-Celine Garcia

Smile. Smile, Celine.

Walking along this corridor with smiles on their faces, I became curious. What made them smile? How do you do it? Is there a trick to it? A technique perhaps? Honestly,

I forgot how to smile.

-Anthony Williams

"Shut up. Who would like a guy like Anthony?", Leah asked Sam.

"Well, I was just curious so I asked you.", Sam replied. A hint of pink made a shadow across Sam's cheeks.

"To be honest, I like someone else." Sam almost choked and cleared his throat. He spotted me.

"Yo!"

"I tried my best to be as invisible to you guys. You looked serious.", I said.

"Well you failed at being invisible.", Leah said as she approached us.

"Anyway, I have an errand to do."

"Alright. See you later." I walked away from them. Unfortunately, that darn homeroom teacher asked me to bring these art materials to the art room. I arrived at the art room and placed the things inside the shelf.

I let out a huge sigh as those things were pretty heavy.

"It seems pretty dusty in here. Better open the windows then." I opened the windows to see a sight of a girl.

Long golden brown hair. Those dark brown eyes that looked so beautiful. She held a book. A reading maiden was right in front of me. Sitting under the blooming tree, I never realized how beautiful she was. Spring really makes everything beautiful.

But.

Hatred makes everything dark and ugly.

-Celine Garcia

Gentle kisses from the wind overwhelmed me. A book full of romance that I will never understand. A romance I will never be deserving of experiencing.

Closing my eyes, his face always shows up. It makes me happy and sad. Guilty and sinful. Though I will never be able to hug him and tell him that everything will be okay. How I wish I could be like the girl in this book. Forgiven yet never experienced how love feels like. It's okay. I never deserved it anyway.

Startled by a banging sound, I stood up. In front of me, a window was open. Was someone here? I reached for the window and took a peek inside. Tears began to come crawling down my cheeks. I saw a canvas. The painter must have been looking at me, placing his sight on the canvas - a ripped canvas.

Anthony.

I turned away from the window and looked down on my feet. Indeed,

I never deserve anything so beautiful.

- Anthony Williams

Sitting along the corridor, I never thought I would paint something like that. Since when did I start painting that? Unconciously, I did it. It was a blurry painting but somehow I was able to picture her clearly. WHY?

"Anthony?" I looked up and I saw her.

"What are you doing here?" Speechless, this made me furious. I stood up and faced her. I can't see her clearly. But why was I able to paint her? Even though it was a blurry painting. It was an abstract.

"Why the hell did you show up?! After all this time!" Oh no.  Please. What am I saying?

"I have had enough of you! Leave me alone you scumbag!" I gasped but never dared look at her this time. I felt something warm around me. It got a bit tighter now. Light sobs echoed through my left ear.

"Let go.", I whispered, "please."

"Can you hear me out? Atleast this time only.", she asked but I did not say anything.

-Celine Garcia

Overwhelmed with guilt, it gave me the courage to hug him - one of the things I have always wanted to do.

"I'm sorry, Anthony."

-Anthony Williams

There was a long pause. It was very quiet. Classes were already starting yet both of us are still here, in this corridor.

"I have to go.", I said. The hug loosened. I stood up and I left her behind, sitting in a daze.

"Where have you been? You missed first period.", Lee asked.

"Something came up." I sat down on my seat. Hours ticked by and the day was over. Ding dong.

"I'll get it.", my mom said. I took a drink from the fridge.

"Mom, who is it?", I asked. But when I went to the door, my mom went stiff. To our sight was that woman from eight years ago. I stopped drinking.

"Good evening. I wanted to -" She was cut off when my mom gave her a good hard slap on the face. Her face was covered by her long hair. She touched her cheek which was in pain. I was shocked, speechless to be exact.

"Leave."

"I just wanted to -"

"LEAVE!", my mom lost it. That woman left. My mom went straight to her room, sobbing.

A part of me wanted to stay but still... a part of me wanted to go after her.

I wore my shoes, opened the door, and I ran looking for her. Where is she? I looked everywhere but I still could not find her. I decided to take a little break by the bridge. Walking along the sidewalk towards the bridge, I saw a faint figure. As I got nearer, I realized it was her. My eyes widened in realization that she might do something crazy. I stared at her. She stood up on the ledge of the bridge. I ran for my life. I ran as fast as I could towards her. Dear God, I may hate her so much but please, don't let her die.

"I'm lost. I can't do this anymore." I heard her say.

"STOP!", I screamed to the very top of my lungs, hoping that she had heard me. She was surprised and she lost her balance. Sh tripped off the ledge and let out a huge gasp. Help her god dammit!

I was able to grab her left arm. Thank goodness.

"Why.", she whispered. I didn't answer her. Instead, I kept pulling her towards me.

"Let go.", she ordered me so. I did not listen and I managed to lead her to safety.

"Why. You hate me don't you?"

"Uh. Yeah I do."

"Then why did you save me?! I don't deserve this." I was silent.

"I was a fool to think that I could save you. Then I realized that I couldn't. I could not and I never will be able to."

"I don't need you saving me from anything. It will make me look like I'm weak."

"Even so! I could never atone for my sin. My life isn't even enough to atone for it." She's crying. So many tears are flowing out of her eyes. Her eyes are swollen. Sobbing and sobbing. I have never seen her not cry.

"If you died,", I paused and I looked at her. She looked back at me.

"If you died, then I wouldn't have a reason to be vengeful about something. Though it isn't a good reason to be around."

She had this surprised look on her face. I looked away.

"For the record, I can't see you very clearly so -" I was stopped by the hand on my cheek again.

"Thank you." My heart started beating fast. Her palm was really warm. It was a soothing feeling yet why is my heart beating really fast? This feels so wierd. I stared at her. Trying to picture out what kind of face she was making now.

-Celine Garcia

For the first time in eight years,

I smiled.