"I'm leaving, Nana," Mia said goodbye to her mother one morning when she was about to go to school.
Her mother Rosita nodded. "Take care, okay?" she said kissing her forehead.
Mia just smiled then nodded and then went out the gate. She hadn't gone far when she heard loud footsteps of someone running and knew it was heading in her direction. When she heard him call her name, her chest immediately trembled.
That's when Mia reluctantly turned around, with a shy smile tearing her lips.
"Erik," she said shyly as her classmate started to walk with her.
"Can I walk along with you?" he asked, still slightly out of breath because of the running he did.
She laughed softly then nodded. "Sure, no problem," she said and then returned from being silent afterward.
As they walked together, Mia didn’t say anything.
She is shy. That was the truth, but after all, she had so much that she wanted to tell Erik. Only that she is not close with the young man.
"You're really quiet," Erik decided to break the silence between the two of them after a while.
It was then that Mia suddenly turned to Erik.
"Sorry, are you bored?" she asked after glancing at Erik.
"No, I just said so because it’s new to me. But I can tolerate that. Maybe I'm just not used to it," he answered then followed what he said with a soft laugh.
Mia smiled and then focused her eyes on the road she was walking.
"Where do you plan to go to college?" a few moments later Erik asked her.
She knew that the young man was insisting on having a conversation, and she felt that the discomfort that she felt intensified because of her lack of courage to have a normal talk with Erik.
"I will try to apply for a scholarship, where I pass is where I will study," Mia answered safely. "How about you? Where are you going to college and what course are you going to take?" for the first time since they met, she was able to ask Erik a personal question like that.
"I'm just going to finish high school," he said. "Then we're leaving for Canada."
Mia was really stunned by the last thing Erik mentioned.
Along with that was the sudden lethargy of her feelings due to the fact that she was about to be far away from Erik. But no matter how sad she felt, as before she was able to tactfully and successfully hide and not reveal her true feelings. Even in her voice when she spoke.
"Is that so? I’m happy to hear that from you. By the way good luck to you, in advance," she said in a tone of encouragement.
That's when Erik looked at her and smiled.
Mia felt that her world stopped spinning because of what the young man did.
His smile was so beautiful that it brought a strange touch and happiness to her heart.
And that happiness was the reason why the sadness that she felt earlier immediately disappeared after what the young man confessed to her.
"The time will come when I know you will be more successful than I am," she didn't know why she said that, but despite everything, Mia didn't feel the slightest bitterness about it.
"No, ah, I know you will be more successful. You are very smart, there is nothing you cannot do," Erik's voice was full of admiration and assurance.
She didn't want to, but a sweet and beautiful smile spontaneously broke out on Mia's lips because of Erik's words.
It's funny to think that someone like him who she doesn't know very well actually has confidence in her.
And not just that.
There was also pride in his tone that she could only hear from Nana Rosita.
Well, maybe that's because she's elusive to people. And her answers are always very concise. The reason why only a few people spoke to her.
"Well, I can say that you are no snob. But I have to admit that your answers are too frugal. Usually straight to the point and without side comments," said Erik, who was still amused by the tone of his speech.
Mia just laughed softly at the fact that Erik said that. He's a keen observer in fairness, and she can't help but feel a thrill because of that.
They were close to the school when Mia saw a familiar figure of a lad standing in front of a store.
Bernie.
When he saw her, he immediately waved with a smile and then walked to meet her.
"Hello," she immediately greeted him then glanced at Erik who nodded.
"I'll go ahead, Mia," when Erik said goodbye to her.
She just nodded at Erik with a smile.
"Let’s go? Wait, have you eaten yet? Are you hungry?" Bernie asked her one after another.
And like before he took her books.
"Yes, thank you," was her short reply to her classmate.
That was all and he never spoke again. And then they continue walking to approach the big gate of their school.
Bernie already knows her, maybe because he has been courting her for a long time. It's been so long that she can't even remember if he asked for her permission or just started wooing her.
And to be honest, she couldn't even remember when he started doing that.
As far as she remembers, since the first year of high school, he has always approached her. And because she was not very close to her classmates because of her quietness she became close with Bernie.
Bernie is kind and comes from a wealthy family.
He is an only child and on many occasions whenever there is a party at their house, she is always invited. That is how she met her classmate's parents. His mother, Elena, and his father, Tony, immediately became friendly with her.
Erik's mother, Aurora, is also kind to her. In fact, she is close to her mother Rosita. And his father, Fidel, whom she remembers according to her mother has been her student in high school.
Mia's eyes immediately caught Erik who was already sitting in his chair when she entered their classroom. His classmate smiled at her, and she did the same to him.
Even if she didn't admit it, deep in her heart she was happy and her day was made because, for the first time, she walked with Erik to school.
Mia had been dreaming about it for a long time. And now that it had happened, she felts he had good reason to think that no matter how long the road they had to travel, they will still end up together.
At the last thought, Mia smiled and then opened her book to start reading their next lesson.