Epilogue | When it comes to an end

"Come on! Just one more!" Mom coaxed as I grumbled under my breath. I rolled my eyes and crossed my arms over my chest.

She clicked another picture of me, making me groan in annoyance. I shot dad a pleading look as he snickered under his breath. I huffed and took off the graduation cap.

"Mom, I think that around two thousand images are more than enough," I responded to her sad expression.

"But these pictures are memories! One day you will look at them and relive this day through them. Trust me!" she whined, making me sigh.

"Catheena, I agree with the boy. I think these many pictures are fine. After all, he needs to meet his friends, and we are getting late for that." Dad tried to explain and walked closer to her.

His steps were wary as if she would blow up any second now.

Tears filled my mother's eyes as she shared a look with dad.

"I just want to have memories. He is growing up so fast, and I can't do anything about it," she hiccuped as she sobbed the words out.

I walked closer to her and wrapped my arms around her. My eyes closed on their own accord as I brought her closer to me. The small ball of nerves relaxed as her faint flowery scent filled my nose.

"I am still here, Mom. You have to bear me at least for the coming summer. I am sure you will take those words back then," I mumbled, making Dad laugh and pat my back.

Mom pulled back from me and cupped my face. She gave me a swift nod as her eyes glistened with tears. "I think you are right. But it doesn't mean that I don't miss my I am a power ranger boy, Eli," she muttered, making red dust my cheeks at the memory.

"Mom!" I whined in humiliation, making her crack a grin.

"What? It is a parent's right to humiliate their child on their big day. It helps with the nerves," she said and patted my chest.

"Now come on! We need to reach your school on time!" she fussed and grabbed the car keys.

"No! You are not driving, woman!"Dad said and snatched the keys from her hands.

"But why?" Mom huffed, pinning him with a glare.

"Making you drive when you are high on nerves is worse than making you drive when you are drunk," he explained, making me break into fits of laughter. All the while, Mom gasped indignantly and walked away from us.

The door closed with a bang as she left.

Dad and I shared a look and then once again burst into peals of laughter.

I grabbed the phone and left the gown open in front, while the chord hung loosely at my neck. My gaze went towards the house next door as Cynthia stepped out.

With a white dress and the deep green graduation gown hanging from her shoulders, she looked beautiful as ever while stepping out of the door. Her eyes flew from the phone in her hand and met mine.

A smile stretched across my face as it did on hers. There was some bittersweet feeling to it as we walked closer to each other.

"So... the day is here," she whispered as we stood close to each other.

Wordlessly, I nodded. My eyes flew towards the door where Mr. Crimson was standing alone, gazing at us with curiosity.

I gave him a short nod of acknowledgement as he did the same. 

"Lea is not coming?" I questioned, making her stiffen.

"She said she was over my loser stuff. Bitch!" Cynthia muttered under her breath. Her sadness because of her sister's lack of enthusiasm showed through her facade.

I brought her close and pecked her lips lightly. "Cheer up! No sad tears until we graduate from high school," I urged, making her smile.

"Oh, and how can you guarantee that?" she teased, clutching my gown tightly.

"Because no matter what happens, I love you," I muttered.

Before she could reply, I turned around at my dad's voice. "Break up love birds. We need to be on time, or Eli, you will miss your speech."

I groaned as he reminded me of the task. I was oh so keen about it! Note the sarcasm.

Cynthia chuckled at my expense and planted a kiss on my cheek. "All the best, my nerd. Don't forget the words."

She waved me bye as she drove away with her dad. Dad placed a hand on my shoulder, giving it a slight squeeze.

"Are you guys sure about your decision? It is clear as day that you love her," he asked with concern shining through his words.

His question made a pain awaken in my heart. The thought I wanted to bury forever, resurfaced as reality knocked on my door. No matter how much I prepared myself for this day, it was impossible to cope up with the present.

"We talked, and we are sure," I muttered and walked towards the car.

Crowds of students filled the room as chatter echoed across the wall. People were nervous and excited. The last step to high school life was here, and many of them (including me) couldn't wrap their head around it.

So when I walked up that stage and gave that speech, it was more than just words I memorized. It was the experience that I could never have in my life again, speaking through my words.

Every memory was like yesterday. It was as if just yesterday; I started freshman year or got my first detention. It was just yesterday when Cynthia offered that agreement and spoke that I love you for the first time. But throughout the course of these yesterdays, the time passed in a blink. All that was left was memories and today.

So, I couldn't stop the tears in my eyes as I walked closer to my friends. Everyone one of them had a few remains of crying as we clutched each other closer.

If I could, I would have loved to freeze time at that moment when everything was right.

"Dude, you are such a crybaby to cry after that shitty speech," Connor joked, making me punch him lightly.

"Oh, and what is that in your eyes? Sweat?" I retorted, making Navya laugh.

"I am thankful that I wouldn't have to bear your annoying selves," Navya exclaimed with mock excitement. The tear flowing through her eyes displayed her deceit, making me shake my head.

I gave Andrea a slight hug and turned my eyes towards her. The girl with warm cocoa eyes. The girl I loved.

She cupped my cheeks and brought our lips closer. Our tears mingled as our lips spoke the unspoken words.

It was just a touch of lips but had the passion enough to portray our feelings.

I sighed as we pulled back. "Do we have too?" I muttered as my voice broke at the end.

Our foreheads touched as our glassy eyes bored into each others'.

She slowly nodded as a fresh lot of tears filled her eyes. "We need it. We are not even spending the summer together," she muttered, making my heartbreak.

"Not my fault," I muttered. "But maybe I could come to Malibu with you? I mean, I could use some tanning at the beach." She gave a small laugh at my suggestion.

"Eli, you rarely get tan... more like turn to a tomato," she replied as her voice lacked the amusement her words wanted to show.

I wanted to suggest something else, but her words cut me off.

"We have booked the tickets... we are leaving tomorrow afternoon," she informed me as I clutched her tighter.

Pain pierced through my heart as my mind registered that my time with her was less than even a day.

All our friends had given us the space we needed. They knew what was happening, but even if they didn't agree to it, they supported our decision.

"Maybe we could try long distance. I mean, how hard could it be?" I suggested with the last ounce of hope remaining in me.

Cynthia sighed heavily and shook her head again. "Eli, fifteen hours... remember fifteen hours," she repeated the words of our research.

"You are eager to get away from me," I muttered. "Are you a heartbreaker, Cynthia?"

She chuckled weakly and shook her head. Tears streamed down her eyes as students around us gave us weird looks. "Far from it," she mumbled. "But I am a good trainer."

Having enough of us, Connor placed a hand on my shoulder. "If your pity party is finished, can we move to meet our eager family?" He meant his words to be joking, but they lacked the usual amusement.

I pulled away from Cynthia and nodded meekly. Our parents were already observing us with keen eyes.

Our family separated after the ceremonies celebrating the day in their special way.

When the moon was high in the sky with stars twinkling bright, I met Cynthia again. Things ended as words flew through our lips. Tears glistened under the pale glow, letting our heartache break free.

The next day, I hurried down the steps as I saw the cab arrive.

Cynthia is leaving! That was the only thought in my mind as I threw the front door open.

As if waiting for me to show up, Cynthia was standing at the bottom of steps, fidgeting on her spot with nerves. On meeting my eyes, she offered me a burdened smile.

"I-I," she started but stopped as emotions clogged her throat. Closing her eyes, she took a heavy breath.

Once again, she met my eyes. "I came to say goodbye," she said as her hands fidgeted. "I mean... I will return from Malibu, but it will most probably be after you leave... so we might not be able to see each other again for a long time, and I... I-I wanted to say goodbye before that," she got out in a haste.

I closed the distance between us and cupped her face. "I love you," I whispered with a broken voice.

Our lips met for a moment. A moment short enough to be missed if you blinked but long enough for our heartbreak to surface.

As we pulled away, the tears she was holding back flowed down her cheeks. "Please... please don't say that. I can't... I can't hear you say that. I just can't... not anymore. We broke up last night... I can't hear you say that anymore," she sobbed as she clutched my shirt.

"Oh... and why is that?" I muttered, staring deep into her warm cocoa eyes.

She gulped and moved away from my grasp. "Because it makes it harder to forget you. Because it makes it harder to stop loving you," she gasped the words between her sobs and ran away from me.

I just kept on staring as her cab disappeared from my view. The pain was like constant stabs through my heart.

After that, my summer was a dull blur even when I promised her to enjoy it. Every excitement was dim because I missed her by my side.

There were times when I wanted to send that text or maybe give her a call but stopped myself as her promise reverberated in my mind.

Her last words just echoed through my consciousness again and again as my mind wove its reply.

And just like that, we gave up. We gave upon us and our love with the fear of heartbreak plaguing our mind when heartbreak was the end outcome either way.

T H E • E N D

For those who failed to understand the ending:

Elias and Cynthia broke up with the promise to forget about their relationship. They were afraid that the burden of a long-distance was too much for them to handle... so they left on a good (or what I would call a better) note.

They talked about being friends and remaining in touch but decided together to give each other no contact time because they felt the need to forget their relationship before any platonic bonds could come in.

Do I personally support their decision?

Truthfully, no, but that is what their characters called out for. My disdain with their decision is evident from the last paragraph.