Nearly a year had passed since Zirael's message, and here we were—Zirael, Aziel, Rina, Luna, and I. At first, Aziel had struggled to fit into the group, especially when interacting with the girls. He was shy and reserved, often apologizing or thanking us for even the smallest things, which made him seem a bit odd. However, over time, he started to open up and relax. It was ironic because he often told us that while he always felt calm, his face wasn't capable of showing a smile all the time.
We noticed that Aziel was quite clumsy when walking. He would sometimes trip over rocks because he wasn't paying attention to the path, often keeping his eyes fixed on the sky or distracted by something else.
"Aziel, watch out for the rocks!" Zirael shouted, pointing at the rocky path. Luna and I couldn't help but laugh.
"Yes, thanks, I'll pay more attention," Aziel replied with a faint smile, lowering his gaze to the ground to avoid further mishaps.
He was a good guy despite his clumsiness. Little by little, he had earned everyone's trust and friendship.
"How much farther, Zirael?" Aziel asked.
"Not much, we're almost there."
We were heading to Zirael's house. His farewell was approaching, and his mother wanted to send him off in the best way possible. While we all walked casually, Aziel looked nervous; it was the first time he would meet one of our families.
"Don't be nervous, Aziel. You seem a little uneasy," Zirael said confidently, giving him a light pat on the back.
"Yes," Aziel replied, his eyes averted, lost in thoughts I couldn't guess.
We tried to keep the conversation light as we approached the house. We knew this farewell meant a lot to Zirael and all of us.
We were all gathered at my aunt and uncle's house. My parents couldn't attend—my mother was close to giving birth to a new sibling, and my father was busy with work. Despite this, Zirael's farewell remained a special moment.
"Friends, I had a wonderful time with all of you. Thank you for this farewell party," Zirael said with a smile on his face, tears welling up in his eyes.
Rina and Luna couldn't hold back their emotions and started crying. Aziel and I, on the other hand, watched silently. Memories of all the moments I had shared with Zirael ran through my mind. While this farewell was painful, I knew deep down it wasn't a goodbye, but a "see you later."
That night, we celebrated as if there were no tomorrow. My aunt and her maid prepared a feast, and without a second thought, I devoured everything placed in front of me.
"Come on, eat, Aziel," I said, noticing he had barely touched his plate. He nodded softly while calmly chewing a small piece of food. Despite the abundance, Aziel hadn't eaten nearly as much as the rest of us.
As expected for a special occasion, my uncle drank a little to accompany the celebration but made sure not to overdo it, staying sober for the next day.
The atmosphere was a mix of laughter, songs, and jokes among all of us, filling the place with joy and excitement. The celebration lasted into the evening, and although we knew Zirael would leave soon, we tried to enjoy every moment.
As the fireplace burned brightly, the five of us were alone, basking in its warmth and each other's company. Suddenly, Zirael, with a more serious expression, broke the silence with words filled with emotion.
"Guys, thank you, truly. I care about you all so much. You've helped me learn and experience so many things. This is everything I've ever dreamed of in life—thank you."
His words resonated with the moment—emotional and perfectly fitting for a farewell. Although he had expressed his gratitude before, this time it felt more heartfelt, as if he wanted his words to be etched into our memories.
Suddenly, unexpected laughter broke the solemnity. Aziel, sitting nearby, began laughing, catching everyone by surprise. We froze for a moment, unsure of how to react.
"Ha ha ha…" Aziel tried to stifle his laughter by covering his mouth with his hands, but it continued. It was clear he wasn't mocking Zirael—something about the seriousness of the moment had caught him off guard.
"Are you okay, Aziel?" Luna asked, looking at him curiously.
"Yes, I'm fine, really. I didn't mean to interrupt," Aziel replied, still trying to suppress his remaining chuckles.
"Alright," Zirael said, regaining the seriousness of the moment. "As I was saying, this isn't goodbye, and I truly mean that." He repeated what he had said earlier, as if needing to convince himself.
The day was full of irony, a mix of laughter, jokes, and farewells. While the purpose of the gathering was somewhat sad, the light-heartedness of our friendship kept the mood uplifting.
Finally, when it was time to leave, we said goodbye with a promise to see each other again the next day for one final farewell to my cousin, Zirael.