Nothing excites a student more than a vacation does. It keeps us away from school stress. I marked a date on the little calendar by my nightstand.

"I've successfully passed through hell." I exhaled. Hell is what i call my exams.

My phone beeped and i bent down to pick it up from the bed beside my folded clothes. It's a message from Eric.

"You're still coming right? We have been waiting for you."

I totally forgot i had to meet up with Eric and some of our colleagues.

"I'll be there in 20." I replied and rushed to the bathroom to freshen up.

****
Truth or Dare Eric?" Stéphane said and chuckled.
"I'll go with truth." Eric replied while munching a chicken wing.
"Do you like any girl on this table?"
"No way!" Diane chortled.
"Sorry i'm late," I said and pulled out a chair beside Eric.
"I was sorting out somethings." I whispered and sat down.
"Well the fun is just getting started. I thought you wouldn't make it."
"I got to because it will take sometime before i see y'all again."
"Eric is trying to miss turns." Aude voiced out as she was dared to pour drinks on the bartender.
"That's true," said Henri.
"You were dared?" I glanced at Eric who was engrossed in his food.
"They asked me if I like anyone on the table."
"That's simple."
"She wasn't here at that time."
"Enough chatting answer the question Eric!" Stéphane yelled.
"Yes, I like someone on the table."
I laughed while staring at their reactions.
"And who might that be?
He sighed and stared at me. "I like you Laure," the room was filled with boisterous laughter.

I poured myself a glass of tequila and gulped down. The whole event turned blurry as i endulge in drinking.

"I've never seen you like this Laure." He cast me a worried glance.
"I am not drunk." I laughed and staggered out of the building.
"Come here," he raised me up and placed me on his back.
"The breeze is cool tonight let's walk a bit before i call a cab."
"Why me Eric?" I mumbled.
"Do not say much or you'll regret it tomorrow."
"I do think of him every passing second and i wonder if he does the same." Tears streamed down my cheeks. "I really don't get why i feel this way after all this years. I love Liam! I love Liam! I love Liam!" I yelled. "This is selfish of me but I do not want to lose you."
"Shuu! I'm sorry i made you worried." He said.
"Let this be a dream please."

The next day, I stretched my upper body as i walked into the kitchen.
"My head is throbbing mum."
"I know you are an adult but i hate seeing you drunk." She passed me a glass of coconut green smoothie. " It will help." She said and sat down opposite me.
"Thanks mum."
"You looked terrible when Eric dropped you last night." Pauline chuckled.
"My God!" I covered my face with my palm. "What was i thinking when i said all those things? I think i am about to die mum."
"Should i call a doctor?" Worried, Pauline asked.
"Nonono, I am about to die of embarrassment."
Mum laughed hard and got up from the table. "I hope your things are ready because we'll be leaving tomorrow."
"I need to see Eric." I finished the glass of smoothie and ran upstairs.

Later that day, I walked towards Eric who was gazing at his little sister playing by the seashore with her friends in the beach.

"Eloise compelled me to take her and her friends out." He said as i got closer.
"It's so sweet seeing you two like this." I smiled.
"I thought you'll be flying to France today." He said still staring at Eloise.
"Mum still need to settle somethings."
"I'll miss you." He glanced at me.
"I won't be gone forever." I let out a soft laugh.
"If you love Liam that much i suggest you let him know."
"Eric!"
"I am aware your heart belongs to someone else and you shouldn't worry about me not being your friend because i'll forever be the Eric you know."

I stared at him as i tried to hold the tears that started to form. He opened his hands and i embraced him.

"You are such a drama queen." He chuckled.
"I am sorry i can't..."
"Shuu!" He cut in. "I won't lie i like you." I lift my head to look at him. "But as a very close friend." He added and laughed. "Stéphane have been teasing me about you so i decided to put on a show."
"You should have told me so i wouldn't make a fool out of myself in front of you."
"Then the fun wouldn't be there."
"Hey Laure!" Eloise shouted and waved at me. "Come join us."
"What do you say?" I looked at Eric.
"It wouldn't hurt." He smiled.

As planned, we arrived at our apartment in Menilmontant that morning. There wasn't much difference in the house apart from the change of art works. I ran upstairs leaving my bags with Marie to check out my room. As i entered i walked straight to my loveseat and collapsed on it. It brought back memories of Liam and i that night. My cheeks burned with embarrassment to the thought of it.
Buzz buzz! My phone rang, it's a call from big sis.

"Mum informed me that you just arrived." She said as i picked the call.
"Yes we did."
"Have you seen my birthday gift to you."
"Where is it?" I blushed.
"I dropped it on your table."
"Thanks alot sis," I said while walking to the table.
"I'll see you tonight."
"It's a letter sis," I said.
"You'll love what's in it." She chuckled and cut the call.

****
Hey Laure,
I'm sorry for being a coward i should have sent this a long time ago but i was scared because i thought you deserve someone better.
I should have run after you when you told me how you feel but i was dumbfounded.
Long story short, I feel the same way, I love you Laure and i don't mind taking flights from Toronto to see you anytime.
Liam.
****

Tears streamed down my cheeks as i was done reading. He was close to me all this years yet still far away. I slowly sat down and cried my eyes out. Marie ran into my room.

"What's wrong miss Laure?" Worried, she stared at me crying helplessly on the floor.
"What if he no longer feel the same way?" I lift my head and looked at her.
"I'll go call madame." She dashed out of the room.

It's a lovely summer morning, I walked through the woods with long winding beds full of colorful flowers at Parc floral de Paris to enjoy the beautiful scenery and clear my thoughts but the clicking of a camera drew my attention to a tall curly haired masculine man.

My eyes lit up at the sight of him, I could never forget those alluring hazel eyes of his which prowled over my face and pounced on my eyes.

"I earnestly hoped that you won't vanish before my eyes as I took a photo of you," he said.

Unable to look at me or control the tears that started to form he walked away. I ran straight to him, grabbed his arm and shouted "Stay with me!" With tear-filled eyes.

We sat quietly on a bench by the pond listening to the rustling of trees.

"I thought you've forgotten about me when i saw you at the beach with a handsome fellow in Toronto." He said after minutes of awkward silence.
"I thought i was hallucinating Liam." I spoke softly.
"I know i look like a coward for confessing my feelings to you in a piece of sheet."

Do not take it back Liam, I prayed he still feel the same way.

"I wrote down my number Laure," he continued. "For two good years i waited patiently for your response."
"I got to read your letter this morning and you don't know how heartbroken i am."
"Why?" He said.
"I am heartbroken because the man I love have been close to me yet still far way. I have never for once stopped loving you Liam." I broke down in tears.

He lift up my head and wiped the tears off my face. "I feel the same way and I should have said so a long time ago, I love you to Laure."
He grabbed my face and kissed me with passion as I did kissed him back just as much. We broke to the loud ringing tone of my phone.
"I'm sorry," I muttered before picking the call. "Hey Anne,"
"Aunt Pauline called, she's been worried she said you left the house in tears and you didn't tell me you'll be back this summer Laure."
"I wanted to pay a surprise visit."
"What's wrong with you?" Worried, Anne asked.
Liam pulled my phone out of my hand. "I'll appreciate it if you could call back later," he said.
"Laure!" Anne yelled before he cut the call. I chuckled as he handed it over to me.

"Where were we?" He said with a grin.
"In the middle of a fervent kiss." I giggled.
"You owe me a date remember."
"What are we waiting for?"

I got up and stretched out my hand to him, he smiled and placed his in mine and we meandered the park together.
This is all like a dream, my infatuation for a certain stranger i came across turned to love.
I gazed at this handsome fellow walking beside me.
I am no fortune teller so i can't say what the future holds but we promised to cherish every moment we spend together and we sealed that promise with a kiss.

THE END ❤️

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