[Chapter 4]: Engraved Memories

I went inside Arthur's room and took a seat. I placed my bag beside me and I scrolled through my phone. The bad thing is, it's almost dead. I wanted to conserve so I shutted it and placed it inside my bag. Moments later on, Arthur came in, "Here I brought clothes for you to change. I'll go take a shower" he said. He gave me the clothes he brought and I held them while waiting for Arthur. Come to think of it, the aroma of his room is so fragrant. It really suits the hierarchic design of the room.

"You home already?" Sean texted me.

"Nope, I'm not going home." before I sent it, I doubted for some seconds because I knew he'll tease me.

"Looks like you got yourself a boyfriend." he said.

"Damn you." I replied and he didn't reply back. I calmed myself and took some nap while waiting for Arthur.

"Hey... hey Mint wake up."

My arms were numb, I feel a little dizzy and everything is quite blurred. I was shock because Arthur's face is way too near to my face so I accidentally rushed up and our heads bumped.

"Ouch!" we both said while touching our heads.

"You alright?" he said. I nodded and I fixed myself. As I look in front, I saw Arthur half naked with a towel covering his underbody. My eyes widened from shock and I blushed. I couldn't stop staring at his body though, fu— it made me choke and I coughed as a reason to ignore him. He looked at himself and he blushed too. "Shit! Sorry!" he said. I just laughed and he did too. I gathered the clothes he lend me and I went inside the bathroom.

"I was feeling something after all, about you, about who you are, and who might you be in the future. I like you, Arthur." I said to the myself, and this is where my mind wrapped up. Will you even return these feelings I have for you?

I went outside the bathroom as I change clothes and I saw Arthur lying on the couch with his phone.

"Oh! Arthur, you go sleep in your bed, I'll sleep on the couch." I said. He refused and said, "You're the guest here, you should feel comfortable." and I blushed. "I— it's not necessary!" I said. "Well... how about we both sleep on the bed?" he said and I blushed more. Please... please be gentle with my feelings. "O— okay then." I said

We both lie on the bed and he turned off the lamp. "Is it okay if I shut this?" he asked. "No problem." I said. It didn't took him that long to fall asleep, maybe he's tired, however, me on the other side, couldn't sleep properly because of this moment. I am literally blushing right now as I stare at the ceiling. This... this is my first time falling in love with someone, and it happened to be you, Arthur. I looked at him, even when he is sleeping, his face is so endearing. As I stare at his face, he suddenly changed positions and faced towards me. His face went near mine and I was paralyzed for a moment. Shit, what do I do?! I closed my eyes and forced myself to sleep and just as when I was about to fall asleep, his phone vibrated.

—on the phone—

"What's your plan tomorrow?" James texted.

—end—

I didn't mind his phone because maybe someone just texted him so I went back on forcing myself to sleep.

As the sunlight shoved upon the window with opened curtains, I blindly tried getting up from the bed and reach for my glasses. I looked beside me and Arthur is gone. It looks like he left already. Just as I get up, I fixed myself and went to the bathroom for a morning wash. I gathered myself up and prepared myself. I looked into the mirror and smiled, "Another day with Arthur huh?" I said to myself, blushed and smiled. I went outside the room and went down. I saw Arthur wandering and looks like confused. "Arthur?" I called him. He saw me, he smiled and went near me. "Well you see, there's no one inside the house except Mr. Sparks, I wonder why." he said and it got me spacing out for awhile too. Later on, Mr. Sparks went near us, "Did you forgot again that it's your birthday young master Arthur?" he said. Crap! It's Arthur's birthday? And he also doesn't know it is?! Arthur scratched his head, "What day is it?" he asked Mr. Sparks, "Oh ho! Young master forgot his birthdate again. It's June 25." Mr. Sparks said. "I— I totally forgot about that. Sorry Mr. Sparks." Arthur said. "Each year, when it's your birthday, your family always go out and let you be in charge of the house as their gift. They wanted you to live out your day to the fullest, and by chance, luckily, your birthday fell on Saturday." Mr. Sparks explained. Arthur just scratched his head, smiled and nodded, "Oh yeah." he said. I can't believe this person though. More importantly, how could he possibly forget that it is his birthday? "I couldn't believe you forgot your own birthday." I said while laughing almost hard. He glared at me, frowning and I saw him so I stopped.

"I— I'm sorry." I said as I feel embarassed. "Just kidding!" he said then he laughed along with Mr. Sparks. "Damn you!!!" I shouted at him and tried tickling him but he run so fast.

"Young master, please do arrange your schedule now, remember that you also promised to your friends that you will invite them over somewhere each time you celebrate your birthday. Plus, I saw from your phone that young master James texted you." Mr. Sparks said. "Yeah I saw that, how about this, Mr. Sparks, please contact them all and tell them we're going to the amusement park." he said "And you're going with us too, Arthur." he said while pointing at me. "Me? But I don't have any gifts." I said. "I wasn't asking for one silly, just come with us." he said. "But—" I said as he countered, "No more buts, I ain't listening to you. Mr. Sparks pease prepare the car and don't forget to call my friends." he said as Mr. Sparks nodded. Arthur dragged me into their living room and we ate breakfast. "You should fill yourself up, this is gonna be a tiring day." he said. I nodded and continued eating.

As we finished preparing, we went inside the car and Mr. Sparks drove us to the amusement park. "Mr. Sparks, please don't forget the reservation. Same place. Thanks." he said and he looked at me while smirking, "W— what?!" I asked and he laughed. Damn you Arthur.

"Arthur!" someone shouted. We both looked at the direction where the voice came from and we saw Arthur's friends. All complete, James, Caiden and Leo. They walked towards us and I really feel shy so I couldn't look at them directly. "Hey there uhmmm..." Leo tried saying my name, but he actually doesn't know it. "Mint." James said. I looked at James and he smiled, "Hey there nerdy!" he said with a cheerful smile. I blushed and replied, "H— hi..." with a simple voice. "Oh ho! Someone's getting shy!" Leo teased and Arthur laughed. "Come on, let's go!" Arthur said.

We went on different rides, and on every ride, I have noticed one thing. James was always beside me. He always sits next to me but I just ignored this simple fact.

Later on, they were tired and they have thought of taking a short break. I went first to the bench because they were going to buy some foods. I sat on a bench and scrolled through my phone while waiting for them. I was busy scrolling through my phone when someone lent me a water. I looked from my back and I saw it was James. I grabbed the water, "Thanks," I said and he smiled. "So how come you are here?" he asked. I looked at him, "None of your concern." I said. He laughed and he touched my hair, "Oh ho! Looks like someone's being naughty!" he teased. He scrabbled my hair and I removed his hands on my head. "Stop!" I said but he didn't listen. "I missed you, did you know that?" he said. I was shock after hearing those words from him. "What?" I asked. I was blushing to this moment and he looked at me, "N— nothing..." he said and he looked away from my and his face turned red. Weird though, I clearly heard him saying he missed me..

After some time, the squad went back while holding their foods. "Here I bought food for you too," Arthur said. I looked at him and I blushed, "T— thanks..." I said and somehow, I couldn't look at him directly. He sat beside me and the other sat as well. They all opened their food packs except for James who looked like he's bothered. "A— are you okay?" I asked him. He looked at me and he smiled, "Yeah, I gotta go somewhere." he said and he left.

—James—

I left him there with him. I... I couldn't possibly understand why am I being like this. But there is on thing I know, I wanted to be by his side until... until he remember me. I'll do anything just to make him remember me. Perhaps this was all my fault, if these memories weren't just engrave in my heart, I could've just possibly looked for someone instead of looking for him. All my life, I've always did my best looking for you, but I've had no chance. I don't know, maybe I still have these feelings for you. Ever since we were kids, I've always liked you and I even remember, that I made a promise, that... that I'll always look out for you. I'll take care of you. I just... couldn't possibly understand how did it end like this. Mint... I've always been looking for you, and every minute, I made it precious enough to think where could you possibly be, how are you, what are you doing and if you still remember me.

I hid behind a tree sulking. I sat and looked above. "The heavens sure looks so peaceful huh." I said. As I gaze at the sky, someone suddenly appeared in front of me. "Are you alright?" he said. I was wondering who could he possibly be, but his concern shows so much pity, I look so pathetic. "Yeah, I was just taking some rest." he reached his hands towards mine and said, "Are you feeling something?" he asked. "No need, I just really took some rest." I said. "So... may I ask who you are?" I asked. He looked at me and he smiled, "Perhaps you don't usually see me in school, but I'm Ethan. Nice to meet you James." he said. It was no shock that he knows me. After all, I'm the son of the school owner, Jackson Hawkins. "Nice meeting you too, Ethan." I said as I stand up. "I'll go back now, thanks for the concern."