Fast Forward

He held my hand so tightly; I can still remember that warmth of his hand spreading onto mine. He was reluctant to let go, but he did and ran towards that huge oak tree. In his other hand, was a sharp rock which he grasped as tightly as he did with my hand. He turned to me, his face flushed with redness, his voice stuttered with embarrassment as he asked once more, “Together forever, right?” I felt blood rush to my own face, I replied him with an energetic nod and bright smile. He swung his head back around to the tree and started to carve something into it. I watched him as he struggled with the hardness of the bark, but he finally managed to finish it in the end. I don’t know when I finally realized how important he was to me, when we were growing up or at that moment when I saw what he had carved. He turned to me again; I still remember that expression on his face that sweet and silly grin and beside him are the words that still linger in my mind...

“Kei loves Ami forever”

“Are you alright Ami?” Una asks me with concern. My heavy eyes open to my friend’s troubled face.
I smile lightly, “Yeah, I’m fine. Just that dream again...” Una, my best friend ever since grade 8 has always been there for me ever since...
Una frowns, “You know, you tell me you don’t like him anymore... but your heart obviously thinks otherwise.”
“I really can’t help it Una...”
“Yes you can! You’re always so gloomy and depressed, where did your cheerfulness go Ami?”
“.......”
“I bet that jerk took it with him too, huh?”
“He’s not a jerk... He just has different friends and different interests; h-he’s just busy...”
Una sighs, “There you go again, making excuses for him. I’m going to class now.”

The boy in my dream is Kei, the now all-popular and handsome known prince in our school. Who am I? I’ve asked myself so many times and I come to the conclusion of “Forgotten childhood friend.” It fits me well, a friend that the prince had forgotten because he had moved on. Kei just stopped talking to me when we entered junior high, as if I was invisible, he ignores me whenever I talk to him. It’s been 3 years since then, now we’re in high school together, but there is still no improvements...In fairytales, books and movies, the girl always ends up with her one and only prince in the end. I thought Kei was the prince I was looking for when I was 7, where is my happy ending?

I gather my books to go, as I step into the hallway I bump into the chest of someone. I freeze for a second, “Oh god, can it be Kei?” I know that he always came to school early like I did, or more like I come to school early for a chance to run into him. I look up to meet his face, “You should be careful Ami. Carrying so many books will turn you into a bookworm!” The voice is not Kei’s, but Yue’s; a very friendly and cheerful guy I’ve known since grade 7.
“Oh it’s Yue, sorry about that.” I mutter quietly as I try to pass by him; however he stops me in my path.
“What, did you expect someone else to bump into?” He laughs, but his eyes are tight.
“No, I’m surprised I bumped into a dope so early in the morning.”
“Why are you always so bitter Ami? Did I do something to make you hate me?” Yue’s question stuns me for a second, but his grin didn’t impress me.
“Bright people like you just don’t match well with gloomy people like me.” I answer him plainly and try to pass him again.
“But you’re fine with Kei?” He snaps with a hint of anger in his voice.
‘Why is he mad?’ I thought furiously, I turn around and face him directly, “I’m not ‘fine’ with Kei, why do you all assume that we’re together or something?! It’s been years since we’ve talked, he always ignores me when I even try to talk to him, now will you just drop it?!” I stop myself from yelling at him, my face must be red from being this angry.
Yue’s stupid smirk drops and he looks away from my glare, “I-I’m sorry.”
“No need to say sorry, I have to get that off my chest anyways...” I sigh in comfort that he’ll drop the subject.
After that, we silently walk to class each other, but it feels different since Yue is a chatterbox. I sneak a couple looks at his expression; his face is a mix of relief and confusion. I grin to myself since it is the first time I’ve seen such a look on Yue’s face, maybe it’ll finally be quiet for once.

After classes, I wait at the gates for Una. She moved into my neighbourhood a few months ago, so we walk home with each other every day. ‘She’s kind of late; I wonder if she got detention again.’ I closed my eyes and began to daydream about things. School, Una, Yue and Kei, all the things just connects together in my life for some reason... I open my eyes and look around for Una. From the corner of my eyes, I spot someone I haven’t seen in a while, Kei. I felt my mouth stretch itself into a big smile, my heart lit up with hope. Kei is standing near the school doors; he takes a look at his watch and checks around him. My legs move themselves toward him; my mind is a mess trying to think of things to say to him. A girl comes through the doors and calls his name; Kei hears her and smiles at her nicely. I stop dead in my tracks and watch the scene unfold like a movie playing.

-Snap-
The girl calls Kei’s name, Kei smiles at her.
-Snap-
Girl goes up to Kei and holds his arm, Kei looks happy.
-Snap-
Kei and Girl walk to the school gates happily together like a couple.
-Snap-
I run and hide behind a tree nearby as Kei and the girl pass me.
-Snap-
Kei and Girl is talking and laughing.
-Snap-
Kei and Girl are walking home together.
-Snap-
So much for a happy ending.