Iris and Mico’s

     Most precious moment ever!!!

Iris ran to the veranda, sobbing. She went to the very end, gripping the ledge tightly she thought she’d crush it. She screamed, trying to get a grip of herself. But she can’t stop crying. He broke his promise. She never expected that Mico Gabriel, the best friend she loved so much but she just couldn’t confess, would break his promise to her. She still remembered that sudden kiss-on-the-cheek-romantic-stuff chat they had on the eve of her 18^th birthday:

“You’re coming tomorrow, right?” she asked Mico. But he just stared at the beautiful full moon.

They were at the center of a small bridge at the middle of Iris’ backyard garden, with their hands clipped to one side of it. Iris was on her pajamas and a plain, white tee while Mico wore jeans, Vans and a Black Sabbath t-shirt. He had just come back from delivering a report to the village officers.

Iris punched Mico on the shoulder lightly, hoping to break his concentration a little,

“I said you’re coming, right?”

“You know my dad wants me to be the next leader of my family, right?” he joked back. But Iris’ birthday is not a joke, and she doesn’t know how that subject came from. So she just played along,

“Yeah, I know. But that’s still so far ahead.” She reminded. “And I want you to be my tomorrow.”

“Please Iris, hear me out. I’m not joking.” Mico insisted. Iris got startled; she had never seen Mico so serious before.  He placed his hand above Iris’, which made her blush a little.

“Okay, I’ll listen. I’m your best friend, right?”

He smiled, and Iris smiled too. Mico’s smile makes her think the moon transformed into the sun, making her feel so warm, especially when his hand is on top of hers.

Mico held a deep breath like he was about to cough on her, but he exhaled back and spoke,

“I’m supposed to prove to my family that I’m worthy,” he said. “They’re going to observe me for a whole day while I’m on an errand. Troublesome, I’ll say.” He hesitated for a moment, and then spoke again,

“Iris, I’m so sorry. But that day is-“

Iris didn’t let him finish his sentence. She removed her hand below Mico’s and placed it on top. She gripped his hand tightly because she was shaking,

“But you’re coming! You can’t refuse; I won’t look for another ! And, and, I told Mom to add potato chips to the food buffet there! And, and-“

She kept insisting. Mico just stared at her, feeling so sorry for her. Iris was about to burst into tears. She was trembling, refusing to believe her best friend won’t come to her debut, seeing her catch up to him even though they were one year apart. Mico turned 18 on April 29 last year, leaving her behind as a 17 year old, but she was at his blowout. And now it’s March 16, a day before she turns 18, and he couldn’t come.

“Y-you’re my best friend. It’s just not fair!” she exclaimed.

“I know, I know. But you know how much the position I’m about to get for means to Dad. You know I can’t let him down.” Mico reminded. “Please understand.”

Iris choked. She does understand. Being the leader of one’s family was the best thing to do to make your parents go to Heaven happily, same as her dad wants, which she will have to do sooner or later.

She slapped her forehead, which made Mico get startled a little. She showed so much selfishness in front of him. Of course he loves his family more than her; she couldn’t push her luck any further. She was not in the place for that.

“I’m sorry for forcing you.” She apologized to him. “I’m sorry I still don’t know. Dad didn’t give me his inheritance either yet. It’s alright if you won’t come, maybe I’ll just ask Jasper or Alex to be my partner for the party-“

“NO!” Mico shouted. She got surprised.

“No, no, no, Iris Palacio,” he lectured, sounding like a disappointed teacher. “You are not going to be glued to those puny, little… Ugh. Okay, here’s what I’ll do. I’ll finish my part as soon as I can, then I’ll put on my very best suit then rush to your party.”

Now Iris got even more surprised. Is he getting jealous or something? She just stared at his eyes. His brown eyes were shining, reflecting the moonlight. They were starting to look like bronze nuggets stuck in his eye orbits. And those glittering things were not lying; they were very serious and sincere.

“Really?” she asked.

Mico nodded approvingly.

“Okay, I guess I’ll see you tomorrow.” She said.

“Don’t forget the chips, okay?” he also reminded.

“Of course. Hey, about earlier, I’m sorry again.”

“Iris, you’re my very best friend. Of course I’ll forgive you. I wasn’t affected one bit. But, you would at least lead me to your front gate so I could go home now, right?” he pleaded.

“Yeah, sure. Let’s go!”

They held hands, walking down the bridge, laughing. They quickly reached the front gate, and then Mico faced Iris and held both her hands.

“In case you still doubt, please believe. I promise I’ll be there.” He said.

“I do believe you, Mico. I’m just a bit nervous for tomorrow.”

“Don’t be, I’ll see you.”

Then the most romantic thing happened that night. With just a blink, Iris felt a quick yet warm smack on her left cheek. Could it be…?

She blinked again. When her sight came back to normal, she was face-to-face with Mico. Their faces were close to each other, maybe an inch. Obviously she had just been kissed on the cheek by her best friend.

Mico winked, which made her blush so much she thought her whole face turned red. He let go of her hands lightly, then opened the gate. When he went out, he waved goodbye, but Iris’ body couldn’t respond. She was still dumbfounded at what happened.

And because of that, she gullibly believed that he really would come, no doubt.

And that kiss led her here, crying and feeling so helpless. She felt so stupid. How could she believe him with just a kiss? Mico was her best friend, not boyfriend. She pushed her luck too much.

She looked at herself. She was wearing her best outfit, a blue green silk dress with shiny black leather boots. But all of it was worthless.

Iris pounded the ledge. She released her last shed of tears. She sat, staring down.

Her hands were clipped together, in the middle of her knees. She wanted to slap herself, but for her the only thing to do is just to sit tight and regret everything she’d done. She stared at the shimmering blue green silk dress she was wearing. She jingled her earrings, and she twisted her ring. For what was all of these she wore? Everything she prepared for the party, all the sweat she had excreted, and it was all not for only her. She wanted the party perfect for both of them, her and Mico. She hoped that moment the night before to happen again, but this time with feelings that she dreamt coming true. She wants hearing the phrase “Iris and Mico” to come alive. For her, it should mean “lovers” and not “friends”. She expected that this was the exact time she’d break free from the friend zone. But where is he?

He was not here. He is not here, and he will probably never be here.

Then suddenly, just as she was going to tear herself apart, someone knocked by the window beside the veranda door.

“Iris?” the dude asked.

Iris looked forward. The guy was already at the open door. He was wearing a suit. Shiny black pants and shoes, a toga and a shimmering blue green necktie, matching her dress. Iris was shocked. She was so surprised she stood up so fast she thought she’d go off balance. His hair stood up, making him so handsome with that spiky hair covered in gel that made it also shining.

Being lost in her thoughts, Iris almost didn’t realize the boy. She saw his brown eyes and that default expression of a smirk that made him look like a bad boy. But he wasn’t, Iris does know him. He was,

“M-M-Mico?!” she stammered.

He went closer to her, and inch by inch Iris was having mixed emotions. When he suddenly faced her, she almost couldn’t breathe.

“Were you crying?”

Iris couldn’t respond. It was him, Mico. Iris doesn’t know what she should feel. Should she be happy because Mico came? Or should she get mad at him for being late for the party and making her feel helpless? Damn Mico, he always makes her feel that way when he’s around even though they were close friends. There was only one answer,

She loved him.

Iris punched Mico on the shoulder so hard, she thought that she would’ve broken Mico’s bone, but she didn’t care,

“Why only now?!” she exclaimed.

“Wait, wait a minute.” Mico said.

He stared at Iris’ face. He must’ve seen the dried marks of Iris’ tears beside her eyes and cheeks.

“Did you cry because you didn’t believe that I would still come?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.

“But you’re late! You made me think you wouldn’t come!”

“But I do want to be late!”

“Why?!”

“Because we could easily find a place just for us!”

Iris got startled. A place, just for them? She knows Mico doesn’t like her, never. But how come his words make her feel like…

Mico toned down his voice, seeing that Iris still doesn’t get what he had just said.

“This place? It’s the perfect spot for us.”

“So, what will we do here?” Iris asked, still confused.

Mico held Iris’ hands, just like he did back at her front gate. Although this was different; Mico’s face shows like he’d never release her hands.

“You see, Iris, now that you’re 18, I want to give you something that you and I will never forget. Not even the sweater you gave me that you yourself made for my birthday.” He said.

Iris giggled. She remembered the green sweater she knitted with a big letter M at the center and a big letter I at the back. It was her present to Mico the day he turned 18. Since then he had been wearing it, rain or shine. Now she was curious what sort of gift he’d give to her that was so important even Mico won’t forget.

“Okay, and what is that gift?” she asked.

Mico smiled. He placed both of her hands on his shoulders, making Iris feel so weary, but she liked the feeling.

He went a step closer to her, until they were just a centimeter away.

Mico wiped off a few of Iris’ hair and hung it behind her ear. He touched her cheek and pulled her face a little more closely.

Iris grinned and Mico said,

“This.”

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And they kissed.

 

Iris felt like she was dreaming. Their lips were still clipped, and Iris felt like she will never let go. It was so magical. She thought that Mico had abandoned her, but all of those hard feelings had left her, because she was with him.

They let go.

They giggled, like nothing happened. Though they still know that what happen will change their lives forever, together.

Iris had nothing but to say,

“It was the best birthday gift ever, Mico. Thank you.”

Mico held her hand once more, and he gripped it tightly.

“Aw, it was nothing.” He said, grinning. “Care to finish the leftover chips with me?”

Iris was so relieved, she was back to normal. She thought that Mico would be the same as always. Handsome, and a bit of out-of-control-with-food type of guy. But even though, she loved him.

“There is no other way I’d end my 18^th birthday, best friend.” She said.

“Oh no, Miss Palacio. I am, starting now, officially your boyfriend.” Mico reminded.

Iris laughed.

“Okay. Let’s just go, boyfriend.”

They laughed again, and together, they held hands going to the buffet. Just like they did at Iris’ garden, where the romance of these two all started.