CHAPTER V UNREQUITED LOVE

Angela’s POV

“Hey Angel! Look! There’s a shooting star!!” said a young boy to his best friend who is sitting next to him on a bench while gazing up the night sky.

The girl looked up, astounded by the beauty of the starry night sky. “Come, make a wish angel!” said the boy then closed his eyes.

But the girl didn’t get what he meant. She’s just staring at her best friend with perplexed look on her face.

When the young boy finally opened his eyes, he noticed the girl who’s just gazing at him. “What are you doing? Why didn’t you make a wish?”

The girl tilted her head sidewards. “Make a wish?”

“Yes, my dad said that if you wish upon a shooting star, it will come true.” Said the boy while fixing his big round glasses.

“Oh really? I should make a wish then!” said the girl then excitedly closed her eyes.

“Idiot.” The boy flicked the girl’s forehead.

“Ouch! Why did you flicked me?” cried the girl while touching her forehead.

“The shooting star already disappeared so what’s the point of wishing upon it? “

“I can’t wish if the shooting star already disappeared?” the girl asked.

“Of course!”

“By the way Carlo, what’s your wish?”

The boy suddenly felt uneasy by his playmate’s question. “Why would I tell you? It’s a wish after all.”

The girl frowned. “Carlo… please tell me your wish. I promise to keep it as secretttt!”

“No.”

“PLEAAAAAAAAAAAAASSSSSSSSSSSSEE CARLO???” The girl pleaded.

The boy thought for a while before speaking. “Do you really want to know my wish?”

“Yesssssssss! ”

“Close your eyes first.”

“Huh? But why do I have to close my eyes?”

“Tch just close it!”

Afraid not being able to know her friend’s wish, the girl quickly closed her eyes.

“My wish is.. I wished that you’ll never forget me no matter what happens..”

Upon hearing what the boy has said, the girl opened her eyes and looked at him. “Why would I forget you?”

“I’m leaving tomorrow..” said the boy, avoiding his playmate’s gaze.

The girl tilted her body towards the boy.“What? Where are you going? Can I go with you?”

“Dad said that I’ll be attending school in States for ten years.”

“Ten years? That’s too long!”

“Yeah.”

Tears began falling from the little girl’s eyes.

“H-Hey Angel, why are you crying?”

“You’re going to leave me…..”

“Yes, I’m going to leave but I will come back after ten years.” the boy said, trying to comfort his friend.

“But that’s too long..”

“I know, but you’re willing to wait for me, right?”

The boy wiped the tears of the girl and looked straight in her eyes. “You’ll wait for me no matter what happens right, Angel?” he repeated.

The girl stopped crying and nod. “I will. I promise.”

It’s been ten years since Carlo left. He promised me that he will come back after ten years, but until now, he never did. Carlo was my first love. He’s the only man that I fell in love with and I just can’t let go of that love. Because until now, I’m still waiting.

I’m still waiting for the day to come that Carlo would finally show up at my door wearing his beautifully iconic smile with his braces on and his big round glasses. I hope that one day, he’ll appear with the memories that we’ve had before and tell me that he’s not going anywhere anymore and just stay beside me forever.

I know how hard it is to wait for someone without any assurance that he’ll come back but I don’t mind it. I don’t mind waiting for Carlo even if it takes another ten years, or even if it takes forever…

“Hi again, dear Angela.”

My train of thoughts was put to a halt when the door of the library opened, revealing Miss Courtney who’s wearing a pink halter dress paired with a 5-inch stiletto.

Sometimes I wonder if Miss Courtney is really a department head or a fashion enthusiast.

“Miss Courtney” I rose from the wooden chair I was currently sitting on.

Miss Courtney walked straight to the shelves, moving her hips exaggeratingly like she’s walking on a runway. “Well, I just came here to borrow some books and also to know if Amanda and Hailey are disturbing you again.”

“Thank you very much Miss Courtney for your concern.”

“By the way, where’s the evil prince?” she asked while looking around the room.

“He hasn’t arrived yet.”

“Oh what a princely attitude.”

Her eyes suddenly darted on my desk, specifically on the pink lunch box that I brought. “You packed food for lunch?” she asked.

“Uh.. y-yes. Actually, I’m planning to give it to Lucifer.. a-as a peace offering..”

She stood in front of me and looked at me intently. “Do you have a crush on that rude prince?” she asked, looking at me skeptically.

“No Miss Courtney. I just want to apologize for what I have done to him..” I replied.

“That’s so sweet of you, Angela. I just hope he’ll accept that.”

“Thank you”

The glass door suddenly opened so both of us shifted our gaze to the person who walked in.

“Speaking of..” said Miss Courtney as she wove her way outside.

“Good Morning Lucifer! Did you sleep well?” I greeted him.

“Fuck you.” He just said then walked towards the shelves.

Will he accept those cookies that I bake? I already gave Lucy and Rafael some cookies so now, my only problem is to find a way to give Lucifer the cookies that I made for him.

I slowly walked towards the shelves where Lucifer is standing while rummaging every book.

I’m so nervous.

Come on, Angela. You can do it!

I took a deep breath before finally speaking up.

“Uh..L-Lucifer…”

As soon as he heard me, he tilted his body towards me. Annoyance is all over his face. “WHAT?!”

“U-Uh… I-I just want to give you uh… s-some of the cookies that I baked…?” I said while handing him the pink lunchbox.

He stared at the lunchbox for a while then look at me again.

“I-It’s not that sweet..and I baked it just for you..” I said, trying to force a smile.

He took the lunchbox from me and opened it.

“I hope you’ll like it—

‘BLAG!’

Instead of tasting the cookies, he threw the lunchbox at me. Some of the cookies hit my face and some are on my uniform making me look like a human cookie.

“L-Lucifer…Why did you throw it?” I said, softly.

He looked at me sharply. “AND DO YOU THINK I’M THAT DUMB TO EAT THOSE FUCKING COOKIES?!!”

“I-I know you still feel bad about I have done to you but I just want to be friends with you…”

“Huh! FRIENDS?! ARE YOU FUCKING SERIOUS?!” He yelled as he started walking towards me and as soon as he got to be near me, he put his right hand on my neck and choked me. “YOU FUCKING RETARDED WOMAN, PUT THIS IN THAT FUCKING TINY MIND OF YOURS. WE.WILL.NEVER.BE.FRIENDS!!!”

I’m trying to take his hands off me because I’m finding it hard to breathe already but he’s just too strong. I thought he would kill me already but he suddenly let go of me and pushed me away

“I think I know now why people hate you so much.” I bravely said as I wiped the smudge of cookies on my face.

He furrowed his brows. “What?”

“Maybe just like me, they wanted to befriend you too. But you’re always pushing them away.”

“What the fuck are you saying? Do you really want to get killed huh?!

“There’s no one in this world who likes to be alone. Sometimes they just keep themselves away from other people because they’re afraid they might end up being lonely.”

He took a thick book from the shelves and throw it to me but I didn’t avoid it. “I DON’T FUCKING CARE ABOUT WHAT THE HELL YOU’RE SAYING. GO FUCK YOURSELF AND LEAVE ME ALONE YOU PIECE OF SHIT!!” he bawled then threw another book at me.

Lucy’s POV

“Do you think Angela’s really alright?” Raffy asked while we’re eating the cookies that Angela gave us.

I drunk my lemon juice first before answering him. “You know what? I think we’re having the same thoughts here. We know Angela very much and we also know that she tends to pretend she’s alright just for us not to worry about her.”

Rafael’s face saddened as he spoke. “If only I could do something for her..”

“Raffy, can I ask you a question?”

“Huh?”

I narrowed my eyes at him. “Do you like Angela?”

It’s obvious that he was surprised by my sudden question. He cleared his throat and straighten his back. Even if he tries to lie to me, I already know the answer. “Yes, I like her very much. I’ve been in love with her since the first time that I met her.” He replied.

“I knew it.”

He widened his eyes. “Y-You knew?”

I poured another juice into my glass. “Duh, Raffy. It’s so obvious! The way you look at her like she was the most beautiful girl in the world, the way you worry so much and the way you treat her is too different from the way that you do to me.”

He sighed heavily. “Am I really THAT obvious?”

“CRYSTAL CLEAR.” I said then drunk again.

Why am I so thirsty?

“Do you think Angela knows about it too?”

I shook my head. “I don’t think so. Angela’s too naïve when it comes to romance so maybe she’s thinking that you’re just too kind. And also because…”

“Because what?”

I looked straight into his eyes.

Should I tell him about that Carlo?

I straightened my back and let out a deep sigh. “Raffy, I know how much you love my best friend and I think that you two will make a great couple but you know…”

He’s staring at me so deeply, patiently waiting for what I’m going to say.

I looked straight in his eyes. “Angela’s been in love with her childhood best friend named Carlo. He went to States back when they were just little kids and promised that he would come back after ten years.”

I can tell that he was too surprised and disappointed at the same time but he chose to be silent and listen to me first. “She may not tell it directly to me but I know that she still got high hopes that someday she’ll get to see Carlo again.”

I’m not saying these things because I want to discourage Raffy, I’m saying it because I think he deserves to know it too.

Raffy didn’t speak so I took his hands. “I didn’t tell you those things because I want you to give up on her, I just want you to help her forget that guy and make her realize that she deserves someone better, she deserves someone who wouldn’t leave her side, someone who knows how to fulfill his promises and someone who loves her more than anything—someone like you.” I smiled at him reassuringly and he smiled back.

“Thanks Lucy. Thank you for supporting me..”

I let go of his hands and pushed him teasingly. “So, when are you planning to confess?”

“I don’t know. Maybe this weekend?” he shrugged.

“That’s cool. Shall we construct our plan now?”

“Nope. I want to do it on my own, without seeking help from anyone.”

I stifled a laugh and patted his shoulders. “That’s my boy!”

Rafael’s POV

I first met Angela when I was in seventh grade.

She was working as a school librarian then and she always help me find the books that I’m looking for. One day, while I was at the library, some boys tried to bully a girl, asking for her money but then when the girl said that she didn’t have that much money, the thugs started to hurt her. That’s when Angela came. Without any hesitation and without thinking that she might get hurt, she helped the girl and fought with the boys.

I didn’t know she’s that brave and cool—way cooler than me. She might look like a weak and harmless innocent girl, but she’s so brave and independent.

“Did you like the food?” Angela asked worriedly after we had dinner at their house with her two siblings.

She doesn’t have to work at the coffee shop every Friday that’s why she invited me to come over. Lucy made an excuse to let both of us be alone together.

“If you’re the one who cooked it, there’s no way it would taste bad!” I replied.

She smiled endearingly at me—having no idea that every time she does, makes me fall in love with her more.

“Rafael! Are you sleeping here?” asked Mary, pulling the hem of my jacket.

I looked down and smiled at her. “Maybe next time, Mary.” I said while patting her head.

The little girl pouted. She looks exactly like Angela.

“Rafael’s not sleeping here because she’s not the boyfriend of Mama Angela!” said Hercules, while grumpily looking at me.

“That’s right. Hahahaha!” I said.

I turned around and saw Angela busy washing the dishes

It somehow feels like we’re a whole family. I’m the father of these two adorable kids and Angela is my beautiful wife. I somehow feel like hugging her from the back right now but I know it would seem rude. We’re just good friends after all. Well at least for now.

“Bye Rafael  Be sure to get home safe.” She waved a goodbye together with her two siblings as I stepped outside their house.

“I will. Goodnight.”

“Goodnight.”

I wait for her to close the door first before I walked towards my car.

Maybe she met that Carlo first, but I can prove that it’s not about who came earlier but who stayed and never left.

Angela’s POV

Good thing Rafael and Lucy didn’t notice the bruises on my face made by the books that Lucifer threw at me. Also the smudges of the cookies on my uniform.

I can’t help but to feel sorry for Lucifer. I think he’s so used of being alone that he thinks it’s normal. Back when I was a child, my mother used to tell me that people who are always alone feels sad. There’s no one to talk to, no one to share your secrets, no one to tell your dreams, no one to care about you. I think shutting people out is a defense mechanism of people who are actually afraid to be alone.

I think Lucifer just needs someone who will break the walls that he built just to keep himself from taking risks and getting hurt. He’s just waiting for someone who will make him realize that it’s okay to depend and trust people. It’s okay to take risks and it feels so great when you know that you are not alone in every battle that you face.

“Mama, why aren’t you sleeping?” asked Mary, who’s lying by my side.

I tilted my body towards her. “Huh? Did I wake you up?”

She shook her head. “No Mama, I just can’t sleep too.”

I put my right hand on her head and gently brush her hair using my fingers. “Do you want me to tell you a story?”

She nodded and smile. “Mama, tell me a story about mother and father.” She requested.

“Sure.”

We both stared at the ceiling as I start narrating while still brushing my fingers on her hair. “Mother, Father and I used to go to the amusement park every Sunday afternoon. They used to buy me a vanilla ice cream and a big teddy bear and then we try every ride there until I get dizzy and tired.” I said, pretending to feel dizzy, making Mary giggle. “And then before we go home, we used to eat in a restaurant that sells fried dumplings. And also, every evening before going to bed, Mother would tell me about a lot of stories or sometimes, Father would sing a lullaby for me to be able to sleep fast.”

“Mother and Father were so kind, weren’t they?” Mary asked.

“They’re the best.” I said.

“Maybe it would be more fun if Mother and Father are still here with us.”

I looked at my younger sister and I saw the longing in her eyes even if the lights are already dimmed. I hugged her tight and kissed her on the forehead. “They love us so much and even if they’re no longer with us, they will always be watching us from heaven.”

She nodded and hugged me back.