A/N: Hello everyone… this is my first time to write a story here in Fiction press and this fic is just my experiment that's why it's a one-shot story. I have always wanted to write a story here but I didn't have the guts before, and then my bro urged me to write just for…well…fun, so here I am… So, I hope you guys like my story, and I'm sorry for the Grammar and stuff, I'm not really good at it since English is not my first language, but I will gladly accept constructive criticism or even the nasty ones LOL!. Please review my story and tell me what you think about it.

THE NOTE

I was staring at the phone; I still can't believe what I've heard. My best friend Sam called up. She informed me that we would be having our first high school reunion after five long years. And guess who planned the whole thing? It's Aidan. Aidan Williams… the name echoed in my head.

FLASHBACKS

Who was Aidan in my life five years ago? Aidan was my ultimate high school crush. I haven't noticed how cute his eyes were, how handsome he looked on his school uniform, how manly he walked, how brilliant he talked or how melodious he laughed until our senior year. It all started when one day I got so close to having a nap in our History class. I can't stop my eyelids from dropping off. What would I expect? I was awake till past midnight last night, watching a late-night romance movie show. I was in the middle of a yawn when Sam strikes me with one of her elbows.

"Miss Parker" a big baritone voice echoed in my head.

Whose voice was that? I thought at first. It did sound familiar…. Then I realized that it was my teacher's angry voice. I stood up immediately, rubbing my eyes with the back of my palm. The next thing I knew is that I'm standing there with all eyes set on me and my teacher is asking something I hardly understand. I was trying to come up with an answer but my mind won't cooperate. I was trying to open my mouth but not a single word would come out. Some of my classmates were starting to giggle. I looked at Sam, she was trying to say something, she was trying to form words with her mouth but I can't get it. I feel hopeless… and so helpless. I was really close to crying when somebody raised his hand. I turned around and found out that it was Aidan. He saved me… he saved me from my teacher's anger, from my classmates' annoying look. He took me out of the mess. When he finished giving his answers, which was right according to my teacher, he looks my way. Then he smiled. Not the annoying kind of grin my other classmates had given me but a genuine smile that seems to tell me that I don't have to worry about anything, everything's okay. I started falling for Aidan on that day, at that very moment.

From that day onwards, I began to notice Aidan's positive characteristics. How neat his penmanship was, how fresh he smelled and even how manly he used to glance at his wristwatch. Aidan was our school's top candidate for valedictorian. He was also our Class President. We are not really close, we never really even get to talk, I mean, on a real conversation. Aidan was the quite type; he only talks when asked. He doesn't hang out with the other guys. After having his lunch, he would either stay at the library and read or sit on a certain bench overshadowed by a huge mango tree and still… read.

One afternoon, I didn't saw him on that particular bench so I assumed that he's at the library. I went there bringing along a romance novel I had started reading on. I was in the middle of the book when a part of me was starting to be aware that somebody's standing at my back. I looked back and there stood Aidan. He then turned away.

I stopped him and offered to leave the bench myself since this is normally his place. But he refused; instead, he suggested that we would be sharing the same seat since there's enough space for the both of us. So I agreed. We sat there side by side, he was reading a fiction novel he brought from the library and I was also drawn to the book I was reading --- or maybe I'm just pretending that the book had my attention since I now find it hard to concentrate on what I am reading. My heart beats so fast and so loud that I'm afraid he might hear it.

Graduation Day. I woke up with an aching head. I looked at in the mirror. Whew!!! I almost didn't recognized myself; I looked so bad. My eye bags were bigger than my eyes. I had cried the night away, for the main reason that today is my graduation. Ironic, isn't it? My high school years were through, it only means one thing --- Aidan's chapter in my life had finally come to an end. I'm afraid that this would be the last time I am going to see him, to come near him. Who knows what lies ahead this day? Who knows where fate would take us both?

I was close to crying while looking up to him there on stage having his valedictory speech. And when the ceremony ended, I stop myself no more; I let the tears glide down my cheeks. I can't help it; my heart feels like it is going to burst. They, including my parents, think that it was just tears of joy.

When everybody got busy, congratulating each other, giving and receiving gifts, and taking pictures, I made my way out of the hall. I didn't exactly know where to go; all I know is that I need to be apart from the crowd. I wanted to be alone. I didn't realize where my feet had carried me until I got there --- at the bench. I just stood there staring at the empty seat. After a short while, upon realizing that my parents might be now looking for me, I started heading back to the hall when somebody from my back congratulated me. To my surprise, I find Aidan there. For a moment I was dumbfounded, I didn't know what to say. Then he handed me something and before I could say anything, he left. It was a note, a short note that says,

"Meet me here after five years." I was confused.

My instinct was right, that was the last time I ever saw him. Not one from my classmates could tell where he goes or what school he's attending to.

PRESENT

Now, after five long years he's back from nowhere and even arranged a class reunion. I suddenly felt a pinch of excitement on the thought of seeing him again. I thought I was over him. But now, I doubt it. I'm afraid I'm not.

Day of the Reunion. I was so nervous upon stepping inside the same hall I had graduated in exactly five years ago. I saw the same crowd I was with before. The music was loud. There's food everywhere. Everybody's having a little chat with their long lost friends. The scenario is almost perfect, except for one thing --- where's Aidan? Isn't he the one who arranged this meeting up? I was shy to ask them at first but then I ate up my pride. I began asking them one by one if they had seen Aidan. Nobody did.

The night was late and I feel hopeless. He's not coming. He fooled me into thinking that he's fulfilling his promise tonight. Or was it a promise? Does he still remember the note he gave me?

I went out of the hall; I need to breathe fresh air. Or maybe I just wanted to escape from the noisy crowd inside. The same way I did during my graduation. I don't want to be in a joyous ambience when I am crying out inside. I feel the same way I did five years ago. For the second time, Aidan broke my heart without knowing that he did.

The moon was full. I then headed to the bench, I told myself that he might be there; he might be waiting for me there. I felt a pinch of hope. My steps were coming to be faster and faster, more and more determined. My heartbeats race along with my footsteps. But then I stop a meter away from the bench, its empty --- nobody's there. I slowly walked towards the seat, unaware that my tears were now starting to fall. I sat upon the bench hopelessly, shoulders dropped, letting all my tears go.

"You came." A voice came out of nowhere.

Then out of the dark, he moves towards me. Aidan looks much older than his age, so pale and so lean. Gone was the handsome Aidan who once brightens my every day. The old Aidan whose eyes always seem to sparkle, whose lips always seem to wear a smile. A Aidan who seats on a chair mounted on wheels had replaced him, whose head is covered with plasters. I tried to find words to say but I can't. I felt a lump running up and down my throat.

"What happened?" at last words escaped my mouth.

"I have a brain cancer," he started. A sob escaped from my mouth…

He looked at me for a long time before he answered.

"I had been fighting over these since we're on our last days in high school. I can't accept this at first, who would? But then I let faith took over me. This was God's will, I thought. Everything has a purpose. I found this out on the same day I had planned to tell a certain girl that I love her. I fall for her on the moment I rescued her from being so helpless. It took me some time before I did have the courage to tell her how I feel but then fate took over, I found out on that very day that I do have an incurable disease. On that afternoon, destiny had given me all the opportunity to tell her what I feel, here on the same bench. But then I stop myself from doing so. Why should I? To give her promises that I can't stand on? To offer her my life which I don't know how soon would end? I didn't say anything on that moment but a battle goes on deep inside of me. I wanted to tell her how much I love her but I don't want to be selfish. I shouldn't think of myself alone. I won't give her something she can't forever have. But then, on the night before our graduation, I had changed my mind. If I survived another five years then maybe that's the time I would let her know of my true feelings. It's either, a miracle happened and I fully survived or I'll be gone in a short span of time. That way, I would be sparing her my sufferings."

"So many times I thought that I would lose the fight, that I would never, ever have the chance to tell her everything. But she kept me going; she helped me survived through all these years. She maybe miles away from me but I had been getting strengths from here."

"Just a while ago, I was afraid she wouldn't show up. I thought she had already forgotten the note I gave her. But then she did."

"Isabella, thank you for coming… and I… I…" he hesitated for a moment and then continued…

"I have loved you all these years. I don't know if what I did was right or not. All I know is that I love you that much to spare you the burden. I don't know what's in store for me, when this battle would be over. But I do feel complete now. I had told you everything. I guess winning is not winning the battle alone, it's also admitting that you lose. I can't keep on fighting forever. I'm tired… But still I thank Him for giving me this day, for letting me live until this moment."

I never said a word until Aidan stopped. Tears had been flowing out my eyes. Every inch of my body trembles. He then gave me a smile, the same smile he had given me on my history class. I saw in him the same Aidan again. He may look a little odd now but deep inside of me, I know he's still the same Aidan my innocent heart had learned to love.

I slowly walked towards him and kneeled down, resting my head upon his lap. I can feel his hand caressing my hair. I do nothing but cry, and then Aidan's hand quit moving. I look up to him --- Aidan's gone. He's gone forever. I cried even more.

"You're unfair!" I cried out loud as if he still hears me. "You don't want to be selfish but still you are being selfish by not giving me the chance to love you back…" I hug him tightly; I don't want to let him go. I wanted to show him much I missed him. I want him to feel the love I'm deprived of showing before. I know he's still around; he's somewhere here. He sees me. He feels me.

Silence eats up the night. Dark clouds began to cover the moon. My own sobbing blended with the whispering of the wind. And from a distance, I can barely hear the music coming from the hall.

A/N: So. What do you guys think about the story? I know, I know I'm horrible because of the ending, but what can I say? I'm retarded sometimes! LOL… the ending wasn't supposed to be like that but then before I typed this story I was reading a romance novel and it was a tragic love story, and I didn't know what went over me so instead of happy ending, I made a sad ending. And besides I seldom read a story here with a sad ending, so I did it just to be different! LOL… Please tell what you think about the story by reviewing, I'd really appreciate it… thank you…