“What do you think you’re doing?”

“Jiro come join me.” Aaron said as he lifts up a bottle of beer.

Jiro looks at his surroundings. No doubt Aaron’s crib was a mess.

He then turned his glaze towards his friend.

“You’re a mess, man”

Aaron giggles as if he just heard a joke.

“Have you gone mad?”

“Nope, just trying to have a ing goodtime.” He said together

with a laugh. He suddenly stops as he heard his own laughter.

He almost didn’t recognize it; it sound so fake.

“This is about her right?” Jiro conclude.

Aaron suddenly froze. He doesn’t want to talk about that.

“This is about Gui gui right?”

Aaron glares at him. He doesn’t want to hear what his about to say.

“You’re like that because she left.”

“What do you want?” Aaron asked in an irritated tone.

“I’m perfectly fine.”

“Fine my .” Jiro hissed.

“What have I done?” Aaron asked all confuse. He thinks back on

what he has done he’s doing great in class perfect attendance.

He does drink but it’s only because he wanted to sleep.

Jiro sigh.

“You didn’t do anything that’s exactly the problem.”

“You want me to get into trouble?” Aaron asked.

"Trouble would be better than this… this moping around all the time!"

“I’m not mopping around” Aaron argue.

"Wrong word," Jiro grudgingly conceded. "Moping would be better—that would

be doing something. You're just… lifeless. I think that's the word I want."

“I’m doing my best”

“I can see that but that’s wasn’t enough. You definitely need to get a life.”

Aaron smirks. Life, yeah that’s what he needs. He need his life back… he need her.

 “Why don’t you follow her?”

Aaron felt exhausted. He took a deep breath and stared at his friend.

“I wanted to do that.”

“Why didn’t you?”

Aaron looks up to the ceiling. Why didn’t he? He often asks his self the

 same question from the very second she board the plane a month ago.

He then smirk yeah it’s already been a month… a month 3 days 4 hours

and 20 minutes and still counting. 643 hours and 60 minutes more of torture.

Can’t believe he had lasted this long. But what can he do?

“Are you giving up?”

Aaron just kept quiet. He actually didn’t know what to say. He doesn’t

know how to depend himself.

“Never knew your such a coward”

He never thought he is. Falling in love may have brought up the best and

worst in him. The side of him he never knew he had. Never had he felt so

afraid of losing her, of not seeing her yet at the same time he can’t bring

himself to be with her.

“If that’s what you want then great.” Jiro said in conclusion.

He sat at the sofa in front of Aaron.

“Guess you’re right” Jiro suddenly said after a short silence.

Aaron looks at him with a questioning glaze.

“You don’t deserve her.”

Aaron tried to object, he wanted so much to argue but all he could do is accept it.

That’s right he doesn’t deserve her. She doesn’t deserve a Casanova like him.

Why would she? She’s a great girl cute, bubbly, sweet and caring.

She might be a little stubborn, clumsy and mischievous yet clueless most of the time

but all that just adds up to her natural charm. Why would she pick him?

She has many option. Right then and there the future became clear to him.

He could see her graduating, finding a stable job she could even picture her

walking down the aisle wearing a silk white dress. So beautiful and graceful

she walks towards the man he can never be. How he hates him whoever it may be.

He felt the familiar pain again, the pain that had been with him in her absence.

He bows his head he didn’t want Jiro to see him this way. He didn’t anyone

to see through his pain. He didn’t need pity but it seems like all his effort was put to vain.

“Have you talked to her?” Jiro asked.

Aaron took a deep breath.

“She used to call me every day just small talks she just updates me on

what’s happening to her. But this pass few days her calls get lesser and lesser,

tried calling her but its either she’s busy or she’s just too tired to talk.”

Jiro realized his wrong to say Aaron didn’t deserve Gui gui.

He can see how much he love her, how much it hurt him to be away from her.

 He didn’t know what to say, admittedly his not an expert at this kind of things.

He has yet to experience what Aaron had been going through and looking at

him now it’s scaring the hell out of him. He wanted to tell him to move on find

another girl but as he can see that’s impossible.

“She might have a reason” Jiro said to comfort him.

“Sure she does.” Aaron whispered. He looks up to the ceiling he can’t help

but smile as he remembers her face.

“Gui gui would never forget her friends.” Aaron could feel a bitter taste

when he said the last word. His poker face slips… sadness is an understatement.

“I just want to feel my importance” he added. He bows not to call her not

until she calls him first. And it’s already been 3 days since his last talk to her.

“Think about it bro and Good luck” Jiro said before he left.

___________________________

Aaron can’t seem to sleep. He recalled his conversation with Jiro.

He went up of his bed and opens the drawer in his left. He took out an

envelope which contains a round trip ticket to Japan valid till next week.

 He brought it a week after she left. Actually he had everything ready he could

go there anytime he wants. He could even attend crash course too yet there’s

one thing that’s hindering him… he can’t seem to find the courage.

He place it back inside. He went back to the sofa and looks at his phone wallpaper.

 He misses her. He wanted to talk to her… tired of waiting for her

to make the first move he gave in.

“Wei?” he heard her say in a sleepy voice and just like that

all his frustrations vanished.

“Gui”

“Aaron?”

“Yeah it’s me”

“Do you know what time it is?”

He looks at his watch and giggles. He felt like laughing maybe because of her voice.

 It made him happy just by hearing it.

“2 am”

“God Aaron you should be sleeping t this hour.” He heard her sneeze.

“Gui  are you sick?”

“Just a little cold and low fever no need to fuss. It’s already winter here.

It’s been snowing for a week now.” He heard another sneeze.

“Since when did you get sick? Why didn’t you tell me?”

“3 days, I knew you’ll react like that. I don’t wanna worry you”

3 days so that’s why she didn’t call him. So typical of Gui gui always trying not

to be a burden to anyone but his more worried now.

She’s alone in the foreign land, who would take care of her?

“Did you take your medicine?”

Gui gui pouts. She hates medicine.

“Bu zhang yao” she said stubbornly.

In normal circumstances Aaron would probably laugh in her childish

behavior but right now his more concern of her health than anything else.

“Gui gui you need to take your medicine” he ordered.

“Bu zhang yao… it’s too bitter. I don’t like”

“Gui gui!”

“Ah bu, don’t worry I’m strong I’ll be fine. I just need some rest that’s all.”

Aaron sighs.

“Why are you so stubborn?”

“Bu, I miss you” she whispered in the other line.

Aaron suddenly froze. He heard her giggle.

“I should be heading to bed now… I’m so happy you called. Thank you. Bye”

“Bye”