Noah- That's All I Can Do

A few weeks had passed since I arrived in Boston, and life was gradually settling into a new, yet familiar rhythm. Despite that awkward run-in with Kyle and Callie, better known as the Fortner twins at school, I found myself getting entangled in whatever they were up to. May it be going to a restaurant, local café, or just a window shopping spree, though it's just Callie who enjoys the latter one, and me and Kyle are just dragged along with her. But truth be told, most of it turned out to be rather enjoyable.

The twins were undeniably odd, with Kyle leading the charge. He never missed a chance to tease me, but I couldn't help but laugh along. There was something about them that made it all quite worthwhile.

I was still in touch with Iva and Alan though. We exchanged photos and texted each other whenever time allowed. Especially with Iva. We text each other almost every day whenever we've got time on our hands. It'd turned into a routine for me, checking my phone every now and then to see if I'd got any messages.

I wonder what I'm even doing... that day in the train station, if only I could've met her... I had made up my mind back then, I really wanted to end things forever for the two of us that day. Because thinking that she still loves me, that she still thinks that everything can go on even when we are far apart... hurts me more. Because that's not what I had promised her... that's not how I can protect her.

Did Alan know all of this too? And that's why he...

I was readying myself for another school day. I sat by the front door, tying my shoelaces with care, my aunt's voice rang out. "Noah, take an umbrella with you. The weather forecast says it's going to rain today."

"Those forecasts are never accurate," I said, pushing the front door with my legs. Sunlight spilled over me, warming my skin. "Look, it's so sunny outside."

"But they're saying it'll rain later on..."

"Well, they always say that. Just look outside, it's your usual clear spring day. No way it's going to rain."

Yet my aunt persisted. "But you should still take an umbrella, Noah. You never know."

I couldn't put her words down, so I reluctantly carried an umbrella with me at the end.

During recess, and if you're wondering the sky still remained clear as ever, I was on the rooftop texting with Iva. Luckily, the first ten minutes of my recess here lined up with the last ten minutes back there. We would just talk about everyday things, what we had for breakfast, how the classes were going, stuff like that. Deep down, I was happy that things just remained as they were right now. And if possible, I'd want us to stay just like this. Just friends.

But even then, I can't tell the slightest of her feelings staying so far apart. What is she feeling right now, as she's texting me those messages? Should I really wish for things to stay like this then?

I couldn't tell.

"Noah..." I felt a breath on my ear, "what are you doing?" The voice carried a hushed tone as it whispered my name.

I turned to face the voice, as I saw Callie standing behind me.

"What are you doing?"

"Oh... um, nothing."

"Did I scare you?" Her mischievous chuckle danced through the air as she teased, "Are you a kid or what?"

"Don't just go on sneaking on others like that."

"I'm sorry... I saw you engrossed on the phone, that's why."

"Kyle's absent today, so I thought you hadn't come either."

"Oh, about Kyle, his stomach was hurting this morning... so he just stayed in bed."

"Like that time during the summer break?."

"Yeah. That's his bad luck. He gets sick quite easily."

"I hope he gets alright..."

"More importantly-" Callie's eyes sparked, sneaked a peek at my phone and inquired, "Who are you talking to?"

Caught off guard, I blurted out in an instant. "It's nothing, just an old friend."

Well, that answer didn't get her undeterred, as she pressed on. "Show me. Let me see who you're texting."

A blush crept up my cheeks, embarrassed to show her. I averted my gaze, turning my face away as I muttered, "It's just a friend."

"Really? Are you telling the truth?"

I found it difficult to meet her gaze, my voice barely above a whisper as I nodded, unable to find the right words. Then out of nowhere, she slipped away my phone from my hands.

"Iva Valentine... who is she?"

"What are you doing? Give my phone back!"

I tried reaching her to get my phone back, but she stepped back, passing my phone between her hands behind her. "At first tell me who's she. Then I'll give."

"Like I said, just a friend."

"Let me see... hmm... doesn't seem so. You two seem really close."

"Don't go on reading other people's messages!"

"Ok, ok..." She chuckled, giving me my phone back. "I didn't want to get you mad at me."

I humped. "Then you shouldn't have taken the phone in the first place."

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry. My bad. Well, you've never told us anything about your friends from Camden, so I was just interested." She sat beside me, crossing her legs and looking straight. "You could've just told us one or two things."

"What I said, she's just a friend."

She drew her eyes back towards me again, glowing the same as before. "What kind of friend? Can't you at least tell me that?"

Around when the last period began, the weather forecast, for once, seemed like it had hit the mark. By that time a light drizzle had begun outside. It wasn't intense, nor did it show signs of stopping. Well, I was lucky, as I'd brought an umbrella with me in the first place. I should thank Aunt for that later.

I opened my umbrella, stepping out of the school building. The rhythm of droplets creates a soothing chorus, harmonizing with the whispers of the wind. One second, the raindrops danced upon my umbrella with melodic grace. But then, for a fleeting moment, it felt as if time rewound, as I saw myself and Iva right beside me.

"Well, at least it's not unbearably hot anymore." I was standing there by the canopy of the aquarium building with Iva, right before she pushed me into the rain.

"Iva... what's the plan?"

"Nothing. Let's just walk."

The way she chuckled, it felt like I was back in that day again.

Everything froze, the world transforming into a surreal mosaic of suspended droplets. I was too familiar with that fear.

Suddenly, reality snapped back into motion. People hurried past me, those footsteps echoing in my ears. Yet, my heart continued its wild rhythm, racing within my chest. Clutching the umbrella tightly, I hastened my steps toward home.

I briskly strode, pressing ahead on my path. Upon reaching the juncture just around the bend of my block, a delicate echo of a cat's meow punctured the shroud of rain that draped my surroundings. Not sure if I was just hearing things or not, I strained my ears to listen more closely.

"Meow..." This time, the sound resonated clearly, dispelling any doubts. My gaze swept the area here and there, when I noticed the weathered cardboard box. Moving closer, I leaned in and directed my attention within. A little cat lay curled up, just like a furball, her fur matted and dampened by the relentless rain. The rain maybe had made her this weak.

Mom once told me that cats die when water enters through their ears. What should I do now? The thought of leaving it there seemed unbearable. But I couldn't just take it back home with me. I can't burden my aunt any further all she'd done for me already.

I paced back and forth, grappling with the decision before me. In the end, I placed the umbrella over the cardboard box, as I ran straight back home, holding my hands over my head, a futile attempt to fend off the worst.