Page 71 of Between Then and Now
Her words hit me like a tidal wave. It's one thing to fall for your friend; it's another to realize they’ve been falling for you all along. I reread the note, feeling the depth of her emotions, the vulnerability she so rarely showed. It’s both exhilarating andheartbreaking to know how deeply she cares, how much she’s struggled with her feelings.
I speed to the airport to catch my flight. As I gaze out the window at the clouds below, I replay her words in my mind. She thinks she can’t be as lovable, but she’s wrong. She’s the most lovable person I know, and I’m determined to show her that every day from now on.
Where the hell is everyone? I arrive at Magnolia Heights, and it feels like an abandoned village, save forManongJose and his barbecue stall. There are a few others in the stall but overall, the village seems deserted.
I call my brother but he’s not answering, so I figure I’d go to Lily’s. There’s no one there except forManangLinda. When she sees me, she waves her hand, and I enter the store.
“You’re also back so soon!” she says as she pulls me into a motherly hug.
“Yeah, is Bon here? Where is everyone?”
“Bonita is at an awards event. She got a prestigious award for her documentary,” she says. I smile at the thought of Bon’s dreams finally coming true. “And you? Why are you back early?” She eyes me with suspicion.
I sigh. “You’re right,ManangLinda,” I say as I sit on one of the benches outside. “Bon is bright and full of surprises.”
“Ah, you’ve fallen for our Bonbon?” She sits beside me and places a hand on my knee. I nod.
“I knew it.” She looks pleased with herself. “Everyone said I was delusional for thinking it was even a possibility. But I knew it.”
“How did you know?” I ask.
“Well, young man, I’ve lived here for years. Long before any of you were here. And I know all of you from the top of your head to the tip of your toes,” she says. “And you, Ryan, are not someone who likes noise or anything that disrupts your carefully constructed peace. When the kids hang out here, you sit a few feet away, in that chair, determined to keep your space to yourself.” She points to the armchair at the far side of the store. She’s right. If I don’t get that seat, I just leave. “You don’t share your food; you don’t even look up from your book or whatever it is you’re tinkering with,” she says.
“But,” she continues, bringing her glasses down so she can look me in the eye, “every time Bonita shows up, you light up. You scoot over to make room for her. You let her sit on your armrest. You’re the first to ask about her stories, and you put your book aside to listen to her. You get her favorite cookie before it runs out.” She smiles at me warmly. “The list goes on. And that’s how I knew that this trip will finally make you realize that.”
Wow. I never realized all that. Could she be right? Has it been that long since I unknowingly liked Bon?
I chuckle softly, feeling a mix of relief and anxiety. “She’s amazing, and I only came home early so I can let her know that I’m not going anywhere.”
She squeezes my knee gently. “Good. Now, why don’t you go out and get her? She’ll be back soon. The event finished an hour ago.”
I thankManangLinda and quietly leave the store. I walk around the village, trying to calm my racing mind. I don’t even know what to tell Bon. All I know is that I have to see her. I have to let her know that I love her. I have to do everything I can to convince her to take a chance on us.
I go to the Corner Bistro, which is already closed. Then I proceed to the treehouse they usually hang out in. It’s empty, save for some birds. A few minutes of searching goes by, and I finally go to her house. And there, in the dark of the night, I see it.
Bon’s car pulls up in front of their house. It’s almost impossible to believe that once in my life I thought about avoiding her.
I remember that day at the Corner Bistro when I first saw her with her new haircut. Even when I was trying to avoid her, she pulled me in with her infectious energy and undeniable presence. She’s always had that effect on me—like a magnet drawing me closer, even when my mind resisted.
She pauses by her car, looking up at the sky as if seeking answers from the stars. Her hair, slightly tousled by the evening breeze, catches the light, giving her an ethereal glow. She's wearing a bright pink gown, and her short hair is curled at the edges. She’s so beautiful.
She walks toward their house, and just as she reaches for the door, I take a deep breath, feeling my heart pound in my chest. This is it—the moment I’ve been waiting for.
“Hey, Bonbon.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
Bonita
Ithink I’m crazy. Because I swear I heard Ryan’s voice saying my name. I look back and see him panting as he walks up to our door. I blink my eyes to make sure I’m not conjuring him from missing him too much. But each blink only brings him closer. So, it is real. He’s really here.
“You’re not supposed to be back for another week,” I say as Ryan makes his way through the door. It’s dark inside, and we’re both too stunned to even attempt to turn on the lights.
“I know.” He enters the house with me, and we both just stand there, illuminated by only the moonlight and the streetlights peering through the door and the windows. “I also know that you need time, but I feel like I just have to tell you… Do you want me to leave?” he asks when I don’t respond.
“No,” I say too quickly. I don’t need any more time. I know what I want, and he’s right in front of me. “What do you have to tell me?” I ask, savoring every bit of him. His hair is a hot mess–probably from walking around all night. And he’s wearing a plain shirt that accentuates all the right muscles on his body, and…
“Wait,” I say, squinting to get a better view. “Are those… jorts?” I burst into laughter at the sight. Contrary to what we’ve discussed all those weeks ago, Ryan looks good in them—surprisingly good.
