CHAPTER 17: Those Memories

GABRIEL’s P.O.V.

Our whole flight to Singapore is composed of Mom sitting up and down to go into the lavatory, me eating various kinds of foods, and the both of us sleeping like an idiot on our seats. When the pilot finally told us to put on our seatbelts, that’s when I finally came back to my senses, loosing the ability to sleep again.

Maybe that was because of excitement. Only now that I realized that after a few hours of trip to our hometown, Erevell’s house will be there sitting on the same village as ours and we are finally going to see each other again and maybe spend some time together.

Just reminiscing our memories gives me a nostalgic feeling. It felt nice, being secured and having a safe home to come to every time that I needed it.

“Gab, get ready now. We are almost there. Our plane is going to land pretty much sooner or later,” Mom advised.

I nodded, and as we both wait for our flight to end, I looked down through the window, badly wanting to see the beautiful view of the city beneath us. Until our plane landed, slowly moving to the runway of the airport.

“All passengers, we had arrived at our destination. Welcome.”

A few more minutes passed before the door opened, and all the passengers get their luggages in order to head home as early as possible. Mom and I did the same, before we went inside of the airport building in order for the security to check out our luggages. Then we went to get a cab outside, me being nervous and excited at the same time.

“Are you okay, Gab?” Mom asked me as we get inside of the taxi. “You look... Pale.”

“I’m fine, Mom. Maybe it’s just because of the flight.”

“I guess you’re tired. Just go and visit Erevell tomorrow. For now, just take a rest at our house after we finished moving in.”

Though I badly wanted to see her at the moment, I still need to help Mom fix these stuffs in our house. As we arrived at our home, we instantly do as she said, grabbing our thing out of the cab to fix it inside. We didn’t waste any more moments.

Mom grabbed her keys and opened the door for me. I carried almost one third of our luggages inside, and as I went upstairs to my room, it felt weird, being at home again.

“Erevell...” I whispered out of nowhere.

I cleaned my room, before putting on my things to its proper places. I washed and dry my bedsheets using our laundry dryer, before I set everything aside to have a dinner with my Mom.

“Come, Gab. I cooked some pasta for you. Let’s eat.”

I just nodded before sitting down on the chair at the opposite side of our dining table.

“Is everything alright?” Mom asked curiously.

“Uhm... Yeah, I guess so. It’s just that... It feels weird being in here again.”

“Oh. Don’t worry. You’ll pretty much get used to it specially when you saw your bestfriend tomorrow,” Mom teased.

I chuckled, before I started eating. After finishing our dinner, I helped Mom in washing our dishes before I went up to my room, badly wanting to sleep for I can’t wait to see Erevell again.

I lay down, still reminiscing our memories together... Specially that one special night. Our prom. The last time I saw her awake, before we leave the country. I sighed, thinking how time probably flies so fast. I thought I wouldn’t see her again, but here I am, finally home. I don’t know how much time I spent in thinking about her before I finally slumbered into a deep sleep.

The next day, I woke up by the loud sound coming from my alarm clock. I instantly got up, took a shower and got ready for a long day ahead. When I climbed down from my room, I saw Mom grinning from ear to ear while preparing a French toast for the both of us.

“What’s for breakfast?” I asked, even though I obviously knew about it. I just really wanted to start a conversation with her for I can’t stand being stared by my Mom with a goofy smile plastered upon her face.

“You wake up too early, Gab. I haven’t even prepare our breakfast yet!” she stated, almost laughing.

“What? No, I don’t. You just wake up late, Mom.”

“Fine, fine. Whatever you say. Just eat and go, Gab. I know you’re excited to meet her.”

I chuckled, before grabbing my food. Mom and I ate breakfast together, before I brushed my teeth several times for apparently no reason. Maybe because I am nervous, I guess?

Then when Mom finally let me go outside, I took a deep breath, being nervous while walking towards the direction of Erevell’s house. I play with my fingers out of nervousness, badly wanted to back down as much as I badly wanted to see her. But I’m already here, so I guess that there is no turning back.

When I arrived in front of their house, it felt strange. It was dirty... Very dirty. Erevell wouldn’t let this happen if she’s here... Or is she even here?

My shoulder dropped, thinking for a moment. What if they moved out? What if they’re already in a place far from here? What will I do then? The nervousness instantly faded away, and it was replaced by a pang of guilt and hurt in my chest. I feel like I’m slowly suffocating, unable to accept the fact that Erevell may not be here.

Though all the doubts and other stuffs, I still decided to knock, badly wanted to pound on their door as loudly as I can but to no avail. No one answered. She’s gone.

“Excuse me? Who are you looking for?” one kid asked, passing my direction while riding a bicycle. He stopped, looking at me intently. Seems like he knew something.

“Erevell... Erevell Smith. She live here with her Mom.”

“Correction, she used to. They already moved out, a few month ago...” he blankly stated.

“What?!”

“Yeah. Why are you even looking for that weird girl?” he asked curiously.

I wanted to smile, knowing that she haven’t change even just a little bit. She’s still known as the weirdest girl here in our village. But I can’t be happy and contented just because of that. I wanted to see her, and talk to her personally.

“Nothing... Thanks for the information.”

He just nodded, before driving away using his bicycle. When he completely vanished out of my sight, that’s when my tears started to form at the corners of my eyes. She moved out... With her Mom, of course. And it looks like they aren’t going to come back sooner or later.

All those things that I imagined doing with her as I came back in here... It all faded away. It was replaced by nothing but regret, and a complete sense of lost. I feel like I just let go of the most important thing in the world for me. With a heavy heart and a thousand questions in my head, I decided to went home, merely disappointed of the fact that I couldn’t see her ever again.

As I arrived home, Mom saw my face, but she didn’t bother to say nor ask anything. Maybe because she already found out about that news from our neighborhood. Maybe she just wants to give me some space for she knew that I was greatly disappointed at what happened to me and to my bestfriend as well.

Three days had passed. Our old memories remained crystal clear on my memory, even though I couldn’t see her face. Every morning, after I ate my breakfast, I will visit her house for apparently no reason. Maybe it was because of the fact that I’m still hoping that I would see her here again, even though there is also a fair chance that I won’t. But I remained on trusting the possibilities that Erevell will be right here again, waiting for me to come back. I chose to trust fate more than anything else.

I sat under the tree in front of their house. I sighed several times, trying to contain the sadness in my chest. I do want to see her... Actually, I badly wanted to. But I don’t know how, when and where to meet her. It feels so frustrating for me.

I ran down my palm on my face. I nearly hugged my knees, as I looked down on the ground while trying to suppress my tears. What the hell? I’m not a crybaby person... But if it was for Erevell, everything changes without any more reason.

“So it’s true... You’re back, Gab.”

My eyes widen, before I looked up, surprised to see the owner of that voice... Her angelic voice. It was Erevell, standing right in front of me while smiling widely from ear to ear.