Missing Petals

I stood at the counter in the campus bakery waiting for my hot mocha. I paid for it and stepped out thinking of a spot to sit and study for my upcoming exams. Just then, right then he ran up to me and pulled my bag.

"Such an asshole!! My bag is already heavy, why are you so fond of irritating me?"
"Becauussseeeeeeee. I don't know. I just love teasing you."

I smiled at him. Boxed his arms and we walked together to the study area. He sat in front of me and started revising quietly. I looked at him in astonishment. He can be really playfully annoying at one moment and serious the next moment.

"Hey Andy, guess what? I have been accepted to work in the publishing company that I really wanted."

"What???!!!! Congratulations woman. I am so happy for you."

"Well, no one here wants your congratulations. I demand an expensive treat as an appreciation for this achievement."

"ERGHHHH..I am busy studying. I don't want to be disturbed."

We laughed and continued staring at the notes. Man, it was such a long day. I hate exam weeks. Exam weeks are such a killjoy. We had dinner and I wanted to walk to my hostel room just when he came up to me and handed a rose. A slightly wilted rose, with a few petals missing.

"I know it is not in it's best shape. But trust me. I put a lot of effort to pluck this off the campus garden. Imagine what would have happened if the guard saw me stealing this."

"But Andy. Why? I didn't ask for a rose. And why are you giving me a flower out of a sudden?"

He kept quiet for a while, looked up at me and said in a whispery voice, " See baby, I cannot afford you an expensive dinner. But you getting your dream job is something worth celebrating. For now, these few petals missing rose is what I can grant you with."

I was lost for words. This is what friends do I guess. They just want to see you smiling and happy always. I took the rose from his hand and walk up to my room. I stepped into it. Such a messy place. It has been more than a week since I last swept it. Hair everywhere. Bits of chips and biscuits everywhere even some on my bed. I looked around for a jar or a jug, anything which I can fill with water and keep the rose. Nothing was there except for my mug. Next to the mug was my favorite book, Safe Haven. I opened the book and pressed the rose in between the pages. I couldn't find a better way to keep it. Probably the closest way the rose can be with me. As a bookmark.

Days passed..
Weeks passed..
Exams ended..
Everyone packed their things to vacate their rooms off to their hometown. Farewell party was way too painful. I did not even catch a glimpse of Andy. He did not attend. He went back to his hometown earlier. Deep down, I thanked God that he did not come. He would have made me burst out crying. Four wonderful years with such a sweet friend.

After I left the university, I got busy with my career. Moving jobs. Moving one city to another. Once in a while, I would message Andy. But even that once in a while messaging came to a stop. Even I, no longer remembered a man like him ever meant so much to me or helped me during my college days. Life was getting busier, people came and went. I was in better place with a better job, a home to call my own. Of course, my bookshelves were growing larger and larger through time.

One fine day it happened, I received a phone call from I had no idea who and it sounded really bad.

"Hello? Miss Scarlet?"

"Yes. Speaking. Who is this?"

"Miss Scarlet, I am Andy's wife. Are you free to talk?"

"Andy? Mass Communication Andy?"

"Yes madam."

"Yes. I am free to talk. By the way, may I know your name please?"

"It is Crystal."

"Alright Crystal. What is it?"

"Scarlet, Andy wants to meet you. It is very urgent. He really wants to see you as soon as possible."

"Calm down Crystal. He could have called me himself and we sort of lost contact for more than 9 years."

"Yes, I know. But if you can come and see him and me and our child, it will be a lifetime dream come true for him."

"I am busy. I will arrange to come. May I get your address? I will see if I can spare the weekend for you guys."

"Well Scarlet, we have settled down in Canada. You might want to board the plane as early as tomorrow morning to reach here on weekend. Don't worry I can pay for your tickets."

"Slow down..please..it is too rushy. I cannot do it. I have commitments here. I cannot drop everything and run to you guys just because he wants to see me. He did not contact me even for years," I started pouring like a waterfall.

"I know it is unfair to do so Scarlet. But it is a wish of a man in his deathbed. Please grant it to him."

I clicked the end button as much as I can. I could not take it.

WHAT?!! WHY??? NO! I DONT WANT HIM DEAD!!

I broke down and cried. When I looked up, I saw Safe Haven. I grabbed the book and opened and saw the dried rose.

My phone rang again. The Canadian number. I wanted to answer. I could hear my own heartbeat so fast. Every cell in my body was dying to answer that call. I just stared at my phone screen long enough till the call ended. I unlocked my phone and blocked the number. I did not want to answer any more calls regarding Andy. I felt bad at first, I threw myself on my bed and cried a river. But sometimes, it is best to do what is good for us. For that moment, the best thing I could do was not to go and see him. It felt better to assume he was living happily somewhere in this world than witnessing his funeral. That moment with the dried rose grasped softly against my chest, I realized how much I loved him. I wanted to do myself a favor for not realizing that I loved him. For not realizing that I did not move on for so many years. I wanted to stay right wherever I am. I wanted to continue living my life the way it is now. I called my friend and got a different sim card. I threw the current one and replaced with the new one and moved on with my life.