29/03/19

FRIDAY

JANA

I pull in my car in Ryan's driveway. I get out of the car and walk to the front door. I ring the bell and soon the door was opened by Ryan's dad. "Hello, Jana," he greets with a smile.

His mom quickly comes over to me and pulls me into a small hug. "Morning Mr. and Mrs. Philip," I greet.

They invite me in and I settle down on the couch. "I will get you coffee," his mom says and walks over to the kitchen. "Hey, Jana," Alex waves while coming downstairs with a bag in his hand.

"Morning, Alex."

"Ryan is getting ready. He will come now," he informs.

As I wait for Ryan Mrs. Philp brings me coffee. After a few minutes of talking with the family, Ryan comes down with a bag slung on his shoulder. "Morning everyone," he wishes. I smile back.

"Taken all documents?" Mr. Philip inquires.

"Yes, dad," he confirms.

His mom goes for a hug. "Happy journey, Ryan."

We all walk out to my car and Alex gets Ryan's back to the boot. Ryan bid everyone goodbye before getting into the car.

"Can we go?" I ask. I start the car as soon as Ryan nods. I turn up the radio, knowing this is going to be an awkward 30-minute ride.

After nearly five minutes he turns down the volume of the radio. "Jana..." He calls softly.

"Yeah?"

"Do you remember the Grand Fest Day?" He asks. He's trying to get me in a better mood... reminding me of good old stuff.

I smile, "Of course, I do." How can I forget?

"It's after two weeks," he says.

"How can I forget they perform every summer?" I ask myself stupidly.

"I will get the tickets and we can go together for the concert this time," Ryan offers.

I smile brightly, "I would love that." Last time, I just caught a glimpse of him during the concert. This time we are together... everything changed within another 365 days...

**********

We stop the car as we reach the airport after 30 minutes of driving. I get down and help Ryan to get his bags from the boot. He takes one bag onto his shoulder and keeps the other one on the ground.

"So..." I trail off. What do I say? Goodbye? No! Then? "I will miss you," I say and go for a hug. I rest my head on his chest. I don't know how this is going to be...

"I will miss you too," his voice trembles.

After a minute, we pull apart. Ryan keeps his hand on my shoulder, "It's just a week." I nod in response. "We have deals, so we be will okay," he grins.

I sigh and give him a weak smile, "We will be... okay." I slowly raise my heels and kiss him on the lips.

"I love you, Jana."

"I love you, too."

I wave him goodbye as he walks into the terminal. This week is going to be difficult for both of us... Before entering the final gate Ryan turns back and waves again. I will miss him... a lot.

*********

Soon, I get back to my car and buckles the seat belt. My phone rings and I take it out from my bag to see Noah's name flashing. I swipe to answer the call. "Hey, Noah."

"Jana... Where are you?" He asks.

"In the airport," I answer. "Why?" I ask slowly.

"Jenny just called," he pauses. "She will be here in an hour."

My eyes go wide as I smile. What? Is she here? "Wow! Oh my god! Finally, she's here," I exclaim.

"Yeah! Finally!" I know he's smiling right now. "Come to the memories café. She wanted to meet us there," he informs.

"I will be there soon," I hang up. I'm so excited to meet Jenny, Noah's first love. Noah sounds so excited... maybe he will fall in love with her again...

I park my car near the memories café and quickly walk in. I look around to our usual spot to see everyone except Lyra. She's out of town, or else she would have been here.

"Guys," I squeal.

"Finally, Jenny's coming!" Serah exclaims.

I glance at Noah, he smiles at me. It's a genuine smile. He looks quite different today, finally, he is happy that Jenny will be here soon. Should I ask him something? Better not!

We settle down in the seats and after nearly ten minutes of waiting Jenny finally shows up in the cafe. She enters the café and looks around. "Jenny, here!" Harry waves. Noah turns around, standing up in the process. I can tell, his face glows right now.

She looks a bit different from the pictures I have seen. Her hair is long and not that childish face. But she is very beautiful. I smile, as she walks forward to us. Jenny... the girl Noah loved...

"Noah!" She runs to him and throws her arms around him, pulling him into a tight hug. He wraps his hand around her. "I'm sorry, Noah," she whispers as she rests her head on his shoulder. Quickly tears flow down her cheek, probably feeling guilty for what she has done.

"It's okay, Jenny." Noah runs his fingers through her hair smoothly, trying to calm her. "I know your side of the story," he says. She pulls apart soon and looks at him in confusion. "Ryan knew it from Danial," he explains.

"So... you knew it once I left?" She asks curiously.

"No..." He shakes his head. "There are many things to tell you."

"I hope you are not mad at me," she says slowly.

He gives her a small smile. "I'm not, Jenny," he assures.

She nods and turns to Serah, immediately going for a hug. "Missed you, Serah."

"Me too, Jenny."

As they pull part Jenny hugs Harry, "I missed you making fun of me."

He grins, "Now you are here and I can make fun." She wipes her tears in between her giggles.

She looks at Alex for a moment with a guilty face. "I'm sorry Alex. I shouldn't have done that," she apologizes, tears flowing down again.

"It's okay, Jenny," he hugs her, assuring he wasn't mad at her.

"But you were not..." she trails off. She missed many things that happened while she was away...

"Alex is my boyfriend now," Serah says, smiling.

"Aww! I'm happy for you," She smiles. "I missed a lot," she says, glancing at Noah.

She then turns to me. "I'm Jana," I say and go for a hug. Oops! I shouldn't have made a quick move. She doesn't even know me... ugh...

I quickly pull apart. Awkward! I feel like I know her deeply from all the stories I have heard and all the pictures I have seen... but she doesn't know me.

"She is our best friend," Serah introduces, wrapping her hands over me.

"Oh. Hi, Jana," Jenny beams. "So, a lot of changes happened in the trio," she says glancing back at them.

"Yeah. There is one more person who wanted to meet you," Noah says and she simply nods.

We all sit back in our seats. Jenny takes the seat next to Noah. They look perfect together!

"I missed this place..." she says, looking around. "Noah, do you remember the first time-" "I remember everything, Jenny." He cut her off mid-sentence. He takes out something and places it on the table. Jenny's camera!

"You kept it with you?" She asks in disbelief. She takes it in her hands, moving her fingers across the surface.

"Yeah. It had captured lots of beautiful moments." They look at each other and smile. Probably thinking about each moment.

"I will take a picture of yours," I offer and Jenny hands me the camera.

I hold up the camera, ready to click. Noah wraps his hand around. I click. Lovely couple!

"Thanks," she says when I hand back the camera.

"I'm glad Ryan told you everything or else you all would have hated me..." she says. "By the way, where is he?" She asks, looking at Alex.

"Ryan went to attend a college interview this morning," Alex replies.

"Oh."

"Actually Ryan didn't reveal it back then..." Noah says. "Jana wanted to..." He stops before saying something he will regret. Jenny looks at him for an explanation. Oh god! Why did he stop it like that? Jana wanted what? Ugh...

"Uh..." I start. "Noah was hurt by losing you... So Ryan told me this and..." I skipped the part Noah developed feelings for me and then I wanted to bring Jenny back... Jenny gave me a confused look. Didn't she get me? I don't want Jenny to know that part of Noah and me because she still loves him and I hope he did too.

"Jana is Ryan's girlfriend," Noah adds glancing at me, pain-filled in his voice and hurt in his eyes. Is this what she... I was already staring into Noah's eyes. Why am I getting the same feeling again? Why is he staring at me? Why am I staring into his eyes? Oh god, I can't stop. We hold the stare for a few seconds before he turns back to Jenny. Thank god! I would have never stopped!

NOAH

"Jana is Ryan's girlfriend," I say as we hold stare for a moment. I still can't accept the truth...

"Aww! Nice," Jenny says and I look at her. "There's a lot you have to tell me," she says. I can't tell her everything... If she gets to know about my feelings for Jana her heart will break. I can't do that...

They all talk for a while I zone out. "Guys, I think we should leave them alone," Serah says bringing me back from my thoughts.

"Yeah. They need privacy," Harry added.

They all stand to leave the café. Jana pauses a moment before leaving, opening her mouth to say something, but then leaves with them.

"Can we go out to talk?" Jenny asks.

"Yeah."

*********

We went to 'Our Paradise' another place with lots of memories. Jenny looks at the carving on the tree and moves her fingers over it. "I'm sorry, Noah," she apologizes for the hundredth time. "I shouldn't have left like that." Her voice cracks as she speaks every word.

"Jenny..." I call. "I understand you had a reason."

She turns around to face me, her eyes filled with tears. "I thought I would never be able to see you... I wanted you to move on and lead a happy life. That's why I kissed Alex, knowing that will make you hate me. But I shouldn't have..." she trails off. Guilty hitting her every time she speaks about it.

"I did hate you the moment you kissed Alex," I pause. She nods in response as she wipes the tears. "But when you left the town I knew there is something wrong." She gives me a blank expression. "I knew you loved me, Jenny." I keep one hand on her shoulder and wipe tears with the other. "I couldn't easily move on as you thought. Even though a part of me hated you, there was a part who loved you and believed you still love me..." I stop. But later I did move on... then I was in love with Jana. But I can' tell any of that to Jenny now. She won't be able to take it.

"I regretted every bit of what I did to you, Noah. I didn't want to tell you the reason because I knew you will never move on then..." she sniffles as she speaks.

I pull her into a soft hug. She has been through a lot, but she still loves me... I rub her back soothingly. "Jenny, we can't change what happened! We understand each other, so let's forget it."

She buries her head into my chest as she cries. I missed us... I missed her a lot...

After a minute her tears died down. We sat under the tree, her head on my shoulder. "It was very difficult for me to live there, knowing I won't be able to tell you why I left and won't be able to see you again. It was so hard."

"For me too, Jenny. My only happiness was the memories of us. The book of our love, all the scrapbooks you left behind, and the wall in my room filled with all our photos."

"You still have all those?" She raises her head curiously. I nod. "I thought you would have destroyed everything."

"I couldn't Jenny... I never really hated you... I tried as much as to reach you..."

She nods, "Now I'm back Noah." She tries to smile.

"I have to tell you something, Jenny..."

I don't want to keep anything from her. I will regret if I do so... but I don't know how to begin with... What will she feel if I tell her I had feelings for Jana. Will, she feels betrayed? She is here because she loved me but...

"I know. I'm happy that I'm finally back with you," she says.

I remain silent. I take a deep breath. I should say it now. "Jen-"

"Will you take me to the places we went together?" She pleads.

"Sure!"

"I love you, Noah." She says with a smile, but her eyes filled with tears. My heart starts beating faster. She still loves me... It's been more than a year since I heard it from her...

"Hey," she snaps fingers getting back my attention.

"Yeah...?"

"I have something for you," she says, taking something from the bag.

I take out the small box from her hand and slowly opens the lid. "Do you remember?" She asks.

"You did this?" I ask in surprise, looking back at her. She nods with a smile.

-FLASHBACK-

"Jenny," I called out, standing in the doorway of her class.

"Hey," she waves, getting up from her seat and walking over to me.

"I have something for you," I say with a smile.

"Give me," she says excitedly.

I hand out the small box to her. She takes it from me and opens it. I have carved JENNY and a heart on a pencil.

She takes out the carved pencil in her hand, admiring the beauty. "Noah, you did this?" She asks in disbelief. I nod. "Aww! So sweet of you."

I smile, knowing that she loved it. The bell rings indicating the break's over. "Catch you after class," I say, turning to leave.

"Wait." I look back at her in confusion. "Show me your hands," she orders.

"Why?" Before giving me an answer she quickly grabs both my hands in hers, looking at the scar and the bandage.

"Does that hurt?" She asks like a kid.

I shake my head, "No!"

"I know, it does." She says with a sad face. I sigh. "I will make one for you."

"No, Jenny. It will hurt your hands," I deny.

"If you did this for me hurting your hands, I will do the same for you."

"Jenny, don't."

"I will..." she says going back to her seat ignoring my response.

***********

When the final bell rang, I slung the bag to my shoulder and walk out of class. Jenny was already waiting for me in the corridor. "Hey, Jenny," I greet.

Without greeting back, she raised a pencil to me with the letter N carved on it. "That was so difficult, Noah," she says. "I know you put a lot of effort. I tried many times but failed."

"It's okay," I say, taking the pencil from her.

"No! It's not. I want to do that for you," She pout.

"Okay, fine! Hurt yourself to make me happy," I groan.

"Noah, take it differently."

"Like...?"

"If I do this, I know a part of you will be happy," I nod her to continue. "And if you want to make me happy... you should do something what I say," she grins naughtily.

"Fine!" I agree.

"You should say, I love you, Jenny," she pauses. "You just said that once unlike other boyfriends."

"Alright! Agreed!"

-FLASHBACK OVER-

She failed every time she tried... but she did it for me... after years... she wants to hear that...

"I love you, Jenny."

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

Hope you all enjoyed this chapter. VOTE. COMMENT. SHARE.

Did Noah really mean what he said?

Will Noah tell Jenny about his feelings for Jana?