December 7th

Two weeks had passed since Shiro and Hyori went on their first date. To Akira though, those two weeks felt like two months. He spent every lunch inside Mr. Castillo’s classroom to avoid the two of them. Imani tried to persuade him to sit with her in the cafeteria, but he refused. He couldn’t handle being in the same room with the two canoodling with each other. Of course, Imani understood this, so she joined him in Mr. Caastillo’s.

Akira and Imani sat in the corner of the classroom on the ground. Imani fed him tiny bits of her lunch as they sat and talked.

“Are you at least going to try and talk to him?” She asked.

“I’ve tried so many times, but he always disappears with Hyori before I can.”

“Well then text him. He’s obviously going to see that you want to talk about it!”

Akira folded his hands in his lap, pouting slightly and looking off to the side. “I’ve already tried.”

“What did he say?”

Akira sighed deeply, “He said okay..”

“But??”

“But…he forgot. We agreed to talk during the first period, but when I waved him over, he just smiled and walked off. Again.”

"Have you two even talked one on one since their date?"

Akira shook his head.

Imani frowned. She leaned in, lifting her arms and holding Akira’s face gently. He looked up with his eyes, and they glimmered with a hint of sadness. 

“Look. Shiro does this every time he gets a girlfriend, but you guys get over it over time, right?”

Akira looked back down, then nodded.

“So…why are you worrying about it now?

Akira’s eyes started to water and his gaze shot back up at her. “Because things weren’t as confusing then!” A single tear rolled down his cheek, “I don’t know what it is, he can’t just act all affectionate towards me then go off and date some girl he just met this year!”

More tears began to fall, and he wiped them away aggressively. His eyes turning red, and his hands shaking. “All of those hugs, the words he said to me, everything! I don’t understand. I don’t understand any of it and it’s pissing me off!”

Imani grabbed his shaking hands, holding them gently in hers. Akira sobbed, his head drooping down, and his tears hitting the tiled floors. Imani brought a hand up, wiping his cheeks softly.

“Hey, hey, calm down, it’s okay.”

Akira fell into her arms, and she embraced him tightly. She laid her head on his and stroked his long hair. She then wrapped an arm around his shoulders, pulling him in more.

“Listen to me Akira. You’re thinking about this too much, and it’s not good for you.” Imani lifted his head up towards her, “I understand. You’re confused, and you’re frustrated, but you need to stop stressing about this so much.” She sighed, her face filling with worry. “Maybe it’s time..for you to move on.”

Akira sat up. His eyes were dried, but his cheeks were stained from his tears. 

Imani spoke again.

“It’s been three years. Shiro has had multiple girlfriends already, yet you’re still so focused on him and only him.”

“But what about Leon-”

“Leon doesn’t count. You need to move on, it’s for the best.”

Akira fell silent. The silence of the classroom was loud, only the sound of Mr. Castillo’s keyboard clicking could be heard from the other side of the room.

“You two alright over there?”

Imani peeked up from the ground, “Yeah we’re fine Mr. C, thank you!”

He nodded and she sat back down, her eyes averting their gaze to the sulking Akira. Akira looked up at her, then finally nodded in agreement.

“I’ll try.”

Imani smiled. “And I’ll be with you the whole time.” Akira smiled slightly back at her. 

“You mean you...will help me find a boy?”

Imani raised an eyebrow, “Boy, you know I’m a girl kisser, I can’t do that. I’m your emotional support!” She said cheerfully. 

Akira laughed brightly, his mood finally lifting. Maybe this wasn’t going to be so bad after all. Maybe he will find someone new. Maybe he will find true love. So many maybe’s, but an endless amount of possibilities awaited.

After School

Imani and Akira waltzed out of school together. In an attempt to cheer Akira up a little more, Imani was treating him to some food and drinks at Luminous, his favorite restaurant by the mall. 

They hopped into the Jeepney together, making their way towards IL Corso. This area sat right by the water and was filled with restaurants and shopping. The location provided an amazing view for the sunset, and the liveliness of the area was one to cheer someone up immediately.

Once they arrived at the stop near IL Corso, they took a short walk to Luminous while chatting some more.

“How about after this we can just walk around while the sun sets, maybe get some ice cream!” Imani suggested.

“That sounds great, Mani!” He perked up as he thought of an idea, “Or we can stop by Seaview cafe and get some mango float!!” His stomach growled at the idea, and he patted his stomach lightly.

Imani laughed heartily, “You and mango float Kira, I swear you could eat that everyday and not get tired of it.”

“Girl, that could be the only thing I eat everyday and I’d still love it.”

The two laughed happily. But, the plan was set. They were going to get something to eat, then grab some mango float and roam around the area, taking in the sunset together.

Akira was immensely grateful to have Imani in his life. She always knew how to cheer him up, and was one of the best people anyone could be around. The two of them clicked the moment they met each other in the 8th grade, and from then, they’ve been almost inseparable. Of course, they always tried their best to help the other find their perfect match, but it was hard. Imani is terrible at finding good men for Akira, meanwhile he picks the worst women for her. Imani was even the one who picked out Leon for him, which she felt extremely guilty for afterwards. But Akira didn’t blame her, she’s always trying her best to make him happy, and that’s all that matters to him.

Once they arrived at the restaurant, the two sat down at their table and took a look at the menu.

“What do you plan to get Akira? Same thing as usual?”

Akira hummed, “I think I’ll get the carbonara this time. Ikaw?” (You?)

Imani placed her menu down, “Calamari, like always.”

Akira smiled at her, she orders it every time they go there.
“What about drinks, Mani?”

She picked her menu back up, “I actually don’t know about that one.”

Akira chuckled at this.

“Well Kira, you’re the expert at this menu, what do you suggest?”

Akira crossed his arms in thought, “Well..I always get the strawberry chocolate frappuccino, but I think you’d really like the red fruit smoothie.” Akira smiled, “It has apples in it, and I know you love apples.”

Imani grinned back at the boy, “Alright then, I’ll try that!”

The moment they got their food, they started to devour it like they hadn’t eaten in days. The last time they ate was 3 hours ago. But according to Imani, 3 hours of not eating is a reasonable amount of time for someone to be absolutely starving.

Akira took the last bite of his carbonara and gently wiped his face with a tissue. Imani finished way before he did, and she had already covered the bill, so she was patiently waiting for him to be done. Akira is a slower eater, meanwhile Imani could finish her entire meal in two seconds.

“Took you long enough.”

“Hey..not my fault I’m slow!”

Imani laughed, then patted his head, “Joke lang, joke.” (I’m just joking)

Akira smiled at her, then he gathered his belongings. 

“Mango float na?” (Mango float now?)

Imani nodded, and they both bolted out of the restaurant. A few stares were received, but they didn’t care. They raced each other to the cafe, laughing and hollering at each other on who was going to win. The sound of their shoes pounding on the ground was drowned out by the loud music and singing. It was almost like time had slowed down. Akira felt the happiest he had been in a month, and he wanted to enjoy it as much as possible. The big smile on Imani’s face made him realize that he could always count on her, and she was going to be there for him no matter what.

When their shoes reached the entrance of the restaurant, they stopped. The two of them ended in a tie and were both out of breath.

Imani placed her hands on her knees, “Of course the two least athletic people decide to race.”

Akira inhaled deeply, “It’s ok, at least we survived.”

They both sat up straight and walked into the cafe together. They had sat down for long enough, so they planned to just take out. Imani was paying again, of course. She couldn’t sit there and watch Akira pay knowing how stressed out he was.

She walked up to the cashier, a happy grin on her face, “Hi po, duha mango float palihug.” (Hi, two mango float please.)

“Sige, anything else po?” (Okay, anything else?)

“Dili.” (No.)

Imani turned towards Akira, “Naa kay kwarta?” (Do you have money)?

Akira tilted his head and raised an eyebrow confused, “Wala…I thought you were paying?” (No, I don’t have…I thought you were paying?”

Their eyes widened at the same time, and Akira became worried.

“Well how are we going to-”

Imani laughed, “Joke, joke”

Akira’s eyebrows became furrowed, and he gently hit her, “Ay nako.” (Oh my god.)

Imani paid for their mango floats when they received it, and the two left the cafe together. They walked over to the beach and took a short stroll while eating their treats.

“Lami?” Imani asked. (Yummy?)

Akira nodded happily, “Lami kaayo..thank you.” (So yummy, thank you.)

Imani grinned, then nudged him a little with her side. Akira looked up at her, beaming brightly. The setting sun shone on his face, creating an orange glow. His brown eyes were glimmering from the light, their brown color becoming brighter and more visible. Imani smiled down at him. It made her wonder, how could Shiro not like him? Akira was the sweetest boy ever, and his beauty was one someone definitely couldn’t ignore.

She just hoped that Akira would find a boy to love in the future, someone he could rely on, and not worry about him leaving him. And she was determined to find that guy for him, and this time, he would be perfect.