It’s Sunday and I’ve done everything I had to do. I wrote all the letters—and my hand hurts because I wrote many, many pages—, I delivered them, I helped Coni with the balloons, I saw Lee Won and her gang, and now I’m back at my home, washing my hands trying to get rid of a all the paint from the twelve water balloons I blew up.

Why do I have to be so clumsy? At least that made Coni laugh and it’s a good thing I chose my flat’s rooftop to meet her because I can come back home, shower and change clothes.

I’m ready to meet her now.

I have to set up everything for her arrival and I feel so nervous. My hands keep shaking because I know she’s there. She left her home and she surely found my letter. Did she follow this? Did she go to Kristal and the others? Did she enjoy her breakfast? The musical?

I should’ve told Kristal to text me. The suspense is killing me.

I find myself looking at the clock constantly. If things are going according to plan, she should be going to meet Archie now, to have lunch with him. I don’t think I can eat today, my stomach is tied in knots and I lost all my appetite. What if she doesn’t get there? What if she got tired and went back home?

As I prepare the sandwiches I wonder where she is right now. It makes me so nervous knowing she’s there, so close but not here yet. Even if she went back home, she’s there, in the same city and that makes me feel all tingly inside.

I guess if this doesn’t work, besides apologising to everyone, I could wait in the bench the whole day until she picks up the post-it or she leaves one. She would leave a post-it if she doesn’t meet me, right? One apologising, saying she didn’t feel prepared or that she was ill and she couldn’t make it. I would accept any excuse, even if it’s not good. I would understand no matter what.

Once I’m done preparing the basket for our late picnic with the different type of sandwiches—because that’s the best thing I can do and that can wait for her no matter how long it takes for her to arrive—, cupcakes I made and some fruit inside, I also grab a blanket, two glasses of wine because these are prettier, I’m not thinking of giving her wine. Unless she likes it and would like that. I have. Just in case.

With all that, I go to the rooftop to set everything up. It’s a good thing it’s not that chilly but it’ll get colder as the day goes by, so after I put the blanket and the basket there, I get some cushions for her to sit and go for other blankets to keep there, neatly folded in case she gets cold and wants to wrap herself in something else. I don’t want her to get a cold because of me.

I get startled when my mobile buzzes in my pocket, almost making me lose my balance and fall on top of everything I’ve set.

She’s great and she’s on her way —Archie

My breath gets caught in my throat when I read that.

She went to Archie.  She’s on her way. She’s collecting the letters and she’ll be here. Archie met her. Oh my God, Archie met her! And he said she’s great.

I burst out laughing, unable to control it because I’m just so happy. I was so afraid she wouldn’t follow the letter, that she would stand me up but no, she’s doing this crazy scavenger hunt. I’ve received confirmation.

I can’t help myself, I ring Archie.

“Tell me everything!” I blurt out when he picks up. “No, don’t! Don’t ruin it. Let me see her for myself,” I correct myself immediately and I can hear him chuckling.

“I won’t tell you but be at ease. She’s great, you won’t be disappointed. And yes, she’s a girl, around our age, and yes, her name is Macarena. It’s not someone playing with you or anything,” he confirms and I bend down, hugging my knees as relief fills my body.

I didn’t believe she was lying to me or anything but I the possibility was there and I couldn’t just ignore it. She probably had the same doubts.

“She’s really on her way,” I whisper and I hear Archie chuckling again.

“Yes, you’re finally meeting her, Reid. And don’t worry, no one has told her your name yet,” he reassures me and I sigh. “And you know what was curious? I thought she was gonna ask me so many things about you. Like age, hobbies, criminal record and whatnot, but she asked me about me. How I met you and things like that.”

I frown because I also thought she would ask him about me, to ease her mind.

“Really?”

“Yeah, mate. She said she would ask those things to you,” he continues and I blink in surprise but then a smile comes to my lips, more satisfied with this outcome. “I think you two will do great and now that you’re getting a girlfriend, maybe I should listen to you and Maca and ask Steph out,” he adds offhandedly and I choke.

“Really?!”

Archie laughs and I have to stand up because my legs start to feel numb. “Yeah. Maca also told me, she was very interested in Steph and I as well, how we met and more. She told me I should ask her out instead of keeping her waiting. You think Steph is waiting for me to ask her out?” he questions and I snort.

“I’ve been trying to tell you that all this time. You’re my friend but mate, you’re slow.”

He laughs again and it’s good to hear him so relaxed. “I think I am. Then I will and wish me luck. I hope I won’t say something completely humiliating and she’ll accept.”

“She will,” I state very convinced and I know he’s smiling like I am. “Good luck, Archie.”

“Good luck to you, too, Reid,” he replies and I nod even if he can’t see it.

We hang up and I can’t wipe out the smile from my lips. I’m happy for my friend and that he’s finally making his move, but I’m even happier to know Maca is on her way. She’s coming. I’ll meet her in a few hours. All I’ve prepared, all I’ve waited will be over because she’ll be here, on this rooftop with me.

I think I’m going to get sick. I’m just too excited. I don’t even know what to do now, it’s like I have a party inside of me and I can’t stay still. I go and sit on the swing and grab my phone, trying to amuse myself but I keep thinking of Maca. She must be with Coni right now, and then she’ll see Lee Won, then my sister and then the guys performing Hamlet. And that’s it, after that she’ll come to me.

How am I supposed to stay still?!

I pace from one extreme to the other, watching the view hoping I might see her but of course, I wouldn’t recognise her. Or maybe I would? What if I run into her, could I feel she’s my post-it girl? Maybe I wouldn’t, maybe I’ve run into her already and never noticed her.

No. I would know. I’m sure of that.

I can’t do anything but wait and I do that until I receive a new text.

She said yes!!! Steph said yes!! Ashjgahjsgjah —Archie

I laugh when I read the text. Of course she would say yes. The surprise would be if she didn’t say yes, which of course couldn’t have happened.

I sigh because it was about time those two got together.

Cheers, mate! It was about time —Reid

I can imagine Archie, all bubbly and chuckling, ecstatic because he’s finally asked her out and of course now they’ll be dating and he’ll be in an amazing mood for weeks. The only bad thing is that I won’t have that to tease him because he asked her out. Now I’ll only be able to tease him about how long it took for him to get the courage to do so.

Later, I receive another text and I think it’s Archie telling me he’s waiting for Steph to finish her shift to take her somewhere and maybe asking where that could be, but it’s not him.

She’s here. I approve! —Grace

I get super nervous now, hoping she won’t say anything bad to her and at the same time I feel like puking because she’s so close. After this is just one more stop. One more stop and she’ll be here.

Oh, I don’t think I’m ready.

Oh, but if Maca’s with Grace, that means soon she’ll listen to the playlist. So I run for my headphones, the other set I have. I gave Grace the purple Beats so she could hand them to Maca and the MP3 player with the playlist.

I go back to the rooftop and the wind is a bit stronger, it blows my hair in every direction and I struggle with it for a while. It’s in moments like this one when I regret having long hair—even if it’s not that long, it barely touches my shoulders—and I wonder how girls manage. So instead of fighting, I grab it all and pull it in a bun how Grace taught me.

Ah yeah, this is better.

So I go to the swing again and just wait for the moment Grace will let me know it’s time to press play.

She’s on her way. Hit play! —Grace

And that’s what I do. Magic by Coldplay starts and I’m glad Archie proposed this idea because it’ll help me to relax before she arrives and something to help me kill time.

Thank you.  Did you really like her? —Reid

We loved her. The kids, the dogs and Bert says she’ll make a great sister-in-law. How’s the priest doing? —Grace

I laugh out loud that she keeps saying that, but I also smile because I’m happy Grace likes her and thinks she’s a good girl. And that the kids and dogs also liked her.

By the way, I had to lend her some clothes ‘cos the dogs attacked her. Too much love, it’s not healthy. So then you’ll have to bring her here to get her clothes back —Grace

PS: She’s really pretty. Exactly your type. Well done (; —Grace

I feel my stomach tie in knots again when I read those texts, wondering how does she looks like but then I just dismiss that thought. I don’t care what she looks like because what I care about is the girl I’ve got to know through post-its and that girl is amazing no matter what she looks like.

The playlists ends and I’m left with nothing else to do. Thirty songs went by in a blink of an eye. She must be with Raj and the others now, reading the last letter, figuring out my name. Or maybe she’s on her way here.

Oh God.

The day's been endless, but it's almost over. I know she's out there, I know she's on her way to me. I know we are getting closer and I've been waiting for her, since that fortuitous reply.

Because everything started with a post-it.

And now I’ve sent her letters. I’ve made her meet new people. I’ve made her go from one place to another, seeing things that hopefully she never saw before. I’ve made her go through a parade.

She’s almost here.

And I’m about to wee myself! I can’t believe my bladder’s timing. So I have to run back to my flat, hoping she won’t arrive when I’m not around. What if she gets here when I’m not and think I’ve stood her up and leaves? I would have to bang my head against the wall for eternity. But I have to go to the loo or then I’ll have to go when she’s here. I don’t want to miss a second with her.

So I hurry downstairs, inside my flat and then to the loo. Then back to the rooftop, breathing hard because running is not my thing, but at least I didn’t trip. I wouldn’t make a good impression with bruises all over my face.

When I walk back on to rooftop there’s someone else. A girl. Maca.

She’s standing there, in a black coat with purple tights and black boots, I can see the hem of a black dress with grey small dots pattern. Her auburn hair flies in every direction thanks to the wind and with one hand she tries to keep it behind her ear. She has a small purse and my polaroid, the headphones are around her neck.

It’s Maca. She’s here. She’s finally here.

My heart races in my chest as I take another step closer, and another, and another. She’s short, the top of her head probably reaches my chin and I think that’s ultimately adorable. I can barely breathe because it’s over. The wait it’s over, she’s here.

Shaking inside and out, I breathe out, “You’re here.”

-:-:-

*screams* Maca said she hated me after this chapter xD anyhow, 600 votes for chapter 12! Go you all, you can do it :p

Bel, xx