19: No More Excuses

"Two slices?"

Mom sounds surprised after I lock those slices inside the Tupperware.

"Of course,"

I placed the Tupperware inside my bag before hanging it on my shoulder. I wave her goodbye since my ride comes knocking outside. I hope Mark has his breakfast, if he doesn't I got him a slice of cake he likes this, blueberry cheesecake.

My smile faded after learning who was waiting for me outside. I shut the door, walking passed by him.

"Sue, wait up!"

I was walking as fast as I could to get away from him, but I think it only took him one step to catch me on the sidewalk.

"Leave me alone, Pete," I said, shoving his hand on my arm away.

But he kept his touch on mine. And he reaches my temper every time. I just wanted to be left alone or without him first. I can't afford to shed another tear.

"Sue--"

"Please!" I begged, looking into his eyes, "Can't you do that?" I said pushing him away.

I turn away from him, marching to the waiting shed. But I can still feel his presence following me from behind.

"I can't do that, I can't leave you alone again--"

"You just did last night maybe you can also do it again," I commented.

He isn't having second thoughts about stopping himself even though I'm being mean to him, just to push him away. Just this time, can't he?

"My Boss needed me yesterday, but I ran away from work because I know I left you behind, and I can't message you either,"

"Excuses,"

"Sue, please..."

His pleads made me pause. I looked at him in the corner of my eyes, "Save your excuses to yourself, Pete, and leave me alone... for now, please," I said, then crossed the street, going straight inside the Bus that stopped right in time.

I barely made my way inside due to the people coming inside with me. I ended up standing in front of the door, where I can saw him.

Our eyes hit each other, and I take them immediately away. After the bus starts its engine, my eyes are on him that watching the bus drive away from him.

"Sue, you're here,"

Mark saw me after talking with the other girls that walked away.

"You didn't come," I said with no surprise.

"I was already running late, and maybe you're not at the house anymore,"

"It's fine. It's getting annoying to see you every morning," I whispered.

"What?"

"Nothing,"

"You said something,"

I took out the Tupperware from my bag and handed it to him.

"Cheesecake," he was delighted, holding it in his hand.

WHY IS HE TAKING SO long? There aren't that many customers in Wendy's, though. We came late for our lunch already, and he's still taking too much time in line.

After my mind complained, a tray landed on our table. It has a lot more than I expected it to be, is that how hungry he was? He barely moves during his first year. He isn't done any plates or assignments this week.

"Finally..."

I stepped aside from my work, but when looking up to see Mark, it wasn't him. Instead, he's standing behind Peter with his tray in his hands. His thumb pointed to the other table, not far from us, leaving me with Peter.

I take back the paper since we got here, this is where I spend most of my time. I give all my attention to my drawing, ignoring Peter.

"Lunch?"

I left a sigh at him, starting to pack my things, "Maybe you got the wrong table," I said.

After I stand up from the table, I felt a grip on my wrist, "Can we talk?"

"Not now," I answered, not giving an eye, trying to escape from his hand.

"Please,"

"I'm busy," I turned my head on him.

He finally let his hand off from mine, "Alright," he smiled.

I sat in front of Mark at his table, and he was eating already. He even takes a second glance after seeing me sitting at his table since he's multitasking with the food and his phone.

"What happened?"

I start taking back out the paper, "Nothing happened,"

"Why did you leave him? I left you to him, and you left him,"

It stopped me from drawing over the paper, "I'm busy, and I want to eat,"

He didn't talk for a while after taking a bite of fries on his plate, "He bought you food,"

"Huh?"

"He's with me in line he was first--"

"Mark,"

"What? I'm story-telling," he takes a sip on his cup, "And he ordered a lot, like a lot, I thought it was for someone else, but I caught him standing at our table. So I left you with him, maybe you two needed... alone time?" I saw how he playfully played his eyebrows on me.

"Shut up,"

I pulled the tray close to my touch, but I heard a plastic being placed on my right. My head flickers on it but saw it was from Pete.

"Lunch," he said, not a question anymore.

I didn't either look at the food or him. But I can't help lift my chin at him, watching him leave the Wendy's until his back fades away from the sidewalk.

'You're not my Peter,'

Every word I said to him last night was coming back like a flashback, in every bit.

I take out my phone to have a rest and maybe take a few bites on what he gave. But he messaged right on time I unlocked the screen.

[Peterpan: Dinner later?]

[Peterpan: I won't be late this time]

[Peterpan: Promise]

After I was back on my plate, I noticed how he tried getting fries on my plate, while looking at me in his every chew. His mouth left a gap after I caught him in the act.

"You could have told me!" I slapped his hand.

"Sorry," he said, taking last fist of fries.

"LET'S GO?"

HE ASKED, SNAPPING ME back to my senses. I stood up from the bench, start following him to the parking.

"Actually, I'm taking the bus," I said, stopping us both.

"You don't want a ride?"

I shake my head, "Maybe tomorrow? If you're not late,"

"Will there be cheesecake again? The cake doesn't taste like your recipe,"

"Of course, it isn't. Mom bought it,"

"Yeah," he realized.

I was left behind where the waiting shed stayed while he keep walking to the parking. The bus arrived on time, and I had to clutch my bag. There were too many people fighting for a ride.

But someone became my shield while I was struggling to enter.

"Thanks..." I gave thanks to Peter after recognizing it was him.

He stood beside the pole but he clasped the one above his head and gave me the last space left beside him. But then, someone took it. I couldn't even reach the pole he was holding.

We both lock our eyes, but I immediately take it away. I'll take hold of the door if ever I'll lose balance. He took my hand instead, placing it above his arm, making it a hook for me to stand.

"Thanks," I give a glimpse of a smile at him.

Few stops went by, and he took back his arm, walking out first. I followed him before he looked back at me. He almost gave out his hand to me, just so I could step out.

We're standing in front of Nico's Restaurant. The wind is swinging my hair in the back while the sun rays are getting low.

I went inside him and was greeted with echoed chattering of people inside the restaurant, left and right. The waiter gave us a 6-seater table, so we ended up in front of each other.

I take a look around even after the waiter distributes the menu. This looks fancy at the same time vintage, based on the interior. You can take a look at the bay near Pete's back since it has a glass window. This restaurant is pretty occupied with customers and at the same time, the sound of slapping waves on the shore.

"Do you like it?"

I was distracted by his question.

"Do you like it here?" he changes the question.

"Yeah... it's pretty nice," I flash a smile again.

Silence covered us, but I think it was awkward. It's mixed with awkwardness.

"About last night, I just want to say sorry--"

"Can we not talk about it?"

"Yeah, sorry,"

He kept saying 'sorry', and his sorry's isn't music to my ears anymore. It made me feel guilty, especially about what I said to him.

I raised myself, breaking the silence we had in between, "Actually, I'm sorry that I said those words to you--"

He took my hands before I finished my sentence, holding them in the middle of the table, "No, no, you shouldn't. It's fine, it was my fault,"

"Because you can't blame it on me," I continued his sentence.

"What you felt about last night was valid. And I took advantage of you because you kept flashing efforts on us while I forgot to show mine..." he bowed down.

"Hey, you're trying, remember?" I take hold of his hands back after losing the strength I was feeling when he was holding them a while ago," Maybe my words were too harsh to you. I was just pushed to say those because I felt so stupid sitting alone at a table, thinking I was waiting for nothing. And... I just remembered my father that night, and you were right about your message, but you're not the reason," I can still chuckle about it.

He shifts his seat beside me and pulls me to his side for a hug while my head is on my shoulder, "I promise... not even a single tear will shed on your eyes when you're with me... I'm here," he whispered.

"You like making promises, huh?"

"Because of you," he gave a peck on my forehead, "No more excuses next time,"

"I really won't talk to you anymore,"

"I'm sorry,"

His sorry was too much. I realized that it was also hard for his side since he had never experienced showing himself to others, that's what I saw in him for years. And I could never learn anything about him, about his birthday or one of his soft sides if it weren't for Auntie.

He had a hard time being himself, and right now I can see he's trying. He's trying to be himself not just for me but for him also, and so maybe he could lean to himself whenever there are times he's alone. But as much as I can, I'll be by his side.

We finished our meal at Nico's, and I could say it was the best dinner I have with him. He paid for us even though, I'm willing to have 50 percent of the payment, But he reminded me it was his treat, maybe next time I could pay for us or for myself.

I thought our day ended there, but we sat on the bench near the bay to watch the sunset together.

"Look, it's cute," I pointed at the headband that has lights on it, and it twinkles around the headband.

"Do you want it?"

"I just found it cute,"

"Wait for me," he said, removing his arm from the back of my head.

I watched where he was going, but he was lost in my sight since there were a lot of people walking by. I just watch the sky all by myself for now.

After a few minutes alone on the bench, there were roses presented on my face. I look back to see Peter standing behind me.

"Happy 18th Birthday, love,"

I took my time blushing on the bench, hiding in the flowers taken from his hand while he was walking around to have his seat back beside me.

"Love? Seriously?" I was surprised at what he called me, but still, that made me blush so hard.

"Hell, serious,"

"It's that my Peter?" I chuckled at him, "But my birthday was yesterday you're too late,"

"Don't you like what I prepared for you?"

I turn to my right, facing him, holding his cheek, "I love it, okay? It's just that... you didn't greet me yesterday,"

I felt how cold his hands were after holding it down on his lap, playing with my fingers too, "It was your birthday, I know, and I badly want to say Happy Birthday to you personally, but I end up ruining your day, and I guess it isn't a happy birthday for you,"

"But I waited,"

He hold my cheeks, pulling them towards it and after a second, a kiss landed on my head, "I know, I'm sorry,"

"Thank you," I said, leaning my head on his shoulders, and he even pulled me closer to his embrace now.

"And also..." he pulled something from his back, and it was the headband I was pointing out a while ago.

"I said, I don't want it,"

"What? You said it's cute,"

He wore the headband on my head after making out a ponytail on my hair, switching the lights on my ear, "It's cute on you, though,"

"As always," I annoyingly said.

I picked up my phone to capture the sunset as well as simply a stolen picture of him. His side profile is only captured while the sunset reflects on him.