Chapter Seven

Street lights turn on one by one. Headlights lighting up the road briefly as cars pass by. Houses light up as it gets dark. Sceneries that should be familiar to me. But for some reason, they're a bit different. The lights seem brighter and the color around me look deeper. Your voice sounds clearer as you talk and laugh as we walk home. The air feels fresher than before as I take a breath and it feels colder as it grazes my skin. I look at the sky and I see rain clouds looming overhead. I tell myself that those may be the reason but I know for sure that it's not.

I wake up with the sun on my skin. I get up and I don't feel as groggy as I always did. I wash my face and as I look into the mirror, I notice that my face is less tense than it used to be. I changed much more that what I've imagined. It's too much that it's enough to weird me out. It's been like this for the whole weekend. I'm amazed at how much a few words can change someone. I feel like I should thank her.

I wanted to see her as quickly as I could. I should give her something. I can treat her to a few restaurants that I know. These thoughts raced through my head as the teacher rambles on about today's lesson.

As soon as the bell rings, I bolt out of the room and head to her classroom. I don't see her, she's not here. I really want to see her right now, so I asked someone from her class.

"Um, hi, I'm from the class across the hall, was Faye here earlier? I have something to tell her."

"Oh, you're the guy who's always hanging out with her. What's you're relationship with her?"

I got flustered and I'm unsure how to answer the question. I collected myself and as I was about to answer, she smiled like she's already amused and cut me off before I can say anything.

"It's fine, I'm just kidding. Unfortunately, she didn't go to class today."

"Oh, is that so? Thanks."

I went back to class after that. I just thought to myself that I'll just do it tomorrow. The day ended and begun anew, but she's still not there the next day and the day after that. I started to get worried. So I decided to visit their house.

This was a mistake, I tell myself as I pace myself back and forth in front of her house. I should go home but I'm worried. In the end, I decided to just get through with it. As I was about to ring the doorbell, I hear a voice behind me.

"Who might you be?"

I jolt and immediately turned around. And introduced myself.

"I'm Luke, ma'am, I'm a friend of Faye, is she here? I'm a bit worried."

"Oh, it's you..."

She said as she start to inspect me.

"Um, ma'am?"

"Oh, right, Faye, I'm going to see her right now, wanna come with?"

I nod and she walked to her car and urge me to follow. An awkward silence hangs in the air as she drives. I can't say anything and there's nothing to talk about. I give up and tried to put up with this atmosphere, or so I thought.

"You're the first one who came to our house."

"I thought she had a few friends."

"Yes, she does, but most of the time, they'll only be your friend when you're useful. At least that's what she told me."

"Oh..."

"So, what is she to you?"

I'm caught off guard by the question. I looked at her and I noticed that it was a serious question, not one that you'd be fine without getting answered.

"At first, she used to be just a stranger. Until she pulled me into her world. She makes fun of me a bit but I don't hate that at all. And besides, she's the only one who wanted to be my friend. She's the only friend I have."

"Friend, huh?"

She said as we head to the parking lot of a hospital. Footsteps ring on the linoleum floor as we head to her room. Before long we reached her room and her mother opened the door. There she was as she turn her gaze away from the window and looked at us.

"Hey, missed me?"

Those were the words she said as she saw me walk in.