Elena Sergio.

The bell goes off which signified that the school day was over. Everyone has their bags and books set up to leave for home respectfully. I was still unbothered about what my eyes witnessed earlier. To an extent I was shocked, knowing fully well that Matthews hadn't gotten angry with anyone before in that kind of manner until Clara crossed her boundaries. A part of me felt bad for Clara. I was human after all, hatred wasn't going to get in my way of seeing that she just got embarrassed in front of the whole class, if not the whole school after falling into the same trap she set up for Matthews. If I was in her shoes, I won't be able to lift my head but she composed herself and left the scene even while she was noticed. My eyes roamed the classroom and the corridor just to get my eyes on Matthews but he zoomed off early to get to his home.

All I had in mind was to go after him and know if he was fine or not. It sounded too sudden but I had no choice. I decided to follow my instincts. My bike was picked up by me at the bike parking lot. I hoped on it and took a ride straight to his place.

While taking a ride, the recent scene I just witnessed began to flashback in my head like a lost memory. I just want to blame myself for what I witnessed earlier. Maybe I hurt him so much that he had to deal with it all to himself. Or maybe I caused him to transfer his aggression unto those who didn't deserve it apart from Clara though. I couldn't help myself but become sad while I rode my bike. Tears were filled at the tips of my eyes, trying to cross their boundaries to flow down my cheek but I held them back. It wasn't going to help me either way. I longed to talk to him and help him get over his pain. I needed to hear this voice badly when he decided to voice out his pain. My intentions were never to hurt him and that's all he needed to know.

I finally arrived at his place and took the first step to knock. I hope to see his face when the door opens to welcome me in. My hands were folded as I trembled in fear. Sounds of feet approaching the door were held and I kept myself together. The first impression was everything.

"Hey Elena, how are you?" Matthews' mom answered the door. I wasn't going to lie to myself. I felt my heart break a bit since I expected someone else but she shouldn't see the disappointment on my face.

"Hi, Mrs. Dunlop. I'm doing great. I'm here to see your son," I said in a bit of haste just for my reasons to be known without going around the bush.

"Oh yes. He's in the backyard. I'm sure he's expecting your arrival," She said with a smile on her face and stretched her hands while she gave me directions. Her words made me smile, especially when she said he was expecting me. Maybe I was overthinking when I journeyed to this place. I just hated seeing him weak and miserable.

My steps were taken slowly towards the backyard. The places I stepped my feet upon looked tattered and dirty. It looked like no one had been here in weeks. I know I have watched movies like this, where they had that part of the house that seemed unusual, I think it was happening in my reality.

My eyes finally met him. He sat on the ground with his legs and hands folded together, just staring at what I couldn't fathom in my eyes. He noticed my presence and his eyes met mine. I felt that sensation and had that belief that all will be alright since I was here. He looked really sad when I looked into his eyes. He must have been here to get all in his space and have a rethink.

Upon sighting me, he ran over to me and before I realize what was happening, his hands were wrapped tightly around me. To be honest with me, I have missed this. His warm hugs. But this one was a little bit too uncomfortable and I was gasping for breath. I tap lightly on his shoulder trying to disengage myself from him. We have missed each other from what just occurred. After the hug, an awful silence followed, it hung between us. It was clear that we both had something we wanted to say to the other but none of us wanted to crack first.

"Are you still mad at me?" I said almost within myself.

"Huh," He replied, having not heard what I said.

"Are you still mad at me?" I reiterated, using the iota of bravado in me to sound a little louder this time.

"Why exactly?" He asked. I don't know if but it felt like pretense before my eyes.

"I can't say. Maybe because of what I told you," I replied to him.

"What did you tell me?"

"You know. About Daniel? My partner in rehearsal–" I had to cut myself short here. It wasn't difficult to the look of the annoyance plastered on his face. It was justifiable. He would have felt slightly betrayed or irritated by the sound of his name. I mean one fight and your girlfriend ran off to kiss some other guy even though it wasn't the exact situation, there was no time to explain myself severally.

"No." That was all he said. Though his facial expression had said otherwise. I decided to take his word for it again and drop the discussion. I remembered seeing Clara at his place the previous day and with what I just witnessed in school, it didn't add up together. It was time to bring the matter up.

"Why was Clara at your place?" My words were filled with jealousy, if not obvious.

"Oh. That!" He put in before I could continue with whatever I wanted to say. "Don't go believing that there's a thing between Clara and me." I rolled my eyes.

"Would you tell me if you did?" I asked still enunciated with jealousy.

"I'm serious. There's nothing. But I shouldn't have called her anyways. I only needed someone to talk to and since you weren't there, I settled for less."

"Yeah sure," I said as disinterested as I could sound. I didn't want to seem like I was rushing back to him like ants after sugar. But indeed, I wanted to rush back to him like an ant rushing after sugar.

"How's your rehearsal going?" He asked.

"It's fine," I smiled deeply. It was nice to know that he genuinely cares and that he listened to me intently enough to remember the details like how I was the kwas actress in the school musical coming up soon. I had been rehearsing diligently for weeks now and I hoped to deliver well. We spoke about the rehearsal a bit. Well, it was me doing most of the talking and Matthews nodding his head intermittently pretending to understand. Things between us were steadily going back to the way they'd have been. I was truly happy.

"I won't lie. I'm a bit nervous," I said, feeling rather bashful.

"Why?"

"I mean it's my first time performing in front of a large number of people. I'm going to fumble."

"Come off it. You won't. I believe in you," He assured me. I loved when he did that.

"Thanks, Matthews," I said.

"It's no biggie. Just believe in yourself as I believe in you and you'd do great."

He got up from where he sat and move towards me, pulling me into his arms. This time he hugged me lightly, the moment that was to kill for. He kissed me on my cheek. I fell all fluttery and warm inside.

"Let's go visit the game arcade downtown", Matthew said. "You need a break from all your hassles."

Matthew was right. It had been a while since I had time for myself because of my rehearsals. I would always rush there after school to practice time and time again with Daniel. Besides, some time off from my busy schedule for myself will not hurt.

"Alright. When?", I asked.

"Right now", Matthew answered.

"Right now?"

"Yes, sure. Got somewhere to be?"

I pushed my mother's warning to be back in time for dinner to the back of my head and consented to go with Matthew to the arcade. I disengaged myself from him and watched him as he went inside the house to put on more appropriate clothes. In roughly five minutes, he was out. Looks and smells fresh. I loved his sense of fashion. It came with an aura of confidence. He carried himself with poise. He took my hands and led us outside the house. Then the thought of him and Clara flashed in my head. But I chased it away as quickly as it came. He had explained himself and whatever happened or didn't happen between him and Clara was in the past. I would not let the thought trouble me.

We stopped at the garage and he opened it, pulled out his mom's car, and parked outside the garage. He went on to close the garage and lock it properly before circling over to open the door for me. My gosh, the chivalry. The drive to the arcade was a bit of a distance so we decide to pass the time with the music. We turned on the radio and it rent the air with songs. Matthew and I had different music interests so we decided to listen to our genre once before switching it over to the next person's. Then we got to realize that the other person's genre was not just as bad as we each thought it was. And if we took the time to evaluate it, we'd find something to enjoy in the other person's genre.

"Pop ain't that bad", he said, bobbing his head gently to one of Doja Cat's songs.

"Yeah hip hop is a bit okay", I said. I had always felt that rap music was all about dissing one another and using a lot of cuss words.

"Pop is still the best though", I continued.

"Yeah, you wish", Matthew retorted.

"I don't, because it already is", I put in.

He didn't concur but he held his music tastes and opinions to himself to avoid dragging the issue further.

Soon enough, we were at the arcade. Matthew wended the car down the arcade parking lot and parked in a free spot. We got out of the vehicle and proceeded to enter the arcade. Now, the games at the arcade were one thing that Matthew and I agreed on and enjoyed doing together. We decided to prioritize the games according to the ones we loved doing the most. We had a go at almost game. When I noticed that Matthew had begun his winning streak, I'd sulk and act all sad till he'd let me win some.

We had fun, something I couldn't deny at all. It felt exciting to see ourselves loving each other company again. We tried mostly all the games in the arcade and the end, I turned out to be a terrible player. Nothing was taken hard to heart because we were in it for fun. We were kids anyone who always fought for the first position in every game we decide to play, just like the old times.

His happiness was my happiness. His expression for me was everything. The way he would twirl around like a little girl who dreamt of being a princess or the way he acted like an old man who just won a lottery. Everything was pleasing to the eyes to see. Even when it was known to me to get home on time before dinner, I had to put him first and it thought me something. Love is beneficial when sacrifices are made. It becomes a test every single day when you and your partner can face your challenges together and solve your differences amicably. Love is a beautiful thing.