It was early morning. The streets were quiet, with only the chirping of crickets and a cool breeze filling the air. Most people were still asleep, wrapped in the comfort of their beds. But not Freya. She stood outside her house, bundled in a thick jacket over her pajamas, holding a small box tightly in her hands.
She rubbed her eyes, clearly still sleepy, yawning repeatedly. Yet despite her tiredness, the desire to see Liam before he left was stronger than any urge to go back inside.
From her vantage point, she saw Liam and his family busy organizing luggage by the car. His father carefully loaded the bags into the trunk, while his mother made sure all the documents were accounted for. Liam stood to the side, backpack in hand, lost in thought.
"L-Liam…" Freya called softly, yet clearly.
Liam turned immediately. And when he saw her, his eyes seemed to sparkle. He walked toward her, a faint smile on his face, even as the weight of the moment lingered.
"Freya… what are you doing here? It's so early, you might be cold."
Freya shook her head. "I couldn't sleep without seeing you before you leave." Slowly, she extended the small box. "This… is for you."
Liam took the box and carefully opened it. Inside was a small crocheted flower—a red hibiscus with green leaves. In its center hung a keychain with their photo from graduation, smiling side by side.
"Freya…" Liam's voice nearly broke as he looked at the gift.
"For you, so you won't forget me," Freya whispered, her voice trembling with emotion. "So no matter how far you go… you'll carry a piece of us with you."
Tears pricked Liam's eyes. He held the keychain and the crocheted hibiscus tightly, as if it were the most precious thing he'd ever received. "Thank you, Freya. I won't leave it behind, no matter where I go. Promise."
When Liam's family signaled it was time, his mother said, "Honey, let's go. We're about to leave."
Liam nodded but didn't let go of Freya immediately. He leaned in, their foreheads almost touching, gently holding her hand. The cold and his nervousness made his grip tremble slightly.
"Freya…" he whispered, filled with honest emotion. "I love you. Please… wait for me."
Freya froze, but couldn't stop herself from smiling through the tears that rolled down her cheeks. "I love you too, Liam. No matter how long it takes, I'll wait for you."
Time seemed to stop between them. Silent, yet every heartbeat shouted a promise. But the moment had to end. Liam slowly released her hand, and before getting into the car, he glanced back, raised the crocheted hibiscus, and smiled.
"Thank you, Freya. I'll always remember you."
Freya nodded, unable to speak, afraid her voice would break. She watched as Liam got into the car with his family.
The car started moving slowly. Freya remained on the street, jacket wrapped tightly around herself. As the car drove away, silent tears slipped down her cheeks. But amidst the sadness, she felt the warmth of Liam's words lingering.
"Please wait for me."
---
Inside the car, Liam sat quietly, holding the keychain close. He looked at the crocheted hibiscus repeatedly, hearing Freya's voice echo in his mind.
"So you won't forget me…"
He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, trying to steady his racing heart. But no matter what he did, the weight of the truth remained—the secret that Freya didn't yet know about Miya and the agreement between their families.
His mother glanced at him. "Liam, are you okay?"
He forced a smile. "Y-yes, Ma. I'm okay." But inside, he was uneasy.
---
At the airport, as they waited for boarding, Liam never let go of the keychain. Miya watched him from afar, curious about what he was holding, but she said nothing, choosing silence instead.
Once on the plane, Liam took the window seat. He held the keychain tightly, staring out at the rising sun—a symbol of a new beginning.
Before the plane fully took off, he whispered softly to himself,
"Freya… no matter where I go, you're the one I'll always come back to."
As the plane gradually lifted from the land he had grown up on, he kept the crocheted hibiscus close—a symbol of the promise they had made to each other.