Jace never ran so fast in his life.

He went to each and every ride in Rainbow Land as he panted hard but still continued on. He pulled out his cell phone and tried calling Oresa but she wasn’t picking up. He tried their home phone whose number he still surprisingly remembered, but her mother said she wasn’t home yet. Suddenly, he thought of one place where he might find her. It didn’t matter what it was, guilt, like, love…

What mattered was to see her and to tell her his feelings. Her face flashed in his head once more, as it always did in his years of cowardice.

He arrived at the play park. Oresa was sitting on the swing. Jace approached her and heard faint sobs. She wiped her eyes dry and looked up to him.

“W-What’re you doing here?” she asked. “Shouldn’t you be with Asari?”

“Why did you leave? Why… why didn’t you tell me?”

“What are you saying…” her voice was shaky.

“Asari gave this to me.” He handed her the paper. Her eyes widened and her face turned into a darker shade of red, visible in the darkness of the night that already slithered in. “You… after all those years…”

“I thought that you hated me for that night… I ruined our friendship.” Jace fell down on his knees, fatigue catching up with him. His hand covered his face and he felt something cold run down his cheeks.

“You were even willing to step out for Asari’s sake… the thought of you giving up on me…. Even though we never spoke to each other again since that time, I still felt assurance and comfort because you were still around. This time I… I thought you were really giving up. I can’t bear it. W-Why did I ignore this all this time? I’m stupid.”

“I…” she started to cry once more. “I still don’t understand what you’re saying, idiot.”

“I don’t know, everything’s so blurred but… but I just know that I don’t want to lose you. I’m already stupid enough to lose you once… Why didn’t I realize it before? That you also cared for me the way I did for you? I… I—”

She stood up from the swing, bent down, and hugged him. She was smiling even though tears kept running down her cheek. “You know we really won’t understand each other if we kept crying. Why are we even crying…?”

The two of them settled down and sat by the bench. Jace looked up. “The stars are pretty tonight.”

“Yeah.” Oresa said, looking up as well.

“Resa.”

“Y-Yeah?” She blushed. He hasn’t called her that in years.

Jace inched towards her and kissed her lightly on the lips. His arms wrapped around her, bringing her closer to him and kissing her deeper. She was hesitant but responded slowly to him. They then broke apart from the kiss, breathing deeply.

“W-What…” Oresa spoke. “Is this… Is this something that I would misunderstand once more?”

“No. This time I will have the courage to say it.”

“Say what…”

“That I love you. I always have.” His heart was beating so loudly that he thought that it was going to burst out from his chest.

“I was so stupid, scared, and numb that I didn’t even realize that it was love that I have always felt for you. Even in those three years, I would think of you always. I just convinced myself that I always remembered you because I felt guilty… But I won’t hide now. I don’t care if you don’t believe me, but I’ll say it once more. I love you.”

“…” Oresa was speechless. Suddenly the palm of her hand made touched his cheek with speed. His cheek reddened in pain.

“Oww. What was that for? I just confessed my undying love to you and you slap me in reply.”

“That’s for being a jerk for all those years.”

“I’m sorry!” Jace apologized. “But y-you know, it’d be nice to hear a reply to my confession… I mean I’m just a normal guy who sucked it all up just to say my real feelings for you, I at least deserve a response.”

“No, I won’t be saying anything embarrassing like that.”

“But…”

“I’m just kidding. I’ve always loved you, even when we were apart I never stopped loving you. I mean… I even wrote all those letters for you!”

“I know. Hmm.. I wanna read them.”

“No way!”

********************************************************************

“Did you girls see the picture that Thelea sent last night? Jace and that pig-tailed bookworm were holding hands as they got out the River of Love.” The tall girl spoke.

“Totally, and here I thought he and Thelea were going out.” The blonde said.

“I know right! But the weird thing is that I saw Zach hanging around with that pig-tailed loser during breaks, he seemed to be into her.”

“Wtf!!!” the blonde said. “She’s such a flirt! I hate her!”

“I’m actually surprised that Thelea didn’t react badly to it.”

“Maybe because she’s now going out with that Daneo guy?”

“Really?! He’s such a normal person. He’s not even that good even as a varsity player in our basketball team. Thelea’s reputation will suffer. I feel bad for her.”

“Well maybe they really just liked each other? Haha, fat chance!”

“Oh yeah, I saw that glasses girl with the cool library assistant guy; Rosie and Nise. Could something be going on between them too?”

“Maybe? The girl isn’t that pretty so maybe he’s using her for her brains.”

“But I heard Nise is also kinda knowledgeable—wait, isn’t that Jace and our vice President?” the tall one asked. “What… why are they together?”

“Ehhh?!” the other two reacted.

“They’re holding hands!” the blonde commented. “I-In public… wow.”

“I didn’t know Jace was such a play boy.” The third one said. “But I don’t really care; his hotness factor just went up by a couple of levels.”

“But they really look good together and seem to have this chemistry going on between them.”

“Yah…” The tall one sighed. “I wonder when we’ll stop gossiping like this and start getting our own love lives?”

********************************************************************

“Oresaaa… S-Sorry for the wait.” Asari said.

“’Sokay. I wasn’t here that long.” The redhead responded. “I already bought you a drink; we can have it while walking.”

“You bishes, what about me?” Thelea spoke. “I’m invited in this too you know. Girls’ day out~” she giggled then whispered to herself. “School, boys, and more boys.”

“I bought four, don’t worry Thelea.” Oresa assured her.

“I-Isn’t that… Jace?” Asari said, pointing at someone in the street opposite to them. “W-Why is he wearing a bunny outfit…”

There was silence for a few seconds which was followed by a burst of laughter soon after. Oresa blushed, saying, “Ugh… I feel embarrassed for him.”

“Haha, he owed me a favor because of the Irsa incident so he’s helping out with our family’s cake shop. He looks cute in that suit, no?” Rosie just arrived.

“F-Family cake shop? I… I wonder how Z-Zach would look in that costume…” Asari wondered, blushing profusely.

“I wonder how all of our boys would look in that. I must know!!!”

“O-Our boys?! You’re…m-mistaken!” Asari was flushed. “M-Me and Zach…”

“You’re crazy, Thelea.” Rosie said, concealing her flushed face.

“This sure is an unusual circle of friends that we formed.” Oresa grinned.

“Well we have ‘Irsa’ to thank for that.” They all laughed.