Love

"Let's go? Aunty Amelia said. I nodded as I walk towards her. Mom sent me here, in Bataan. She said because of the work. They aren't able to go home for 3 days, that's why.

We are going to my Aunty's Coffee Shop. When she healed, she decided to have work to avoid overthinking, stress and etc.

There are a lot of people when we arrived, we sat on the vacant seat.

"How's your heart, Aunty?"

"I wish I can say I'm fully moved on..." I agree. They have been together for 14 years, I'm still wondering why her Ex-Fiance did that.

"Still waiting for his explanation?" She smiled and slowly nodded. "Will you come back to him?" She let out a deep sigh. "At first, I wanted to. I can't let him go because I know he has a reason."She explained.

"But now?" She shook her head. "I can't even imagine coming back to him, I've already had enough." She pointed to her chest, where the heart is. "She wants to rest already..."

"Will you two talk?"

"Mhm..."

"He's chasing me now," She laughed without humor. "Too late," I was a bit shocked.

"He started chasing me when he knew I was diagnosed with depression, he made it even worse." She smiled sadly.

"I knew he just did that because of pity, and I don't want that."

"Did you regret falling in love with him?" I asked again. She now looked at me with a smile on her lips while caressing my hair.

She shook her head. "No, falling in love with him is like living my best life, he's my favorite pain." I nodded and smiled at her.

"He's my favorite pain until I lost myself,"

"Do you still love him, Aunty?" She smiled sadly. "I will always love him, but not the way I loved him before. It's the love that I want to give, the love that won't choose him every day as I chose him back then."

"How about you, Hija? Do you love someone as of the moment?" She genuinely smiled at me. Should I say it? I was a bit nervous, I looked away. I don't know if I should say that I have a boyfriend, I don't know if she allows me to have a boyfriend.

"Nervous, huh?" She mocked me. "Come on, tell me, Hija. I won't be mad." She assured me.

"Was it possible, Aunty? That I'll love someone at a young age?" She nodded slowly. "Love has no age, Hija."

"I-I have a... b-boyfriend, Aunty," I said, stuttering. She laughed a bit. "Why so nervous, Briana?" I also laughed a bit, but I can't deny I'm still nervous.

"Tell me about him," I nodded and started telling her how we started.

"He'll leave?" She asked when I told her about Travis' plan.

I nodded. "Around grade 10, before or after graduation."

"Is Long Distance Relationship okay with you?" I've heard a lot about Long Distance relationships, they said it's hard. I can't react because I still haven't been in a situation like that.

"Is it hard, Aunty?"

"It is." I felt fear for the two of us.

"But what you need is trust and good communication." I nodded as she explains things to me.

"Do you doubt the love he gives to you?" I shook my head quickly. "No, I really feel alive when he loves me, I feel like I am at home."

We've talked about him a lot, she literally said that I'm a simp for Travis. Well, I don't deny that.

"How's your mom?"

"I don't know, Aunty. She seems distant to us, I don't know what's happening. I can't confront them anymore, they just always ended up fighting and blame each other." I explained.

She let out a deep sigh. "I hope your mom already learned from her mistake..."

"Yes! The finals are done!" We screamed in chorus. Everyone was happy because the class was finally over.

"We already grade 9 next school year!" Sabrina exclaimed.

I am happy but sad at the same time because I know Travis' departure is imminent. But I should probably not think about that, I should not worry right now instead just spend time with him.

“Travis’ house at 7 pm,” Marcus reminded us. We said goodbye to each other before heading to our own house.

Travis will send me home and then we’ll see each other at night sometimes, we’re having a picnic, movie date, we sometimes do groceries. That’s our routine, that’s how we bond.

“Let’s go, love?” I nodded as I took my bag.

“How's your day?” He mumbled.

“I’m so happy, the school year is finally done!” I said while he’s holding my hands. We’re walking right now, heading to our house. We sometimes ride a Tricycle but we walked this time so we can talk more.

“How are you?” I looked at him straight to the eyes. “Tell me what you’re thinking.” He commanded.

“I’m okay, love.” I can’t help but smile, he really knows when something’s bothering me.

“No, there’s something bothering you. What is it?” I stayed silent. I don’t want to tell him that I’ll miss him so much once he leaves, I don’t want to sound clingy.

“Wanna talk about it? You can tell me when you’re ready.” He said firmly.

“I’m really okay,” I confess. “It’s just that, the time is passing, you’ll leave. I’ll just miss you so much, that’s it…” He smirked and ran his hand through his hair. I glared at him.

“Damn, baby. You really love me that much, huh?” He mocked me. The two of us just plowed until we got home, we said goodbyes and I watched him leaving.

“I forgot my bikini!” Sabrina complained.

“I have an extra!” I walked towards her and gave her a pair of bikini. We’re having a night swimming here in Travis’ house. His house is a modern one, it’s quite big.

We went to the dressing room and changed. I just wore a Baby Blue Ruched Bust High Waisted Bikini, while Sabrina wore a Paisley & Floral Print Lace-up Back Bikini.

When we went out, the boys were topless.

We just ate and talked about things. We ranted about how draining School is.

“Night swimming is really the best.” We all agree.

I felt a hand around my waist. It’s Travis for sure.

He looked at me from head to toe. But he did it again, but this time, his eyes stayed on my boobs.

“What are you looking at? You pervert!” I uttered while covering his eyes with my hands. We just both laughed, “They’re getting bigger, huh…” I just playfully rolled my eyes and cross my hands around my breast. Ah! This man!

“You’re such a pervert, don’t look at me.” He quickly closed his eyes, teasing me. “Just kidding, love.” He hugged me.

“Damn, you’re so beautiful.” He whispered. I can’t help but smile, he always makes me feel I’m beautiful. Without him, I’ll never have confidence like this.

I tilted my head to see him. “My boyfriend looks so fine,” I whispered and winked at him. He just smirks and ended up pinching my cheeks.

I really love this man.