"I need to get out of here."
He stood frozen, hoping that his ears were deceiving him. That was the last thing he needed from today. The last.
"No, no, no. What?"
Tom shot out of his sit and walked towards Viviana, "Please don't tell me I heard what I just thought I heard."
Viviana kept gaze on the floor, letting her dark brown locks cover her face. She didn't want to look into those brown eyes. Eyes that traps her deep within them and never lets free.
"Viv."
She kept silent before pushing his hands, that had already set on her shoulders, away and turned around, continuing to the close tot pull out her luggage.
Viviana didn't had any choice. If she were to stay any longer, she might not be able to achieve her lifetime wish. Paris. Korea. Spain. China. Vietnam. You name it. The Gaza Pyramid. The tower of Pisa. The Great Wall of China. The Merlion. All that her eyes crave for. She wasn't going to let them drown because of her father.
"I need to." She finally answered Tom's lingering question.
Tom plopped on her bed and took of his cap, covering his eyes before chanting a few mantra to calm his worked up self down.
"Do you really need to go?"
Oh yes she did and a nod made Tom groan in frustrations even more.
Viviana was his drive. His motivation. Most importantly, his bestfriend. They promised to grow up together. Get married together. Have kids together and die together but of course, not married together. Pfft. He was pretty sure Viviana would never agree to that.
Tom jerked and snapped out of his chaotic mind when Viviana threw her jacket on his face. He sat up, with a questioning look and for once in that day, Viviana smiled.
"Stop imagining how sex would be like with Jessica Alba and help me pack, you idiot."
Tom rolled his eyes and groggily made his way over.
"Is there any way that I can convince you not to go?"
Viviana sighed in the mist of packing. She really didn't want to leave unless…
"What if you live with me?" Tom offered, not noticing the slight pink blush that tainted her cheeks.
To distract herself, she shook her head, "You know my dad. He wants me to further up my studies and get a degree in childhood development. I love children, I really do but,"
Viviana threw her few pairs of sneakers in, leaving her yellow sneakers on the floor, left unpacked.
"My passion is traveling." She continued knowing that he would never be able to stop her.
Tom squatted and took the pair of yellow sneakers but the laces and smirked,"Why didn't you pack this as well?"
Viviana knew that smirk and immediately stuck her tongue out. She was going to miss that.
"I was… Going to throw it away." And Tom's face immediately changed.
Hurt. Anger. Disappointment. All in one and in a second, Viviana felt really bad. The next moment, he stood, his face painted blank before Tom hugged Viviana.
"I'll go now. I'll call you later."
Tom turned his back away and walked out, slamming the door shut. It wasn't something that he did before and he felt this hint of guilt running through him.
Her eyes that depicted sadness. Viviana was sorry and he knew that. Nevertheless, he still walked away. As he slowly made his way down the stairs, time seemed to have slowed down and Tom knew that he had to do something to stop Viviana from leaving. At least, to not leave now, when Tom knew that amazing things would happen if they were together, as a couple.
Viviana wiped a tear and shook her head.
"Way to go, Viv." She mocked herself, smacking herself mentally and wished that she could do so mentally.
Knocks on the door and Viviana smiled.
"He cam back." And she immediately rushed to the door.
Viviana made up her mind. She was going to make up with Tom and tell him her feelings. She has been bottling it up for so long, it actually hurts. Oh how Viviana loves-
"Mom?"
Eyes wide and her jaw almost touching the ground. It wasn't Tom.
"He left…" She muttered before her mum interrupted, "I heard about your plans."
Viviana stood rooted and the unexpected happen. She was expecting a scolding or a lecture tutorial from her strict mother but instead, she got a hug.
"Go. Go and live your dream."
Tears freed themselves and Viviana could't help but smile, "Thank you so much, Mum."
"And you know, just because you're leaving, it doesn't mean you have to leave Tom."
Viviana pulled away, confused, "But I can't take him along."
Her mum smiled, as if she was amused at Viviana's childish-ness,"He's always here," She pointed to Viviana's heart, "Forever always."
"Thank you so much, Mum."
Her flight off came like a breeze and Tom ran. He ran almost like the win and Bill was pretty sure Tom could win the Gold medal in the Olympics. His legs begged for mercy but he just kept running till he reached the door that leads to the boarding area.
Tom stared, heaving for air, before his butt crashed to the floor. Bringing his knees closer to his chest, he did the impossible. He cried.
Viviana was gone. It was his fault. Tom didn't even convinced her to stay or tried to make the last few day fruitful and meaningful. Instead, he got a sissy fit and just had to stay away from Viviana but he couldn't help it. She was everywhere. In his head and in his heart. Tom needed time to think things through but he guessed he had taken too long to sort out what he should do and now, she's gone.
"Fuck yourself, To-"
"Tom?"
He must be hallucinating. That sweet, tangy ring to the voice he just heard. It sounds just like…
He turned, "VIVI!!!"
In a split second, Tom embraced Viviana, holding her tight and never wanting to let go. Never.
"To-"
"No, let me talk. I should have stopped you. I shouldn't have-"
"Tom." She called out.
"Ssh, I should have gotten all sissy. I'm sure you were joking and I should know that."
"Tom."
"Viv, I'm talking. I should just spend time with you, make you happy before you leave and instead I-"
"Tom!" And he finally shut his mouth, the look of annoyance plastered on his face.
Slowly, Viviana emphasized, "I'm not going."
Tom was dumbstruck. He should be dreaming. He should be still sitting down and crying his heads off because his childhood crush and first love was going away fervor and he might only be able to see her in three or four years tim or even ten years time but..
"I'm not going, Tom."
A smile finally crept up the side of his mouth and he leaned forward and kissed Viviana.
"Don't ever leave me."
Viviana threw her head back and laughed, still wrapped in the arms that she longed to be in since the day her hormones started raging.
"I won't. I promise."
"And Tom, I wasn't going to throw away the yellow sneakers you bought for me. I wore them today." Viviana smirked, flashing her sneakers to Tom.
"So you do love my yellow sneakers!"
