Chapter 25 To Him For Her

Chapter 25 To Him For Her

I rang the doorbell, waiting eagerly for her to answer the door.

Ding~ Dong~

Then she immediately opened the door.

"Dad!" She loudly said with wide eyes opened

"You thought it was your Dad, but it's me! Justin!" I said while pointing my thumb to myself.

"Hahaha, sorry, it's me again."

"Ah, hahaha. Oh, it's you, Justin. What's up?" She frowned and I can see the glint of dissappointment. 

  "Im sorry its just me." I tell to myself

"Y-yeah, my mom wants you to invite me to our barbeque party. My parents want to invite your parents too, but since they have not returned yet, maybe you could join us, and you're alone here." 

She replied while scratching her head. "Thank you so much for inviting Justin, but it's okay for me to be alone and have food here. I'll just wait for my parents to come home."

I laugh hollowly. "Hahaha, Is that so? Okay, I understand; I'll just tell Mom."

Then their phone rang, and it looked like someone was calling. "Wait a minute Justin," and she answered the phone.

aaaaaaaaaaaa Why am I sulking? She turned down the invitation, and it was her decision. Isn't it enough that I've been with her all day now? I thought I already contended for today. I hate myself for being like this, and I'm getting overboard.

"Okay, Mom." and she put down the phone.

"What is that?" I asked. 

Then she frowned for a second and replied to me. "Ah, Justin, hahaha, I'm taking back what I've said. I'm gonna accept your invitation now."

"Really?! That's great, then! HAHAHAHAHA" At that moment I can't really contain my happiness.

Wait, I'm getting overly excited. Calm down, Justin.

I led her into our house, feeling relieved that she had changed her mind about coming to the party. "We're here, Mom!" I announced as we walked into the living room.

"Good evening, Mrs. Esca. Thanks for having me here," she greeted my mom politely.

"My pleasure, dear. We're happy to have you join us for the barbecue party. Don't worry. I've already contacted your parents to let them know you'll be staying with us tonight," my mom replied, smiling warmly.

Wait, what? She's staying here tonight? The thought made my heart race excitedly, but I tried to act casual.

"Yeah, my mom told me I should stay here tonight. Thank you, and sorry for bothering all of you," she said, her voice tinged with gratitude and regret.

"Not a problem at all. You're always welcome here," my mom reassured her before leading us to the backyard.

As we stepped outside, the cozy feeling of the backyard engulfed us. Hanging lights like pennant banners illuminated the area, casting a warm glow over everything. The aroma of the barbecue was tantalizing, and I could feel the heat from the grill on my skin.

"Let's go to the backyard. I already sparked the flame for our griller," my mom said, leading the way.

We followed her to the backyard, where several chairs surrounded the bonfire. The sight was warm and aesthetic, and I couldn't help but feel grateful for the moment's beauty.

My crush and I sat on the chairs, and she was beside me. As my mom prepared the barbecue, she marinated the meat and brushed it with sauce, the sizzling sound of the grill filling the air.

Suddenly, someone patted our heads.

"HELLO, CHILDREN!!!" It is my Dad.

Suddenly, my crush stood up and quickly backed away from my Dad. She glared at him with bulging eyes, her nostrils dilated, her teeth bared, and her whole body pale and trembling.

"D-did I scare you?? I'm so sorry," my Dad said while his hands were in the air, his face filled with concern.

She closed her eyes, placed her hands on her chest, and then inhaled and exhaled slowly. "No, it's not your fault," she replied, her voice shaking. "I'm sorry, I just had a bad experience with someone sneaking up on me like that."

My Dad looked remorseful. "I had no idea. I'm really sorry about that. I'll make sure to be more careful next time."

The beautiful girl nodded, still looking shaken. "Thank you," she said before turning to me. "I'm okay, don't worry."

I could see the fear still lingering in her eyes, and it made me feel protective. "Are you sure you're okay?" I asked, placing a hand on her shoulder.

She smiled weakly at me. "Yes, I'm okay now. Thanks for asking."

My mom intervened, grabbing my Dad by the arm and scolding him. "That was not okay, George," she said, shaking her head. "You need to be more considerate of other people's boundaries."

The tense air from earlier slowly dissipated as my mom started to grill the barbeques. The savory aroma and sweet smoke filled the backyard, making my stomach growl with hunger.

"OKAY! Everyone, let's go to the table," my mom said as she began to put the barbeques on the table.

I invited my crush. "Let's go?"

"Mhm"

We sat at the table, and she was beside me again.

"THANKS FOR THE FOOD!" I exclaimed, my mouth watering at the sight of the juicy barbeque.

As we ate, I savored the tenderness of the meat, relishing in the smoky flavor that danced on my tongue. The aroma of grilled meat and spices filled the air, making my stomach grumble in anticipation of more.

While I was busy eating, my mom and Dad chatted with my crush, asking her about her interests and hobbies. I stole a glance at her from time to time, admiring her elegance and grace.

"Oh, Justin, just eat. We still have a lot of barbeques here," my mom said with a chuckle, noticing my frequent glances toward my crush.

"Thanks, Mom."

********

We finished eating, and my mom and Dad cleaned everything while my crush and I sat on the chair while looking at the sky.

"Hey, Justin."

"Hmm?"

"Your place is so beautiful. It's bright and warm here. Like family."

I replied to her, "Yeah… it is. This is home, after all."

"I'm glad that you think that way," she added. Both of us smiled at each other. 

Now that she mentioned it. This place is photogenic, and it looks aesthetic. Maybe I should get my camera to capture this moment.

"Give me a minute. I'm gonna get something."

I went inside our house to get the camera in my room.

As I grabbed the camera from my closet and headed back toward the backyard, I caught a glimpse of movement through the window. My heart skipped a beat as I saw my crush standing there, bathed in the soft glow of moonlight.

Her eyes were fixed on the sky, and I couldn't help but be struck by how she looked so small and vulnerable. The shadows played across her face, casting her features into sharp relief and highlighting the melancholy expression that seemed to have settled there.

Something about the way she stood there made her seem so alone, as though she was lost in a world of her own making. Her shoulders slumped slightly, and her fingers twitched nervously at her sides.

As I watched her, I couldn't help but feel sympathy. I knew what it was like to feel alone and lost, and I wanted nothing more than to reach out to her and offer her comfort.

But instead, all I could do was stand there and watch, my heart heavy with emotion. I knew I would never be the one she loved, but I still couldn't help but wish I could be there for her in some way, to offer her the love and support she needed.

I focused the camera on her, pressing the shutter button. I looked at the photo.

"Woah, this camera is amazing! It works well in a low-light environment…  but what makes this picture much more beautiful is her.

As I looked at the photo I had just taken, I couldn't help but notice how the loneliness seemed to emanate from her every feature. Her eyes seemed to look off into the distance, lost in thought, and her body language betrayed a deep sense of sadness and isolation.

It was then that I made a decision. I would watch over her from afar and be there for her whenever she needed me. I would be the friend she deserved, someone who could offer her a shoulder to cry on or a listening ear when she needed to talk.

But deep down, I knew my love for her would always be unrequited. She was destined for someone else who could offer her the kind of love and support I never could. I clenched my fist in frustration. "I don't want to see that bloody night once again.", feeling the weight of my unspoken love pressing down on me like a heavy burden.

And yet, despite my pain, I knew I couldn't let her suffer alone. I promised myself I would do everything possible to help her find the love and happiness she deserved, even if it meant helping her find someone else. To.. him.

So I decided to print out the photo, a tangible reminder of the beauty and loneliness I had seen in her that night. And when the time was right, I would give it to him, the man who was meant to be her destiny. I knew he would appreciate it, just as I knew I would always cherish that moment, that image, as one of my happy memories.

I was about to return to our backyard when Mom called my crush. Mom had already brought my crush to her room.

"Oh! I remember that she would spend the night here. It's a pity I didn't say goodnight to her. But anyway, I literally spent my whole day with her, so it's enough for me. Let's call it a day anyway, so it's a goodnight now."

I returned to my room to sleep. I was happy again today. I can't believe that I spent too much time with her today.

Tomorrow came, my mother greeted me again the good morning, and I went to the kitchen with a delicious breakfast. My Dad said it was early in the morning when my crush's parents came home and picked her up here.

After a few minutes, my crush came with her mother. We will go to school again together.

After school, we went to our classmate's birthday party. I was happy, and she liked our gifts. Then we went home together again. And tomorrow after that came.

Every morning my parents greeted me with a good morning. I had a delicious breakfast on the table. I always walk with my crush to school. My classmates have become my friends, and they treat me well. When I finished school, my crush walked home with me. When I get home, someone always greets me with Welcome home. At dinner, we ate delicious food together, my parents and my family.

My daily life has become like that. Every day of my life was filled with fun and love, and I never noticed that time was passing, and I didn't notice that 7 years had passed, and I'm a high schooler now. 

April 10, 2018. Sunday  (New Present) The day before our new School Year starts.

As I was preparing the things I would need tomorrow, my eyes caught a glimpse of the photo album I bought seven years ago. It reminded me of the happy memories that had happened over four years. I felt my heart race with anticipation as I opened the photo album, eager to revisit those moments that had once brought me so much joy.

The first picture I saw was of one of my parents and me on my birthday, taken on the day I returned from wherever I had been. The photo is blurry, unfocused, and looks ridiculous. Still, it depicted the three of us smiling widely and reminded me of the confusion that had enveloped me at the time. Why were the people around me different? Why did I feel like I was in a different world? But that day, surrounded by my loved ones, I knew I was exactly where I belonged.

As I flipped through the pages, my gaze fell upon my crush's picture, and I couldn't help but feel a pang of admiration. She looked absolutely stunning in that photo, her eyes twinkling with mischief as she grinned at the camera. It was as if she was daring me to confess my feelings, but I knew that tomorrow, everything would change.

Next, I stumbled upon a photo of us at my classmate's birthday party, followed by one of her performances in a theater play. I remembered how I had always been in awe of her talent and how I had made it a point to watch all her shows. The way she moved on stage was mesmerizing and always left me feeling entranced.

I turned to another page and found myself staring at the photo of our school festival. I remembered how much fun it had been to win all the events because of the lawyer's son, a true artist. Next, I saw the photo of us high-fiving each other, staring intently into each other's eyes. It was from the challenge we had made. Whoever blinks or looks away first will be the loser. My face in the photo showed how flustered I had been, making me smile at the memory.

My eyes flicked through the remaining photos, each bringing back memories. 

There was a picture of my family's first Christmas, with my Dad wearing a ridiculous Santa costume that made us all laugh. Then there was the photo of us ringing in the new year, watching the fireworks together with wide-eyed wonder.

Finally, I reached the last photo in the album, and I felt a sense of nostalgia wash over me. It was a photo of my friends and me, standing by a river with the sun setting in the background. The image was breathtaking, capturing the beauty of that moment in time. I felt a pang of longing as I realized that those times were gone, but I also felt a sense of excitement for what tomorrow would bring.

As I placed the photo album down, I couldn't help but feel a sense of warmth in my chest. The memories I had just revisited were a testament to the joy and happiness I had experienced in the past, and I knew that tomorrow would be just as magical.

I saw the mp3 player that my friend gave to me. 

"I was not even able to return the mp3 player to him. But even so, he won't remember me anymore. Then I'll just introduce myself to him again. I can do that because I'm not as socially awkward as before."

"Tomorrow, both of us can make new happy memories. I'm excited to see him again, and I'm gonna make sure that this time," 

I clenched my fist. "This time, I will find a way to save him from his death."

"Alright!! It's time for me to sleep."

"See you tomorrow… Harry."

CHAPTER 25 -END-

To Be Continued.