CHAPTER 43: Three Words, Eight Letters

GABRIEL’s P.O.V.

I feel thousands of fluttering butterflies inside of my stomach the moment that Erevell wiped away the dirt on my lips. She tried to teased me, but of course, I remained quiet, not wanting her to find out about my feelings this instance. I want my confession to be extra special, one that she will never forget and even I, if ever that she leave me alone one day. I am planning to tell her about this later today, but I was just finding out a perfect time for that.

“This is so delicious. I wish I have eaten here more before...” Erevell suddenly stated, making me stop to look over her direction.

“But we did... I mean, we always eat here before, right?”

“I mean, while you’re away... You know, when you left. I haven’t find time to come here all by myself.”

“And why is that?” I asked her wondering myself.

“Well, I don’t know... Maybe because I don’t want to be reminded by you...”

My brows furrowed in an intense confusion. She tried to forget me? Why? I mean... I felt heart broken for one second, until she continued her statement.

“I mean... Not that I wanted to forget you. It was just... You know... I can’t fully explain it without hurting you.”

“Then fine, just say it, Erevell. No regrets, right?” I assured her.

“Okay then... When I found out that you left after prom... I undergone depression. I just got a new pair of lungs and I badly wanted to tell my best friend about it... That’s when I thought of telling you about my disease... But it was already too late. You’re gone. And I thought you will never coming back.”

“So... That’s the reason why you... Why you got depressed? I’m really sorry, Erevell...” I held her hand, panicking. I never thought that she gone through all of that without me.

“Maybe. But I am not blaming you. All of us has to move on with our own lives. So my Mom helped me cope up. Thankfully, I did... And when you came back... I tried to act fine, because all in all, it wasn’t your fault.”

“I’m really sorry, Erevell. I didn’t mean to leave you behind during your hardest moments in life.”

“Look, Gab. I am not saying all of this to make you feel guilty. I just wanted to be honest, and say everything to you before I... You know... Just like what you said... No regrets, right?”

“I’m sorry that you have to go through all of those alone...” I tightly gripped her hand, not wanting to let go. She smiled, before putting her other hand on top of mine.

“You don’t have to apologize,” she assured me, before wiping the tears in my hands and then she laughed. “Why are we even talking about those times? I mean, we should be happy, right? Make every seconds count...”

I chuckled, before helping her wiped her tears using my thumb. And then the two of us finally decided to finish out food, before going out of the restaurant. As we did, we decided to have a walk in the nearby park. I pushed her wheelchair all the way through, while watching the beautiful view of places. I parked her wheelchair under a tree, thinking that this is my perfect chance to confess... To say those three words and eight letters.

“I have a favor to ask, Vell...” I started off

“What is that?” she asked me, curiosity is visible in her eyes.

“Stay here, alright?”

“Okay?” she agreed, partially hesitating. “As if I have the strength to pushed myself.”

I smiled, before giving her a forehead kiss. She seems surprised, before I ran away, moving towards the other side of the park. Her brows furrowed in confusion, while watching me get farther and farther away from her.

“Erevell!” I shouted as I finally reached my destination.

“I can’t hear you!” she shouted back, making me smile even more.

Great, this is my chance. It will be up to her whether she could understand me or not. The only important thing is that I can finally confessed to her, making it easier for me to accept things. I know that she probably going to leave me behind soon, but at least I wouldn’t have any regrets because I already told her everything that I wanted to say.

“Great!” I put on a thumb sign, and he just shrugged her shoulders as if nothing make sense.

“Come back here! I can’t understand anything about this, Gab!”

I raised my hand, signaling her to wait. She was about to try and stand up to follow me here, but I shook my head, before stopping her.

“What now? I can’t hear you!” she stated, while pointing her ears and wiggling her hands several times.

“One! Four! Three!” I shouted.

“What?! Are you crazy?” she asked me, and I knew that she couldn’t understand any of my words.

“One, four, three!”

“One? Four... Three?!” she asked shouting.

I nodded, and she started scratching her head as if she didn’t get the meaning of it. I decided to walk back to her, smiling for I am not yet embarrassed of what did I do. She didn’t get it. But I realized that the people around us already noticed that there has been some kind of confession happening around them. They are all chuckling and smiling mischievously, as if teasing us. When I finally reached Erevell, she looked at me, confused.

“Uhm... What was that? I mean, the one four three thing.”

“It’s a code. Google it.” I chuckled.

She shook her head, before sighing. And then she typed it on her phone. It took her a while to process what she’s reading, before turning her gaze upon me with melancholic smile plastered upon her face.

“You... Maybe I’ve searched the wrong thing.”

“No, you didn’t. It’s true. I... I don’t know how to say it... But just to make sure... One, four, three. Three words, eight letters. I love you, Erevell. Not just as a friend... But more than that. I love you. I love you more than anything else in this world. And I know what you’re probably thinking... That I just wanted to make you happy that is why I’m doing this... But no... I’m doing this not to make you happy, but to make myself so. I want to be happy, with you. So please, let me love you... Let me be your shelter even just this once...”

To be continued...