RUBIN'S POV
“If only wishes can come true,
I have one or two or maybe a few,
And they're all about you.
If only wishes can come true,
I have a banquet of wishes,
And they're all to flourish your life.
A life well laid to wipe away tears from your eyes.
A life filled to bring satisfaction to your soul.
If there be any more wish,
I will wish you the whole world,
Just for you to find satisfaction in your soul.”
Rubin's thought echoed as he scanned from his phone, up into space as if to reverse time~ as if yearning for a time loop to reset every moment which had passed. Just then, a figure caught his attention as he glanced out of the car's window.
“ Laura...? ” His voice softly called out which brought Anna's gaze on him.
“ Huh...?” She expectantly gazed at him. “ What did you say? ”
Ann asked since she couldn't clearly make out what he'd said but then, her words just fell on dead ears. Clenched on the window, he squinted to get a better view as his eyes scanned through the glass.
“ Laura~ It's really her. This is not a hallucination– Stop the car, mum~ Please.” He howled on an impulse as he briskly tried pulling the car open but seemed locked from Audrey's end. “ Let me out, please.”
“ What...?– What do you mean by that~ we got a flight to catch here, young man." Audrey objected.
“ Mum...please– Just this once. That's all I ask for.”
“ What are you trying to do, Rubin~ bill on me or something?”
Ann who thought he was finding an excuse to escape the trip, mumbled. But then, she realized Rubin had a valid source which added to his restlessness and frustration.
“ Spare just 5 minutes, please ” He pleaded but Audrey's gaze clearly showed her disapproval.
“ Please...mum, trust him on this, please.” The words finally escaped Ann's lips which brought Audrey's surprised gaze on her. ~ “ Even you? ” She growled.
“ Please~” Her eyes pleaded.
Audrey couldn't help but give in to the request of the two. With a swift glance at her watch, she nodded to which she unlocked the car.
“ Just 5mins as requested, no more.”
Not completing her sentence, Rubin spontaneously jerked off in smiles.
“ Thanks, mum...” His voice faded with the shut of the door. Anna stared at his back with smiles.
Noticing from the distance, the teenager in front of their house, Audrey queried. “ Who's she? – Never seen her before.”
“Rubin's friend from his school” Annabel answered with a bright smile. “ Laura~ I guess. I heard him mention her several times.” She clarified.
*************
Laura who had not noticed their absence kept ringing on the door's bell for the hope that someone might soon attend to her. Kept in anticipation, she paced like a caged leopard.
“ Laura..? ” A familiar voice suddenly interrupted from a distance behind her. She chirped, turning her eyes on him like two blue helicopter beams. For a moment, the world stood frozen between the two~ leaving time motionless. Tension briefly radiated, filling the air which suddenly died into yearning, regrets, and affection.
“ Rubin...” She called, her eyes danced with unshed tears as she bounded up the space between them. Falling into his arms, she wrapped her arms around him and buried her face in his chest which left him uncertain– his hands hung in mid-air. The tears gently trekked down her eyes.
“ I'm so sorry...” She sobbed. “ Sorry I couldn't remember you earlier.” The words busted out. This instinctively threw him into tears. His arms finally rounded her into a comforting hug.
“ You finally came back to me ” He cried. Silent tears dripped down his cheeks. “ Though I'm gonna leave without a goodbye from you.” He added.
Her mood plummeted and this made her draw, leaning back with a tear-soaked gaze that instinctively scanned at his face. “ Leave..? ” She asked on an impulse. “ Where are you leaving to and why are you going?~ Is it because of me or what I said at the hospital?” Her hopes disintegrated and she descended into depression.
Laura tried to find out as she nervously shuddered with tears and regrets. Rubin who had all along attempted calming her with failure in each attempt, finally succeeded as he managed to draw his arms around her. He held her more carefully than he had ever held anything.
“ Hey, calm down~ It's not what you're thinking. You're not the reason neither what happened at the hospital, huh?". He clarified. His fingers gently threaded through her hair as he patted her head.
“ I promise...I'll come back for you just like you just did.” He added and Laura glanced up at his face. Her eyes invited honesty. “ Trust me– just a week, okay?.”
With his assurance, she nodded. A faint smile evaded his face and she feigned a smile on his request.
Just then, Audrey's horn called to which they both turned in the direction of the car. He nodded at her and turned back to Laura.
“ Got to go now but~ promise you'll keep this smile till I return.” He requested and she nodded with a smile. “ I'll be waiting for you... please stay safe and return soon enough.” Rubin smiled back and kissed her forehead.
“ I will~ see you soon.”
With that, he bid her goodbye and backpedaled off with a wave, and settled back into the car. Laura watched their car fade away in the distance. The fight to hold back those heart-wrenching tears just proved futile. It just poured like a broken dam. Rubin was of no different.
TWO MONTHS
LAURA'S POV
“Each day grows deeper and my shadows grow longer.
The sun kept setting in the distance and I suppose I also kept wandering in the growing darkness~ I'm I trapped in this place?
All I hear is my deep breaths.
Every day you of your absence, I always tell myself, I'm waiting.
This promise is not to be broken nor forgotten.”
***********
It was past closing hours and the class was already empty with only Laura who kept glued at the window~her eyes fixed outside and her subconscious mind just kept ranting and wandering on its own without notice.
It's two months now since Rubin's departure to Korea but yet no sign or message of his return. Each day was just one of hoping but then it all soon ends in a dream.
“ Laura?~ Laura! ” Alixies called from her side, stunned. Laura who was so lost in her thoughts instinctively jerked to her feet from Alixies' touch.
“ Oh, is it closing?” She asked with a feigned smile of which Alixies just nodded without words. Laura spontaneously giggled. " I guess I was too worked out on the project. Let's go now.”
With that, she shoved her bag onto her shoulders and headed off.
Her state got Alixies worried of which she thought of a way to help her get over it but then had no good option in mind.
“Hey, ain't you coming?” Laura called from the door of which she briskly heads after her. “ Coming..” She answered.
They soon approached the school's bus stop but their ride wasn't in. As they made a stop, Alixies decided to crop out the topic.
“Laura?” She called of which she responded with a “Huh?” as she faced her.
“ I know you've been thinking of Rubin's return lately~ can you hold on ?” She stated. “ Pull yourself together and hold on a little bit more, huh?”
Still pondering over her friend's words, Mya's car horn interrupted.
“ Since your ride is already here, I'll go first– I've got a place to visit first before home.” Alixies explained.
“ Okay, take care– Let's talk later.”
With that, Laura hopped into the car which soon veered off into the main streets. Alixies on the other hand waved an approaching cab to a stop and in a brief sec, they vroomed off.
“The Juvenal, please..” She announced.