♫ Lemon ♫
I don’t know what exactly happened. When I woke up at the hospital, I saw my parents talking to a policeman.
I told him everything that happened, everything I could remember before I passed out and he keeps on writing something in his booklet. At times, he would talk thru the radio and ask for something to be checked.
My parents decided to file a case against Nica. If they were to ask me, I won’t take it that far. It’s a long process, it will take a while and it’s tiring.
To be honest, I already feel tired of everything. Everything that happened ever since we came back from France.
Yes, there are a lot of good happenings. I’ve collected tons of happy memories with my friends. But it seems like all that happened in exchange for something sad.
At times I can’t stop myself from thinking. Maybe there’s really not a single person who’s born just to be happy.
After the police interviewed me, the door opened. Homme came in and after a few minutes, Kip, Roj, Kevz, and Drew followed.
I smiled at each one of them, but I can’t help but frown when I saw Drew. The dark circles around his eyes call for attention. His hair is a mess and his shirt’s wrinkled.
He looked like he hasn't slept for days but in all fairness, he still looks good. But of course, he looks better when he looks presentable.
That’s his trademark anyway. Drew’s someone who always looks clean. Someone who always smells good. Someone who always looks good.
“Kip, can you stay with Lemon for a while?” my mom said and my cousin nodded at her. “We’ll just get some clothes and toiletries for her, again, Kip nodded before my parents turned to me.
“You get some more rest,” dad instructed me. “We’ll come back as soon as possible,” I nodded at them and they both turned to leave.
When my parents went out, Drew followed them for I don’t know what reason. My friends, on the other hand, huddled on my bed as soon as the door closed.
“How are you feeling?” Roj asked in a tone full of sadness. Regardless, he still tried to smile at me.
“I’m fine. I got stitches on my head and this,” then I showed them the cast on my arm. “The doctor said the club almost hit my spinal cord, good thing it didn’t or it would have been a bigger problem,” then they all sighed.
“We're really sorry you had to go through this. If I only knew something like this will happen, I wouldn’t have played cupid between you and my friend,” Kevz stated with his head bowed down, but the trio nodded in agreement.
“Don’t blame yourselves, no one’s at fault here. We fell in love but not one of us knew that this is how our love story will go,” I chuckled. “It’s just sad that this happens after all the happiness. Maybe we’re not really meant for each other. Maybe we fell in love at the wrong time. Maybe it's even the wrong lifetime,” they all looked at me so I forced a smile out of my lips. “At times I’d think that it’s best if we didn’t meet or that we didn’t grow close to one another. Maybe then I won’t be hurting now. Maybe everything that happened wouldn't have happened. But I know I’d only be lying to myself because I know how much Drew made me happy. How happy I was when I met him. Even if he often ignores me back then,” and they all laughed.
♫ Drew ♫
“It’s just sad that this happens after all the happiness. Maybe we’re not really meant for each other. Maybe we fell in love at the wrong time. Maybe it's even the wrong lifetime. At times I’d think that it’s best if we didn’t meet or that we didn’t grow close to one another. Maybe then I won’t be hurting now. Maybe---”
I walked away from her room when I heard that and it’s painful to hear that she’s wishing we’ve never met. I was still hoping we can still fix everything between us, but it’s heartbreaking when it’s not the same for her.
I went to my car and sent Kevz a message. I told him I need to go home as there was an emergency in my family.
When I got home, I went straight to my room. There I let go of the tears I’m trying to hold back. When I got tired, I lay down on my bed.
Staring at the ceiling, everything starts playing in my head. All those what-ifs and what could have been.
My thinking was disrupted when someone knocks on my door. Even before I could stand up, my parents entered my room and I immediately saw the worry on their faces as they look at me.
“Are you ok son?” my mom asked as she places a hand on my shoulder.
I shook my head, “I don't think I'll ever be ok mom. I caused Leslie to be hurt. I don’t know how I can forgive myself or if she can still forgive me,” I told her while the tears keep streaming down my face.
My father sat next to me, patting my knee lightly. “I talked to his father, they’re not blaming you for what happened. As for Lemon, maybe you should fix yourself first before thinking of asking for her forgiveness or whether she can still forgive you or not.”
I nodded slowly without saying a word. After a while, they both left so I laid down on my bed again. I continued thinking about us, about me, until I come up with a decision.
Dad’s right. Before anything else, I should deal with myself first. And so I decided to leave for the States and finish my studies there.
Right now, all I can do is work on myself for the better. I have to be as good as new before I face the girl I love again.
And hopefully, when I come back, she can already forgive me. Hopefully, I can make up for everything. Hopefully…
♫ Kevz ♫
Lemon stayed at the hospital for a week. When she came out, we received a group message saying she wants to meet us at the studio.
The next day, Kip, Homme, and Roj were already there when I arrived. After a while, Partner finally came.
“Sorry, I was the one who set this up yet I’m the one who’s late,” she grinned.
She looks better now compared to her days at the hospital. Even if she still got bruises on her face, her color has returned.
Her smile’s now reaching her eyes too. I can’t help but feel relieved that finally, she’s ok now. Hopefully, there’s nothing more we need to worry about.
“Guys,” she started as soon as she sat down. “I asked you to come over because I want to bid you guys farewell, formally.” And all our attention turned to her. It’s like we all want to ask her something, but no one wants to go ahead first. “I've decided to go back to France,” she continued and we all remained quiet. “I’ll continue my studies there.”
“But you’ll still come back, right?” Roj asked, his voice sounding so sad.
“Of course! My parents are still here, you guys are still here. Of course, I’ll come back!”
I sat next to her and hugged her. “I’ll miss you, Partner,” and the tears start streaming down my face. I tried to hold them back but they refused to be stopped, especially when she returned my hug.
“I’ll miss you too, Partner. All of you…”
“Ugh, this is so sad!” Homme exclaimed as he starts to wipe his tears. “First it was Kale and Kellen. Then it was Drew. Now it’s you…” he continued.
“Did he tell you?” I asked her when Homme mentioned Drew, but she just shook her head.
“Just like you, Drew gathered us a few days ago to let us know he’s leaving for the States. He said he’s continuing his studies there too,” Kip explained.
“He said he got no face to show you and she’s ashamed at your parents after what happened,” Roj added.
Lemon let out a sigh. “That’s sad. I hope he won’t blame himself. No one wanted what happened. From Yel to Nica, we were all just victims of their anger.”
We were quiet for a while but it was disrupted when my stomach grumbled. “Sorry… I didn’t eat before coming here,” I grinned and we all broke into a peal of laughter.
And since it’s already past four in the afternoon. We decided to just have something delivered. A farewell party for Lemon’s departure too.