A Love To Last

Philip didn't like the fact that Jayden was having fun picking on him. He sauntered with his friends in silence, walking side by side on the pavements, wearing a brooding look. Mike and Euegene had been stealing glances at him for the past few minutes. "Hey man?" Eugene cleared his throat, finally breaking the awkward silence between them. "What have you planned to do on the talent show day?" He tried to say something to get Philip's mind off whatever he was thinking about. "I heard from Mimie that you were chosen by Mrs. Banks to represent our class."

"Yeah right." Philip muttered softly with a weary grin at Eugene. "Almost forgot about it." He took a glance at his friends. Eugene instinctively smiled to himself. He had really wanted something to distract Philip from whatever was running through his mind but didn't know this could really work the magic.

"So.." Mike gingerly snapped in, draping a hand over Philip's shoulder. "What do you plan on doing? I heard from Mrs. Raina that you're good with guitars and violins. Do you plan on exhibiting any of them? Since you've decided to keep them a secret from us." He chuckled.

Philip slitted his eyes to look at him from the corners of his eyes and slightly crinkled his nose in disgust with a scoff. "Who says that was a secret? Just wanted to take a rest on it. By the way, I haven't decided on what to do yet but it's not a bad idea though. Will give it a thought."

"Mm." Both Mike and Eugene muttered sharply with a slight nod, smiling to themselves, equally glad to hear that from him. At least, it was going to take his mind off Lucretia for a while. But then, they needed to find a quick way to reunite them. Mike and Eugene glanced thoughtfully at each other as if they could read each other's mind. They were still with their thoughts when Philip snapped in, bringing them back to reality. "Talking about secrets.." He grumbled and Mike and Eugene both gazed expectantly at him. "How are things between Mimie and you? I heard you've proposed to her." He shouldered Eugene. "Is she giving you a tough time?" He queried.

Mike was quiet surprised to hear that. "You did?" He stared shockingly at Eugene who looked quiet puzzled himself, confused about how Philip was able to find that out.

"Why?"Philip chuckled. "Do you think I will never find out?" He slightly patted his shoulder. "Come on man, spill it out." He winked at him.

Eugene glanced at their faces for some seconds and sighed, "It's not what you're thinking guys. Come on–. I was going to tell you when she finally agrees but then..." He grumbled but then paused for a short seconds, seeing the sceptical gaze of Mike and Philip who were just nodding in unison. "Do you guys think I'm lying?" He queried and they shrugged.

"Come on," Philip turned to Mike ignoring Eugene like he was invisible. "We should hurry." He muttered to him and they trod ahead of Eugene. He stared at their backs and scoffed, "What are they even thinking?" He muttered to himself. "Hey guys!" He exclaimed and went after them.

The rest of the afternoon passed by with no special happenings.

******

It was around 6pm. Jayden, Mimie and Crystal laid on the grass with their hands crossed over their heads on the play ground just opposite Jayden's father's hotel, staring thoughtfully at the sky when Mimie instinctively sat up.

"Don't you guys think we need to do something to help Philip and Lucretia get back together? Besides, if you should ask me, I think Philip has finally come into terms that he really needs Lucretia. Don't you think?" She glanced quizzically at their faces, waiting for their take on her observation.

"So what do you suggest we do?" Jayden was the first to speak. "Prom is just at the corner and we need to prepare for it too. Along side our graduation and all that. Besides, Philip has also been selected to part take in the talent show, remember?"

"How about we talk to Mike and Eugene first?" Crystal hastily snapped in. "They might have a plan or something? To tell you the truth, I tried talking to Lucretia to unblock Philip but she just won't listen. I even asked Linsey to talk her out of it."

Mimie listened on thoughtfully for a while and sighed. "Let's just give it a try."

"I will call them then." Crystal took out her phone and dialled Mike's number. After a few ring, he answered. Not wasting much time, Crystal told him what they've planned on doing and Mike requested for them to meet. "Sure, let meet then." Crystal answered and hanged up. Both Mimie and Jayden stared expectantly at her as she put away her phone. "So, what did he say?" Mimie muttered anxiously.

"We are meeting." Crystal took her backpack which was lying beside her and sprung up. Jayden and Mimie also did same and they sauntered off.

"Talking about you Mimie," Crystal uttered as they walked onto the pavement. "Aren't you yet ready to give Eugene your response? Prom is just at the corner girlfriend.. " She playfully nudged her on the ribs and they both giggled, their voices fading into the the distance.

AUSTRALIA

Anita really had a long day, travelling with her parents. If you should ask her, it was the worse day of her life. After the long drive, they finally got home. She checked her wrist watch and it was few minutes past 6:30pm. Just as they got everything in, She snatched her bag from the sofa and rushed off to Linsey's house.

"Hey, Nita!" Her mother shouted after her but she was already gone. "This girl is so unbelievable." She scoffed, matching to the kitchen.

LINSEY'S HOUSE

Mrs. Lawson was behind her television set watching a documentary when she heard the door bell ring then it creeked opened. "Anita I guess." She grumbled to herself before turning around.

"Good evening Mrs. Lawson." Anita hastily mumbled and hurried off with the speed of lighting, gliding up the stairs.

"Oh mine, why so fast?" She muttered to herself. "Hope you're fine dear?" She shouted after her.

"Yes!" Anita replied back, not holding up for even a second. Before Mrs. Lawson could even make up the next question to ask, she was already gone. "Oh teenagers." She mumbled, slightly shaking her head as she returned to what she was watching.

Linsey and Lucretia on the other hand were up in their room.

Linsey was on her bed scanning through her phone for God knows what while Lucretia had her gaze fixed in her novel when the door swayed opened, making them looked up. "Did anyone miss me?" She announced herself, tossing the bag on Lucretia.

"Nobody did." Lucretia replied and Anita scoffed. "Just as I thought. Anyway, can I use your laptop, Luc?"

"Yeah, suit yourself." Lucretia replied and went back to her novel. Anita took a glance at Linsey who had long returned to her phone before taking a seat behind the study table which had Lucretia's laptop sitting on it. "What's up with you Lin? Can't believe you of all people is quiet like this." She opened the laptop which had Lucretia's Facebook account already unlocked on the screen. She was about to log out when a message notification popped up. "Phil–?" She grumbled to herself, surprised. "Luc?"

"Mm?" Lucretia softly mumbled her response.

"Didn't you say you blocked Philip's account and number all throughout your accounts?" She queried sceptically.

"Yes I did." She answered indifferently without even looking up.

"Then how did this happened? You just received a message from him."

Both Lucretia and Linsey instinctively stared at each other, surprised. "I did?" She queried and they rushed from the bed over to where Anita was. "Let me see." She slitted her eyes to have a look and true to Anita's words, it was really a message from Philip.

"How did this happen?" She stared at the screen, stunned.