Ten Stars...Tenth Night...One Wish

...

They say...that if you count ten stars for ten consecutive nights, you can wish for something on the tenth night and can make it come true. But, PFFFT! Who would fall for something so absurd as this, right?

Well, let me tell you...ME.

Yes, it's me...who's been secretly "in-like" with you that day you helped me stand when we accidentally bumped into each other when we were still in first year high school, and it still remained up until now that we're on our fourth year high school.

Me... who's still holding on to these stupid feelings- even if I know for myself that you're definitely out of my league. You're a campus idol...and I'm just your average high school "nerd" girl who only have books as her closest friends.

And because of these stupid feelings that I have for you, it came to this point that I believed in this absurd rumor.

"One...two...three...four..." I counted the stars in the sky with hand gestures- as if I could touch them with my fingers.

This is my 3rd consecutive night of doing this. And I'm still here on my usual spot- at the balcony of my favorite coffee shop near the condominium unit where I live with my mom.

"Five...six...seven...eight...nine...ten."

As soon as I finished counting, I then smiled to myself before reaching for the cup of Caramel Macchiato that I always order here and took a sip. You could also see a blue book entitled:The Fault in Our Stars by John Green sitting on top of my table beside my cup of caramel coffee.

*Sighs*

Seven more nights to go before I could make my wish come true. After putting the cup back to its saucer, I then grabbed my book and turned it to page one. Honestly speaking, this will be my 6th time re-reading this book and I'm just falling for its story every single time I read it again!

"Miss? Do you have someone to accompany you tonight? This is the only vacant spot that I can see in here." I haven't started reading it yet when I heard that very familiar husky voice talking to me.

Wait, that's your voice right? That's one reason why I keep myself falling for you every single day.

And how did I know, you may ask? Well, haven't you noticed? I'm that classmate of yours that is secretly staring at you during our regular classes, or if we were waiting for our teachers to arrive. But nah...I bet you haven't noticed it because...how could you? You're always busy talking to your friends...or reading a book on your table.

I didn't close my book but I dared to slowly lift up my head to look at you directly. I then observed my surroundings and it was indeed packed with so many people- mostly students like me that wants to chill in here.

"I-Ice? Uhh...no. I'm alone here." I awkwardly replied. When our eyes met, I saw the recognition flashed on it.

"Hara! It's you, thank goodness." He cheerfully said, which caused me to blush from the inside- if that's even possible.

Your mere presence here is enough to make my heart beat soooo fast than its normal speed, that caused me to slightly hide my face on the book that I was currently holding. (And thank goodness, I brought this along with me!)

I saw you now smile at me-which literally lightened up my world- before taking a seat face-to-face with me. I didn't dare to look at you again, for you might mistake me as a weirdo which I truly am in real life, and just focus my gaze back to the book I was reading. But man...I can't concentrate! Thanks to you, and your shining presence!

Since I can't concentrate in here...I just secretly glance at you without you noticing it, hopefully.... The way you put your cup on your lips, it's just fascinating to look at. And oh! You have the same order as mine! When I saw you shot a sideward glance at my direction, I quickly averted my gaze back to my book.

"The Fault In Our Stars? Wow Hara, you've been reading one of John Green's books? " I heard you cheerfully said while looking at my book, and I was literally frozen for a sec.

Is this for real? Are you trying to initiate a conversation with me? Are you also a fan of John Green's? But the million dollar question here is... did you just call me by my first name, twice?!

Even though I'm kind of feeling nervous and awkward at the same time right now, I gathered all my willpower altogether and tried to respond to your remark.

"Honestly, I've been reading this for 5 times already! This will be the 6th time.And I still cry every time I'm on the last part of this book." I said, as casual as I could. I then heard you chuckled.

"Wow! It's nice to meet another fan of great books as that." You said...your soft chuckle do sound like music to my ears that I will not be bored to listen to it again and again.

Little did I know, we are now having a nice conversation about all the good books we already read, and many other kinds of things! I never knew that we have so many in common! Thanks to John Green and his book because after this night, we swapped numbers and I was able to get your number! And I never thought that through this...I could be one of your close friends.

I've been always alone on my table here on my usual spot of this coffee shop, counting ten stars each night and sipping my fave coffee. But not anymore...I later found out that you love to spend your time here, so we then agreed that we would always meet here every night on our usual spot.

...

On my 6th night, I was really looking forward to see you on the coffee shop once more. But to my disappointment, I didn't see you on our usual spot, sitting with a book on one hand and is waiting for me. Feeling sad, I took a seat and looked at the starry sky.

"One...two...three...four...five...six..." I started to look for ten stars in the sky while you're not here yet. Yes, I'm hoping that you would come here sooner or later.

"Seven...eight...nine...ten." I was now finished counting but you still haven't showed up yet.

Five more minutes...I said to myself. I'm willing to extend my time here for five more minutes just to wait for your arrival. That's how I truly like you...

To keep me occupied, I opened the book that I brought here along with me- and it's still the book "The Fault In Our Stars"- and turned to its second to the last chapter. I'm quite a fast-reader, you know...

"I see you still haven't finished reading it yet on your 6th time."

My head automatically lifted up the moment I heard your soothing voice. I saw you smiling at me while taking the seat...so I smiled at you in return. And this time, it's not an awkward kind of smile anymore!

"Hey Ice..Well, I'm almost done re-reading it. And I don't know why, but I'm just inlove with Augustus Walters." I cheerfully said.

Augustus Walters- for those who haven't read this book- is one of the main protagonists of this book that I'm currently reading.

"You're lucky, because today...Augustus Walters is now sitting in front of you." You jokingly said. I laughed at that but deep down inside, my heart skipped a beat with that remark of yours.

"How could you be Augustus Walters if you haven't met your Hazel Grace?" I said, trying to tease him. Hazel Grace is Augustus' partner on the book.

"Say...have you already met your Hazel Grace?" As soon as these words escaped my lips, I literally froze for a sec, and mentally facepalmed myself on the process.

How could I ask such a stupid question that I know, in the first place, would only broke my heart for your possible answer?

"Of course I already met my Hazel Grace." I heard you replied. And that indeed caused the slightest heartache inside of me.

"Oh wow! W-who's the lucky girl?" I curiously inquired, faking my cheerful tone. Geez...am I a masochist or something?!

But I was suddenly taken aback when the playful smile on your lips faded and your face was quickly changed into a serious one. Your face now keeps on getting nearer and nearer to me. I almost closed my eyes (but good thing I didn't though) when you suddenly halted when our faces were only three inches (i think) away from each other while directly looking in my eyes. I saw you moving your head forward towards my right ear before you whispered this word...

"Secret."

I felt your warm, mint breath tickling my right ear before you pulled away from me while laughing at your own remark. My cheeks went bright red all of a sudden and that caused me to smack your right arm, HARD.

"Gosh this guy. Don't you ever tease me like that again." I said, fake-warning you. But geez...you just kept on laughing.

Note to myself: Never assume again...

...

The next day, I went to school with my cousin Cookie. We were not on the same class and section but we're on the same year level in high school plus we're neighbors so we made it a habit to go to school together. (She's my only friend here in school before Augustus- I mean Ice. )

"Bye..." I said before entering my classroom.

Cookie waved me goodbye before continuing to walk forward. Her classroom was two rooms away from mine.

...

At lunch break, I was sitting alone on a table here in our canteen because my cousin Cookie can't accompany me for today due to her duties as one of the writers of our school publication. I thought I would be a total loner here for today- as usual- but I didn't expect you suddenly taking the seat face-to-face with me while holding a tray containing a large cup of iced tea, one plate of rice and another plate of fried chicken.

Wait a minute, what are you even doing here in the first place?!

"Hey Hara. It's okay for you to share table with me, right?" You asked, it's obvious that you're being shy with me right now. Well, why is that so?

"Of course. I don't mind." I quickly replied. And of course, with you here on the same table with me, we again have a nice conversation as we always do on the coffee shop every night.

...

Today will be my 7th consecutive night of counting ten stars on this starry night.

But sadly, I can't go to the coffee shop tonight because I promised my mom- who's been the only one to take care of me, her only child- of helping her bake tiramisu cake for our newly-transferred neighbors, one unit away from ours. Being the good neighbors my mom would want us to be, we will welcome them to our neighborhood by giving something to them- and that is, again, the tiramisu cake.

...

After I helped my mom with the baking, I then went to my room and was planning to sleep early. My mom would be the one to give the cake to our neighbors.

But before going to bed, I went outside the mini-terrace of my room and looked at the starry sky. As usual, it would be easy for me to look for ten stars.

"One...two...three...four...five..." I started to count the stars in the sky with hand gestures.

"Six...seven...eight...nine...ten." When I finished counting, I stayed here for a while and looked at the sky.

I still have three more days to go before the tenth night comes, but it seems like the heavens have already heeded my plea. When the tenth night comes, I only have one wish in mind that hopefully would come true.

"I wish for me and Ice to be officially together."I whispered to myself as my gaze were still on the starry sky. I'm just practicing what would I say on the tenth night.

After that, I now went back inside, closing the terrace door before going inside, and went straight to bed. The moment I lay on my bed, my phone, which was placed on top of my side table, vibrated all of a sudden. Meaning, I received a message!

"Hey there Hara. Sup? I see you're not on the coffee shop tonight. :'("

I was quite shocked when I saw the message came from you! But what's with the teary-faced emoticon? Did you really feel sad when you didn't saw me at the coffee shop this time?

I tapped the WRITE-A-MESSAGE tab and my Go Keyboard instantly popped out. I quickly typed these words:

"Sorry. I have to help mom with baking the tiramisu cake for our newly-transferred neighbors." After I'm done typing it, I then send this to you. I was surprised when you replied to that immediately.

"Oh I see. But hey, can I also have some of your tiramisu cake? Kidding! XDD" Upon reading your reply, I instantly chuckled with that. Then I typed to my Go Keyboard once more.

"I'll ask mom to spare some for you."

And then...SEND! Two seconds after I sent my message, I've got another reply from you!

"Glad to hear that, lolz. xD... Anyway, are you going to sleep now? If not yet, then can I call you?" My eyes slightly widened upon reading your reply. Honestly, as what I've said earlier, I am planning to go to bed now. But ever since you texted me, my senses were somehow revived.

"Sure. I'm not sleepy yet." -> Was my reply to you.

Five seconds after sending the message, I then received a call from you. Oh! That made my heart literally jumped for joy!

And just like when were together at the coffee shop, we did have a long, yet awesome phone conversation. We talked about anything under the sun. And I really find myself enjoying your company.

I wish for this moment to never end...

...

You invited me to one of your school gig the next day after classes held in our gymnasium- for you were the vocalist of the official school rock band. And even though I hate crowded places, I still went to your gig anyway just to hear you sing. I brought Cookie along with me so that I won't be a total loner here.

This will be the first time that I'm going to hear you sing- even though I've known for quite some time now about you being the band vocalist. And man...I was instantly mesmerized upon hearing your golden voice the moment you hit the lyrics of the songHeartbreak Girl by 5SOS with ease.

All other students who are here were now cheering for your name..but of course, I'm also cheering for you!

"WAY TO GO ICE! Woohoo!" I screamed at the top of my lungs.

Thanks to you, I am now showing my out-going side to other people which I never ever done before. I also heard my cousin Cookie here, who's standing at my right, cheering for you too.

Can you hear us cheering for you here Ice?

I dedicate this song to you
The one who never sees the truth
That I could take away your hurt,
Heartbreak Girl...

As you were singing this part, I then noticed you looking in our direction...and our gazes met for a while. My cheeks instantly turned red upon seeing you wink before roaming around your gaze on the crowd once more. WHY YOU~ you really know how to make a girl flatter, aren't you?

...

Later that night, I went to our usual spot on the coffee shop feeling really depressed. The book that I was reading- yes, that same book which I always bring with me on the coffee shop- was currently missing. I just realized it when I looked for it on my bookshelf because I was planning to bring it with me to the coffee shop again. I was supposedly on the last chapter of it but geez...where could it be? I searched for it in my whole room once again, but didn't find it. I even emptied my bag and scattered its contents on the carpeted floor of my room, but it's still not in there.

So if not in the room, then maybe I left it in school...perhaps in my locker!

I'm going to go to check my locker tomorrow if it's indeed there. I'm calling out all the gods available that somehow...that book- which was the very reason why you and me got close to each other- is still there!

My sadness doubled upon not seeing you on the coffee shop the entire time I was seated on our usual spot. Before deciding to go home, I looked up at the starless sky and tried to look for ten stars.

"One...two...three...four..." I quickly scanned other parts of the sky where I could find some more stars.

"Five...six..seven...eight..." Tch, why are they hiding from me this time?

"Nine...ten." There! I finished counting all ten of them. After that, I got up to my feet, and went straight home.

...

On my 9th night, I just went home from finishing our group Science project that is due tomorrow. (Sadly, I didn't find my book on my locker!) Since I was a loner, I didn't have anyone with me now to accompany me on this late hour (It's past 8 already) all the way to the pedestrian lane where I'll cross and that leads to our condominium building.

But I was quite surprised and shocked at the same time when I saw you running your way towards my direction with that pissed look of yours. Wait, why are you angry?

Then later, you gave me a few-minute lecture about not going home alone on this late hour, and after that you offered to accompany me all the way down to our condo unit and I gladly accepted it.

Before we part ways, I was-again- shocked when you suddenly pulled me for a tight hug out of nowhere!

"W-what's the matter Ice?" I dared to ask, confusion was obvious on my tone.

You kept silent for a few minutes but then I felt your warm breath once more on my right ear while whispering these words...

"I have something important to say to you..."

My eyes slightly widened upon hearing this. (And thank goodness you didn't saw that!)

At this moment, you now pulled away from our hug and looked at me with that charming smile of yours. I felt my heart went on a really hysterical mode the moment I saw you smiling at me like that.

"But now is not the right time yet." You quickly added. That caused my eyebrows to furrow.

"Huh?" Was all I could say to you...

"Tomorrow on the classroom...There, I'll tell you what it is. Good night Hara."

That was your last words before you turned your back on me and walked away from me. I didn't know why but I remained standing here while watching you leaving...

What is it Ice? What's that "important thing you want to say?" Oh dear, I don't want to assume again!

...

The next day, I was really looking forward in going to school that I arrived in our classroom 5 minutes before our 1st period starts.

The moment I opened the door of our room, I was surprised to see you already here, seated on the farthest side of the room. My heart skipped a beat when I realized that we were the only ones here. I saw you lifted up your head and the moment you saw me, you immediately smiled at my direction with matching wave.

"Hi Ice... I see you're early today." I said, as casual as I could.

I went first to my seat to drop off my bag there before I went to your direction and took a seat next to you.

"I'm always early...you're just always late. " I heard you joked, which caused me to playfully smack your right arm now.

"Anyway...since you're now here, then its the perfect time to say what I'm about to say to you yesterday." Upon hearing this from you, I literally froze for a sec.

*Badump...badump...*

Can you hear it? That loud beating of my heart?

Your face now quickly changed into a serious one as you look directly in my eyes. Oh no...is this de' ja vu? (I hope you're not teasing me this time!)

"Hara...I like..." He halted for a moment.

"I like your cousin Cookie. Can you help me get close to her?"

Blah...blah...blah. You keep on talking and talking and here I am...I can't even understand the things you're now saying.

I think I'm going to cry in front of you this instant but nah...I'll really try my best to hold back these tears as long as I can.

"Yeah. Sure." Was all I replied though I didn't completely understand your ramblings a while ago.

I saw you now smiled widely at me and that doubled my heartache- if that's even possible. 💔

"Thanks Hara! You're the best."

And after that, we discussed our plans for your meet up with my cousin Cookie.

...

Is this some kind of a joke? This night will be my tenth night of counting ten stars...and I'm supposed to make a wish. But now, what? I'm on my way to the coffee shop with Cookie beside me.

Call me selfish or whatever but honestly...I did wish for her not to come to their meet-up. I silently prayed that she would be busy for the school publication, is sick...or whatever reason that is not for her to come.

But the moment I've told her that you wanted to meet up with her, my cousin suddenly squeals in joy and didn't think twice on coming with me. That's when I found out that she also likes you...

Great...you'll be a perfect match, I guess.

When we finally arrived, I stopped at the entrance of the coffee shop, and so did Cookie.

"What's the matter Hara?" I heard my cousin asked. I then forced a smile at her.

"I just remembered that I have somewhere else to go. So...you're on your own now. And please, I don't want to be your chaperone." I even tried to crack a joke, good thing she somehow chuckled at that.

"Okay then. Thanks for dropping me by here." After that, Cookie now enters the coffee shop. I quickly turned my back on them.

I don't want to see you smiling at my cousin the way you also smile at me, the moment you will meet each other.

I don't want to see you both sitting on our usual spot...

I don't want to see you both taking a sip of our favorite coffee. Again, call me selfish but I don't want to see you happy together with both of my eyes.

I quickly walked away from here...and also away from the pain. I was now outside our condominium building when I decided to stop walking...and looked at the sky.

There are lesser stars on the sky this time compared yesterday...for it was quite cloudy earlier this afternoon.

It seems like the sky is sharing with my pain right now.

Despite of what happened, I lifted up my right hand and is now ready to look for ten stars in the sky.

"Please...I wish to meet someone that could save me from this pain."

Before proceeding to counting, I whispered first to myself this wish that I have in my mind right now. And then I started to move my hand.

"One...two...three...four." My eyebrows furrowed as I was looking for more stars...

"Five...six...seven..." Gosh...is the sky teasing me now or what?!

"Eight...nine-" Geez! I have only one star to find before making that wish of mine come true! And yet, I can't find that one single star!

"Hara...right?" My head automatically turned to the direction where I heard that unfamiliar voice of a guy.

And yes, in front of me now is a tall-looking guy, with a cyan-colored messy hair, a pair of blue eyes as well, and is wearing a white t-shirt topped with a grey jacket that is not closed, and a brown kakki pants.

"It's indeed you. Wait, I think this is yours..." My eyes slightly widened when I saw this guy now giving me the book that I was looking for!

"I saw it on the corridor. You must have dropped it without you noticing it." He continued before I could even ask. I gladly took it from him.

"Thanks." I then smiled....

"Oh! I'm Lucas by the way, and...I'm that new neighbor of yours. Love that tiramisu cake that I heard you and your mom baked for us. 😊" He quickly added while extending his right hand for me to shake, which I gladly took and we then shook each others' hands.

I smiled to myself upon seeing that one single big star printed in front of his white shirt...and I finished counting on my mind.

"Ten..."

-THE END-

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Author's Note:

This story was written way back during college days, when I needed a story to submit for my literature class. This got me a fair grade xD

Anw...there you have it! The story's too dramatic, I know but I hope you don't mind XDDD

This was inspired by Alyloony's Nine Stars. ❤️

Vote and comment your thoughts on this one.