Why

"Tyler" someone called me out from behind.

She slowly catches up and patted my shoulder.

"Hey, Sierra" I greeted back in reply.

We first met each other during our Senior Year. We became close friends ever since. For four consecutive years, my feelings never changed. Until one summer when I finally had the courage to ask her out.

We were sitting in our usual café when I finally confessed.

"Sierra..."

"Hmm… what is it?" she quickly glanced over my shoulder and asked with a concern look.

I quickly grabbed the bouquet of flowers that was at my back and grabbed with one hand and handed it to her. Feeling embarrassed, I blurted out, "Would you go out with me?". A sudden rush of embarrassment that came over me. Topping it off, with overwhelming anxiety with her response.

"Yeah," she responded. "Let's go out"

….

Since that day, we started dating. It was one of the happiest moments in my life. Fast forward. We passed our 100th anniversary month. We planned to hang out over to our usual spot in the bench. When we finally sat down, she gave out a small globe of butterflies. The butterflies glittered and shined as I glinted it over to the sunlight.

"There is something that I wished for…. And the only thing that I wish is our relationship would go stronger for long." she said. She continued to smile and whispered sweet nothings over to my ear.

I thought that our happiness would last longer. But I was wrong,

That same night…

"Let's break-up" she slowly turned her back and walked away.

It took me a long process to give her my response. She was gone before I even said anything. "Why did we break-up?" I thought to myself. Why? Did I do something wrong? All the whys and hows were left were left unanswered. I've been battling those questions ever since.

��.

"Hey!"

A voice called out drifting me back to my senses. We were in an airport waiting for our flight.

"Hey" I replied back.

"Don't look so sad. We're here in the airport now," Mark remarked, lifting off his arms around my shoulders. "No use of backing out."

He was my best friend and childhood friend. Even then, whenever I was in trouble, he used to help me out. Although, his sense of fashion can be out of style, he was still popular in the school campus back then.

"Of course, we're not going to cancel," another one piped in. "We spent all our allowance for this whole trip. It would be such a waste of money."

It was another one of my best friends. He adjusted his glasses and added," We're here now."

"I know," I replied. "Do we have everything we need?"

"Yes," Ian replied, adjusting up his backpack again for the fourth time. "Everything is set to go."

"Let's get going then!" Mark exclaimed. He strolled off his suitcase and bags with him.

I followed my best friends to board the airplane that has finally arrived. I sat in the window seat and shifted my head looking at the distance.

….

We finally arrived at Selfina Isla. An isle for new beginnings and the end. No one really knows the history behind it. But one thing I know, Selfina mean Self- means "from within" and Fina "the end". Normally, the road would be packed with busy tourists, but no one passed. We were left stranded in the road.

Thirty minutes passed, not a single car even went by. Harsh cold winds started to sweep, and we were starting to shiver. Mark couldn't stop complaining now and Ian was starting to pace with worry. I feel like regretting all this now.

"I'm so hungry already," Mark complained. "Will we ever see a bus? We're going to die out here."

"Shut up already," Ian silenced. "You've been complaining ever since we got here. Chill, I'm going to find another way."

"We shouldn't have come here." I shook my head. If only someone could help us out.

As if a blessing in disguise, another voice came from behind. Turns out, we weren't alone anymore. There was a stranger who was also lost in the island also looking for a ride. I was about to call her out when she answered from her phone.

"Ally, where are you?" she called out in her phone. "I'm stranded out here. Can you pick me up?"

She was pacing back and forth and noticed we were looking at her. We quickly looked away.

"I don't know where I'm at," she replied and paused. "Okay, I'm going to take a pic."

We lean to her direction to eavesdrop her conversation. She noticed us and moved further back. She then took a quick picture at the rock sign and sent it to her. "I sent the picture. It's getting colder right here."

She looked at us and turned her back with her phone. "Ah yes, there are some people stranded"

Few moment later, her ride arrived. Her friend came out from the car and picked up a few of her things.

"Did you wait too long?" Ally asked.

"No, it's fine," she shook her head in reply.

"Good," she sounded relieved. "I'm glad you could come in the Isle for the first time. You'll love it here!"

And as if she heard our thoughts,

She turned to look at us. "Want to take the ride? There's still space for all of you guys."

And with no hesitation, we quickly made it in the car, except for Ian.

"What are you still waiting for, Ian?" I shouted at him. Ian was still standing by the road, refusing to go.

"You should come in," Ally shrugged her shoulders. "Or else you're the one who will be stranded."

"We can manage out here," refusing to go. "You can go."

"Are you an idiot?" Mark said. "There's no way I'm going out."

"You heard him," Ally shrugged her shoulders and pointed out. "It's your choice. I'll leave you here then."

Ally started the car and slowly drove away. Just when Ian regretted not going in, the car stopped.

He quickly gathered his things and went inside the car.

Silence passed.

My two best friends were all in awe and excited at the sight of the view. The island was surrounded by big bodies of water with a straight narrow path. The weather cleared up making way for the sunlight to pour in. Seated beside the driver's seat was a girl reading a book.

"Are you three friends?" Ally said, breaking up the silence. "Where do you guys come from?

"From Barcelona," Mark grinned at Ally. "Though I came as single, I will return home as a couple."

Ian rolled his eyes at his remark and went on to study his map.

"Oh, she also came from Barcelona, too." Ally said, looking up through the mirror.

"Oh really?" Mark asked, leaning forward, being closer. "I'm 20. What about you?"

"We're 22." Ally chuckled a bit.

"Ahh I see, you guys look so young." Mark said in awe. And quickly muttered under his breath, "Why do my older sisters look so old compared to you?

"You have older sisters?" Ally asked.

"Shucks, mother said I shouldn't say I have older sisters to others." Mark quickly regretted saying and smacks his head with his palm.

"Why not?" Ally laughed. "It's good to have older sisters in the family."

Ally looked down at the radio and turned it up. Music played on and old memories started to resurface. Whenever sad songs would play in the radio, I'd always thought of her. Like how she used to give me surprise hugs and whispers of "I love you" in my ears. Now I'm wondering if I could ask you why you gave me a hug me back then.

The music gave a brief short message

"Isn't this song lonely? Sometimes, we get dumped without knowing why? It's frustrating. I don't get why they won't say why. Isn't it common basic to tell them?"

"She's right. Sierra doesn't have common sense," Mark agreed on what she said on the radio and turned to Ian.

"Hey," he added. "I'm glad you guys broke up."

Ian gave him a sneer look, "Hey, stop bringing that up."

"So what?" shrugging him off.

"Did you break up recently," Ally said, glancing at the mirror again. "Just ask her. She's good at giving love advices."

"Really?" Mark asked with curiosity. I simply just looked at her with no reply.

"Yepp," Ally replied, grabbing the book that her friend was reading. "She's a romanticist. She's got a whole lot of books about romance. You can talk to her about it. She's an expert."

I glanced at the book she was holding.

"Give it back." Her friend said in annoyance. She grabbed back the book and continued reading. Coincidentally, the last line she saw was,

"Let's… break up."

She turned her head to look at me. "How did you break up?"

Everyone's gaze turned one by one waiting for my reply. I gazed my eyes down and looked up, but no words came out.

Once again, her words echoed again.

"I love you. "she whispered.

"My only one wish is something I ask for... and that is our relationship would go stronger each day."

Words that I thought was genuine….

…. was nothing but a meaningless lie.