Tossing the remainder of her coffee she saw a familiar face talking to Galen. Raising her fingers to touch her hair she stopped her tracks. She made a face to perfectly mask the guilt that starts creeping in after seeing Rachel. She, herself knew she made her felt bad back then. A bad move she created because she wanted Rachel to stay away from Galen. The words she let loose, those words that came on her mouth. It felt like a punch in a gut. She head the other way- walking away is always the best thing she could do. She couldn’t change what happened as it already happened. Tilting her head to give them one last glance she went to look ahead and waved at the person making his way towards her.
“Did you wait that long?”
She only smiled at Alcuin’s question. He can’t seem to leave her side these days. Now that Galen’s presence… Her body stiffened. She was reminded of Martin’s words. While Alcuin is getting more and more closer to her, meanwhile Galen she couldn’t feel him anymore.
“Break it off before he breaks you.”
He is chewing a gum again. Leaning the side of his body on the doorway, eyes never left mine even when he was already done with his statement.
“You look like a bad boy.” I said, complimenting the way I see his looks. He always had a great sense of style. Jeans, always black. His shirts, are always in between the color white and black and other colors are only worn by him on rare occasions. And of course, Martin and his jackets are inseparable.
Looking at me he began nodding his head in response. Raking his hair with his fingers, he went to sit beside me. “You know I am.”
“But you have a good heart. It’s just in looks that you like presenting yourself as someone who is rebellious.” I mouthed him a compliment once again even though I know he wouldn’t take it.
“I am not good as you think I am, Azaiah.”
“Well- suit yourself with whatever you wanted to believe then. What’s important is that I said what I think my mind wanted me to say.” I crossed a sentence from my list.
“What’s that?” Craning his neck, Martin went closer.
“Just another bucket list I wanted to accomplish.”
Another bucket list as to which I think will probably end up with the ones I had that ended up in failure to reach its completion. It’s always halfway- never reached its finality. Some things I wrote happened. And I am thankful for that. The ones didn’t which at first left me feeling disappointed but with time I began to accept them not happening and was okay with it. And I never really expected, never waited for it to arrive. It’s just I learned to let some things go.
“Some things in here…” She began to say.
“Don’t do that.” He paused while hushing her.
“All of what you’ve wanted to happen for yourself will happen.” Martin abruptly put interruption to her words.
“You’re just starting. Hold unto to that belief Azaiah.” He added never really stating it clearly. He knows Azaiah will get what he is trying to say.
“But you said to break it off, before he breaks me.” She began to stare at what’s written again. “And Galen…”
“Is one of your bucket list.” Martin finished it off.
She nodded her head and gave it to him, so he can see it.
Martin’s eyes softened. “I don’t know what to do with you anymore. You have to move. Your friend did. He’s starting to.” He didn’t add more when he saw how her expression turned into something that stroke a punch to his chest. He gave the notepad back to her.
“Azaiah… Save yourself. It’s still early for you to do that.” His lips suddenly formed a smile.
“And besides you got options, baby. One of them…”
She smiled after remembering the conversation she had with Martin. One of those options that is clearly visible to her is Alcuin.
“Choose the one who chose you. Especially now the one you chose walked away from you.”
It was from Martin again. Although it hurts when she heard it, Martin was right when he said it.
“A chance Azaiah. Just give him a chance. Then you can see if he’s worth it or not. Then you will be able to know the right thing that you can do.”
She was moved when Martin said it. It’s something that she couldn’t easily grasp out of him. Martin doesn’t always is into speaking his emotions nor his feelings. Sometimes he wouldn’t speak anything when things go deep but it was for the very first time he did say something and what he said sounded amazing. She wanted to laugh when his words came in her mind.
“I said this to console you. Never really like seeing you sulked. You look like a lamb, who just got wet in the rain. Your expression looked pitiful.”
“The sun is strikingly giving its hotness.”
Thea eyed both of them. This time her mouth formed a mischievous grin. “There you go again. Just date already.”
Alcuin and Azaiah only stood to stare at each other in return. Their exchanging glances reached Galen’s attention. He was staring at them in a distance. Before his eyes went back to look at Rachel.
“Is that her boyfriend?” Rachel inserted. She felt good seeing Galen, and seeing Azaiah too. Nostalgic is what she feels. She kinda missed what she was once surrounded with but she’s in a better place.
“I don’t know. Maybe. Maybe they are now together.” It’s hard for Galen to say it.
Rachel raised her eyebrows slightly. She suddenly smiled as she was able to piece something out.
“I’ll have to go. It’s a pleasure seeing you again, Galen.” She started walking before Galen held her wrist.
“Rachel. I’m sorry.” He uttered, recalling those times he did something bad to her.
“It’s fine, Galen. I am sorry too. Can you also extend my apologies to Azaiah. I always wanted to apologized for what happened between me and her. We never ended up being friends. Even when I always wanted to be her friend...”
“Galen. Galen. It’s Galen. Did you see it?”
Thea was hyperventilating. She’s fanning her face with her hand as she stared at the two.
Azaiah’s eyes went to follow. She began blinking, from a slow deliberate blink it turned out pretty fast in speed. Unable to say something she began to walk away with rapid paces. She can’t stand it. She’s still is jealous.
“Go. You need to go after her, Galen.” Rachel caught Azaiah’s physical figure. She stared at Galen who’s not even moving.
“Galen.” She called his name softly. “Go after.”