AMONG MANY HIGH places in Kawah Valley, she chose to be at their primary school bell tower. Even though according to her it was decided upon the wind's whim. It was the first time for them to have their late-night rendezvous at this place and to consider that this bell tower had finished its construction two years after they entered the institute. The bell tower was not as high nor as big as the one at the institute however it served the best scenery over the Chamberly side of the city with much privacy compared to Stella's house or other places.
"It would be nice if they have this tower when we were young," Stella said while her eyes scanned the place as best as she can provide with the light from the moon only. It was brave of her to able to balance herself and walk along the ledge.
"Careful Stell," he warned her. His eyes never leaving her as she walked back and forth.
"I have you, don't I? You'll catch me if I fall," she replied as a matter of fact.
"What if I don't?"
She looked at him, her eyes were opened for him to see and it made his heart go wild. His cheeks burned and he was glad that there was only the moon to light their fortunately dim night. He loved her eyes. Those pair that always sparkled when she thinks of something and how it astonished him that it almost mirrored the night sky full of stars. Like that woman's eyes.
The first time he saw her eyes, he thought that his world had stopped altogether and that he chocked on his own breath.
The time itself had paused for the moment of revelation when everything was in disarray what's with the teacher blared at his ears to stop tormenting the pitiful Kai who had broken his arms or that the head teacher was scolding for misconduct of magic and promoted violence instead of setting a good example to other students or to received shouts of support for his actions in saving Stella from the students who had witnessed the fight.
All those were nothing compared to when Stella stood there with her eyes barely visible, enough for him to see and to let his heart got stolen before he knew it, he was running to her, desperate to catch Stella who had a blackout.
"You would definitely save me," she whispered and it brought Gitto back to his reality.
Suddenly he felt embarrassed by the sudden closeness nevertheless he kept his cool. Stella won't know what he was thinking or the way his heart went over-drive. "Let's seat," he said so that he can distract her with other things.
"These days, I kept reminded of our first meeting," Stella started when they had settled down on the ledge. She was looking at the stars and he did the same.
"Why? Was it because you miss me?" he asked jokingly. He knew Stella cannot produce any kind of emotions and his statement was more of a wish upon the stars.
"Maybe."
That was unexpected.
"I remembered that you used to be a quiet kid and I always followed you around because Miss Ariel said you're my buddy."
Gitto pulled a faint smile. "Then you got bullied," he recounted.
"I got bullied," she repeated and looked at Gitto's face. "And you saved me when no one dared to step up. Everyone saw it too. That you flew out of the nurse's office and punished Kai.
Before, I never realized that I was searching for help because I was an Alexithymia and still am but at that moment, you saving me had become a moment that I found my peace. Do you remember what you said to me that evening when you bought me that tulip?"
His eyes trailed at Stella's hand that was holding his hand. Her hand motion was calm and poised, never uncertain yet gentle.
"I asked you to be my friend," he answered.
"Em, though more like you decided to be my friend and defined the word friend for me because I don't understand the concept of it," she corrected him and he can't help himself to grin elfishly at her comment.
"I did not decide it," he protested.
"Say what you want Gitt, we both know who was saying the truth. Regardless, you became my friend and if I have a word for all those years until now for what you had done for me it would be 'thank you'. Even when now we have to be apart and it's getting harder to be together, I hope you would still be my friend because no one can replace you," she confessed and gripped his hand tightly.
Gitto could felt that his lips were so light that those words might slip out of his mouth but he got better of himself and held it inside him. He had kept it for years and he will continue to do so. Those words were not befitting of someone like him and he has a job yet to fulfill. The only words that he deserved were, "me too Stell. You're my precious friend that until death does us otherwise."
Stella shook her head. "No."
"No?" he said bewildered.
Slowly Stella pulled Gitto's body closed to her and she hugged him. "Even when in death, we are still friends."
Hearing those words made his heart cry and clamped his teeth tight. He let out a shaky breath. "Yeah Stell. That sounds like a great plan. I... like it."
He pushed her body and stood up. He needed a breather. He can't let Stella feel how his body shook when he lied. She will freaking know it instantly. "Really Stell. Don't we have any other conversation material to talk about? I mean I saw Effan came to have dinner with your family. How was it?"
"Good," she answered.
"Good-good? Or Good-bad?" He laughed nervously when his question was met with a stare from Stella. She may not know how to be mad but she does know how ridiculous his question was when really he was just jealous that there was someone else who is close to her.
"Sorry. It's just that you never brought back any stranger for dinner except for me."
"You're no stranger. You're my friend," she refuted.
You don't need to remind me of that.
"Father was the one who invited him," she explained. "Just that... this week had been uncommon."
"You mean weird?"
"I can't relate to that word."
"Then what do you mean by uncommon? Was it because I wasn't always with you?" he jested hoping that it was right. How much his presence to Stella's life had impacted her to think so that it made her heart felt a little bit giddy yet at the same time worried him. Stella is a sharp girl. She noticed things when there was even a small change to the dent and if she made that kind of statement would be meant something either he likes it or not.
Stella sat there, lost in her thought. "I don't know Gitt," she said looking lost despite her unchanging expression and she never finished her sentences after that. She only looked at the starry night and the bright moon. He knew she was withholding her end of the story and he does not know why. She never acts that way. There was never a secret between them and he was scared for where this might lead in their relationship.