.1

December 27

"Man, how long have I been up?" 

The sound of tapping on the keyboard seized and a yawn and grunt were heard. The sound of a chair being dragged across the floorboard and the creaking of wood under each footstep slowly subsided as Marco reached the window. As he drew the curtains, he noticed the light in the houses opposite him were still out, except for his.

"Guess not for long..." He mumbled and turned his head to his left. "Never mind" Marco added consciously, curling one corner of his lips down. 

In view was his bedside table. Sitting on top of it was a ticking blue analogue clock with two black horns at each side of its head. On its face, it showed half past five. As it kept ticking, Marco let out a sigh and looked out his window again; this time stretching his hands up and arching his back slightly.

Despite how long he stayed up, he didn't feel tired. He turned around and began walking over to his bed.

"Well, might as well experience the sunrise..." He thought as he grabbed and put on his red jacket before heading out of his room. 

He quietly made his way to the stairs, trying not to wake up his family next door. Once he got out of the house, he quietly closed the front door behind him. He took in a deep breath, realising he had been holding it.

He rarely snuck out of the house, especially since the last time he did, he was almost caught on his way back by his next door neighbour. That made him weary of sneaking out again. 

But funny enough, not only is he sneaking out after so long, it's his first at this timing. After spending almost the whole day staring at a screen, thinking and planning, he definitely needed a spontaneous end to the year. He turned around and looked to the right side of his gate. He smiled widely and walked over. 

"Hey Nacho, it's been awhile since we rode," Marco looked down at his bike before picking up the helmet on the handlebar. "Since it's going to be the end of the year, how about we start off with a quick one hmm?" Marco whispered again as he put on his helmet and gently kicked the stand up.

He walked the bike out and quietly closed the gate, before taking a left. He glanced around him then hopped onto his bike and paddled forward, beginning his little adventure.

The wind was cold, and the neighbourhood was quiet and peaceful. Marco kept paddling with a smile on his face, enjoying this bliss with the wind brushed against his cheeks. He started to look at his surroundings. He passed a playground and noticed there was a garden behind it.

"Quite glad they finished it. The children can finally play there, ever since it was closed a few months ago." 

He looked forward and spotted a school coming up. 

"Echo Creek Academy...So glad I will be leaving soon." Marco thought, cycling slowly past the school's entrance. He broke his stare and picked up the speed.

He came to a stop at a traffic light and propped his leg on the pavement, to balance himself. He looked to his sides, front and behind him. There was no one within sight.

"Okay..  just this one time." Marco muttered, looking ahead.

He sat back onto his bike and hastily paddled forward, with the red man signal still up. Right as he crossed the road, he kept making quick glances behind him and with every glance, his paddling quickened. After all, he is the "safe kid" of Echo Creek.

He came to a stop at the top of an empty winding road. He looked over and smiled. The waves were gently rocking against the seashore, with a full moon reflecting onto it, in front of a wooden pier.

A reappearing bright light caught Marco's attention and he looked over to his left. A lighthouse was situated at the top of a cliff, beside the ocean, emitting the bright white light. He breathed in the ocean air and exhaled deeply before paddling down the road.  

As Marco reached the coast, he stopped at the pier. It was fenced in at the front and sides with railings and seats. He got off his bike and kicked the stand down, letting it lean closely to the wooden railing. He took off his helmet and hung it on the handlebar before messing with his hair a little; Not like it helped.  

He turned his attention to the pier and a slight fog started to appear around him. He shrugged it off, stuffing his hands in his jacket's pockets, and walked towards it. A few steps in and he immediately stopped in his footsteps. 

As the light from the lighthouse appeared and disappeared above, he squinted his eyes and then it widened; There was someone at the other end of the pier. 

"No one usually comes here at this hour." Marco thought as he started walking up to them. The sun started to rise, and the fog started to lift. Marco stopped himself again. 

"It's a girl." Marco thought as he held his stare at her. 

She had long yellow hair that extended to her waist and was wearing a white dress that reached her ankles. She was facing the ocean, with her arms resting on the wooden railing, letting her hair and dress flow calmly against the ocean wind.

Marco stared intently, awestruck, till a strong wind blew towards him, causing him to stumble back. He managed to catch himself, but at the cost of emitting a screech from his shoes against the wooden board.

"Shit!" Marco cussed under his breath before looking over to the girl, who now had her head raised. 

He immediately looked down and got onto his feet. He glanced over and noticed she didn't turn around. Instead, she was holding the handrail with both hands and pressing herself against it. He let out a sigh and cleared his throat.

"Um, Hi. I didn't know anyone would be here." 

The girl began to hug herself. 

"Neither did I. Did you follow me here?" She asked suspiciously, looking over her shoulder.

"Uh..N-..No!.. I just arrived on my bike and saw you were here..." Marco began to rub the back of his neck, realising his stutter. 

"Really? A guy decided to get on his bike and cycle at what, 5am to a pier, which is pretty secluded by the way, and noticed a girl at the end of it and somehow stuttered at a stalker's question. Do you really think I can believe that story?" She questioned mockingly.

"What the? Why won't she believe me? I mean, it is rare and odd to be in such an awkward situation. Not surprised she would think that way" Marco thought, staring at her bewildered. 

"I really meant what I said. My bike is at the other end and I was walking and saw that you were here and- "

The girl swiftly turned around, cutting Marco off mid-sentence. She had her arms crossed with her brows knitted closer together and a corner of her lips turned down. They both stood in silence, staring with different expressions, till she started walking up to him. 

Marco widened his eyes and took a step back, watching her march over as her displeased expression got closer.

They were now chest to chest; except she had her chin held up while he had to look down at her. Her blue eyes bored into him, making Marco blinked owlishly and looked away. 

"Hm?!" She hummed loudly as she stood on her tiptoes and started leaning forward. He quickly looked back and started leaning away from her, only to have his back hit the floorboard of the pier.

Marco groaned in pain with his eyes tightly shut, but immediately opened them. The girl had now bent over, letting her hair fall to her sides, glaring down at him. Marco let out a sheepish chuckle, making her pout her lips and furrowed her eyebrows deeper. 

"HENTAI!" she shouted, before standing up straight and running off, leaving Marco laying there, staring at the sky dumbfounded.