Hey.
Heyyy, what's up?
Soo, are you busy this friday?
No, not really. Why?
Well, I was wondering if you wanted to grab some dinner with me.
Like a date?
Do you want it to be a date?
Yeah, um...about that.
You know, I think I have some other plans this Friday, can we raincheck?
Oh...yeah sure.
I'll text you okay?
Yeah, yeah.
Bye Austin.
...bye
---
George or Austin, sighed in disappointment the moment she hung up on him. Maria had been acting weird after the kiss, and it bothered him that she wouldn't tell him what was wrong with her.
He thought that his feelings were mutual but looking at how she handled things between them, keeping distance, it made him realize that it maybe wasn't so mutual. And it made him sad to know that maybe the kiss meant nothing to her, and that maybe she only said she liked him back for the sake of his ego, or hers? I don't know.
On the other hand, Maria was feeling guilty for rejecting his offer for a dinner. She was the one who brought up the idea of a "date" then why would she run away?
Truth to be told, she was terrified. Maria had never felt a connection this strong with someone and it scared her. Sure, she dated people back in high school, but she had never felt anything like this. Everything about Austin was different, even the kiss felt different.
She was confused. He lied to her about being Austin, he knew it was her the minute she told him her name. Despite the hurt that she felt, she still wanted to trust him.
Is that even normal? she thought.
Maria had never been good with relationships, which made this one of the reasons why she took up psychology. She wanted to learn how the brain actually worked when someone fell in love. She wanted to know why people give up so much for their loved ones. But right now, she was the one who experiencing this, and still she had no idea why.
"This is so frustrating!" She screamed and buried her head in her pillow.
"You okay there, ree?" Blake asked when he heard his sister screaming like someone stole her fork. He sat on the bed beside her and stroked her hair.
"Why do I have to like him?" She asked her brother.
"Who are we talking about now?"
"George" or Austin, or whatever the hell his name was.
"Ah, your dummy." Blake said. Maria narrowed her eyes at her brother.
"I never told you that George was him." She said and Blake shrugged.
"It doesn't take a genius to find out."
"But...how?"
"You see, sister. Just by looking at the way he was looking at you, it was obvious. That dude adores you, seriously. But yet I can see the guilt in his eyes every time he talks to you, as George and not Austin. I may not be a psychology student, but I know guilt when I see it."
Maria sighed. She didn't realize that. Maybe i was too busy giving him glares and all.
"He called me just a minute ago. Asked me to grab some dinner this friday."
"What did you say?"
"I said I would raincheck."
"Are you serious?!"
"Yeah, and why are you so mad?"
"Maria, which part of 'that dude adores you' you did not get it?" He asked. "You know what? you should consider the fact that you also being in denial. You knew he went to UW just like you, didn't you? You knew he was in the same class as you too! That's--"
"He lied to me, Blake. For months! You don't know what it feels like to be stuck in the line between forget him or stay even though he lied." And i want to stay so bad, so so bad.
"Oh, IÂ know." Blake muttered, now Maria felt guilty.
"I'm sorry" she said giving her brother an apologetic look.
"It's okay." He said and squeezed her shoulder. "Listen, Maria, you got to think about this."
"Yeah."
"No, seriously. I know what it feels like, and you were the one who told me to run after her. And now, I swear I will be the one who drag you to him. I'll take a stab or two if that's what it takes." He said making her laugh.
"Thank you, Blake. You're stupid but i still love you." She said hugging him.
"Yeah we all know who the genius child is. I have to go back to my dorm now. Will you be okay with that?" He asked.
"Sure, why wouldn't I be?" She smiled. She walked her brother to the door and giving him the one more hug. The minute she closed her door, her smile faded and she found herself staring at her phone not sure what to do with it.
Oh Blake, how i wish i didn't lie.
----
Maria couldn't sleep, maybe the fact that her place felt bigger now since Blake was back to his dorm, or maybe the fact that she was starving.
She checked the clock and it was three in the morning. She groaned remembering that she had a morning lecture. She tried to sleep again, but her stomach began growling and she couldn't ignore it anymore. She got up and took her sweater, grabbed her keys and walked to her car.
She went to the nearest 24 hour drive thru and silently ate her fries while driving back to her place, but she didn't feel like going home. She checked the time and it was 3:45 am. She knew for sure that she was going to be late even if she tried to sleep now.
Maybe I'll skip the class. I never did it anyway.
She took a right turn and found herself driving to the nearest beach from her university. It had been awhile since she went there. The last time she was there, it was with the brother and their turtle zhité.
She parked her car and took her food out with her. She sat on her car and silently ate her burger while feeling the cold wind passing through her hair. She had almost finished her fries when she heard something moving behind her and she let out a scream when a hand touched her shoulder. Where the hell is my fork then i need it!?!
"Hey, hey! It's okay!" She stopped and stared at the dark figure in front of her. That voice sounded dangerously familiar, she gulped.
"Austin?" She asked, hesitating.
"Maria?" Oh shit, it's really him. "What are you doing here?" He asked.
"I was just--wait, what are you doing here?"
"I went here to clear my mind." He shrugged his shoulder and took a seat beside her.
"Oh."
"Yeah."
No one dared to speak after that, they both were too busy debating with their own thoughts.
George was shocked when he saw Maria. Could it be the universe's sign that he had to he meet her here? If he remembered correctly, this beach is also the first time he saw her. He shook his head, it seemed like, how they met, how they talk and how they know each other was one big messed up coincidence
It had been half an hour and still no one dared to speak and break the ice. She was the one who was putting a distance in the first place, then why didn't she say something? George couldn't take it anymore, he cleared his throat, trying to catch her attention.
But she didn't look up, heck she didn't even act like she hear him. Maria was too busy thinking about him, thinking about the possibilities with him. She finally snapped out of her thoughts when she felt a light shake from her shoulder. She looked beside her and found George was already looking at her.
"You were spacing." He said and she blushed. Thank God it's dark.
"Maria?"
"Hmm?"
"Why are you being distant?" He asked, she opened her mouth to say something but closed it again when she found no words to say. She wasn't even sure why. Did it really scare her to have something more with him? Yes. Yes it did. She shook her head and glanced at George, he was still looking at her. She caught him staring like he wasn't ashamed to be caught doing that.
"You lied, George. Austin, whatever you call yourself." George felt this weird feeling in his chest. She had never called him George, and he didn't like it. It was either blondie, dummy or Austin.
"I know. I'm sorry." He said, staring at his shoes.
"You lied and shouldn't it have made me, you know, break my trust?" She paused, and took a deep breath. "But it didn't, and it scares me."
"Maria--"
"Dummy, shut up and let me talk." She snapped getting annoyed. "I was stuck between wanting to forget that it ever happened, or stay. And believe me i want to stay, so bad."
"Then what's stopping you?" He asked making her look at him. "You have to be honest with me Maria, that sounds hypocritical coming from me, I was the one who lied to you. But you have to be honest."
"I like you, George. A lot." She muttered after fifteen minutes of silence.
"And I you, Maria." He said.
"I'm scared, George. But when I'm with you, I'm not anymore. Does that even make any sense?"
"It does, yeah. It means you trust me."
"I just told you I did."
"I know."
George was not sure, but he took her arm and put it on his lap as she slowly intertwined their fingers. He moved closer to her and she laid her head on his shoulder.
"This is nice." She mumble and he hummed.
"Yeah it is." He sighed. "Maria, you know i really am sorry, right?"
"Yeah I know. And I'm sorry too, for being distant. I won't do that again, i don't like being away from you." She said playing with his fingers.
"C'mon, get up." He said while getting up and making her frown.
"What do you want?" She asked, yawning.
"Just get up." He said making her groan, he gently pulled her up. "Seriously, c'mon."
"No, I'm sleepy." She said, rubbing eyes as she let out another yawn.
"Fine then," George suddenly carried her bridal style which made her squeal in surprise.
"Put me down!" She said slapping chest, making him laugh. "I swear i will stab you with my fork!"
"No you won't"
"You wanna bet?!"
"Then i will take a stab or two then." He said and kept walking, but then he stopped and finally put her down. "Here, let's sit right here."
"Why are we here?" She asked looking around her. She sat near him and laid her head on his shoulder, closing her eyes.
"Just wait." He said, looking at his watch.
"I'm sleepy, George."
"Hey, don't sleep on me." He said looking at her, she opened her eyes and grinned at him, but then closed her eyes again.
"Hey, Maria."
"Hmmm"
"In a couple minutes, there will be a new dawn and i want you, to give us a new beginning. We don't have to start over, because what happen between us happened, and we can't change that. I'm sorry, for everything. But it also brought us closer, and i am happy for that." He paused. "I don't know what will happen if you give me, us a chance, but i will try my best to make you the happiest girl, ever."
He kissed her hand and held it tight, "I can't promise you anything. Because promises were made to be broken, but I will try, and i will fight for us, we will fight for us." Maria smiled, us, i like that. She intertwined her fingers to his and gave him a light kiss on the cheek. She wasn't sure what would happen if she gave him a chance. Heck, he didn't even know what would happen. But she would fight, and so will he. She ran her hand against his cheek and smiled.
We will fight.
"For us?" She said aloud finishing her thought.
"For us" he said.
A golden ray appeared in the sky as they watched it grow into a big ball of fire changing from dark orange to dark yellow until it began to heat up the earth.
Maria wasn't sure if it was the heat from the sun, or the warm feeling from her body,
But there's one thing that she was certain of,
And it's him.
Fin.
-------
Soooooo, today is my graduation day and i am so tired but i still want to give you guys the last chapter so there is it!! This is the hardest yet the longgest one i swear.
Anyhow, Thank you so much for all the votes and comments, i really appreciate all the kindness comments that made me laugh out loud. You guys are the best kind of people!
Please leave a comment, let me know if you want an epilogue.
Love, ghaevia.