"I am only going to say this just once so you better listen up"
I looked at you who is standing in front of me, you were wearing a worn-out plaid dress. Your hair was tied up in two pigtails and you were missing a tooth from the front. Your brown eyes were so full of life that I cannot help but smile. I focused all of my attention on you giving you a slight nod to let you know that I was listening.
"When I hit the age of 25, whether you like it or not, you're going to marry me and that is an order"
I laughed at your futile effort to look strong even though you were shaking like a newborn fawn. A blush crept on those chubby cheeks of yours and I swear I haven't seen anything cuter than that since then.
"Wha- You shouldn't be laughing, YOU SHOULD SAY YES"
I took exactly three steps towards you and ruffled your hair, I was about to say something when I heard your mom call you. Not a moment later, Mrs. Artemis was by our side.
"Maia- oh Damian I didn't know you were with her, is she bothering you again?"
I smiled at your mom and shook my head before focusing my attention on the pouting image of you in front of me.
"She just proposed to me Mrs. Artemis, I think I'll be joining your family anytime soon."
"Oh my"
You shifted your attention to me, staring at me with those wide eyes of yours before you smiled widely again.
"That's a yes isn't it? Yes! Damian is going to marry me. Mom, did you hear that? I'm so happy"
I stared at you and can't help wondering how beautiful you will become once we grew up. How you and I would look like as parents or as husband and wife at this age
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"Boys will be granted extra time to use the court, do whatever you want."
I stood up and along with the other guys from our class used up our extra time playing basketball. It was one of those very rare moments where we get to feel like we're just normal students. I stole a glance at the place where you were.
You were sitting under the large acacia tree, pen and notebook in your hand. You were probably sketching either the scenery or me. You looked up and as soon as you did, I caught that sly look of yours which commonly means two things, one you're doing something you should not, two, you're probably thinking of me.
And considering how that pink blush crept up in your cheeks, I'm guessing you're probably thinking or better yet sketching me again.
I chuckled lightly, the way that I can easily tell what you were thinking always make my heartbeat not to mention the cute things that you always do.
I grinned as an idea pop inside of my head. It has been a long time since I had played a prank on you. I urged some of our classmates to pass the ball to me and as I shot multiple baskets, the sweat started to form in my physique. I took the liberty to take off my outer shirt and just wear the thin white inner tank top.
The other girls from the other class may have the opportunity to look at my appearance right now but all I care about is how flush red your cheeks were and how wide those bright eyes of yours are.
It was one of my favorite expressions of yours, we've been together for years, hell we practically grew up together and yet a sight like this still surprises you is just overwhelmingly joyful for my part.
From that moment on, I made a mental note to always do something that will allow me to see that wonderful expression of yours once in a while.
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"Are you avoiding me?"
Instead of answering me, you turned to your heels and were about to run back into the building. I caught your arm just in time and pushed you into the wall caging you between my arms. We were behind the 6th-grade building just around the area that is concealed from the school cameras. It was scorching hot outside but that wasn't what kept my head hot.
"Dammit Maia, it's been a week since I last saw you and whenever I did all you ever did was run away with Iavan. Look at me"
I was gritting my teeth as you stubbornly looks at your shoes, you were just looking down not even bothering on looking at me straight in the eyes. As frustrated as I am, I was hurt that you could last a week without talking to me when you were basically all over me since we were kids.
I let out a heavy sigh and resigned my head in your shoulders as I wrap my arms on your midsection. I pulled you tightly, if there was one thing that I was thankful it was that you didn't try to pull away from my embrace.
"Maia, did I do something? Please tell me, I can't bear seeing you avoid me like this"
I heard a small sniffle before I felt your hands wrap around me, your head was now buried on my shoulders too.
"You didn't do anything Damian, I'm just sorry that something like this happened"
I pulled away from you and held your chin up high. Tears were glowing on those wonderful orbs of yours but instead of eyes full of life what I saw was something full of pain and fear. This isn't the Maia that I know. You weren't my Maia anymore, something had changed. You were no longer the innocent and naïve child who used to follow me around back then.
"Will you tell me what happened?"
You stared at me before wiping your tears away along with shaking your head. Seconds passed before you looked up at me, smiling. Even your smile had changed. It was painful as hell, seeing you like this. It was like a hand entered my chest and started squeezing the little life it had left.
"I can't tell you but I wanted to tell you that I really am in love with you. I just… I just wish we were born in a different era than this one. An era where we're both free."
And that was the last time I ever held you in my arms tightly, the last time my lips met yours. The very last time I saw you as mine.
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"Damian, Maia is doing this not only for her family but for everyone else to have a better future"
"For everyone else? Did she even thought about me when you say for everyone else?"
I balled my fist and continued glaring at my father. My father who was also known as the scientist just stared at me as I confront him. I just saw Maia went out of the secret base, her eyes void of any emotion and face visible of no recollection. It only meant one thing. My father had buried her memories into her unconscious as the administrator gave out her nin.
"I guess I wasn't part of her 'everyone else' huh"
My father's eyes much like Maia's were void of emotions, due to the nature of his work and his upbringing, emotions were something foreign to him but as I say this, I saw some pity in his eyes.
"You know that's not true, Maia is probably doing this for you."
"But that's not what I fucking need. SHE'S WHAT I WANT. I DON'T NEED A WORLD WHERE WE'RE FREE IF IT MEANS I'LL HAVE TO LOSE HER"
Selfish? Say what you want, Maia is my world, what would a free country mean if I don't have her by my side to enjoy it.
I just can't let her do all of it alone. I stared straight into my father's eyes and muttered the words, I never even thought I'd say, not even once in my entire life.
"Sign me up for the revolution"