The ball was tossed in the air. The man stared at the ball as it rolled itself in the air. He then stretched his arms to grab the ball that was about to fall on him.

“Mr. Andrew Sy.”

He grabbed the ball as he heard a woman’s voice outside his room. He slowly sat up from the bed and stared at the door. From there, he could see the woman’s head on the other side through a rectangular glass attached to the door.

“You have a visitor,” the woman muttered.

He stood up from the bed and walked to the door. The door opened and a woman wearing a police uniform entered the room. He then stretched his arms forward, placing his hands together as if it was a normal thing for him to do.

“He’s loyal,” the woman commented as she clutched Andrew’s wrists in the handcuffs.

“No. He’s just stupid.” Andrew replied.

The woman slightly smiled as he guided Andrew outside of his room.

They stopped in front of a door with a “Visitation room” sign on it. The woman opened the door and Andrew entered the room. The woman closed it again and waited outside. Andrew then stared at the large glass window. From the opposite side, he saw a familiar man sitting on a chair facing his side. The man then smiled at him. Andrew walked to the chair in front of the glass window and sat on it. He was now facing the man.

“How are you?” The man started.

Andrew frowned. “I’m getting sick of that question. It’s not like asking that every time you come here will change my answer, Allen,” he muttered.

Allen then laughed. This is his fourteenth visit, and he still kept asking the same question all over again. He knows Andrew was getting tired of hearing it.

It’s been a year since the day Andrew was arrested. They sentenced him to life imprisonment for three murders and one attempted murder. But not only did Andrew want to pay for the sins he had committed, but he also wanted to cut off his father’s evil deeds. With his statement, they put his dad on trial for murdering people that cause Sy’s Incorporation to go downhill. Her younger sister Andrea underwent psychological examinations and was handled to the care of Andrew's grandparents.
Allen, on the other hand, was freed from the charge of murder and could clean his name. Though, the judge convicted him with Abetting or Accessory to the crime as he covered Andrew’s crimes seven years ago. But since he already spent five years in the juvenile as a murderer, the judge granted him freedom.

“Today’s their graduation day,” Allen muttered.

“Ooh, I’ve been forgetting the dates,” Andrew replied as he stared at the calendar hanging on the wall.

“Yes, that’s why I brought this.” Allen placed a black toga cap with a yellow short rope attached to it in front of Andrew. “Congratulations.”

“Are you kidding me?” Andrew then stared at the cap that made Allen chuckled a bit.

“No, I’m not. You’ll be getting that later,” Allen muttered as he giggled.

Andrew frowned. “You really are the stupidest best friend I ever have.”

“Correction sir, I’m your only best friend.”

Andrew stared at Allen. From all the things he had done, he didn’t understand why Allen still sticks with him. He doesn’t deserve him or his forgiveness; he thought.

“You should start looking for a new one,” Andrew responded as leaned his back on the chair.

“I don’t want to.”

“Allen… What I did when we were kids isn’t that great for you to spend your life looking out for me. Start a new life. Start having new friends. And besides… I’m sick of you,” Andrew muttered in a matter-of-fact voice.

“Geez… Of course, I have a new friend. And he’s better at playing volleyball more than you do,” Allen teased.

“Good for you.” Andrew rolled his eyes but smiled.
He knew he didn't deserve to be Allen's friend, but he’s still grateful that Allen stayed friends with him despite everything. Because of what he did, he lost all his friends. He understands why all his teammates from high school and college are mad at him now. He has no one else to lean on. He knew that even if he rotted in prison; it is still not enough for all the pain he caused to the people who died and the people they left behind. He doesn't deserve to be happy. He doesn’t deserve anyone to stay by his side. But despite everything, Allen, who had once sacrificed himself for Andrew, still stood for him. Even if Andrew had hurt him, he remained as a friend. And he’s grateful for that.

“You know him,” Allen muttered.

Andrew immediately turned to Allen, which made the latter smiled warily. “Aren’t you going to ask about him?” Allen asked.

Andrew stared at him for a second. “A setter?”

Allen nodded in response.

“With a cold and demanding attitude?”

Allen nodded once more.

Andrew bit his lip as he gazed down, staring at the handcuffs on his wrist. “Is he… Is he alright?”

Allen immediately smiled. “Yes. You don’t have to worry about him.”

Andrew smiled as well. “That’s the only thing I want to know.”

But the truth is, he wanted to know more. He’s dying to know more.

“Do you want to see him?” Allen asked.

Andrew didn’t answer. He just stared at his wrists clutched together.

“Do you want me to ask him to visit you?” Allen asked once more.

“Allen…” Andrew muttered as he stared at him. His eyes were full of agony. “Do you know the reason life imprisonment is the worst punishment of all? It is because you get to wake up every day and remember the things you have done all over again. Even if you repent and regret it, there’s nothing you can do. But the worst part of it all is…” he then lowered his head once more to stare at the handcuffs, reminding himself that he doesn’t deserve to be happy. “Waking up every day, realizing you will never get to spend the day with someone or even get to see them for the rest of your life…”

Allen knew Andrew wanted to see that person once more. But Andrew was punishing himself by not knowing anything about him and not seeing him.

“Then… I’ll just inform you if anything happens to him,” Allen muttered.

“You don’t need to.”

Allen smiled at him. He knew it was the opposite. “Alright.” Allen then stood up from his seat. “It’s already time for me to go. I’ll visit you again.”

“I’m tired of your face.”

Allen laughed. “I might be the last face you will ever see,” he teased.

“Geez.” Andrew then rolled his eyes.

Allen chuckled. He then waved his hand, shifting his body to the right, as he was about to head out.

“Allen!”

Allen turned his head to look at Andrew.

“Thank you,” Andrew muttered as he curved his lips upward.

Allen smiled as a response and waved his hand once more. He then trudged out of the room.



*********



“Vice-captain, we made it.” Karl placed his toga cap in front of a tomb named after Sam Andres.

He was wearing a white long sleeve polo with a blue necktie around his collar.

“I know you were worried that we might not graduate knowing our grades back then,” Karl went on as he wiped Sam’s tomb using a white cloth. “But we made it. Nelson plans on going back to the province to help his dad, while Troy plans to become a volleyball coach. I guess we wouldn’t be seeing the duo together soon.”

It then mesmerized Karl. He remembered those times Troy and Nelson have been the annoying duo who had always made a mess. But time sure flies. They will separate to go on with their own lives and become a true adult.

Karl smiled at the thought. “Ooh, Martin doesn’t have a specific goal yet. He said he’ll start looking for a job. While Kaye and I were both drafted for the National Volleyball Team.”

Karl then closed his eyes as a warm wind passed through the air. He exhaled a bit, then stared back at Sam’s tomb.

“I’m sorry… You could have graduated too… But here I am showing it off.”

He then paused as he listened intently to the peaceful surrounding.

“I know… I know you’re not mad at me… But please, get mad at me instead,” he muttered as he smiled with a painful look in his eyes.

As he gazed at the tomb, a hand with a bulk of white flowers suddenly showed up in front of him. The hand placed the bouquet beside his toga cap. Karl then turned his face, seeing a man slowly kneeling beside him.

“Allen.”

Allen closed his eyes for a few seconds. And after a brief silence, he stared at Karl. “I know you’ll be here,” Allen muttered.



******
Allen took a sip of his milk tea. He then placed it on the table and stared at Karl. "I went to visit him," Allen started.
Karl stared at Allen. He was sitting in front of a table opposite of him. They were in a coffee shop near the cemetery.
"How was he?" Karl asked.
"Well, he’s sick of that question already."
Karl smiled as he sipped on his latte.
"Don’t you want to visit him?" Allen asked.
Karl placed his latte on the table and stared at it.
"It was my fault that Sam died. Not seeing him is my punishment."
Allen sighed heavily. He rested his right elbow on the table and placed his chin on his right hand. "You said the exact thing as him. Are you sure you’re not contacting him behind my back?"
Karl slightly shook his head and lifted his latte. "How I wish," he muttered. He then sipped on his latte once more.

To be honest, Allen was getting tired of this drama. He knows full well why the two are acting like this. He had once chosen a path to save someone, but in the end, it all ended in nothing. But one thing he learned from what happened was to do what he thinks is right. And for him, it wasn’t right for Karl to torture himself. He didn’t want him to regret in the end, just like how he regretted choosing the wrong path.
"But hey," Allen uttered.
"Hmm?"

“Shouldn’t I be more to blame for what happened to Sam? If I had saved Andrew by turning him to the police seven years ago, Sam wouldn’t have to die.”

“But if you did that, Andrew and I wouldn't meet.”
"Exactly! That’s why stop blaming yourself. It’s not your fault. Stop punishing yourself and do what you wish to do. And besides, today is your graduation day. Give yourself a treat." Allen grabbed on his milk tea as Karl stared at him. "Believe me," Allen added, then he sipped on it.
Karl stared at his drink, contemplating as hard as he could. Does he deserve to be happy even for a bit? Is he allowed to quench his thirst for seeing someone he longs for? He felt like he didn’t deserve it. But then he remembered his promise to Andrew. His promise that he will never leave him. Yet, he had stopped seeing him.

He then stood up and stared at Allen. Allen smiled at him and nodded.

Even behind those bars, even if it means loving someone he could no longer hold, as long as he's there to stay and love Andrew, it doesn’t matter. He’ll hold the weight of Andrew’s suffering. Because that’s what love is.

Karl pulled out his wallet, grabbed some bills, and placed it on the table. "My treat," he muttered. He then ran and left Allen staring at the bills.
"Good thing I didn’t bring money." Allen smiled as he leaned his back on the chair.