one year later

[1 : The Past]

Silence.

There was no words exchanged.

The silence was so deafening that she knew one thing.

He knew.

She didn't know how he knew, but he knew. He knows what emotions she hid behind those friendly talks, he knew that somehow she thought of him deeper than a friend, he knew that because of this, their friendship is threatened.

She tried to cover the whole thing up with another whole scenario, making him take the blame. Ah, yes. The guilt. Oh how much she wanted to just to rewind everything that had happened and change it around.

'I'm sorry' was out of place.

Words weren't enough to fix anything.

His eyes looked at her, piercing her very soul, yet she tried her best not to stare back. With great will power she hastened her pace and walked across him as if he wasn't really there. She felt regret and deep sadness fill her heart as bit her lip trying her best to keep the tears from falling.

It won't be the same. The friendship they both took time to grow was finally shattered.

[2 : The Present]

He missed her.

He knew he was missing a part of himself. But he didn't know why until a shrilly birthday ringtone woke him up in the middle of the night. He read the reminder that was written, 'make sure to send her a message exactly when it hits 12'.

He smiled bitterly as he laid back at his bed, blankly looking at the while celing above him.

How could he? She was in the other side of the world and he was in another. With such distance, is it even possible?

He remembered her laughs, her silly expressions, her tears and her stories. He loved it when he heard her voice in the phone, so late at night that he found himself sleeping in a dream.

How did it end? Why did it end?

Was it because she liked him?

He didn't care. He didn't care anymore. He wanted her, her company, her warmth.

He just wanted her back.

Then an idea popped up his mind. He yanked his cellphone out the cord and e-mailed these words:

"Hey there's a quote that says: 'Few women admit their age. Few men act theirs.' Stop being a man and act your age. Get ahold of yourself, don't act as if this is only your problem. Oh yeah, happy birthday."

He smiles as he drifts off to sleep.

[3 : One Year Later]

It was the same place, in the same hallway.

They meet again, much more than they were before. But yet that empty space didn't fill even though a year has passed.

Both walked in the same hallway, passing each other like before.

But he decided he won't let go.

"Hey." His voice rang through her ears as she stopped her tracks, then looked back at him.

"Hey." She replied.

She felt her heart beating wildly. This was the chance. The past was the past, its time to move on.

He knew that he had to save the little they still had.

She knew that it was better having a bit than none at all.

"How's your year?" Both of them asked in unison, with knowing smiles that played in their lips.