I stayed over Aunt Sylvia’ house for a good year. At first, I tried to find a place of my own in the town but Auntie disagrees. Besides, the town is too small that only few establishments are built. I spent my time learning about flowers and basking in the sun, with Sibyl and Natasha. I’ve grown quite tanned over the summer and happier.
Ilio called me a few times but I always have my excuses over his invitation to hang out. Besides, I live quite far from the city they’re living in, though, I didn’t told them about me staying here.
It was a sunny afternoon, a week before I go back to the city. I’ve thought over things for months and I’ve made up my mind. I’m opening a business. I’m going to be a florist. I’ve taken classes and although there’s more to learn about flower arranging, I’m loving the process of it that I don’t mind learning it my whole life.
I was playing with Natasha with some flowers we plucked in the backyard when my phone ringed. I was expecting that it was Ilio since he had been calling for months, but to my surprise it was Heita’s name in the scree.
“Bien?”
It’s been too long that I quite forgotten what she sounded like, but I know it’s her.
“Heita, where are you?”
“Are you in the city? Can you meet me?”
I sighed.
“I’m in my aunt’s place right now. I’m no longer living in the city.”
“Really? I’m calling to say sorry I have not been able to call you back or answer your messages. I’ve been abroad after the graduation. I forgot my phone because we’re packing hurriedly. Maybe we can meet some other time?”
Abroad? Is it about her family? Well, she has no other reasons to not call me over the years. What happened to her, really?
“Are you back in the coast town?”
“Yeah, just yesterday.”
“I’ll call you maybe next week. I’m planning to go back,” I said.
“Really? Okay, I’ll keep in touch.”
Just like that, it felt like I’m talking to a new person I just met. I know people changes over time, especially those who have no communication over the years. I wonder what she’s like now.
“Tia, look!”
Natasha pointed a lady bug resting in one of the petals of the red rose. She has this adorable smile in her face.
“It’s a lady bug! You should pick it and place it on those leaves,” I said.
“She seems to like to petals, though. What if she don’t want to?”
“To come back?”
She nod innocently. I pouted.
“Then, what should we do?”
She looked me in the eye and said, “Let her be.”
Let her be. Let the ladybug in the petals. Well...
I waved my hand one last time to Sibyl who’s outside the airport. Carrying my full packed luggage, I wait for my flight. I walked pass my reflection in the glass wall and I realized how different I was from a year ago who step foot on this airport. I cut my hair in a French bob cut, again. I can’t help it.
“What time will you arrive?” Heita asked on the other line.
“Maybe around five in the afternoon.”
“Okay, I’ll pick you up.”
Heita’s the one who stayed on my old apartment. She told me she clean it and has her things placed there since she’s still looking for her own space.
Her eyes grow big upon seeing me. She’s beside a car that seems hers. Heita run abruptly towards me for a hug. Her hair is in a shoulder length. She matured. She wears this laid back fit that suits her. very unlikely to the Heita in college that constantly wears her fitted, sexy clothes.
“You look good! Your hair didn’t grew?” she smiled widely.
“I cut it yesterday. It’s already past in my waist but I kind of grew tired of taking care of it.”
“Well, looks good on you. And you kind of lost your baby fat in your face?” she pinch my cheeks.
“You have to compensate me.”
“Yeah, yeah, I know. Let’s go to our apartment,” she said as she put away my luggage. “Your style in clothing seem to change, too.”
“Yeah? I love colours now, Heita,” I said, closing the car’s door.
“Really? You’re not living in your black shirts and dresses now?”
It felt like going home. Well, I’m going back to my apartment. But with Heita around, it felt like college was just yesterday. While driving, I asked her questions I’ve been itching to ask.
“Mom hurriedly asked me too pack the moment she knew my father’s going home. She don’t want to see him. He has another family, a wife and a son fourteen years younger than me. He has been asking to see me but Mom and I refused to. It was a great timing that Mom’s having her business trip abroad so I went with her, just this time I’m not sure if if can go home any sooner.”
“So you completely forgot your phone?”
“Yeah. Unfortunately, I didn’t memorized your phone number. Shiloh’s been out of reach too. So...”
“Well, glad you’re back,” I smiled.
“It’s been three years though. Time slips fast, doesn’t it? I’ve talked to Shiloh. I saw him in the city. In the same neighbourhood he used to live in. Can I tell you this?” she smiled slyly.
I scoffed. “What?”
“He’s handsome before, right?” she asked. She looked at me and on the road back and forth.
“Yeah?”
“I’ll tell you, Beiven! He became this mature man. He’s tall and handsome even more now! Shall we see him some time?”
Heita was the one to se time up with Shiloh before. And I know that she’s doing it again. She didn’t changed a bit. Her personality is all the same. the friend who listened to me is now here, after three years, riding her own car to our apartment. Between those three years, we grew up apart but it felt like I just went for a vacation and now that it ends, Heita picked me up in the airport just like what she promised me before I leave.
I smiled bitterly. I’ve grown. I used to dream to be the person I used to six years ago. Especially in times of difficulties. Now realizing how adult we look and feel right now, I’m grateful and contented that we get to do things that we want on our own ways.
“He has no girlfriend?”
She shook her head, “I asked and he said no.”
I laughed. “You really did asked? What’s your with you?”
“What?”
Back in the apartment, I found her things scattered in a room that once was my office. My furniture is no longer there.
“I’m staying here. We’ll split the bills, okay? I think we have so much to catch up on that it won’t do that we live separately,” she said then continued to organize her things.
“You don’t have a bed, though.”
“Oh, it’s on its way. I ordered it online. It says here that today is the delivery,” she checked her phone.
Seems like I have a roommate now. And, she’s from three years ago.