Char
"Do you think if I ask for a copy of the photo, they'll give it to me?" Jora frowns, looks away from her phone, and stands next to me to see what I see.
"You know them?" the redhead asks as she looks at the display case with trophies.
I nod, seeing my brother's beautiful smile. Seeing his slanted eyes, his sweaty t-shirt and the big trophy he and Alex are holding in their hands.
"I wouldn't think there would be any problem." My friend says this without asking the reason for my interest. "Come on, Char, it's time."
Jora takes my hand, adjusts my cap, and smiles at me after telling me that I look perfect.
We go out to the soccer field, where all the students are gathered, taking pictures with their families, and approaching the chairs assigned to each graduating class.
Jora's boyfriend approaches me and smiles shyly, and I smile back.
I watch as family members begin to leave the building, bidding farewell to the school with their sons and daughters.
It has been three months since I last saw Alex.
Three months have passed since I ran out of his house, only to return a couple of hours later, ready to tell him everything, only to find out that he went on an internship abroad.
Internships that could last up to six months.
The devastation I felt when I desperately called Mosi that night when Alex didn't come home sent me crashing to the floor.
I push the memory from my mind, smiling at Jora as she makes me take a picture of her and her boyfriend.
The assembly passed quickly, and the words of the teachers, principals and the students selected brought out more than one smile and some tears.
The ceremony ended smoothly, and the students began to say goodbye to each other before going to their families to celebrate.
"Char, my parents are making lunch for me, you know you are more than invited. I would love for you to come." Jora turns to me, and her radiant smile makes me want to mimic her.
I grab her hand and pull her close to me, giving her a little hug that surprises her as much as it does her boyfriend. They remain silent, processing what happened.
"Thank you so much, Jora, thank you so much for these years. I'm sorry I haven't been a good friend." The redhead's eyes moisten. "I'm having lunch with my family, but I appreciate your invitation."
She nods, hugging me once more.
"See you at graduation then," she says, winking at me.
I nodded, waving goodbye to them.
I start walking inside the school, wanting to say goodbye to my brother one last time.
My heels are the only thing to be heard as I enter the hallway, everyone is outside.
I pull down the hem of my black dress, the only one I found inside my mother's closet, but it is hidden perfectly by the gown.
I turn into the main hallway to arrive right at the trophy case.
My steps stop when I see a guy in a suit. The only thing I can see is his back, he's a little bent, overlooking the picture in the middle of the display case.
My steps make him turn around.
His smile grows as he sees me, he turns completely around, letting me see him in a suit, with his black hair slicked back, as elegant as only he can look.
His skin is tanner, and somehow he looks taller.
He turns fully towards me, letting me see a small bouquet of white roses.
His mother's favorite.
"Alex."
Alex
I curse as I look at the airport screen, all flights have been delayed by an hour.
I look at my watch and hope that I will still make it to the last half of the ceremony.
I ran to the gate of my flight, hoping there would be no more delays.
When I landed on this new continent for my internship, I regretted it. At the time, I was so angry that I just looked for the farthest continent—the smallest country with an exotic name. I needed to run away.
But when Mosi told me that she was desperately looking for me, I had to force myself not to run away to her.
I managed to make a deal with my university so that my internship would last as little time as possible. I had to double the work. So I did. And even though I came home so tired, I couldn't do more than sleep, even though my limbs were begging for a break or when I almost passed out from lack of food. It was worth it.
It was worth it to see her walk to the stage; it was worth it to see her awkwardly shake hands with the host of professors; it was worth it to see her shyly move the ribbon of her cap from one side.
She has graduated, and little Char has graduated.
When the ceremony was over, I watched as she approached her friends, so I decided to sneak away for a bit, feeling nostalgic to see the school where I had spent almost 15 years of my life.
I couldn't help but stop when I saw the picture in the display case.
I couldn't remember the last time I had seen a picture of the two of us. For some reason, I hadn't been able to find one among my mother's things, and at the time, I was too afraid to ask Char for one.
My smile grows when I realize that I haven't forgotten his face at all. Of his black hair and of his freckles, more noticeable than the few scattered over his sister's face.
I didn't remember him being bigger than me. Knowing what he's like, I'm sure he stood on his tiptoes at the last minute.
The sound of clicking heels makes me turn.
I gasped at the sight of her.
It's been three months, but she looks like a different person—more confident, more beautiful, and happier.
I wish I could have been part of that change.
When my name leaves her lips, I smile.
Char walks over to me, looks at the roses, and raises an eyebrow.
"I hope they're for me and not my brother," she says, and I can't help but let out a laugh.
"Of course they are, but don't tell him, you know how it is." I continue, whispering the last part. Char smiles big. The most beautiful smile I've ever seen on her. "Congratulations on your graduation, Char. I really am so proud of you." My words caress her like a hug, and she closes her eyes in joy.
Char pulls me aside a little, looking at the picture in the glass case. I stand next to her, still holding the bouquet of roses in my hand.
"Isn't that picture beautiful?" My eyes turn to look at her, her eyes, still fixed on the picture, sparkle with love, and I'm sure mine do too.
"It's beautiful." I whisper.
Char's eyes turn to look at me, and she smiles tenderly.
"Dan took his own life six months after graduating." Her words take my breath away.
His brother's death is something I assumed, I didn't want to accept it, but it's something I had already considered.
I turn to look at the image and see his big smile and his arm over my shoulder.
"He was unwell, he had been for a while, and when dad found out about my mother's infidelity, it just made everything collapse. He said goodbye to me." Her voice cuts off. I look at her, but she doesn't direct her gaze to me. "I didn't know at the time it was goodbye, but after he... I knew, he gave me the best goodbye in the world." She smiles sadly, remembering that moment.
Char turns to look at me.
My wet eyes made her pause for a second. She tilts her head, raising her hand to touch my cheek, trying to comfort me.
"I just wish I could have told him how much I loved him," she says, and I nod, unable to formulate words. "He loved you so much, he never stopped saying it. You were his best friend. I thank you for making him happy at the time."
A single tear slides down my cheek, and Char laughs sadly, brushing it away with her thumb.
"Thank you for telling me." I whisper with a lump in my throat that won't let me say more.
"I'm sorry it took so long." I shake my head, placing my hand over her hand, still on my cheek.
"I've come to claim my gift. " I say, Char's eyebrow rises, her eyes looking at me with confusion, but then, remembering, she lets out a laugh.
"You opened the box," she says, more surprised than she wanted to admit.
"Of course I did, I came to claim it."
Char's smile grows—a beautiful smile that reaches her eyes.
"How could I say no to the birthday boy?" My smile grows.
My hand with the roses goes to her waist, pulling her closer to me. Her hand separates from my cheek, now it's mine that touches hers.
"I'm in love with you, Charlotte." The words come out before I can stop them.
More sincere, louder, and more effusive than I ever planned to say them.
Char's eyes water.
"I'm glad to hear it, Alexander, because I'm in love with you too."
A small laugh escapes my lips.
I pull his face close to mine, finally bringing our lips together.
After almost a year, his response of "Never have I ever" is no longer the same.
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