"See You Someday" (END)

"Sorry. I already have a prom date," I told Johann. I actually felt bad rejecting my best pal, but Justin asked me first, plus, I dreamed to be his prom date since I got a crush on him.

"Who? Who's your prom date-" Johann was about to ask me, but it seemed like he analyzed the situation, "It must be Justin…"

"Yes, you're right. Sorry, Johann" I said, and all I could do at that time was to pat his shoulder. "He asked me a while ago."

"Ugh, if only I didn't make you mad…"

"Go ask Hammy or Katie, then!" I said with enthusiasm, and he just nodded.

"Goodnight, Buns."

"Hmm, goodnight!"

x x x x x x x x x x x x x x

The days went by and Justin and I became even closer. But I noticed that Johann had become quieter than usual.

Was it because I rejected him about the prom?

I tried asking if he was mad at me, but he just kept on saying, "I'm okay, Buns… Just a little headache."

I didn't believe him. Something might have happened, and maybe because I got so close with Justin, he refused to tell me about something sad or disappointing.

I also asked him if it was related to his mom, and I also asked him why his dad didn't return with him from England.

He never answered my questions properly.

And I regretted that I gave up on him halfway.

Soon after, the prom event came. Hammy and Katie both wore A-line gowns, but they had different colors of red and blue, respectively. I wore a black, elegant ball gown and tied my hair into a high bun.

When I arrived at the school's hall, I was given a bouquet of roses by Justin, "You look stunning, Zurich," he said with a smile, "I thought you were a model."

I just laughed it off because I knew he didn't mean it.

We walked inside the hall to find our assigned seats, and when the program started, I noticed that Johann wasn't around.

'Maybe he didn't want to attend… It must be his usual lazy thing…' I thought, because during those times, Johann was occasionally absent and he always slept when he was in class.

The moment that we walked in the middle of the dance floor, I felt like I was dreaming. I stared at my handsome partner. Justin looked great with his neatly combed hair and a brown tuxedo.

Justin was my dream guy, and my attention was fixed on him that whole night. I was so happy that I thought that even though I hadn't confessed to Justin yet, I could just stay by his side forever, even just as a friend.

I thought it would be a perfect night,

But the happiness that I felt did not last.

"Zurich!" After the event, Hammy called onto me in a rush, "It's an emergency!"

"Calm down… what happened?"

"Johann… Johann collapsed, and he's in the hospital right now!"

I panicked, and all the happiness I felt that night felt like it went down the drain. Justin assisted me and got me into his father's car, and together with Katie and Hammy, we rushed to the hospital in our formal outfit. I got so worried that I even forgot that I wore high heels. Even if my feet felt sore and I already had blisters, I didn't care.

When we reached the private room for him, I saw my parents sitting down on the couch near him. When I asked them what happened, they said that we needed to wait for the doctor. They wanted the doctor to tell me, even though it seemed like they knew something about it.

I glanced at Johann who was lying on the bed, unconscious. Back then, I wondered what could have happened to my best friend.

Did he skip his meals again? Did he not have a proper sleep? Did he stress himself about his family's situation?

And why were his parents not with him?

The doctor finally arrived, holding some papers in his hands. "Excuse me, where are his parents?"

"They're abroad," Dad said, "We're Johann's neighbor, and we were asked to look after their house."

The doctor hesitated to tell us about his condition, "This is a serious matter, so I need to talk to his parents."

Then Hammy asked, "What happened to him, doc?"

"Can you please tell us?" Katie added. "We're very worried about our friend."

"I'll make a call to England to tell his parents," Mom said, and she went out of the room.

"You can explain to the kids, doc," Dad tried to convince the doctor.

"Johann… has medulloblastoma, a cancerous brain tumor. According to his medical records, when he discovered it a year ago, there were already tumors in his spine… So, it's already too late for treatment."

The moment that the doctor said that, we were all shocked… except my dad.

"Dad, you knew?" I asked him as my tears fell.

He nodded, saying, "It's the reason why… I told you to be his girlfriend. I was the one who went with Johann at the hospital before."

My friends were surprised when they heard my dad say it.

"You… You are Johann's girlfriend?" Hammy asked. "Since when?"

"Uhh… I was his girlfriend when we were third years. He went abroad and lost communication with him, but when he returned, we decided to break up."

"But… you looked like you're enjoying each other's company, so why did you break up with Johann?" Katie asked.

I clenched my fists, angry about myself. I broke up with Johann because of my feelings for Justin, and I didn't know he was in a terrible condition. If I knew, I would have appreciated him more.

But I only thought about myself.

"Ugh… My head hurts," When I looked back, Johann woke up, and he uttered, "Hey… Why are you all here?"

"Johann!" I cried desperately, "I'm glad you're awake… How are you feeling?"

"I'm still a bit dizzy…"

I said while looking at his pitiful state, "Mom is calling your parents on the phone."

"Don't… Don't call them..."

"But why?"

"They didn't know… about my illness. I already knew about it since we were in third year, and I asked your father to keep it a secret. You see, I wanted to spend some time with mom in England, and when dad came with me abroad, I thought that they're going to get back together… but I was wrong. I only worsened the situation."

That was the reason why he decided to go back alone. He shared to us that his parents had completely divorced, and both of them already had their own families in England. He said that didn't want to burden them because of his illness, and that he wanted to spend the rest of his life in his hometown.

"Why didn't you tell me, Johann…?" I asked him as my tears fell from my cheeks. "I'm your bestfriend-"

"I don't want you to pity me… I don't want to hear you say something that you don't mean just because I'm sick," Johann forced a smile on his face, "Ugh… This is so uncool… I want you to only see my good sides, Buns."

I furrowed my eyebrows. I couldn't believe that he would say such things to me.

Johann suddenly said, "Justin, do me a favor, please."

Justin approached him as soon as he heard it, "Sure, what is it?"

"You should… take care of Zurich. I love her so much but I failed to make her happy, so please give her the happiness that only you can give. I... I already did my best."

It was the first time I heard him say that he loved me.

"Johann… Why are you saying that kind of thing? It will seem like you'll die soon," I held his hands, "Please don't spout such nonsense…"

"Sorry, Buns… I'm at my limit," he said, and he moved his hand to my cheek. As he stared into my eyes, he uttered,

"See you… someday."

And then, he closed his eyes.

He said those three words again. But that time, we all knew that he had no intention to return.

'Please wake me up from this nightmare,' I told myself over and over.

But I knew that I had to face reality sooner or later.

It was so hard to suppress my emotions, especially when I realized that all those times, he only wanted to be with me because he was about to die.

But I only thought about my own happiness, so now, I had the greatest regret.

I was so used to being with him ever since we were kids.

I was used to him fetching me from home, walking side by side to school, and going home together.

I was used to hearing him tease me, and then I would playfully hit his shoulder.

I was used to his happy voice when he kept on calling me by my nickname,

"Buns!"

…but now, I could no longer hear it from him.

x x x x x x x x x x x x x x

Most people learn from their experiences. It's true. I, Zurich Christein, learned something very important in my life from the past. Through that bitter experience, I learned to value the people around me.

I took him for granted, and even though I regretted my selfish decisions…

… everything's too late.

x x x x x x x x x x x x x x

(END)