Theo's

"Remember Kyle, my brother?" I gave him a nod.

"He's in the same class as her. He said that she's smart but she's not much of a talker. Most of the teachers don't pay her any attention for some reason, and she doesn't have any friends at all," he started, and I listened attentively.

 "He said this has been going on since about two weeks after she came. A lot of her classmates saw her outside of school either hurting herself or doing something that could kill her. Anyone who saw her like that, mostly those in their class, has been told by her doctor and family attorney to keep it quiet. They started thinking she was mental, but no," he looked at me seriously. "I don't think she's mental if she's passed her preliminary tests. If she's like that because of the death of her mother, which was what you said, then she's still  mourning her and in shock, but that doesn't make her insane. And if I'm right, she's been trying to commit suicide outside because she doesn't want to ruin the school's reputation," he explained, making me think. He's right. That must be why she doesn't do such things inside the school.

I heard Koen sigh, which made me look at him. "Her mother must've been the one person she was not ready to lose. She must've loved her," he said. I think at that time, Koen felt a familiar feeling like Nalani, although it was the opposite. His mother left them when he was young, and he just heard that she died in some country of breast cancer, but he never cried because he knew his mother didn't love them. I gave him a pat, and he looked at me. He then also gave me a pat on the back.

"I'm guessing she's that person you've been wanting to meet, just by how you were trembling ever since you got her out of that river," he said, trying to lift the mood.

"Yes, she is," I replied, unable to say more because I was scared at the sight of her pale face while she was in my arms.

****

"But it also symbolizes 'prayers for someone'," I added as I looked up at the painting. I prayed for you. A lot since then. I prayed that you'd get through it. I prayed to see you smile again like how you smiled at me back when we were kids, even though I was covered in dirt, you reached out to hold my hand. But reminiscing about it now, it didn't matter if you'd remember me or not. I, at least, got to see you again with a bright life exuding from you. I saw you smile whenever you saw and admired my paintings.

I suddenly felt a hand placed on my shoulder. "About ti—," I started, thinking it'd be Keon but...

"Excuse me," a girl's voice said, so I turned to see who it was. Maybe it was one of the staff or someone who might've recognized me but... it was Nalani. She didn't seem to move when I turned to look at her and as soon as our eyes met, my heart started to race. What is she doing? Why isn't she saying anything and just staring at me? Now, I can't even look away from staring at her too. But later on, I decided to break the silence because my heart was about to burst.

"Um...," I stammered. Phew, that barely sounded normal. Now, I can't even think straight.

"I-I'm sorry. I mistook you for someone," she abruptly said and immediately turned away.

"W-wait," I tried to stop her but it was too late. She rushed outside like someone was about to chase her. Now I'm getting conscious about myself. Is there something on my face? Why'd she have to stare at me like that? I repeatedly tapped my chest because it was as if I held my breath when I saw her. My chest was feeling tight. That's when Koen and Aunt Anais came, of course, to tease me.

"I saw that," Aunt Anais said, approaching me. "And come on, you could've done better than that," she added in frustration.

"I will have to agree with Ms. Anais this time, sir," Koen Andilet, my PA and secretary, added bluntly, walking towards us with a clipboard and tablet in hand.

"Not you too, Koen," I replied, standing up from picking up the bracelet Nalani had dropped.

"Why didn't you say she was still here? You said she left with her friend," I directed my frustration at Koen, who acted all innocent and nonchalant as if he knew nothing.

"Don't try to blame Koen. You didn't even ask and assumed she left. Isn't that why you came inside after nearly two hours?" Aunt Anais yelled, but I just ran my fingers through my hair in frustration. 'Argh, why didn't I say anything?' I thought to myself. 'I know.'

"That was lame, sir. You didn't even grab her hand if you wanted to give that back," Koen said bluntly again, pointing at the bracelet in my hand. 'I know.'

I immediately hid it in my pocket and cleared my throat. "Should... should I have done that?" I asked, scratching the back of my head.

Aunt Anais and Koen sighed in unison. "I even made sure the place was nearly empty and sent the staff to have their lunch, so why didn't you..." Aunt Anais sighed, giving me a pat on the shoulder. "Don't put your feelings aside, Theo," she said gently, before walking away.

I stood there, still processing what had just happened. I pulled the bracelet out of my pocket and looked at it, it had pendants of a star and moon hanging on the bracelet, frustration etched on my face. I knew Aunt Anais and Koen were right; I had missed my chance to say something meaningful to Nalani. And honestly, I was bad with things like this.

"Theo, you need to be more decisive," Koen advised, glancing at the clipboard before looking up at me. "She seemed quite taken by the paintings. Maybe she would be interested in meeting the artist." I considered that too. But there's still that fact that she'll only know me as 'T.', the artist. Not Theodore Clarke from the past.

I sighed deeply. "Easier said than done, Koen." 'I wished it'd be that easy.'

Koen put a hand on my shoulder, his expression softening. "You won't know unless you try. Next time you see her, don't let the moment pass. She might be more receptive than you think."

I nodded slowly, feeling a mix of determination and anxiety. "You're right. I just... I need to find the right moment."

"Moments are what you make of them, Theo," Aunt Anais said as she walked back, hearing the last part of our conversation. "Don't wait for the perfect one. Just make it happen."

I took a deep breath and glanced back at the painting of the white hyacinth. 'Prayers for someone.' I had prayed for her, and now that she was here, maybe it was time to stop hiding and start making those moments count.