Chapter 35
During the break they had in between their classes, Casey and Snow took their stop to what came to be a usual place to hold discussions of something meaningful. This was his first coffee of the day that he so longingly needed.
It was about 12:36 pm. He sipped his cup and watched just as someone walked into the shop and waited in line. A man looked at the menu board, thinking about what to order.
Casey glanced at Snow who looked through the shop's lighting and interior decoration, and then she looked at him. They were both hesitant about who should start first. Today on their list to do was reading out their letters to their next lover. A letter addressed to whoever would become their new partner. It took each of them out of their—or rather expand—comfort zone to write out everything they know of each other and what that person should know.
If they were to give this letter to that next person, their lives are in their hands. Call it things to know or an instructional guide.
He had spent last night thinking up words and its meaning to deliver the right tone and speech. He redrafted each time, and when they weren't good enough, he threw away those papers stacked up in his trash can. There were never really the right words you can say to a person when you want to make it meaningful and heartfelt.
That was kind of like writing in old school style, and the only time he ever really needed to write a letter was back in grade school when teachers made them think of someone important to their lives. Writing a letter to a future unknown person, how was he going to go on about this?
"Why don't we start with just taking out our letters and taking a minute for ourselves?" Snow suggested.
He nodded in agreement. He opened his backpack and pulled out the letter he kept folded in half in his binder. He unfolded the letter to himself and took the time to browse through the state. It wasn't the best letter in the world, but it was the best draft that he had written out. This was not only his words but also his well-thought-out consideration.
A minute was up, and the two of them looked back at each other. Neither of them willed themselves forward. What was it about sharing a personal letter to each other or about how awkward it was because it is for an imaginary person in their life?
She looked nervous as though she didn't know if she should go first. She couldn't open her mouth and looked down at her letter like it was small and flawed to be said out loud.
Whatever was written in her hands, it couldn't have been awful. Hers must have been great of a speech, and he probably didn't have to hear it. But he wanted to make it easier for her by de-stressing her nerves.
"Would it be better if I go first?" Casey asked.
Her face visibly relaxed by a ton. "Yes, please, if you don't mind."
"Sure." He held the letter that leaned above the table. Taking just one quick sip of his coffee, he focused on the first opening of the line.
"To Snow's first-ever partner," he began, and she pursed her mouth hard. "Be very careful because this is her first time entering a relationship, and no guy has tried to get close enough to see her for a girl that she is. She's most likely ecstatic by the time you are official with her because having a boyfriend is a huge deal to her. I suggest taking that role seriously because she's clearly invested in love and will love with all her heart that she can give. It's a remarkably huge heart. Don't ask me how I know, I just do. Snow is a very promising person, so open-hearted and kind. She's a sweet one. It's very easy to impress her because it takes simple gestures and thoughtfulness to make her happy. She's a huge romantic and a daydreamer that thinks about all the cliches moves and dates, so pull all the stops with them.
"She's the kind that will stop by and look at the flowers and bees with adoring eyes. She will look at you with those same eyes too. Her eyes are a dark brown, but looking at them have a sparkle and shine. It holds interest because you are interesting to her. You know you have her full attention. She'll touch up her expression with a smile. When you get comfortable with her, she has a little fighting streak within her but because she likes good banter. She cares about her friends so make sure to get along with them too.
"The worst part about her is she'll neglect her health and needs because she puts others above herself. If you see her waving you off or you pretend not to notice when she looks off, chances are there is something off. When sick, she gets grumpy and acts like a child so maybe you might want to bring something for her. Girls just love gifts. And compliments. She doesn't see herself well, so remind her sometimes no matter how dumb it looks. She needs someone to tell her upfront that being herself is okay and that other girls look the way they are just like she looks the way she is. If you don't give up on her, she won't give up on you.
"Snow loves to make memories so share those memories, together on and on..."
Casey looked to her astounded expression, and it seemed to her like the air made her forget her words and she needed them. She blinked subtly at him.
Was it enough? He put down his words that he hoped comes off as regardful for her.
Snow collected herself. "You know a lot about me in a short amount of time. I really like it."
That's something he felt he had achieved and should be. He pointed out to her paper in her hands. "And now yours."
She spared a look at her paper, and here came the uneasy look in her eyes before she gazed back at him. "Mines probably not as good as yours," she said.
"It's not a competition. I'm sure yours is good," he assured.
She cast another glance at her paper; she showed hesitancy. Snow shook her head a few times and gathered herself to speak. "Okay, here goes."
"If you are going to be with Casey, here are some of the things you should know beforehand. He comes with emotional baggage. He is this cautious and mysterious cosmic that you find it hard to read him. There's a sort of barrier, an invisible one, that you need to take down one after another. You probably might have done that if you're with him. But he needs someone that will stay with him, care for him, and love him. He had his heartbroken and while you can't completely fix it, you can help him pick up the pieces and remind him he doesn't have to be a whole. You might have to be careful of what you say because he will remember them. He's the kind to remember little things and notice things about you when you aren't looking or think it's a very minor detail. He's observant.
"Once you get past his hard exterior, he's cool as a cucumber. He becomes mellow. You can be yourself around him, and he'll accept you the way you are. He has some nice moments here and there, and I secretly think there's more than what he leads on. For instance, he tells you you're something else, but it's not particularly a bad thing. He will reassure you when you're feeling down or insecure. He does something one way than you'd expect. He shows it in tiny actions. There are subtle cues, but they're there. Casey will throw you off guard and makes you consider if..." She stopped, taking a short breath to herself, and then continued. "He's the kind of love you're looking for. He's your friend, he's your comfort person, he won't do you wrong and treat you with respect.
"There are more sides to him. Sides that only maybe a few lucky people will see him in a state of comfortableness, but especially just that one person, she'll get that lucky treatment. My bet is on that. And his smile when he actually does manage to smile, it's genuine and lits up as you've never seen it. And that reason could be because of you. Just be careful with him, okay?" She looked up at him and held her gaze into his eyes. "In the end, you'd be glad to get to know him and uncover him no matter how long the stretch is."
She quickly put down her letter on the table and cleared her throat quietly. "So yeah."
"That wasn't so bad, now was it?" Casey remarked.
Though he actually deeply appreciated her thoughts for him and how she was making him feel like he's a worthy partner to have. Like someone out there, if not Raquel, would cherish him in the long-term run.
"I tried... but yeah, I really do mean them," Snow said.
The two of them swapped their letters to each other as it is a momento to keep as a part of their relationship journey coming to an end. Casey looked over the writing and noticed her girly neat handwriting. This paper was filled with affirmation and reassurance. He was going to keep it with him and reread it if he does happen to be in a relationship again. For now, it was just proof. He safely tucked it away into his backpack.
There's a bit of awkward silence between them. The noises of the coffee shop and people talking stirred the air. He picked up his coffee cup and sipped on his drink. Tomorrow was going to be the last and final day of their series. She was aware of it too. He didn't think it would happen all so fast. He learned a lot from the days. It wasn't just picking himself up but learned some things he hadn't thought to consider or things he wasn't aware of before now.
He should act on his instinct than waiting it out until it becomes a problem. Maybe if he had, he could've communicated better.
"So, tomorrow on the list said Last day. Is there a place we're going to?" he mentioned.
All he knew was it was their last day and that they would tell each other everything about their performance about each other.
"Hmm, should we go somewhere special for tomorrow on our last day?" she said.
"Do you want to?"
"It doesn't have to be special, but if we're going to end our practice relationship, wouldn't it be nice for both of us to remember a day we can look back on?"
Casey mused as the thought seemed charismatic. Their last day being somewhere special? What kind of special? How did they want it to look? Was it necessary?
"Convince me then. Why should our last day be a good one other than being the last day?" he questioned.
She cupped her chins in hands, breathing out the air, and looked at him despairingly. "Aww, please? We could probably use a nice day out. We stuck to half an hour to an hour and something minutes worth in our regime. We've been to a mall, arcade, try some fun places to eat, a walk in the park. Should one last thing not be remembered? You could show me a nice time."
She blinked, thinking again. "We can take it home. I think you and I deserved it. Plus, it's May. We're close to Summer, and we could use Friday to relax before we focus the rest of the time on our finals. The last date can seal the deal and wrap up everything." Snow proposed more thoughtfully, and it's like a lightbulb clicking off in her head. "How about we look at the sunset together? You like that, don't you?"
"Yeah...," he said, considering.
"Then it'd be proper to find a nice place to relax and go with the flow."
"I don't know. Give me one more reason."
"Another reason?" Snow sighed, but that didn't stop her to come up with something.
I haven't seen a sunset in a while, actually.
"Because the sunset light would look good on you?" she offered cheesily.
"No, that's not a reason, but since you tried it, I'll let it pass and surprise you where we can watch the sunset, alright?"
"Okay. Tomorrow is our last day, and we will finish off right." She pointed her finger to him and nodded firmly.
"Then tomorrow... we'll finally be done," he acknowledged finally.
"And we'll finally be done," she repeated.
After tomorrow, Casey knew he was going to have to let her go. She helped him enough with everything she could to be there for him and stay by his side. He'll make the last one something she wouldn't forget and make it memorable.
He thought he might know where.
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Hello. Happy Friday! So the next chapter is close. Are we yet ready for it? Do we want them to see being done? It just has to. In the next chapter though, I think you'll like it. We need a letter from someone who knows this someone and knows we are good in hands.
I hope you're all having a fantastic summer wherever you are.
Please vote and comment as it means the world to me.
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