Stringed

Chapter 41: One Last Time

That one last week I had with Eric passed so fast…

And today was my last day with him…

“Kate! Hug meeee!” he came to me and opened his arms. He was starting to freak out.

I saw the ring I gave him fitting perfectly around his left ring finger which made me happy.

I pushed him away, “It was your choice to go in this hunted mansion,” I told him and sighed.

We were at the amusement park having our last date together.

I know I shouldn’t be saying last since he says he’ll come back… But…

“Eek! Kate! There’s a ghost,” he took a hold of my arm.

This scene is very unlikely. In situations like these it was common to have the girl scream and cling to the guy, but well, Eric and I are quite a different couple.

“Duh Eric, it’s a horror mansion,” I pinched his cheek and he just pouted.

Then out of the blue a figure dropped in front of us which startled me, “Aigoo!” I accidentally kicked it and the good thing is, it was a mannequin.

I sighed in relief. That crap took me by surprise.

“Keke,” I turned to Eric who was grinning like a dog who had a foaming mouth.

“What?” I raised an eyebrow at him.

He giggled, “May Kate’s scared of ghosts too!” he said happily.

“Being surprised and scared are two different things,” I turned my back to him and started walking.

“Wait up!” he ran after me and we continued to walk around the mansion.

We finally got out and Eric was still holding my hand.

“Eric we got out now, you could let go,” I was about to say that but when I realized this was our last time together, I just squeezed his hand and he squeezed mine back.

“Oh, that looks fun, let’s ride that,” I pointed to that one ride I missed going in.

“Teacups are fun?” Eric mocked and I smacked him with my other hand.

“Hey, everyone has their tastes,” I blushed and he laughed.

“Aww, when you put it like that, why not?” and he pulled me in.

I just let Eric stir while I just watched him.

We just went in circles but I still felt incredibly happy.

“I missed riding this with you,” I said.

He blinked, “Missed? But this is our first time together,” he pouted, “Hey are you thinking about another guy?”

I raised an eyebrow, “You’re my first remember?”

He laughed sheepishly, “Well yeah, LOL, never mind,” and he continued stirring. I saw his eyes sparkle in recognition and I just smiled.

After the teacups, we went to go and try all the rides. And most of those rides we had, Eric ended up screaming in fear.

I asked him why he was even riding if he was scared, he just said, “When I’m with you, all my fears go away.”

He goes saying that but still he just ends up screaming anyway.

I shrugged and smiled at that thought.

We decided to take a little walk around. We were trying to enjoy every moment and second we could have.

We were still holding hands while we walked.

“Kate, I’m not dreaming all of this right?... I mean, you’re real right?” he squeezed my hand. I turned to look at him and he was staring out straight but he was holding my hand tightly.

“Yep, all of those things happened were also real,” I looked down at my walking feet, “Because I would be sad if all of these turned out to be a dream.”

He let go of my hand and wrapped his arm around my shoulder instead, pulling me close to him, “You’re right,” and he kissed my forehead.

“Eric I’d like to thank you again. If I hadn’t met you, I might just be the same distant person as I was before,” the thought of remaining alone and bitter gave me goose bumps.

He chuckled, “It’s like they say, after every dark and heavy rain, the sun will come out with a majestic rainbow.”

I nodded in agreement and leaned my head on his shoulder.

I couldn’t care more if people think we’re displaying too much affection.

I just wanted to hold him as for long as I could.

While we were walking all around I tried to remember all the places we went too and all the things that happened.

I will never forget those memories.

Having Eric leave, it felt like he was never coming back. It was scary but somewhere in my heart says it’s okay.

I don’t know where he’s going. I didn’t bother to ask anymore.

Eric was the type who’d tell you if you really have to know. Or if he thinks it was best that he wouldn’t say anything about it at all.

It was almost getting dark so we both decided to take that one last ride we’ve been saving for the day, the Ferris wheel.

We got in and it started spinning slowly then we stopped at the topmost part already.

“Kate, promise me you’ll never forget me?” he took both of my hands. He was sitting across me.

I nodded, “I will never forget you, I promise.” I was trying my best to hold back my tears.

He smiled sweetly and hugged me, “Kate, you will always and forever be my string,” he chuckled and kissed my hair.

“And you’re mine,” I hugged him tightly, not knowing my tears were already falling.

He wiped a tear that ran on my cheek, “Be happy.”

“You too,” I kissed his hand.

Eric had to leave before midnight.

After our last date in the amusement park Eric took me home.

It was already ten o’clock.

My heart was beating fast in fear as he led me in my room.

“Eric,” I took his hand and I hugged him tight.

He didn’t respond but he hugged me back, “I love you,” he kept repeating those words and I started to sob.

He was rubbing my back, “Thank you Kate. Thank you for this chance.”

 I looked at him with my tears blocking my view, “You’re welcome,” I wiped away my tears and I managed to smile.

I want him to see me smile before he leaves.

I want to leave a good memory.

This was goodbye.

He nodded, understanding me and he smiled. That smile brought warmth to me. That smile was one of the things that I would miss about him.

Eric was my sun and he was going away.

But even though my sun was going away, I will do my best to continue living out day and night wearing a real smile.

“Bye,” he kissed me passionately for one last time before he left me in my room.

After that, I just kept silent. But my tears started to fall again from my eyes.

Eric Sanders was the one who melted my ice cold heart. Then the rare feeling of nostalgia washed over me that day…

But also, he knew that I already knew…