C5 Wherever you go, I'll follow you

"Oww!" Alec rubbed his head and turned to Clara resentfully, "Is this how you treat the one you like?"

I could see the blood rushing onto her cheeks and ears as she turned away angrily.

Unconsciously, I smiled, seeing the interaction between the two. And my eyes landed onto the figure who was seated just two rows far from me. If only I could interact with him like everyone did, too...

Sighing heavily, I looked over him again, only to see him standing up and rushing towards the entrance. Huh? Where is he going? The teacher is gonna come soon.

Only then, did I realize that he didn't take his backpack to school. His favorite Gucci bag which he would take it with him whenever he came to school. So, he didn't have the intention to be here at all! I glanced at the second entrance at the back of the class to see if the teacher was coming before I glanced back to Oliver's leaving back. There was a clashing battle in my mind as to if I should choose class or Oliver. After all, due to my health issues, there was a constant absent in my attendance record. It only took me a moment to make up my mind as I sat back in my seat...only to grab my backpack and run towards the door. I heard Alec calling out, "Ari! Where are you going?"

When I got to Oliver's row, I pulled Luke and asked, "What's going on? Where is he going?"

He seemed to be startled for a moment, then he gave a look at Philip who was beside him and answered, "We have no idea either."

I huffed and let go of him as I tried to chase Oliver. Luke shouted behind me, "I don't think you should chase after him."

Rushing out the door, I saw Oliver's back disappearing from the corner of the entrance. I choose Oliver! Fuck the attendance and fuck me! They say 'follow your heart' and that's what I'm exactly doing.

The main reason is that I was worried about Oliver. Especially, when he was acting strange today.

As I rushed out, I couldn't see Oliver anymore. Ahh those long legs...Just when I was about to reach the corner, Dean Harris came out from the foremost corner and I practically moved like a snake to slither along the corridor to stick onto the nearest corner I could manage. Thankfully, he didn't see me and passed the corner I was in. Once he was gone, I glanced back and forth as I made my way towards the entrance again. And ladies and gentlemen, that was when I bumped into a wall. I meant a person. I looked up to see Polan staring at me with a slight surprise before a smile made its way onto his face. I swear, this guy be always smiling.

I quickly said, "Hey, uh. Sorry, I am in a hurry. Bye!"

He asked, "Are you trying to leave school?"

"Yeah, the teacher is gonna be there soon. You should quickly go in." With that, I waved a hand towards him and bolted.

Finally, I successfully made my way out of the school when I heard the footsteps behind me. I looked back to see Polan coming after me with a surprise. I shrieked, "What are you doing?"

"Trying to be your partner in crime," he chuckled.

"Huh? No. I just want to-"

At that moment, I saw a red Chevrolet drove out of the school gate from the corner of my eye. That car looked so familiar. Wait! It's Oliver! He drove by himself today?

I cursed under my breath and turned to Polan before grabbing his hand and running towards the street to stop a taxi. "Then, let's go!"

Thankfully, the school gates hadn't been closed yet and we sneaked out as quietly as possible. Not that it actually mattered since the security seemed to be sleeping in his tiny office. He didn't even know a car drove out of here.

As soon as we got in the taxi, I hurriedly told the driver while tapping the driver seat, "Mister, can you see that red car at front? Please follow him. Quick! Quick!"

The driver looked back at me once before shaking his head and sighing, "Miss, this won't turn out well, you know."

"What are you saying? I'm in a hurry!"

"I have been in this situation before and trust me if I say it's all the women following behind their cheating husbands. What I'm saying is, if that is your boyfriend, you better prepare your mind."

At this time, the car had set off. I said with a deadpanned face, "Mister, you must have watched too many betrayal dramas."

His eyes were on the red car as he chuckled and replied, "Korean dramas are the best."

At the front, I saw the green light flickering, so I thought that Oliver would stop the car as I lowered my head down to avoid being seen by him. However, just as the red turned into yellow light, his car managed to pass. I said frantically, "Mister! You can't lose him. Go! Go!"

"Miss, it's already red. I can't afford another warning ticket."

Just like that, we lost him and my body slumped down into the backseat. Polan didn't say anything the whole way, but he silently patted my shoulder as comfort.

"So...where do I take you now?"

Suddenly, I miss Cole...

I thought for a moment before I dispiritedly responded, "To Cloud View."

Then, I looked at Polan and asked, "Do you wanna come with me?"

He seemed to be thinking for a moment before he turned to his side and took out something from his backpack. I spoke up, "You don't need to if you don't want to. We can drop you off here."

Just as I finished speaking, he turned back around and handed me a yellow note with a smile. I raised my eyebrows as I unfolded it and read it. It said, 'wherever you go, I'll follow'. Then, he echoed the words in my head, "Wherever you go, I'll follow."

——

When we arrived at the cemetery, I couldn't help but sigh, feeling the heavy pressure in my chest. My brother's anniversary days still affected me more than I thought it would. Then again, I felt relieved inexplicably, probably because I was more afraid of the day I would heal than the days I would feel grief. I didn't want to quickly forget the ones who left before us. Wouldn't they be very lonely if we did so?

"Please wait for us here. We won't be long," I said to the taxi uncle after I paid him, who nodded and replied back, "Take your time."

Maybe, Oliver could be here too. I took my time to enjoy the silence and the scenery as we walked up the slope while holding two flower bouquets together in my hands, Polan following after me silently. Maybe, he was the quiet type or he was giving me space. No matter what, I was grateful to have someone beside me in this kind of place.

After a few minutes of walking, we finally saw the rows of graves, along with the peaceful silence, making my heart tremble with the anticipation of seeing my brother.