Chapter 27

Matt and Furi have graduated from high school. They wore wide smiles on their lips as they wore white gowns and held diplomas in their hands.

Matt was honored as the valedictorian of their school. He also gave a small speech for an honor he had overcome and of course Furi was part of those who inspired him to overcome every challenge.

The bride burst into tears of joy and clapped her hand. After getting off the stage, he immediately approached her and hugged her tightly. A sweet smile appeared on the young man's lips and he gently kissed his bride on the lips.

Their classmates who witnessed the love between the two screamed and applauded. Even Jeff just grinned and put his arm around his new girlfriend Eri's shoulder. While Trixie was in the back and silently watched the two of them. He just accepted that he and Matt were going to be there and then he turned and walked away.

That same day, Furi took the young man to their house, to introduce Matt to his parents. At first they were both a bit nervous, especially since her father was strict and she was the only child.

But in the end he still accepted him and considered him as a new part of their family. Furi got along well with Matt's parents. Perhaps, they are happy with the girl because she is funny and hardworking when it comes to housework.

A year later they decided to live together in the same house. After all, their parents have come to an agreement and they will go to the wedding one day. They did not object to the decision made by the two, rather they even supported it and gave a little advice regarding the two of them together.

The house that she and Matt will be staying in came directly from the savings they both had. Before their first class in college came again, they both looked for part time jobs at different fast food chains. The two of them have already talked about their future and one of them will have his own house.

It's not that big. It's simple and fits two people. But both of them are still satisfied and happy because somehow they are gradually realizing each other's dreams.

"Next time, our house is big. I'll make a yard for the kids to play in." Matt said to her as he put his arm around his bride's shoulder and they looked out of the house they built.

"Baby? Wait a minute, don't tell me baby is on your mind right away?" the girl turned to him.

"Or why? Aren't I also going to be your future husband?" he was curious.

"Future husband?" Furi bowed her head in shame and blushed on both cheeks at what her boyfriend said.

"Is it you, what else do you want to add to our future family house?" he asked. The girl raised her head for a moment and looked at the front of their house. They both imagine their life there as a happy family.

"I'm going to start a garden. I'm going to grow vegetables, like eggplants, tomatoes, okra and stuff!" he replied with a smile.

"No problem. Just start cooking." After he said that, Furi was silent for a moment and looked into the distance. The young man seemed surprised and frowned.

"Or why? don't say you can't cook?" he said but the bride didn't answer him right away and she just went inside their house.

Matt followed him with a smirk on his lips and a shake of his head.

The next morning, as soon as Furi opened his eyes, he seemed to hear some noise coming from the kitchen. They still have separate rooms even though they live together under the same roof.

That's because Matt promised the girl's parents that they would still have separate rooms, until they got married and finished college.

Furi got up from the bed and rubbed his eyes. He also stretched a little and then put on his house slippers.

He only slightly opened the door and peeked in from the outside. He noticed that the young man was not there in the living room and that the noise he heard seemed to be in the kitchen.

So he thought of leaving the room for a while and slowly walked towards the kitchen. After he arrived, he stopped for a moment and looked at the young man's shirtless body, while he was still laughing and had a headset on his ear.

He is currently cooking breakfast for the two of them. But it seems that he is even more enamored with the handsome and muscular body of the young man who only has an apron covering his top.

Furi just grinned and grabbed his cell phone from his pocket. She took a photo of the boyfriend and gently hugged him from behind.

The young man seemed to jump in shock and turned to him.

"Are you awake yet?" he said as he kissed her on the forehead.

"You dance really well." The girl joked with him at the same time he took a jug from the fridge and placed it on the table.

"Have you been there for a while? I mean, you've been lusting after me for a while now?" he said mischievously but Furi just grinned at him and sat down at the table.

Matt put down the hotdog and scrambled eggs he had cooked and removed the apron he was wearing. The girl immediately picked up a fork and poked a hot dog and was about to eat it but stopped immediately when she saw Matt taking off his apron.

He almost gaped and looked up and down at her muscular body. She swallowed deeply and was mesmerized by the beauty of her boyfriend.

It's early morning but it feels like it's already warm inside. Is it because of the hot dog I'm holding or because of my hot and yummy-looking boyfriend? sailing the girl in his mind.

Matt seemed to notice that the girl was just staring at him while she was holding a hot dog fork in her hand. He just grinned and put back on the apron he had just taken off.

Oh why? why is he wearing that apron again?! Furi whispered angrily in his mind.

The young man approached him and sat across from him. He was still glancing at Furi's face, who had been staring at his body for a while.

"Is that hot dog good?" he asked.

"Yes." It was a quick response while just staring at his muscular chest.

"Really? what's better? the hotdog or me?" he was just joking but he was stunned for a moment when the girl answered him.

"You." What he said surprised them both.

"Oh really?" he said smiling but suddenly Furi came to his senses and quickly looked away from him.

"Huh? what are you talking about?" he just said dead malicious. The young man didn't answer him and just drew a smile on his lips.

"By the way, did you wash?" he was curious when he noticed the dried saliva on the side of the girl's ear.

"Y-yeah!" he answered even though the truth was that he had just woken up. Matt just grinned again and shook his head.

"I hope you at least wash your hands before eating." He said in a whisper but Furi ignored him and pretended not to hear anything.

A few moments later, the girl suddenly stood up and went to the sink. Matt's gaze followed him and he just laughed when he saw that he was washing his face and washing his hands as well.

"There, my hands are clean and I have washed my face. Are you happy?" he said to him and suddenly sat back in his place to continue what he was eating earlier.

Matt didn't speak anymore, instead he just smiled when he caught a glimpse of the girl's face. In truth, he doesn't really care even if he hasn't showered or washed his hands. It is enough for him to be with the woman he dreams of being with for the rest of his life.

AFTER they ate, they both just leaned on the sofa because they were so full.

Furi looked at her boyfriend for a moment and it seemed that his lameness reappeared.

"Hey, Matt. Who's going to wash the dishes?" he asked as he just closed his eyes and rested.

"It's you. I cooked breakfast for the two of us." He replied.

"Won't you help me? There's too much to wash in the sink."

"You can do it."

"That's right. Go ahead, you too, we might run out of plates." After he said that, Matt quickly opened his eyes and turned to him.

"What do you mean? you don't even know how to wash dishes?" he was curious.

"It's wise, but you know my hands are so soft. Maybe if I wash them by myself, maybe we won't have any more plates to use tomorrow and we'll just eat banana leaves ?" he said and suddenly the young man with a wrinkle on his forehead stood up in shock.

***

"Babe, I passed!" Furi shouted when he received a text message from the school they were both enrolled in.

Suddenly the girl stood up on the sofa and started to jump up and down. Matt looked at him with a smile and clapped his hands.

"I'm close to achieving my dream of becoming a teacher!" she happily knew about the boyfriend.

"Well, congratulations Ms. Furi Aparente for passing your entrance exam." The young man said to him as he sat cross-legged on the sofa.

"Is it you, babe? hasn't anyone texted you yet, about your entrance exam results?" said Furi and sat next to the young man with one arm resting on his shoulder.

"I just thought. What if I don't pass? Will you get mad and leave me?" he wondered at the same time he looked at the girl who seemed to suddenly think about what he asked.

"Get angry? Why should I be angry with you? There are many other courses in college that you can take besides fine arts, aren't there?" he said but for a moment Matt looked at the tv screen and his face was serious.

"No. I don't want another course. You know it's always been my dream to become a photographer." He answered and Furi just let out a deep breath, but he didn't let the young man know.

"What are you! I'm sure you'll pass. You're so smart! Have you forgotten? You're Matteus Xenos, the valedictorian of our batch!" he just said, to lighten her mood and avoid the serious discussion between the two of them.

After that, Furi just leaned on the sofa while she simply looked at the serious face of her boyfriend.

Why does it seem like there is something different about him now? and by the way, why did he think of such a thing? does he have a problem? sailing it in his mind.

A month later, Furi's first day of class at college began. He was excited to wear his new uniform and enter the new university they attended.

When he left the room, he found Matt still sitting on the sofa watching TV.

"Matt!" he called but she didn't immediately turn to him. So he called her name again and turned to her.

"Matt, what time is it! what are you doing there? we're going to be late for class." The girl said and Matt suddenly stood up as he turned off the TV.

"Come on, I'll take you first." That's all he said as he put on his white sleeveless shirt that was just resting on the electric fan.

"Huh? What are you talking about? Aren't you going to go with me?" he asked curiously with one hand.

"No. We have class later, so I'll just drop you off at the school entrance." He replied while the girl watched him from head to toe. He was only wearing black shorts, a white shirt that looked like he had torn it to make it into rags and slippers that were also a bit too small for him.

Matt was stunned for a moment and turned to his girlfriend. He noticed her face as if he was observing her appearance as well as the clothes she was wearing.

"Hold on, I'm just going to change." He said. He was about to enter his room but the girl immediately stopped him and held him by the arm.

"Don't even take me to your corner. I can do it alone, babe." That's all he said. A smile appeared on the young man's lips and he walked on his shoulder.

"Hey! you're heavy, Matt!" said Furi as he shoved his boyfriend's muscular arm over his shoulder.

"Are you sure I'll just take you to the corner? Maybe later on you'll get lost where you're going?" he joked.

"What do you think of me, toddler?" the girl replied annoyed to him.

"Why, is it true? I can see you baby, can't I?" he said but Furi just ignored him and just smirked.

"That's how it should be! You should smile every day. It doesn't suit you to be frowning all the time. It's up to you, too. You'll age quickly looking like this." Said the young man while making his face look ugly. The girl laughed and laughed loudly at what he was doing to her face.

"You're ugly! Stop it!" she said laughing as her boyfriend put his arm around her shoulder again.

"Just text me if there's a problem or if you've arrived at school, okay?"

"Yes, Sir. Matthew." He replied with a smile on his face.

"Oh hey, there's the jeep. Are you really sure you can do it alone?" he asked again but the girl just nodded and said goodbye to him. Matt waited for him to get into a jeep and leave.

When it was far away, he turned around and walked back to their house.

MEANWHILE, the jeep that Furi was riding stopped for a while and the new passenger got in and sat next to the girl.

"Miss, let me pay." Said the young man next to him. The girl turned to him and noticed the logo stamped on her uniform that was similar to hers.

Well, look at the opportunity. This guy next to me is still my school mate. Voyage of the girl in her mind.

He just took the bill he was handing to him and then passed it to the driver who was just near his seat.

"Sir, it's a payment." Furi said to the jeepney driver. It only took a few moments for him to realize that he had not yet paid the driver his fare.

That's why he immediately rummaged in his bag and skirt pocket, but no matter what cape he had, he couldn't find anything.

"Hey!" he just said when he realized that he had indeed left his wallet inside his room.

Well, what do I do now? It's embarrassing if I just get off a jeep that doesn't pay. It is very unfair to those who paid, including the driver. He nervously whispered in his mind.

"Or change." Said the jeepney driver and the girl handed the change to the young student next to her.

Can I just borrow a fare from him? after all, we are going to the same school and I will pay him right away. But, it's a shame! I wonder what he will think of me.

But, it looks like we're about to go down. Hey! Whatever.

"Excuse me?" he shyly turned to the neighbor while his eyes were closed and a headset was slapped on his ear.

"Psst! brother, can I ask you a favor?" he said weakly and looked around them. He slightly approached the teenager's face and whispered in his ear.

"That's the truth. I forgot to bring my wallet earlier. I haven't been able to pay for the jeep yet, can I borrow you twenty? After all, we're going to the same school, so I'll just pay you back when I get my wallet. Don't worry, I won't run you over." He whispered but she didn't seem to hear him and his eyes were still closed.

Furi bit her lip in embarrassment and walked away from the young man without him answering her. He was almost terribly nervous and didn't know what to do.

A few moments later, the young man next to him suddenly opened his eyes and removed the headset that was stuck in his ear.

"For." This is what the driver said. The jeep immediately stopped on one side and the girl was shocked when she realized that they had reached their school.

Are we here? omg! what should I say to the driver? should I go down or just apologize to him? he said confusedly in his mind.

The young man stood up for a moment and grabbed money from his pocket, at the same time he handed Furi a twenty which surprised him.

The girl accepted it without hesitation and then gave it to the driver who did not wait for his change.

"Just keep a change, thank you!" that's all he said and he immediately got off the jeep.

He seemed to breathe a sigh of relief and even followed the young man who had lent him the fare earlier.

"Brother! Thank you for the twenty. Don't worry, I'll give it back to you as soon as I get my wallet." He promised the young student with a smile but he still ignored him.

"What I really thought earlier was that you didn't hear me. That's why I was so scared and nervous that the jeepney driver and other passengers might get angry with me because I didn't have money to pay for the fare." He said, even if he didn't even look at him or look at him.

"By the way, I'm Furi. Remember my name and face, maybe we'll meet again on the road and I'll forget what I owe you." After he said that, the young man stopped walking for a moment and so did Furi.

He turned to her and looked at her carefully from head to toe. The young woman seemed shocked and had a trace of surprise on her face. He just grinned and continued walking again.

"What's that? Did he scan my entire being?" he weakly promised himself. The girl just ignored him and hurried to walk inside the university.

The young man's gaze followed him and his lips twitched again.

"Furi." the word that came out of his mouth as he watched the poor girl.

***

ASHER'S POV

(I met a strange girl in my school.)

"Psst! Brother, can I ask you for a favor? That's the truth. I forgot to bring my wallet earlier. Because I haven't been able to pay here in the jeep, can I borrow you a twenty first? after all, we're going to the same school, I'll just pay you when I get my wallet. Don't worry, I won't run you over." Said the woman next to me in the jeep.

I just leaned my head against the window, with my eyes closed and earphones in my ears, but no music was playing.

I actually do that every time I ride a jeep. I don't like it because the passengers who followed me handed me payment and change. I also often sit and ride at the very end of the jeep, to avoid reaching out and paying but that day there was only space in the middle, so I just sat there and pretended to sleep.

I really purposely did not play any music on my earphones, so that I could hear the loud beeping of the security guard at our school and I could easily know if I had reached my destination.

At that moment, the female student next to me suddenly approached and whispered in my ear. I opened my eyes slightly but I didn't show it to him.

I saw that he was very close to me. I just clenched my fist when I felt so nervous and my heart beat so fast.

It seems that for the first time he immediately captured my attention. Undeniably, she is beautiful and simple to look at.

She's the type I want in a woman. No grooming, no lipstick on the face, no body art and a smooth face.

I can see every bead of sweat on his forehead. He seems to be very nervous, because he hasn't paid his fare yet. When I thought about that, I suddenly felt pain and pity in my heart.

So I reached for a coin in my pocket, but I was immediately stunned.

How can I give it to him?

Should I introduce myself or just hand it to him?

"For." I said to the jeepney driver when I realized that I had arrived in front of our school.

I briefly turned to the girl next to me. I noticed the school logo on his uniform. That's when I realized that we went to the same school. So I immediately handed him the money and immediately got out of the jeep.

I waited for him to get out of the jeep before I continued my walk. I want to be sure that he is really my schoolmate.

I was not disappointed because as soon as he got off the jeep, he immediately came to me with a wide smile on his lips that reached to his ears.

"Brother! Thank you for the twenty. Don't worry, I'll give it back to you as soon as I get my wallet." He said that but I just scolded him. I don't want him to think that I'm easy to get and get close to him.

"What I really thought earlier was that you didn't hear me. That's why I was so scared and nervous that the jeepney driver and other passengers might get angry with me because I didn't have money to pay for the fare." He said even if I'm dead I'm just malicious. That's when I realized that he was really talkative.

"By the way, I'm Furi. Remember my name and face, maybe we'll meet again on the road and I'll forget what I owe you." His introduction.

When I heard his name, I stopped walking for a moment and turned to him.

Wait a minute. Is what I heard him say right? Is his name Furi? I was sailing in my mind as I watched him from head to toe.

Because I had a classmate back then in elementary school. He is a fun and playful classmate. We were seatmates so we became close to each other right away.

That's why the bullies used to chase me in our school. They tease me about being a pig or a pig that is always left alone in the kitchen.

But then, my wonderwoman came to me. She saves this chubby boy from those bullies. He held my hands tightly and defended me from those who bullied me before.

After that, the bullies never approached me again. As long as Furi is with me, I feel safe with him.

That's why I felt special feelings for her. I also promised him then that I would marry him when we were both of the right age.

I know that was a long time ago. But the happy memories of the two of us are still planted in my heart.

I think about her every day, where she is now or what she looked like as a young girl.

But, are destinies real?

I've only once felt comfortable with a woman and her name was my childhood crush.

They have the same name and they also have the same hours.

It's simple but their beauty is captivating. I also see in him the appearance of the little Furi I knew before.

Is it just a coincidence or maybe fate really brought us together?

But, if she's really the girl I'm looking for and I've known for a long time, I'll be even happier.

I might even jump for joy and hug him very tightly. Even my heartbeat says, I hope it's really him. I hope he's really the Furi I've been waiting for so long.

If only we hadn't moved then maybe he would still be with me and we would still be friends to this day.

××××××××

"Bro, look at the beauty of that bebot." Kiko elbowed me. I turned to what he was teaching and I was shocked when I saw the girl I was riding with earlier in the jeep entering our classroom.

"Oh shit!" I quickly turned around and fixed my hair.

"What are you doing, man? And why does your hair seem so stiff right now? Did you wash all the wax off your head?" he said as he rubbed my hair but I just hit his hand and pushed him away.

"Don't touch my hair!" I said annoyed to him.

"What are you doing there?" he asked again but I ignored him.

By the way, he is Francis M, not Francis Magalona but Francis Magalang. Francis Magalona is an idol of his parents, so they also imitated his nickname, which is Kiko.

He has been my friend since our first year of high school. Loud, observant, kela, GGSS or self-handsome and very talkative person, ever since I first met him.

He was also my seatmate back then and always copied me when there were quizzes. But I'm still happy because he became my friend. I don't get bored when I'm with him, because he doesn't run out of stories or jokes every time we're together.

"Ask for powder. Do you have any powder there?" I turned to him. He frowned and looked at me with a hint of surprise on his face.

"No! You want the powder on the blackboard for me to give you. And by the way, when did you have powder on your face?" he said but I just ignored him and looked at my phone screen again.

"Why are you doing so well with your hair? It's so hard! It's almost impossible to comb with your hands." He said more. So I turned to him for a moment and pulled his hair.

"You want me to pull all the strands out of your hair?" I said disgustedly as I tugged at his hair. He suddenly pushed me hard, causing me to lose my balance and fall from my seat.

Almost all our classmates turned to the two of us when they heard the loud crash when I fell.

I just lay on the floor and looked at the ceiling. I was very surprised when I realized that the girl I was with in the jeep earlier was now in front of me.

"You again?" he asked as he bent over me.

From that moment I was suddenly stunned. I just stared at her and was amazed by her beauty.

Even though I was just lying down and she was bending over me, I could still see her goddess-like face, even though I knew that she was crazy about me now.

"Are you all right?" he asked again, but this time he offered me a hand to help me get up.

I feel butterflies in my stomach. The lifting of my back in the clouds and the explosion of bright colors of fireworks. Those are what I imagine and feel when I hold his hand.

I just stared at his soft and white hand while I felt that feeling very well.

But the friendly and beautiful music was suddenly destroyed like a broken plate, from when Kiko intervened in the moment between us and he forced me to get up.

He grabbed me by one arm, which made me sit on the floor faster.

"Are you all right, p're? Did you get a headache?" he asked with concern in his voice. I just looked at him badly and stomped on where he was sitting.

"You're really smart, no matter what!" I weakly responded to him. He looked at me and there was still a trace of surprise on his face.

"What's your problem?" he said but I didn't pay much attention to him anymore and I stood up on my own.

I turned to one side for a moment and noticed that the girl in front of me had suddenly disappeared.

"Where is that? where did he go?" I asked myself, still scratching my head.

"Hey, Nash! who are you looking for?" said Kiko, but I just sat back in my seat and still looked around us.