Rain started pouring as the casket descended to the ground. Everyone wore black and had their umbrellas but not me. I wore my best friend’s favorite color – a hot pink camisole she gifted me on her 24th birthday which was a year ago. I am drenched in the rain, but I am already drowning either way. I promised myself I would not cry when I see her buried 6 feet underground, but she always said promises are futile. And so, it was. 94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV9iO8X3QQZ
Her parents hugged me before they left. I think they might’ve told me about her apartment and that I was written in her will about her things, but I was not really in that kind of state of mind to actually understand anything. The grief I feel is swallowing me whole. I looked up and saw their eyes filled with the same sadness and pain I feel. I turn away and nodded instead. When everyone left, I am still standing staring at her newly placed tombstone. Evangeline Faust. Born July 09, 1999. Died July 09, 2023. My body began to shake. How I could still manage to pump out tears after crying for weeks is a mystery to myself. The pain will never go away, I realize. Her role in my life is irreplaceable. The day she took her life, she took mine with her. 94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTuoabAGVNg
I wander further into the cemetery. The rain has not yet calmed, and I am drenched. I’m probably going to have a hot fever after this day, or I’ll probably die. The latter did sound as bad as the former, though. My eyes are only looking at the pavement that I hadn’t notice I bumped into someone. Strong hands grab my shoulders to steady me. The person holding me asked a question, but I kept my gaze down, my attention was at the book that fell from their grasp. I reached down and grabbed it. The cover was worn-out. I could tell it was well-used and well-read. My grip became hard as I sob. The hands at my shoulders extend, giving me a tight hug. Memories came flooding and I could not stop them nor want them to.94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV30xaHuLN0
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….5 years ago94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4yRpqrbQkl
“…But the real proposition in this story is how the characters felt for each other. Not in a romantic notion, of course, but in a much more intimate sense that even platonic relationship cannot attain. Do we have the same conclusion about this matter?” everyone in the room said their silent yesses or nodded in agreement. I couldn’t because I don’t. “Ms. Valery? Do you have other thoughts about the story?”, Mr. Dain asked. He was discussing about the book "Achilles Heel" by a local author. Conveniently, I have had access to our town's private library over the past few years, so I was well-verse about this particular book. And of course, Mr. Dain always liked being agreeable, and the mere fact that I don’t nod like the others, should bother him.94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡulAgxEG5m8
I hesitated to speak but then the look in his eyes tell me he wasn’t going to let this go. Sighing, I put my notebook down. “Yes, I agree that their relationship was not romantic but if you say that platonic relationship cannot attain the kind of intimacy they had then that would contradict your earlier statement because yes, love is subjective, however, the boundary between love and intimacy does not end where romance is involved. We can love someone to death, but we would not fuck them in their grave when they die. The characters were in love with their souls and not their bodies, but that was their Achilles Heel.” I let out a breath after I finished the last sentence. I know I was rambling, but he asked for it. 94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXwbQHEzUl3
Great. No everyone is staring at me. I ducked my head, feeling uneasy. Mr. Dain cleared his throat and got everyone’s attention back in front. I heard their silent whispers, and I know they think I’m being too critical over a mere story about two characters who refuse to have sex just because they hated the idea of being gay. “Great point, Ms. Valery. Love is indeed subjective.” He nodded as if that was the only thing that made sense to what I said. He clearly missed some points but at least he got one at all, I was not expecting much. The discussion went on for another 30 minutes and thankfully, the bell rang, and we all scrambled to get out of this exhausting subject. 94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJLogdIDoAM
Before I exited the room, a strawberry blonde hair blocked my way. She's grinning from ear to ear, looking up at me. Her smile is contagious. Evangeline Faust. Everywhere she goes and every room she’d enter would light up like she has a halo over her head. I moved to go around her, but she also moved aside to stand in front of me. “Hi, you’re Valery, right? I’m Evangeline but Eva for short.” She beamed. I already know your name, I thought but just settled with a quick reply. “Hello, Eva.” I waved awkwardly while fixing my glasses. She noticed something above my head, and I unconsciously tucked my hair under my ear. Frowning, she reached up and swatted a piece of paper that was probably stuck there for who knows when. Instinctively, I crouched down at her level. She was shorter than me and her head just about reached my shoulder. I don’t know what in the world happened that Evangeline Faust, the campus queen is standing in front of me – talking to me. 94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXr3nUlsSKV
“I liked your answer earlier. It was satisfying to see Mr. Dain get outsmarted by someone in our class.” She said, as we began walking down the hallway, her voice drowning in the crowd. “Hey, this might sound weird..” she trailed. Her talking to me is already weird, and it could not get any weirder than that. “..but would you like to join my club? It’s a book club, actually, but no one’s been interested about joining it – no one I know, for that matter. So, I thought –” I cut her off before she could finish that sentence. “Let me guess. You thought you could recruit me since I seem to be interested in reading books that nobody else seem to bother reading just based on what transpired in our philosophy class – a subject which everyone hates, myself included.” Clearly, she would take that as a sign that I wasn’t interested in being part of her little club. I’m sure if she’d just ask the right demographic, she could start a cult. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t hate her. I just don’t think we fit in the same world. She was a rainbow, and I’m the storm that followed.94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡApP66jgQTU
“No.” her voice was firm. Her lips pressed in a thin line. She’s clearly annoyed by my interjection, but I could not care less. The more she thinks I’m just like what everybody says, the more convenient it was for me. I started to walk faster so she couldn’t keep up. But to my surprise and disappointment, she all but sprinted towards me, nearly tripping as she ran in front of me blocking the stairs ahead. 94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG1ldCi4TzF
“I was-h-n’t finish-ed.” She pants. I debated sidestepping her to run up the stairs. Okay, maybe I’ll hear what she has to say. When I didn’t move or speak, she quickly fixed herself. “As I was saying, I wanted to invite you to join my book club because I thought you were interesting, and you clearly love your literature and that’s just what I needed in my team.” She grinned and cleared her throat. 94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFMwP434CRh
Now that was unexpected. The bell rang again, indicating that second period was up so I just told her what she wanted to hear. “Okay, I’ll sign up.” I ran my way up the stairs, not bothering to hear her reply which likely seemed to be thanking me or whatever. I didn’t need to hear it as I wasn’t really intent on joining her pointless club. There are other things I should be worrying about. But little did I know the world I was about to face when I said yes to her book club.
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