There was a sun shining at me on a blissful day. I was on the bench staring at the flowers blooming in the garden, No one was there to victim a beauty of nature except me. If anyone could see my smile through the light, I bet they could also see my sadness under the darkness

My watch was ticking at 10:30 a.m.

My legs made a move out of the garden. Oh! I didn't give my introduction, sorry.

I am quite young and dashing 55 years old but, still, I had a creepy look on my face. Thanks to hair dye, it made me look like 17 again. I was wearing a black outfits.

While I was walking on the street waving, I waved and greeted everyone who crossed me.

"Hi! Good Morning!"

"Good Morning, Mr. Lloris!" someone replied.

"Mr. Lloris? He knows me but, I don't," I chuckled.

I saw an old man walking towards me in the opposite direction. We made an eye contact, and he asked me aloud, "Hey! Mark, where are you going?"

"Zen?" I asked.

He nodded.

I hugged him and greeted, "Good morning. Zen!"

Obviously, I couldn't forget him because he was the only person who looked ugly having a beautiful girlfriend.

"So good to see you!" I smiled.

"Yes! Yes!" he said, smiling.

On the middle of the street, he was asking me about what I ate last night, and the funniest thing is, I answered him. When I asked him about the re-union, he refused to come as he was busy in his work. Yes, he was absolutely lying to me.

"Okay! No worries," I smiled.

"I heard that you go there daily, do you?" he asked.

"Where do I go daily?" I asked with a confused look.

"Never mind!" he said as he started jogging.

I stared at him; he looked behind and said, "Enjoy the reunion."

When I was about to reach my school street, I was wondering how many of us alive, and I was hoping not many silences between the time of reunion. I stood near my school gate wandering how to enter as the watchman stared at me like I am the theif who steal pebbles on the street.

I was very happy looking at my school after 20 years. We really don't visit our school once we complete our high schooling. She surely hated to not to see us again.

When I touched the wall, I felt the color, the design, and everything same. It was my tears of happiness rolling on the cheeks.

"something's to some memories left unchanged," I smiled.

I experienced one of the best days of my life here, how one could forget anyone. This was the reason, I met her. Even we are old, child nature remained in our heart. The watchman was staring at me, continuously. When I rolled my eyes on him without any clue, I saw him making a face like a monkey, lowering the brows.

"What are you doing there, Old Man?" he asked.

"Are you a painter?" he added.

"Am I looking like painter to him with these outfit?" I questioned myself.

I went to him and said, "Oh! My boye... There's a..."

"Hey! Mark, what are you doing outside? Come on in," someone said from the other side.

When I looked at the gate, I saw an old man waving at me.

"You! Alex," I called with a big smile.

I relieved by seeing him alive at least; otherwise, my school reunion would be bored as hell.

"Sorry for bothering you, my boy," I said to the watchman, entering the school.

"No problem, Sir!" he smiled.

I hugged him tightly and asked, "When did you come? I think I'm the last."

"No, you are ..."

"Ahaa! What a lovely scenario," I glanced at school.

"Are you even listening to me?" he yelled.

"Yes-Yes," I laughed.

I would always ignore his words as he was very talkative when we were in school.

"What were you saying?" I reminded him, laughing.

He rolled his eyes and said, "Nothing!"

"By the way..."

"Ok, then let's go," I said as I walked to the stairs.

He followed me by yelling at me that he wanted to tell what he had in his mind.

I whispered, "You didn't change at all, Alex."

As we started climbing up, a guy from the office rushed out and asked us to get down. He was 6 feet tall and had a good physique with grey outfits. I saw at the batch pinned on his shirt closely, and it said, peon. We didn't get anything from his behavior. So, we agreed to come down. He was in front of us asking where we were heading.

"Don't you know anything about the reunion?" I asked lowered my brows.

"I'm sorry that I didn't get any information, and I think you're invaders. I would like to know your names, old men," peon said.

We looked at each other, and Alex proclaimed, "Sorry, he was kidding. We came here for inspection."

"I would like you to work with us to complete all the rules calmly. Am I right, Mark?" he winked at me.

"Ah..." quizzically, "Yes, we're here for inspection," I repeated.

He stared at us for a second and lowered his brows. Before he opened his mouth, Alex shouted at him.

"What are you looking? Don't you know how to treat inspectors?"

"Do not forget that your school is in my hands. I'm going to give the worst I can, whoever you are," Alex warned.

When I saw the peon's reaction towards Alex's words were the most unforgettable moments in my life. I could barely laugh in front of them. As I chuckled a little, Alex shouldered me and told me to control myself.

"S-Sir, I'm sorry for my behavior!" he apologized.

"Why is he apologizing? Alex got him so hard," I laughed, inside.

"Have your seat, Sir until I get the confirmation through my director," he walked into the office.

"Do it fast," Alex commanded.

"Ok, sir! Give me a minute," he requested.

"What to do now?" I whispered.

"Let's go up slowly," Alex said.

"Hello, Sir..."

When we watched him suspecting us closely, Alex looked at me grinning.

"We better go off already," I mumbled.

As he turned the other side, we climbed up fast to the third floor.

"Well!" I sighed.

"He would've caught us," I said and we laughed out loud.

"Haha!" he nodded.

"We're not like in the past, Alex. So, stop joking around." I reminded him.

"Okay," he chuckled and said, "Calm down! Relax. We reached our destination."

We took leave from the stairs and reached the auditorium.

Alex opened the door,

"Ta-dah..."

"Well..."

"What happened to you? I am second, right?"

"Well," in a serious look.

"Somebody has come here, before you." He said.

"Who has come?" I asked.

"He's handsome, and wore a stunning outfit,"

"I knew, he'll come," I said.

"You know who's he?" He asked.

"No," I said.

"Well, that's..."

"Where's the decoration? This place has ruined."

"Are you listening to me? I was..."

"There's my bouquet! That means..." I said to myself.

"It's me, I ca..."

"This place left just like this from the last."

"Came fir..."

"School Reunion," I said as I picked up the bouquet.

"Alex!" I shouted.

"The flowers are already dead."

"First... Uh-h..." looked around, "Where's the decoration, Mark?"

"Ah!" deadpan, "I ruined it."

"Why did you do that?" he asked.

"What are you holding in your hand?" wide-eyed, "You didn't tell me that you brought..." he said.

"Wait for a second! You didn't have any bouquet in your hands 5 minutes before, then that means after our first reunion, nobody has come to this place. Why?" He added.

Alex used his brain for the first time on that day.

"Well, nothing happened, you're correct," went near him, "Maybe they no longer use this."

"I heard that they rebuilt the rooms but, why this room is left alone?"

A message popped up on my mobile.

It said,

Hi Everyone!

Our Principal, Mr. Patrick is dead this midnight 12-05-2016, due to heat stroke.

Please come and join us with the funeral near our school ASAP, and there is no reunion.

Thanks,

Katie.

When I pressed back, I saw 15 missed calls from the principal's maid.

"Hey what is it? Mark... Mark..."

"Uh-huh..." looked at him.

"Our principal died last night, and his funeral is at Gary Yard. No Re-Union," I explained.

"What? Kidding me? Who sent you the message?"

"It's Katie."

"We should go to the funeral as well. Where is Monica?" he asked.

I looked at the bouquet and said, "Yes, Alex! You are coming too."

"Let's go then," he said.

As we walked out of the auditorium, he saw us from the second floor.

"Hey! Wait for a second, "Peon shouted from the second floor.

"In the third floor, the windows are broke down. Please, fix it." Alex said.

He started climbing up fast to the third floor. In the meantime, we saw a lift and rushed into it.

"They got me again," frustrated peon shouted.

We managed to get out of the gate. As we turned left, I saw the school name, "Antonio High School."

I held that bouquet and smiled, "This is my school."

We were half a mile away from the Gary Yard, and my mind was rolling all the memories with that family.

"Principal was her father. The day before yesterday, we had a talk," I talked myself.

"Now, I lost precious things twice."

We reached at the funeral lately. Most of our friends were already present. While I was shaking hands with my friends, I heard someone talking about is will.

"His will is very high. We can't even think about it."

"Mostly, the wills belong to me because I'm his successor, and that girl is...," one of the Principal's nephew.

"Excuse me! Retard People," I called them.

"What did you say?"

He grabbed my collar asked in a low voice, "What the hell did you just say?"

My facial expression was constant because his face was sick.

"You know what? I don't hit girls."

That made him angrier.

I pulled his hands off, "I'm her husband, get the hell out of here," I said and grinned.

"Woah-Wo-Woah! Calm down Old men, let's move Mark," said Alex and took me away from him.

I was continually staring him with a peal of laughter then. The priest asked everyone to gather in one place. Alex and I stood side by side.

"Oh! My children, we together will keep silence for two minutes to make his soul pass away to heaven peacefully. No more crying," said Priest

"A 104 years old man, Mr. Patrick is no more with us. May his soul, rest in peace," Father added.

"When did you marry her?" Alex asked.

"Who is her? Uh-oh! I didn't marry," I said and chuckled.

He turned me to his side and asked, "Do you still love her?"

With a big smile, "Of course... Yes!"

"Where is she now? I don't see her."

"We'll meet her today. Wait for it," I winked.

"Did she love you back?"

"When we meet, she may answer it."

"Haha! Good joke. Be serious now."

"Thank you for being silent. Now, you can leave," said Father.

My eyes filled up with tears, there were some good memories with him.

I looked at the sky and talked myself, "I will come to you, Sir. It's just a matter of time."

He kept his hands on my shoulder and told me to call her.

"I can't believe that you didn't marry anyone for her!" He surprised.

"Didn't she marry anyone?" Alex asked.

"No!" I replied.

"We're heading into the Gary Yard again. Where is she living?" He asked.

"Shut up and come with me," I shouted.

"Don't ask me any further questions."

He maintained silence all the way, but the one who talks couldn't stop her mouth even for a second.

"I've one question remained to ask all of our friends, can I?" asked Alex.

"What is it?" I asked.

"What happened after I left from our last reunion, there were some rumors spread all over our class? Exactly, what do you know?" he looked at me, "And why is this bouquet there in the school for so long? Did you do something wrong?" asked desperately.

"Let me tell you from my arrival in the school reunion," I began.

30 years ago

The night around 7:50 p.m.

"Ah!" I sighed.

I was driving a car for our first school reunion. As usual, I forgot the address of our school.

"Is it here?" I talked to myself.

I saw a man short heightened, smoking a cigarette, wore a colorful leather jacket, I could simply say that a crown in the middle of the road.

I slowed down my car," Excuse me!" rolled down the glass door, "Where is Antonio High school?" I asked...

He took a deep puff and bends his body," What..." smoked on me, "...t?" he asked.

"Where is Antonio High School?" I repeated.

"Oh! Antonio... I'm heading to the same school, why don't you give me a ride?" He took a puff.

"Is that fine?" He asked.

"All I want is to go there ASAP," I murmured.

"It's fine by me, get in."

"Before that, throw that bitch away," I added.

"I didn't get you," he gave a confused look

I showed the cigarette, "This one you're talking about?"

"Yes! That is the one,"

"Okay!" he laughed and opened the door.

"You remind me one of my friends," He said.

"I was not your friend," I stated.

He took the front seat and made him comfortable in the seat.

He patted my back and asked, "Desperate man, why are you in a hurry?"

"A bouquet?"

He took that bouquet from the back seat.

"Don't look at it. I'm going to give it to someone special." I said as I took the bouquet from him.

"Who is he?" He asked.

"What are you talking about?" "It's she, not he."

"Right or left?" I added.

"Do you love her?"

"Take a left and go straight," he added.

Turned on the left indicator," Yes!" nodded.

"From when?"

"From 8th grade,"

"Oh! That is so long, how did you hold your heart on one girl?"

"Because it's true love."

"Bullshit!"

"What happen?" I asked.

"There is no true love. Everything is a lie. You're lying to yourself,"

"That means," he looked at me and asked, "Do you still love Monica?"

"This is it. Stop," he added.

"How do you know that...?"

He the door and said, "I'm Alex, you motherfucker!"

"You! Bastard, you've changed a lot," I got out of the car, and hugged him.

"I am not Monica. Please, it's embarrassing," he snuggled.

"Haha! Bitch."

A guy was staring at us from long distance. He ran towards us.

"Heeee.....eey! You're Mark?" He faltered.

I nodded.

"It is nice to see you after a long time." I hugged.

"He came after all. I think, he will give you a competition this time too," Alex whispered.

"Shut up!" I shouted.

"Is everything all right?" asked Nelson.

"Yes," I said.

"I'm searching for Monica. Did you see her anywhere, Mark?" he asked.

We looked at each other, and Alex snuggled.

"Excuse me! Did you? I'm in a hurry," he asked again.

"Yes, she's in the home. Do you have any work with her?" I asked.

"Yes! He is her boyfriend," said Alex.

"Okay! Haha! Now, stop joking around. I got to go and find her," he said and passed through the gate, "See you!"

He was a very boring guy I ever saw in my life. Anyhow, because of him, I got to know about her that she didn't come yet. While we took a glance at the place, Alex mobile ranged. He had a talk for a while. I was feeling happy that I am going to propose for the first time.

"I'll be back in a min, Mark. Stay here," said Alex.

I nodded.

I was standing alone; waiting for Alex to come. On the 3rd floor, all were screaming out loud. Even they increased the volume of music.

When we were in school, I never had the guts to tell her what I felt for her. Even if I approached her, I walked away without uttering a word. This time, I made my will strong.

"Past is Past," I encouraged myself,

"You can do it."

I took a deep breath and talked myself, "I love you Monica, and I loved you since 8th grade but never tried to approach you," I closed my eyes, "I started loving you all alone, and I want to end up this..."

"I love you too, Mark," someone replied.

"Whose voice is this?"

When I opened my eyes, "Yoouuuu!" my slack-jawed, "Seriously? C'mon!" I blushed.

"No way!"

She was adorable in the black frog holding up a little. Her beautiful eyes and black curly hair made me totally into her, and I could only see her bright neck and her smile that night.

"Veronica!" I excited.

Veronica winked and said, "Haha! Please, love me back, Mark."

"She'll go crazy after hearing this," she added.

I hugged her and whispered, "I'd like to love you, but some other time."

"Me too," she said.

We both laughed, and I asked her about Monica.

"Last night, we talked on a telephone," she paused.

"Okay," I said, curiously.

"That's it," she resumed, smiling.

"That's it?" I asked, confusingly.

"Did she talk about me?"

She ignored my word and said, "Let's go to the party already! We'll have some fun, Mark."

"No! I'm waiting for Alex."

"Alex? Uh!" it sounded a bit odd.

"He's making out with someone in the backyard of the school," she said.

She held my hand and started running.

"C'mon we'll go. Maybe they are waiting for us," She said and took me with her all the way.

"It would've better if I loved you first."

She grinned.

We both climbed to the 3rd floor and entered the auditorium.

"Ohhhhhhhh-hh!!!!!!!" everyone screamed.

"New couple arrived. Mark and Veronica! Let's congratulate them," one of my friends announced on the Mic.

"No... No! No... You mistook the thing. She is just my friend." I was looking all around for her, and hoping that she shouldn't catch me like this.

"Ohhhhhhhhhhhh! Liar! Liar! Liar!" all of them was chanting.

"Well, Veronica! It was a bad idea to come. I'm gone if she sees me like this," I murmured.

"This is my last chance."

"Don't be a child, moron!" she hit on my head, "let's sit there a..." pulled me close, "...and enjoy the party," seduced me.

I was reminding myself, "Monica's the one, and the only one in my heart."

"No! Veronica," I said and distracted myself.

"My bouquet?"

I desperately searched all over the place but couldn't find it. It was my only gift I brought. My tears were about to fall on the cheek.

"I don't remember where I kept," I added.

Veronica sipped a glass of wine and said, "FYI, you didn't bring any bouquet."

"No! I brought with me. Wait! Oh! My bad. It's in the car. I'll go and bring." I said.

I went down very fast; grabbed the bouquet, and started running towards the staircase, and then I heard that someone is not anymore with us.

"Who would it be?" I asked myself.

"Anyways, I will get to know who that is after my arrival."

"Maybe she has arrived," I hurried.

All of a sudden, the third floor became very calm, and I could only hear my footsteps. When I opened the door, everybody's face looked serious. I was desperate to know what announcement they gave before I entered. Soon, I found Veronica and confronted her.

In a low voice, "What happens, Veronica?" She looked at me and hugged.

"What is all about? Who died, Veronica?"

"Monica..." tears rolling on her chicks," Monica's..."

"Monica's what? Don't make me angry!" I shouted.

"Silent please!" she said on the Mic.

I held her shoulders tightly, and asked in a low voice, "Tell me!"

"What?"

"We're here now," I said.

"Where is she, Mark?" Alex asked.

I sat in front of the grave and sighed, "Today, your dad arrived, and Alex came for a reunion, after your death 38 years ago."

I pulled him down and asked him to sit.

"Alex, why don't you tell her how much I love her?" I smiled.

I was calling out his name but his ears stopped working. His tears were falling down, and I didn't expect it from him.

"Why are you crying?" I asked.

"On that day, you didn't propose her. She's dead long ago and you're still..."

"Ah!" sigh, "You are right! When I heard that she is no more, I felt guilty that I couldn't tell her. Now, most of the time I spend here with her," I said.

"My love is only left to die," I smiled.

I looked at him and said, "I loved her deeply for 45 years," Holds my tears, "Her eyes, smile, and everything remained in my mind."

"I wonder what she thinks about me, and I want to know what her answer is."

"She liked you a lot."

"Uh-" took out the ring from my pocket, and smiled.

Keeping that bouquet on the grave, "l started loving you all alone and I want us to end this together, permanently. Will you marry me, Monica?" kept the ring on the grave.

Monica

1962-1987

Cause of Death: Car Accident.

"I wish..." tears rolled out, "...you were here."