Episode 20

EPISODE TWENTY

How did we end up like this? Both in love, both in pain, burning with romance, aching for each other’s touch, is this what we’re meant to be? Accurate targets of cupid’s arrows but victims of missed chances.

It's been almost a month after Brooke and I became a couple and Arden’s confession. I’m in an emotional rollercoaster for  a while now

I’m happy with Brooke, don’t get me wrong, she doesn’t fail to show me that she cares and loves me and i do love her but it just feels like something is lacking. As with Arden, it’s been even difficult to be around her, we went from being best friends to almost strangers.

Going to school hasn’t been the same either, the gang could sense that something is wrong with Arden and I, Jamie knows of course, but like the great friend that she is, didn’t tell the others what’s up between the two us. Jamie cares and worries but she knows we have to settle this on our own.

I’ve already introduced Brooke to the gang and so far they’ve been very friendly, Arden met Brooke but after their introduction, Arden immediately excused herself and left. She’s still hurting, we both are…

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Classes finished early, Brooke called and asked me if it’s ok for me to meet her since her dance rehearsals will finish earlier than usual, of course I said yes, so now I’m on my to the main gate of our university. My last class was at the 4th floor and I want to use the stairs like I normally do but the stairs has been blocked for today, turns out, a student accidentally tripped on the way to his chemistry class and his project spilled chemicals on the stairs so the maintenance are still cleaning it up

So students are required to use the elevator for a while. So I rode the elevator with 3 other people then it stopped at the 2nd floor. As the other 3 people got off, I saw Arden pacing towards the elevator, she suddenly stopped when she saw me. Arden looked at me with sad, tired eyes, I looked back and felt heaviness on my chest as we continued to stare at each other until the elevator doors closed

I sighed and leaned on the elevator wall, I can still feel heaviness in my chest. I closed my eyes for a bit and took a deep breath and just shrugged it off, I can’t let Brooke see me like this, I want her to see me smiling

So I walked out of the building, trying to look as happy as I can be. When Brooke saw me, she happily approached me and gave me a hug and a kiss

“Hey babe” Brooke smiled

“Hey yourself” I smiled and held her hand

Brooke giggled

“So what do you want to do today?” I asked

“Well…” she opened her bag and showed me 2 pairs of roller skates

“Roller skating?”

She smirked and nodded

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So here we are now, at the park, putting our skates on. Brooke was done so she was waiting for me to finish putting my skates on, when I was done, she quickly took my phone and started skating away

“You have to catch me if you want this back!!” she shouted as she continued to skate

My initial thought was “damn it, Brooke’s a great skater while I’m not that great, it’s gonna take a while for me to catch her”

So I started skating away, trying my best to skate faster so I could catch Brooke while she just skates around me and giggles. After a while, Brooke got a bit tired and slowed down, that’s when I quickly skated to her and hugged which eventually lead to us falling on the ground

We both laughed as we sat up, I looked at Brooke and smirked, “I caught you” I said then opened my palm “My phone please”

Brooke playfully pouted and gave me back my phone

I stood then helped Brooke get up, once we’re up, I held her hand and smiled “what to go grab some ice cream?”

She smiled back and nodded

After buying ice cream, Brooke and I sat at a park bench to rest and of course, eat the ice cream

“We should do this again” Brooke said “and next time we should race”

“I’m all up for the roller skating thing but the race thing, not so much”

Brooke laughed “ok then, next time let’s just stay indoors, watch a movie and cuddle”

“Sounds like a plan” I smiled “how ‘bout we do that this weekend”

“I love to but I can’t” she replied “we have practice”

“Oh yeah, I forgot” I fake pouted “stupid contest!”

Brooke laughed “you are so cute!” then she gave me a nudge and placed her head on my shoulder, “time sure flies” she said “a few more days and we’ve officially been a couple for a month!”

I giggled “want us to celebrate a one month anniversary?”

“That’d be awesome, let’s do that!”

I smiled “okay but no more roller skating”

“Okay” Brooke smiled and gave me a kiss

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I arrived at my apartment and the first thing I did was to check my fridge, only to find out that the only thing I have in there is some chips and half-empty bottle of orange juice, so I decided to go check out the nearest convenience store for something to eat other than junk food

I decided to just walk, instead of using my bicycle, and enjoy the early evening sky. I arrived at the convenience store, looked around for a bit and decided to buy 2 pre-packed ham sandwiches and a bottle of red tea.

As I was walking towards the cashier to pay, I accidently bumped into someone and the bottle of red tea fell on the floor

“I am so sorry” I said then I looked and saw Arden picking up the bottle of red tea

“I’m sorry too” she said and handed me the bottle “hey Nicky”

“Hey” I said as I took the bottle

Arden smiled and walked towards the door and proceeded to the cashier. After paying, I went outside and was surprised to see Arden still there

“Can I walk with you?” she asked

“Sure”

And we started walking back home together, we were quiet for most of the walk and the aura between us was anything but okay

Then Arden spoke “I’m sorry”

“Sorry for what?”

“For not being supportive of your relationship with Brooke” she answered “I mean I should have at least be happy for you but I was seriously hurt when you told me you’re with Brooke, I cried for days” she continued “It’s been almost a month now and to be honest I really miss you” Arden then looked at me “You tried to be friends with me even though I hurt you before, so I’m gonna do the same now”

“Are you over me now?” I asked

“No, not at all but that isn’t an excuse for me to not be friends with you, I love you, I still do but I have to let you go because you’re already happy with her” she said “and I want us to be in good terms before I go back to Korea”

“W-When are you going back?”

“At the end of next month so we don’t have a lot of time to fix all this shit between us” she giggled a bit ”We couldn’t go back to the way we were before but I want to at least be able to call you my friend, is that okay?”

“Of course, I would like that” I smiled

Arden smiled back and we parted ways, when I arrived, I just put the sandwiches and red tea at the fridge, somehow I lost my appetite

She’s leaving in a few weeks, and with too many feelings involved, can we still be friends?