Jas's residence.

I hurried the keys into the key holes and unlatched them. Promptly, I climbed upstairs and jumped into his room in no time. I inspected every nook and corner in an attempt to find him. Still, his presence was absent.

Did he vanish into thin air?

"Oh, you stupid mind! Just shut up!" I commanded my nonsense brain as it started imagining fantasy stuff. I couldn't think of anything else, as I was at the extreme peak of confusion. I quickly sneaked into his entire house in search of him. Forthwith, I found his bathroom locked in.

"Jas? Are you there?" I screamed to verify if he was fine.

No reply.

"Don't even think of breaking in." Susan warned me after judging my thoughts.

"Thank you for proposing the idea," I said.

It took a lot of diligent efforts to break it as a single person, as Susan was not willing to help. As soon as I broke the latch, I saw Jas lying unconscious in the bath tub. He was partially submerged in the cold water. I tried shaking him to wake him up. But he was lying still. I forcibly splashed water on his face. It took quite a long time for him to gain his senses.

"Are you feeling good?" I caressed his forehead to check on him.

"A bit better." He rubbed his eyes mildly to get clear vision.

"But what are you doing here, El? Aren't you supposed to be in your classes?" He asked as if nothing had happened.

"Yeah. But when I came here this morning, I found this stupid letter on your lawn. And my half-witted mind began imagining horrific things. Henceforth, I broke in. Of course, without Susan's aid."

I continued, "You were lying senseless. After a prolonged wait, you woke up and are now questioning me mindlessly." Somehow I was relieved that nothing terrific happened.

"What the heck? You broke the door? You are so intolerable, El." He regretted the repair charges.

"Stop being so stingy. You should thank me for rescuing you."

"It's just that I dizzied down as usual. Nothing big. You already know that I have had this health issue since my childhood, right?"

"To hell with your dizziness, Jas. I was totally freaked out this time, only because of this letter of yours."

I showed him that piece of paper and impatiently waited for the response. His face customized an immediate change in its reaction.

"So, what are you saying about this?"

"This is just... Just a script for a story, El. Nothing more."

It was well apparent that he was striving to manage somehow. I didn't wish to dig it up further. But I assured him, "Let me know if you're not feeling okay. I'm right next to you." I patted his shoulder.

"Yeah, El. Definitely." He reassured.

"Better, you can make the move to the classes. Susan is here to take care of me already."

"Nope, Jas. I thought of spending the left-over day with you after all."

We managed to have a not-so-boring day. We watched few movies and had a finger-licking good meal prepared by Susan.

"Clara called me, worrying why I didn't show up to school. I informed her to come here with the other two once the classes get over." I told him.

"Yay, that sounds like a plan." His face bloomed.

After such a long time, we both spent some quality time together.

"You know, Jas. You have been my best friend ever since I was in my teens. Without you for a single day, I don't know how I'll manage. Every moment we shared in our childhood is beyond price."

"Do you remember the greeting card you made for my 11th birthday? It's still safe with me as a souvenir of our togetherness. I'm sorry for not letting you know this before. But you mean a lot to me. If you think you need a hand for help, always count mine first." I paused.

"And I wish everyone should get a friend like you. So that they'll also get to enjoy the ecstasy I relished."

I didn't know why I said this to him. But deep down, I felt that he should know how much he means to me.

"El, I wanted to share this thing with you. But something ceases me from it always." He looked straight into my eyes this time. I could feel the beat of his heart.

I peered back at him in search of those concealed emotions.

"I don't know why I'm encountering this fluctuation in my feelings so often. At times, it feels like I have no one to care for me or that I'm totally incapable of doing something on my own. I can't help myself." His eyes portrayed the pain he's going through all day long.

"Jas, what made you think like that? We are here to boost you, man."

He didn't even give an ear to what I said. His attention was totally out of reach.

"It sucks when you wake up one morning and realize that you no longer possess the parents who hugs you every day and say, 'Oh, you're up soon, honey. Are you alright? Come, let's have breakfast together. Have a great day, champ. We love you!' It sucks totally." He halted as he couldn't catch his breath. He was swallowing the air to compensate. As his hands were trembling, he got hold of mine for support. Swiftly, the coldness in his hands flowed into mine. That electrified my nerves, and instantly I felt goosebumps bubbling all over my skin.

I didn't know how to console him with mere words.

"Off and on, it feels like I'm totally devastated. My soccer dreams crashed to the ground. I can't be a part of the soccer team anymore. I can't even ride my bike on my own. How tragically my life changed within a month."

He let out those feelings he had bolted within himself for so long.

"Stop thinking yourself inferior, Jas. Your physical deficiency can't tie up your dreams. Have at least the slightest hope in life."

I gave him a tight, warm hug as a symbol of amity.

"And we are too with you in this, Jas." Three of them managed to come at the right time. With everything going around her, Susan stood speechless in a corner.

"Do you mind joining us, Susan?" I gave her a welcome hand. After all, she is the one who is more happy for Jas.

A month rolled by.

A day before prom night,
At 'The Place to Be' (our hangout spot),

"So, with whom are you going to hit the dance floor?" Jas enquired.

Of course, prom night is awaiting on the morrow, which has been the talk of the town in recent times.

"I didn't give it a thought yet, Jas. So, with whom are you going?"

"I'm not attending it, El. Who will pair up with me after all?" Even though he managed to make it funny, his tone specified how badly he feels about it.

"So, what if I wanted to?" I didn't want my best friend to just sit in a corner while everyone else was cherishing the occasion.

"I don't want to trouble you even on the most cheerful evening, El. I'll be alright here."

"Is there any way to change your mind?" Having had a mouthful of chocolate muffins, Joe asked him.

"Nope." He carelessly waved his head in refusal.

Larry gestured his shoulders downheartedly and asked, "Then, fellows, do you all really need to haunt prom night?"

"Nah, we don't." I chorused.

Everyone stared at me for disturbing their tete-a-tete space. But it wasn't awkward since we were used to it.

"Then let's go to a movie and have dinner later." Clara winked at us as she figured out a plan.

"Hey, I don't want you all to relinquish the most-awaited night for my sake." He was so worried on our behalf.

"However, it'll be boring there. And without you, it'll be utterly spiritless." Joe's words instantly shut Jas's mouth.

"Well, cheers to our prom-less night!" Larry exclaimed, raising the frappe glass mug.

"Happy cheers!"

"Uh-huh! Guys, I have to leave. I will catch you tomorrow evening."

I left soon, as my mom called me frequently. I was subjected to go with my parents to Uncle Wilson's place for dinner.

Uncle Wilson has been our family friend for ages. We occasionally lend our time together. But I was not much into it, as always.

What a tedious end to a buoyant day!

Yet, with so much appealing reminiscence, I doze off in the hope of having a brand new day with the same people but with a disparate stock of memories.

<•><•><•>

Ever since I woke up today, I've been so elated. While every other high schooler is done with their prom costumes, I'm done here with my casual white long-sleeve t-shirt and torn jeans.

All set to go for the prom-less sundown!

"The movie was amusing, actually. But I didn't anticipate the twist in the climax."

"Yup, it was worth watching."

"Well, I'll go with the burrito, and what about you all?" Joe finally committed himself to it after being submerged in the menu card for the past quarter-hour.

"I'll have a French dip sandwich." I passed the card.

Within a short stretch of time, our table was flooded with colorful and delicious dishes.

"Don't ever try to touch my food." Joe lifted his plate away, as Clara intended to taste his burrito.

"Ew! Don't fight like siblings." Larry disgusted.

With silly fights and a million gossips, our dinner was a fulfilled one with growing tummies and glowing faces. Even if we had attended the prom, it wouldn't have given the joy we had on today's movie night.

<•><•><•>

So pals, have you found your Jas or El?

If not, catch them soon. Don't miss the jovial part of your life!

Will meet you soon with next part..

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