Rekindled Unrequited Love Forest

The forest can be the scariest place to be isolated. Huge trees, unknown insects, and many animals wander the vast ecosystem. One part of the Museum has its own forestry section. Trees that imitate the forestry, animals shown, and artifacts. It was a perfect place for forest lovers. Gregory is one of them. Looking at the displays, he admires the history and the names of such. Beside him, Kelly, admires the scenery, too.

“So, how long do we intend to be here?” Kelly asks. Gregory is still reading through the texts. He is very fond of learning new things, well, too fond. His routine is simple when visiting museums: Look at it, read the description, then look again. “So, how long do you intend to read that?” She rephrased the question.

“We can do this the whole day,” Gregory might as well sleep in the museum. “But, since Oliver and I have a meeting—” His phone suddenly buzzed; it was the President of the Student Government.

President: Move the meeting to next week. We still have to welcome the new students to the campus.

“Well, I’ll be in luck…” Gregory was surprised by the decision the President made. Kelly peeks from behind, eyes widened. “Guess, we can stay here longer.”

“Oliver may be the happiest person seeing that.”

“I agree.” He continues to walk towards different displays of animals. The trees make it unique, like walking into a sanctuary. “Kelly?”

“Gregory?” She looks at him, and he looks at the display, his eyes only looking at lessons. He really is intrigued by it. “What’s up?”

“Ever wonder if we'll still become friends even after college?” Kelly thought about it for a moment. She almost didn’t have an answer. Almost as if she doesn’t want to separate from them. “Actually, don’t answer that,” He suddenly takes back the question. He may have been guilty of that. Afraid to let go of people? Afraid that he might trigger her?

“We will.” She says, while looking at the next display of birds, the same as him. “We will, Gregory.”

“Then promise me that we’ll see each other…” Kelly didn’t understand what he meant by that sentence. Dazed and confused as she looks at him, going towards the next displays. They continued to walk through different glass displays of each animal until they reached another forest gallery section. She was still confused about what he just said. She genuinely doesn’t know how to feel about that. Overthinking, she thought of that night just outside the museum. Did he mean that with feelings? Did he include the rest with that?

“Say, Gregory,”

“Mhmm?”

“What did you mean by that?” Still bothered by what he said earlier. He was silent again, glancing at the displays shown. It was unintentionally awkward for her. She didn’t mean to ask that early, but her mouth asked anyway.

“I said what I said, Kelly,” Gregory says, seemingly trying to shut down the conversation. Kelly, on the other hand, did overthink that night. Playing scenarios in her head. She gulped and opened her mouth slightly. Until he says, “All six of us will reunite somewhere.”

She calmed down, but in a way that didn’t satisfy her. Instead, a sense of hope just closed on her. In more ways than one, she thought that it would be rekindled. Her heart nearly dropped. Silent. Didn’t know what to do.

“Are these feelings…”

They continued to stroll through the forest station. Another reading session for Gregory makes everything for him slow, but faster outside. Kelly stood beside him wherever he went. Kelly doesn’t know what to do, so he just follows him. They went out of the second forest gallery and went down to the mangrove sections. Gregory was into the science and history of the different animals displayed, and the explanations that Kelly didn’t mind if her feet were sore. They eventually saw a bench just by the exit.

“Do you want to rest?” Gregory offers a rest session; their legs may be tired from walking, so it's the best time to rest. She nods quietly. He notices her unusual response. It’s unusual for him that Kelly isn’t jolly. He sat facing a wall, and she sat facing the open area. As they sat, he gave her a light head rub at the back. She notices the action.

“Wha- what’s that for?”

“You seemed down.” Out of everyone, he always senses something wrong about Kelly. To which she knows too.

“You’re the only one who would notice if I’m not myself.”

“Because you’re easy to read?”

“Really?” Kelly never thought that he would be the one to always notice her downness first out of the group. “You know, I always try to hide it.” Gregory didn’t like that. He always has the attitude that people should release their feelings.

“Tsk.” It was loud. The kind where people never liked it because it senses anger or frustration. “Kelly.” She looks at him, leaning back. “Why do you have to bottle everything up?” She thought about it. She isn’t the kind of person to release her problems to anyone. She stayed silent, her gaze at him broke. She felt guilty; she really does not have a definite answer for that question.

“I— I don’t know.” She is uncertain. There is no point in diving into her problems, is what she’s thinking, yet she doesn’t want to express it.

“Don’t bottle it all up. I can’t afford to see someone emotionally devastated.” His words lit her heart. Someone cared for her. In a way, she does have him; however, she doesn’t want to be dependent and always tell him her problems. 

“What’s on your mind?” He asks. Ever so calmly, looking at the wall, both hands flat on the bench. She still doesn’t want to talk about it, but she does have something in mind.

“I’m just thinking about the two.” She averted her own problems by going towards Trinity and Eugenio. Gregory is aware that she was avoiding her own conflict, but for the sake of his and her own, he plays along.

“I’m pretty sure they’re fine.”

“Well, I’m worried that it might reignite.”

“Then we’ll just be there for them.” Silence followed. It went for about five minutes. Just them scrolling through their phone to cure boredom. Their legs are still aching from the walk. Gregory wanted to walk more, but Kelly was massaging her foot. Her ankle may have been strained. He noticed her massaging her foot and decided to stay with her. He suddenly asked something that gave her a thought.

“What if we’re like separated by country? Will we still see each other?”

“You fool, of course we will,” She answered rapidly. Always standing their ground that they will see each other. “I will spend all my life savings just to see you…" 
"Only me?"
"I mean, all of you... I'll travel to other countries.” That's a nice save from Kelly.

“I’m asking because I just had a thought when I went home.” Curious about the thought, she leaned back once again to listen to his story.

“Which is?”

“Remember when Eugenio was sad when we left?”

“Yeah.”

“What if we were in his shoes?” Kelly thought about it. What if she doesn’t see the girls? The boys? More importantly, the person she has been close to during her stay. “Like, how can you just expect to let go easily?”

“Well, one thing is for sure,” She looks at him, concerned. A friend who doesn’t want to leave someone behind or be alone. “I will stand by what I said, which is to visit each one of you.” He smiles, giggles with that answer, which is like the nth time she has said it. Kelly looked at him. She thought she had said something corny.

“Why?”

“You told me earlier, I was corny, right?” Her actual thoughts may have matched. That’s like one in a thousand chances for her. She panicked as if she were a newbie mind-reader, stood up, breathing heavily.

“Wait, I can explain—”

“Kelly,” He laughs at the panicked best friend. He calms her down, his hands lightly grab her arm. “It’s not corny, you aren’t, either.” That really calmed her down.

“Really?”

“Because you’re real, and that’s what I find charming about you.” That took her by surprise with that compliment. Her heart beats slightly louder and faster. Her feelings… is it really water under the bridge? Was that night a fluke? 

“If anything,” He stares at the wall, feeling inspired. “You’re the only one with whom I’m always comfortable.” 

He let his feelings out, and Kelly didn’t know what to do. Froze in her seat. Rubbing her thumbs against each other. “I’ll go to the restroom.” He stood up and went. Kelly, however, exhales heavily with what she heard. The straightforwardness of Gregory made her think of what she really thinks of him up to now.

“Do I still…” 

*Ring* Her phone rang while she was overthinking. She finally realized it, then grabbed it from her pocket, and it was a missed call from Trinity in the group chat.

Trinity: If you want to meet us, we’re at the center.

Kelly: Alright!

Kelly still hasn’t let that phrase go from him. Her memory lingered through her, as if the forest had it and slowly crept towards her. She rubs her eyes lightly, then covers them. Was she ashamed? Did she think of another what-if scenario? She stood up, going to the ramp, waiting for him.

“Have I really moved on?” Her thoughts ran through the end. Endless memories again ran; she couldn’t handle them. She puts her hand on her face as she shakes it. “Have I really moved on?” She still couldn’t snap back to reality, when suddenly,

“Moved on from what?” He was behind her, near her ear. She was startled that she almost jumped out of fear. “Oh, sorry… I couldn’t help but overhear what you said— Kelly?” Her face was red, but she couldn’t feel it. Gregory noticed it, but remembers that he doesn’t want to press her.

“Kelly, remember, I’m here.” Gregory gives her a light head pat, then goes down the ramp first like a normal person. Kelly, still haunted, takes another deep breath. She follows him with a smile like the normal Kelly he knows, beside him as always. As they went down the ramp, the leave the forest gallery with memories that linger with one person. For Gregory, it was one way to squash the past. However, for Kelly, it may be the opposite.

“Sorry, Gregory, but I think I still do…”