TST
Isla entered the class late after the break. She looked at the back seat, it was empty. Her heart was heavy, heavy enough to make her body less strong to bear the heart’s weight. She walked unhurriedly to her seat.
She sat and took her notebook out. On the first page, she found a memo. A scrawl in black crayon was everything inside the memo. Her heartbeat rate accelerated.
I’m waiting in the empty school store
P.S: not leaving until I see you
She was puzzled, is it another trap?
Her heart pounded even faster, should I alert mom?
After thinking for a while, she headed out of the class. She stopped in front of the empty store. She breathed heavily, her hands on the latch. It was murky inside and the lights were off. She walked in, cautiously.
“Anybody here?” she whispered
All of a sudden, someone appeared behind her and hugged her.
She struggled to pull herself off, “Who is─”
“Can we remain like this for a little longer?” Leo muttered
“Leo?”
Leo panted, his hands met around her belly.
Isla grinned, holding Leo’s arms, “Leo, I’m very sorry”
“Don’t be. I understand!”
“It was my parents’ plan”
“Parents always struggle for the better of their children”
“Not my parents!” Isla sobbed, “They only think about what is better to them”
“Used to think the same”
"My parents think about power only," she said, “They can do anything to get it”
“They are not getting any younger” Leo panted, “Who do you think they are fighting for?”
“I know but they can’t choose what my heart must”
“They love you”
“They love power”
“When love is too much, it becomes possession”
“Pardon..?”
“Lucifer loved God too much that he wanted to possess him”
“My parents possess me?”
“Not sure!” Leo gasped, “But the only sign that love has turned to the possession, is when lovers start to choose who their lovers should meet, talk to or form a friendship with”
“I won’t give up on you”
“Neither will I!”
“Leo Felix, I love you!”
“I love you too, Isla Theodore”
“Thought I might lose you forever”
“Tried saying I was over with you. But every time my phone vibrated, my heart still wished it was a text from you”
“Thank you for coming back”
“I knew that looking back on the tears would make me laugh but I never knew that looking back on the laughs would bring tears”
“I very sorry. It was my entire fault”
“No… I acted like your absence doesn’t bother me at all” he sobbed, “but it was killing me inside”
Isla turned around to face Leo. Their eyes met. Through his eyes, she could see all the memories of the time they spent together. She felt safe and comfortable inside the murky store with Leo around her.
"It won't be easy," Isla said
“We’ll fight together!”
“Promise me I won’t lose you”
Leo held Isla’s head and looked at her eyes, “I promise”
Their bodies were pulled by a mistral wind to zero distance. Their faces expressed the feelings their mouth couldn’t, at that time. Isla passed her arms around Leo’s neck and Leo’s arms were around her waist. Their lips bit by bit moved closer to each other and finally met.
“Guys..!” Baraka shouted after opening the door suddenly
The two pulled away from each other
“Knocking is not your style?” Isla snapped
“Sorry for interrupting… Ms. SJ needs us, now”
**********
Leo was in the class, musingly sketching the plan for the mission. He heard the footsteps entering the class but he didn’t care and kept on sketching.
"Good morning class!" said the person
Prof Lucy, she doesn’t have a period today, he kept on staring at the papers scattering on his desk.
“I came to introduce a new class member” Prof Lucy shouted, Leo still on his papers. “She’ll be taking the music class like us, please show her your utmost collaboration. She’ll introduce herself”
There was a moment of silence.
“Morning classmates!” the voice pierced Leo’s ears and caused all of his hands to freeze. The blood in his body was flowing faster than before.
“My name is Macy Michael and I ask for your cooperation”
Leo found himself up and his eyes met directly with Macy’s eyes. He squinted but what he saw was still the same. His heart stopped beating for a second.
Macy? His mouth was wide open as he landed on his chair, causing the chair to creak and crackle.
“Leo?” this voice jolted him. Standing in front of him was Macy.
It is her! It had been four years, Macy didn’t change much. Her songbird sweet voice grew sweeter, her languorous rapture-blue eyes grew more beautiful and her sculpted figure was more perfectly twine-thin. Time changed her height, age, and made her more beautiful.
“Leo” she looked at his face, “I missed you”
Leo looked around the class. Everyone’s eye was on his side. “There is a store behind the school’s lavatory. Go first… I’ll come after five minutes”
“Leo─”
He murmured, “Please… we’ll talk there”
Macy nodded and left the class. Leo breathed heavily. He could feel his whole body trembling. All the memories she had with Macy began repeating on his mind. The clock was faster than it had ever been. Five minutes were over within a blink of an eye.
He stood and headed out of the class. When he reached the front seat, Isla gave him a healthy smile and winked to him. He smiled back and walked out quickly. He entered the store after confirming that no one was trailing him.
"Leo, I always prayed to see you again," Macy said, clinging on Leo
Leo gasped, “That morning, I was late”
“I have always been waiting for you”
“I’m glad you are back”
“I won’t leave you again, Leo”
“How did you end up here?”
“Fulfilling my dream, you?”
“Surviving..!”
“Leo, I love you”
Leo snorted. His body was trembling. Macy was still hugging him.
Macy pulled Leo away from her body, “You alright?”
Leo remained silent
“Leo!!”
“Macy…”
“What’s wrong?”
Leo looked at the door
“Thought you would be happy to see me”
Leo gasped, “I am”
“Hiding something from me, aren’t you?”
“No, why would I”
“You still love me?”
“I do”
“Then tell me what’s going on”
“Nothing..!”
“Leo… you are not alright”
“I feel like I’m in a dream”
Macy hugged Leo, “I spent four years thinking about you all days and nights”
“Thanks for coming back”
“I love you, Leo”
“Love you too, Macy”
First love never dies. You can put out the flame, but not the fire. The long-dormant dragon was awakening. The feelings which were buried four years ago sprouted in their hearts. The two hugged each other firmly, their bodies expressing the thirsty of the moments they missed. Leo’s hands were holding Macy’s cheeks, whose hands were on his shoulders. Their lips were at a zero distance, leaving the rest of the job to their molding tongues.
The store’s door opened unexpectedly.
“Leo… I thought─” Baraka’s palms rushed on his mouth
Baraka’s eyes and mouth were wide open. Macy remained speechless, her hands still on Leo’s shoulders.
“Can you excuse us?” Leo told Macy and she nodded
The two men escorted Macy with their eyes as she was leaving the store. Leo bowed his head.
Baraka rushed to Leo after Macy left, “you crazy?”
Leo panted. His hands were on his pounding heart.
“Hit and run… that’s your style?”
Leo gasped, “Baraka… I am both happy and sad at the same time, and I’m still trying to figure out how that could be”
“You are treating relationships like video games” Baraka clenched his teeth, “play them and when you get bored, you cheat”
“Baraka list─”
Baraka raised his right arm, “A real man ends a relationship before he starts searching for another”
Leo stared at Baraka
“It was yesterday when you settled your issues with Isla and today you are cheating”
Leo bowed, breathing heavily, “She is the one”
“What?”
“The one I told you about”
Baraka moved closer to Leo, “By any chance, the rosary girl?”
Leo nodded
“Oh my God”
“I’m lost”
Baraka patted Leo’s shoulder, “I’m sorry, I panicked”
Leo forced a smile
“Some beautiful paths can’t be discovered without getting lost”
"Between that beautiful path and the path I am now, there is the deep sea" Leo smiled, "and in it, I'm drowning slowly"
“Leo, you are my friend. I promise I’ll help you solve this issue”
Leo hugged Baraka, “Baraka, thanks for being my friend. Let’s go save our school first then we’ll come back for our hearts”