Trudy's POV
Beep-beep-beep
I groaned as I turned off the alarm on my phone and tried to sleep in. It was already past one in the morning when we slept. Trudy and I had to clean all the letters and pictures that were torn into pieces and the feathers from the ruined pillows from last night. I was finally free of my anger but not the pain. There was still a part of me that wanted not to get up from bed as our supposed wedding day slowly crawled in.
Yesterday, I have privately emailed all the guests. Aside from my mom and my Aunt Sandra, nobody really knows what happened. I was just hoping that my customers would not ask questions.
I dragged myself out of bed. My bakery was supposed to be closed for the whole week to prepare for the wedding but since I am not going to get married, I decided to open today. I stood up and started walking out of my bedroom and into the bathroom when I received a message from someone. The number is not registered on my phone.
Hola, amiga! Been long time. See u soon. -Red
Did I read it right? Was it Red? I took my glasses on top of the bedside table and put it on. Maybe my eyes were still a bit blurry from waking up so I haven't read it right. I read it again. My eyes grew wide and then narrowed as I tried to think carefully on how the heck did he ever got my number.
It's been years since we last spoke and I haven't seen him since high school. I remembered him as this chubby, brown-skinned kid with chestnut curly brown hair and hazel eyes. He always came by our house after school so he can hang out with me in our treehouse while mom cooks dinner for us. He was our neighbor and our parents become friends the first time they moved in as a married couple in San Francisco, California. We become instant best friends from then on.
We are inseparable. We did so many things together most especially the holidays.
"I got in at NYU," I remembered telling him. We were inside our treehouse which my dad built in the backyard since we were kids and I was sitting beside him looking out the window.
He didn't speak for awhile and kept staring outside the little window in the treehouse.
"Red, did you hear what I said? I said-"
"Yes, Trudy. I heard you," he answered, not looking at me.
"Aren't you going to congratulate me or something?"
"You're going away."
"So?"
"What do you mean 'so'? You're going to New York, this time he turned his head towards me. I could see the hurt in his face.
"I know. You can still come and visit," I said, trying to sound positive.
He sighed and moved away from the window. He laid down on the wooden floor. The floor of the treehouse has gotten a bit dark over the years but my dad built it with strong wood that no amount of storm or years could break it apart. It made a bit of a creaking sound as he shifted to put his hands under his head to support it.
I laid down beside him.
"What's bothering you? Is it because I'm moving? You know I have been dreaming to go to this college since I was a kid, Red."
"I know that, Trudy, and I wanted you to pursue it. I'm not going to stop you. It's just that..." he trailed off and he sighed again.
I moved towards his side to face him and looked at him. His eyes were on the ceiling and his eyebrows furrowed.
"What?" I asked him. Why is he making this hard for me?
He moved to face me and placed one hand under his head for support, then he stared at me. For the first time since we were kids, I noticed his hazel eyes and plump lips, and I felt different. I couldn't understand it but there was something about his eyes. Something more that I wasn't able to point out.
He placed a hand on my cheek and smiled. His hand was warm and I could feel his every breath on my face, the intense sadness that emanates from it.
"I'm gonna miss you, Trudy. So much," he said and tears welled up in my eyes, blurring my vision. He took his other hand from underneath his head and took off my glasses. He folded it nicely above my head and wiped my tears. How could I leave this kind-hearted guy? My best friend... my buddy. It was our first time to be away from each other and it hurts so much I felt like I couldn't breathe.
We stared at each other for a moment as he pulled me in an embrace and I burst into tears. I cried on his shoulders. It was too painful in a way I couldn't describe it.
"I'm going to miss you, too, Red. So much," I told him as we stayed longer hugging each other.
He was not my boyfriend and we never knew if we really felt something more than friendship that time. But I knew our friendship was special. It was something that could last a lifetime and I regretted the times that I wasn't able to contact him. I was so focused on James that I forgot all about him.
Now, here he is after seven years. Seven long years we haven't spoken to each other and now he was sending me a message like we have never been apart. A friendly greeting... What should I say now? Should I text him back?
'You should.'
So, I did. I sent him a message.
Me: Hi Red. How are you? Been a long time. Where are you now?
I wonder what he looks like now. Is he still chubby? I remember I used to pinch his cheeks when we were kids when I get mad at him. I was a bit taller than him before and I used to outrun him all the time. He started shredding some of his baby fats when we got into high school and he was starting to have some muscles on his arms but he was struggling with his weight a lot. It didn't bother me that much but he was getting insecure as I was getting taller and curvier while he felt like he was getting wider and wider instead.
I waited for his reply for about ten minutes but I didn't get any more messages so I decided to jump in the shower. I wondered where he went to college. I remembered he loved sports, especially football. I used to watch him play and would be the loudest in the crowd. Aside from that, I know he was a great cook. He would always come to our house and sometimes helped my mom. He actually memorized more recipes than I did while I become more inclined to baking.
"We can actually put up our own restaurant someday if we want to," he said, chuckling as he helped mom served dinner that day. "You can even have your own bakery."
I smiled as I exited the shower and started getting dressed. Funny how things had turned out as we thought it would be. I have my own bakery now. I wondered if he ever pursued his dream of putting up his own restaurant or better yet become a chef abroad. Now, I am missing him so bad that I wish he could come by and see me.
Suddenly my phone rang and I answered it. I didn't bother to look who was calling and I was too excited. Perhaps I was looking forward to Red's reply that I couldn't wait to talk to him now.
"Red?" I asked.
"No, it's Jane," she answered. "Who's Red?"
My excitement turned into disappointment.
"Uh.. no one. So, Jane, is everything okay?"
"Y-Yes. I was just wondering if you have seen Elisse. She wasn't answering her phone last night and I tried to call her, too, today but there was no answer. She hasn't even texted me back last night. I am getting worried."
"Don't worry, Jane. She probably went with someone last night and ended up in whoever's bed."
"Okay... well, she told me to tell her if I'm on my way last night and... I didn't hear anything from her since."
"Why are you going to stay at Elisse's? Is everything okay with you?" I panicked.
Now, I am worried about Jane. Knowing her dad, he is very strict and she wouldn't be sleeping over if there was nothing wrong. She did it one time when she found out her dad set her up with an old rich Chinese businessman. She bolted out of there before the guy saw her and called us. Her dad found out she didn't come so he started calling me.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Cheng, but Jane called us. She was having diarrhea and was so embarrassed to go so she decided to come here instead," I lied.
"Thank you, Trudy. I'll call her," and he hung up the phone.
Even when we were in college, we would lie for her so she could come with us whenever we have a night out altogether. Her dad trusted me and Heather so much but not Elisse. We could feel his indifference towards her most of the time whenever we were all together. He would look at her with distaste as she always wore mini skirts. Her legs were long and slender that any man would notice right away. But Elisse was never bothered by it. She was always smiling and cool like it was nothing.
"So tell me the truth, Jane, what happened to you? Did someone hurt you or-"
"Nothing happened, Trudy. I'm fine. I told Dad I wanted to comfort you and also..."
"Also, what?"
"I met a guy and he was supposed to ask me out."
"Wait! You met a guy? Who is this? Wait! I got to tell Heather," and I ran outside my bedroom as I knocked on Heather's bedroom door. "Open up! Jane got a boyfriend."
"Wait! I didn't say he is my boyfriend."
I ignored her as I continued to knock on Heather's door. I was so excited for Jane that I completely forgot about James for a while. This is some great news! Finally, our baby Jane is growing up and I wanted to hear all about this guy. She was the only one who never had any encounters with boys, so this is really exciting for all of us.
"What the hell is going on?! Why are you-" Heather said angrily as I pushed her door open and put the phone on speaker. "Hey!"
I sat on her bed that looked like her sheets were untouched. I moved a lot when I sleep while she has the same position as she went to bed to when she wakes up. I could never understand how she does that.
"What's going on here? Why did you wake me up so early?" said Heather as she placed her hands on her hips.
"Jane got a boyfriend," I answered as I heard Jane sighed.
"I told you, he's not my boyfriend... yet," Jane said sounding frustrated.
"Wait! You got a guy?! Who is this?!" Heather asked, suddenly awakened and she sat beside me on the bed.
We heard Jane heaved a deep breath before speaking.
"His name is Tristan Hughes and he works as an architect at my dad's company."
Heather and I squealed together.
"Guys, please!" and Jane laughed. "Why is this a big deal?"
"Because dear Empress, you finally found your Emperor," and I laughed along with Heather. "Finally, this Tristan guy has noticed you. Isn't your ultimate crush there?"
"Yes and he just asked me out."
"Where did you go?"
"We didn't go anywhere yet. Hopefully, we would today."
"Why? What happened?"
"Long story," and I groaned. "Sorry, but I got to get ready, too. If you get a hold of Elisse, let me know, okay?"
"Sure. Tell me the details later, okay?"
"Of course. I'll come by later after work when I can," and we said our goodbyes. We hung up.
"Wow! That was some good news to wake up to," Heather said. "Let's have some coffee then."