CHAPTER 40: Completing Her List Part II

EREVELL’s P.O.V.

The continuation...

After we get down from the elevator, Gabriel took my hand, leading me towards the outside part of the hospital. He put my coat around me, and I could see the cloudy sky outside of the hospital building. Everything feels so cold, as if I’m starting to suffocate from the intense temperature outside.

“Come on, let me show you something,” he grinned, before pulling me behind him.

“What is it?”

“You will never guess... But it was part of your bucket list...”

I tried to think as hard as I can but nothing came into my mind. When I shook my head as a sign of defeat, he pulled the curtain from the back part of his car, revealing two new and shiny bicycles.

“Whoah! That was amazing! Where did you get that?” I asked him.

“I bought it.”

“What?! That could be really pricey, Gab,” I exclaimed, unable to believe that he bought it just like that.

“I don’t care about the money. I want you to be happy. Now go, pick one that you like.”

“What are we doing with these exactly?” I asked him.

“One thing from your bucket list is to travel using a bicycle.”

“So we are traveling with this?” I asked him again, clapping my hands this time.

“Yes... But only in one condition.”

“What is it?”

“Tell me as soon as you felt something is wrong, okay? I don’t want you getting too tired.”

“Of course, I will!” I hugged him, being really happy for what he did for me. “Thank you so much, Gab! I will never forget this!”

“You’re welcome. You’re my best friend after all.”

“That’s sweet. But where are we going, anyway?”

“Hmm... Let me think for one moment.” He pretended like he was thinking, before smiling at me. “How about to Merlion statue? And then I’ll take a lot of photos of you,” he stated, making me gasped in shock once again. He couldn’t make me so happy anymore.

“Really?! Thank you, Gab! Thank you so much!” I proposed my never ending gratitude towards him.

“Stop thanking me, will you? Just enjoy the moment, okay? Never think about the money or anything else... Just the two of us... And the memories we will make.”

A bead of tear escaped from my eyes, before I hugged him so tight. He’s right. Every memories count. I should just enjoy the moment and stop thinking about anything else. Not even my disease... Or death. I felt him hugged me back, and I felt his warmth covering my body, protecting me from the painful reality of this world.

“Thank you for being a good friend to me, Gab.”

“And thank you, as well. I’m so lucky to have you,” he whispered, making me smile, a genuine one.

After that scenario, the two of us took the road using only our bicycles until we reached the place that I’ve been wanting to see ever since... The Merlion statue here in Singapore. The crowd is insane, too many people are here today but I didn’t let them took away my chance to have a photo with the statue. Gabriel took off his phone from his pocket, before he started taking photos of me, us... Capturing every beautiful that I will be leaving in this world soon.

“Hey... Are you, crying?” Gabriel asked me all of the sudden.

“Me? No... I am not. I was just... Something get inside of my eyes,” I reasoned out.

But instead of leaving me alone, he moved a little bit closer, his face only inches away from mine before he blow my eyes, as if there’s indeed a dirt inside. I feel numbed, thinking that one wrong move and our lips could finally close the gap between one another.

“All better now?” he asked me, making me come back to my senses.

“Yes... Can we eat now? I am starving,” I complained, and he chuckled.

“Guess what we are going to eat?” he asked me, and I smiled, knowing what’s the next thing in my list that is going to be fulfilled.

“Siomais? A hundred pieces,” I laughed.

“You got it right. Now come on, let’s buy some.”

He put his arms around my shoulders, before we searched for a place where we can eat that specific food. I don’t know how many hours passed by, we didn’t even notice that it was already getting dark outside when we came out of the restaurant after finishing a hundred pieces of siomais, my favorite food.

“Damn. I didn’t notice the time,” he stated.

“Me too... Well, we enjoyed the food so much.”

“Your Mom must be looking for you now, Erevell. I’m afraid we can’t travel back to the hospital using the bicycles. We have to commute now.”

“But... What about the list?”

“Well, we can always do it some other time.”

“But we can still finish it. Don’t worry about my Mom. She allowed me to go so I guess there shouldn’t be a problem with her.”

“Are you sure?” I nodded. “Alright then. Let’s do this.”

I smiled, before we continued completing the list. We did some random things and silly stuffs that was listed on this piece of paper, and I just found myself enjoying without even thinking about my disease. Only now that I remembered about it when we almost ran out of things to do.

“And for the last item on your list...” Gabriel suddenly stated, leaving me dumbfounded.

“No, don’t read it out loud!” I tried to stop him, knowing that the last one on my list was a little bit humiliating. However, it was already too late for me to prevent him from reading it.

“Receive a kiss from someone I truly love.”

I blushed out of embarrassment.

“That’s forfeited. My Mom always gives me a kiss,” I tried to reason out.

“I know... But... I love you as well... You’re Mom is not the only person whom can make this certain item on your list come true... Here...”

He held my hand, before pulling me closer towards his body. I looked at him, eyes widened in surprise and nervousness. I could feel my heartbeat raising, and so as he, but he tried his best to hide it away from me.

“Gab... What are you doing?” I asked, panicking.

“I love you. I hope I made you happy by fulfilling your bucket list, Erevell. Please fight for us.”

And with that, he gave me a forehead kiss, one that I never expected to receive from my friend. A bead of tear escaped from my eyes, thinking that with him, I am home. I feel safe and loved. I could never ask for more. I never thought that he would seal this day with such a sweet forehead kiss, after the two of us finally managed to complete my bucket list.