Author's Note:
Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, business, events and incidents are the products of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental. ... This novel's story and characters are fictitious.
(This contains grammatical, punctuational and typographical errors.)
3 years ago.....
The sun shone brilliantly over the commencement ceremony, casting a golden glow on the graduating class as they stood proudly, scrolls in hand. Laughter and cheers filled the air, mingling with the warm breeze that carried the scent of fresh-cut grass. Families and friends gathered under the clear blue sky, snapping photos and embracing their graduates, while guests and visitors strolled leisurely across the stadium field, savoring the joyous occasion.
Eiress Kaliinnich shouted to her friend Cohen Gilovich. He appeared by her side in an instant, and his handsome face alight with a smile yet sadness can be seen from his eyes.
"Congratulations." He greeted and ruffled the girl's hair.
"See you later. I'll message you." There was hesitation in his voice, but before she could question it, he turned and walked away.
"Wait, what for?!" Eiress yelled back to Cohen's departing figure.
When Eiress got home, she was still thinking about why Cohen wanted to see her.
...
The next day, time passes immediately and afternoon came. Eiress is in front of the mirror just looking at herself. Suddenly, her mother entered, and a strange man followed.
"Are you going somewhere?" Her mother asked.
"Who are you?" She asked the man not minding her mom.
"Rizz, I... ahm, I---."
"Mom, don't tell me you---."
"No, it's not what you think."
"Then who is he? It's just strange that you let him enter here when in fact you don't do it---."
"Rizz, sweetheart. Listen to me." Her mom said as she approached her.
"He is your grandfathers' butler. Butler Xhin. He's here to pick you up." Eiress remained silent still confused.
"You're going with him to your father's in Yunezia City. You can study there and become ---"
"Mom, I want to stay here with you." Her voice was firm but seems like a lump was forming in her throat.
Her mother walked closer. "Sweetheart, I know. But you also know we had an agreement with your grandparents. And this is your chance to study in a prestige school. You don't have to work part times for your tuition."
"Then I'll work this summer. I can find more part-time jobs," She still argued, but she knew the reality of their situation, and its pressed down on her.
"You shouldn't have to." Her mother reached out, brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
"If you go, you won't have to struggle, Rizz. You can focus on your dreams."
Eiress burst into tears. The weight of it all crashed onto her at once. Her mother was right. She knew it. But that didn't mean she wanted to leave.
"Why can't you just come with me?" Eiress whispered.
"Even if I want to, I can't. And your father is not here anymore to defend me. I told you that already."
She tried to calm down. No one spoke for a couple of minutes. She tried grasping the situation, but her tears kept betraying her, so she decided to go out before she speak words she might regret later.
"I'll just chill outside. I'll come back later." Eiress then wore her jacket and went out leaving the room.
Arriving at the cafe, she ordered a coffee while waiting for Cohen and trying to grasp the situation.
The café hummed with quiet chatter, the scent of roasted coffee beans mixing with the sweetness of freshly baked pastries. A faint tune played from the speakers, blending seamlessly with the clinking of cups and the occasional scrape of a chair against the tiled floor.
She wrapped her hands around the cold drink, and her fingers tracing the condensation on the plastic cup. Eiress tried to focus, to let the bitterness of the coffee ground her, but her mind kept drifting.
The sudden burst of laughter from a nearby group snapped her back to the present.
"Where should we go next?"
"How about that café? Their drinks look good."
"Let's go!!"
Eiress glanced up, her gaze settling on a group of students wearing university soccer uniforms. Ah. From her school, huh. She quickly looked away, not in the mood to interact.
She then took a sip on the cold drink. Suddenly a band from nearby started singing.
"L.A. On a Saturday night in the summer.
Sundown and they all come out.
Lamborghinis' and their rented Hummers
The party's on, so they're headin' downtown."
It was just a first verse but it grabbed the attention of many people.
"Woahh.. Haven't heard anyone who sings that song this good." Someone said.
"Yeah, me too." Another replied.
Eiress was roaming her eyes around, observing the people's reactions.
"Hey! Cohen!! Were here! Come join us here." The same voice from earlier shouted.
Eiress immediately turned around to see if it was the Cohen she knew. And there he is, walking along the sidewalk just across the street.
"Everybody's lookin' for a come up
And they wanna know what you're about
Me in the middle with the one I'm lovin'
We're just tryna figure everything out."
The cafe was unusually quiet when Cohen finally arrived. Cohen slipped into the seat across from her. He looked... different. Tired. Maybe even regretful.
"You're not okay." he asked.
Eiress almost laughed. " Yeah."
Cohen raised an eyebrow. "That bad?"
She ran a hand through her hair, sighing. "I don't want to leave."
His expression flickered, just for a second. Then, with a voice too calm, too rehearsed, he said, "Maybe it won't be so bad."
She narrowed my eyes. "Why do you sound like you already knew?"
Silence.
"Cohen."
He exhaled. "Because I did."
Eiress paused.
"What?"
"I overheard your mom talking to someone about it." He looked down at his hands. "She thinks it's the best thing for you."
She stared at him, a strange feeling creeping in. "And you didn't tell me?"
Cohen hesitated. "I thought she'd tell you first."
Eiress let out a dry laugh. "Great."
Another silence.
Cohen tapped his fingers on the table, glancing at the time on his phone screen. "I should tell you something."
Something in his voice made her stomach twist.
"I'm leaving tonight."
The words hit her harder than she had expected.
For a moment, everything else disappeared, the noise of the cafe, even the bitterness from before.
"You too?" Eiress asked, voice barely above a whisper.
He nodded. He wasn't just leaving the cafe. He was leaving the city.
Her fingers curled around the edge of the table. "You didn't think to tell me sooner?"
Cohen sighed. "I didn't want to make it harder."
"Well, congratulations, Cohen. You did." He flinched.
A heavy silence settled between them.
For the first time, Cohen looked uncertain. Like he wanted to say more but he couldn't. Or wouldn't?
Eiress took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. "Where are you going?"
"Europe," he said. "Training camp. And probably, won't be coming here anymore."
She nodded, trying to keep her emotions in check.
Cohen leaned forward, elbows on the table. "This isn't—"
"Goodbye?" She continued.
He didn't answer.
Because they both knew it was.
"Funny how we're both chasing dreams, just not together." Eiress muttered. She can feel her fingers tightened around the cup. Even if she don't want him to go, but she's also leaving. Maybe this is it for them. She didn't even ask for his reasons but she knew it is for their own good. They were supposed to go to college together. But even her, she cannot even fulfill their promise.
"This is it then." Eiress said after a minute of silence and smiled as wide as she can. She then stood up and walked away..
She closed her eyes for seconds as the sun shines brightly, yet t'was already late in the afternoon.
A little later, drops of water fell on her face. And a bunch of raindrops followed. It's raining though the sun is still up. It's a SUNSHOWER.
Eiress didn't even notice that they were calling her.
"Hey, Lady! Come on. The rain is getting heavier." Then she came to her senses.
"Oh, ah yeah." Those were the only words that came out of her mouth. She just gave a smile and shrugged.
For a moment, she looked around and the people were all running.
***
Cohen found himself standing across the street, staring at the glowing 7/11 sign. He had no idea why he came back. He has not yet bid goodbye properly.
But then he saw her...
Eiress sat inside, hunched over a table, her face buried in her hands. Even through the glass window, he could tell she was crying. His hands clenched into fists. He wanted to go in. He wanted to say something, anything. But he couldn't. Instead, he stood there, letting the rain soak into his clothes, watching as the girl he cared about cried alone.