C7 CHAPTER 07: Junior Prom

EREVELL’s P.O.V.

“Do I even need to prepare a promposal for you?” Gabriel asked, flashing a grin on his face.

Junior prom. The most awaited moment for the junior students. It’s our first time joining an event like this and I’m very much excited for Gabriel is surely gonna be my partner.

“Nope. You know that you can just ask me about it. No need for fancy stuffs and dramas.”

He smiled, before he held my hands. I felt stiffened, looking at him before avoiding his eyes. I’m afraid that I will melt if ever that I keep on staring at those. And if ever, I wouldn’t regret for being the center of his universe even just for a single moment makes me the happiest person alive on Earth... And hopefully a person who will keep on living.

“What are you doing?” I asked, bothered.

“You told me to ask you, so I’m doing it right now.” He held my face to make me look at his direction. “Erevell Smith, my best girl friend... Would you be my date in our junior prom?”

His questions brought a shiver down to my spine. A date. He said it himself. A date at the night of our junior prom. His cheesy romantic way of asking a girl isn’t so bad after all. I smiled, before nodding.

“Of course I will, you idiot. You already know the answer to that question even before you asked me.”

He laughed, before letting go of my hand. Somehow, I feel disappointed by that action. Though I tried to keep on smiling while looking at him.

“Be ready, then. I’m pretty much looking forward for this prom to happened.”

“I promise never to disappoint you. Here you go,” I stated, giving him a pinky swear.

He accepted it, before chuckling. He then put his arms around my shoulder before dragging me with him as we walk through the hallways of our school building.

“Let’s go to our classes then.”

“Sure.”

Days, weeks, and months had passed. I’m now sitting in front of the mirror in my room, waiting for Mom to finish fixing up my hair. Tonight is the day of the prom, and I can’t wait to see Gabriel later on for he will surely look very ravishing tonight. Maybe he’ll become the prom king too.

“Someone looks very excited,” Mom teased, putting on a light make up on my face.

“Who wouldn’t be, Mom? I’m sure you’re excited too at the moment that you are going to have the first prom of your life.”

She chuckled, before putting her necklace around my neck.

“I’m not talking about the junior prom, Erevell... I’m talking about being the date of the most handsome and popular guy in your school.”

I laughed at her statement, before finally facing her.

“Gabriel surely is a thing... But, you know that I’ve always wanted to experience prom before I... You know,” I smiled bitterly.

She frowned, before giving me a light hug. She didn’t say anything ever since I told her about that thing. I mentally blamed myself, thinking that I shouldn’t have told her that thing. I know that Mom will be sad if ever that happens. She will be left alone, and I don’t want to think about that now... Just, not yet.

I came back to my senses as I heard a several knocks coming from our front door in the first floor. I’m already done fixing myself up but I wasn’t wearing my evening gown yet.

“Oh, maybe that’s Gabriel.”

“Go ahead and open the door for him, Mom. I can wear the dress on my own...” I smiled at her.

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah, promise.”

She nodded, before walking outside of my room. I put on the pink dress that Mom and I chose a week before the prom. After making sure that everything is set for myself, I walked towards the mirror, observing my reflection before smiling. I really like how Mom made me looked so simple yet elegant.

I decided to climbed down to the stairs, and when I do, I saw Mom and Gabriel standing at the last steps of the stairs, looking up at me with a smile plastered upon their faces.

“You’re so pretty!” Mom exclaimed, and I chuckled.

I looked at Gabriel who’s now still staring at me, unable to move nor to say something. When I reached him, I snapped my fingers in front of his face to make him come back to his senses.

“Hey, idiot. Your saliva is dropping out of your mouth,” I joked, and he laughed.

Mom smiled to herself before walking away to give us some space. I looked at Gabriel, who’s now had finally came back to his senses.

“Y-You’re b-beautiful...” he muttered under his breath.

“So as you... I mean, you look ravishing as well tonight, Gabriel,” I complimented back.

“Here...” He gave me a corsage.

“Thanks.”

“So... Shall we?” he asked, offering his arm and I gladly took it.

“We shall.”

We bid our farewells to Mom before we finally moved out of the house. Surprisingly, Gab is driving his own car tonight. I thought that he would ask his Mom to take us to school but he didn’t.

“New car?” I asked.

“Uhm, yeah. It was a gift from my Mom.”

“Whoah,” I stated, amused. “You knew how to drive? Since when?!”

“Since last month.” He chuckled.

I blinked several times as he helped me get inside of his car. He did the same, and after he did, I looked at him in amusement.

“Why haven’t you told me about it?”

“I guess we have some secrets to keep to ourselves,” he stated.

That statement of him made me stop for a moment. He’s right. We have our own secrets to tell and keep. Like me, I haven’t told him the greatest secret of mine... Not yet.

It was silence that reign in our whole trip. Gabriel often glance at me to give me a smile and I just did the same thing. When we arrived at the venue, people are already clamoring inside. Some are dancing, while others are drinking some punch.

“Let’s get inside.”

“Sure...”

He opened the door for me and as we went inside, people are staring at us... Scratch that... They are staring at my handsome escort tonight. Maybe also hoping that he would dance with them before this prom ends.

“Someone is owning the spotlight,” I whispered into his ears.

He just chuckled before wrapping his arms around my waist to pull me closer to his body.

“Sorry to tell them that I already have the most gorgeous lady tonight.”

I blushed, hearing his words. We searched for a seat and Gabriel get something to drink for the both of us before the program started. As it finally started, junior students and even seniors started to dance their heart out as Gabriel and I remained silent as we sat on our own table.

“Only now that I realized... They aren’t staring at me, Erevell...” he suddenly stated, cutting off my thought.

“Huh?”

“It’s you. They are amused by your beauty...”

I blushed, looking away.

“Can I have my first dance with my bestfriend?” he gently asked.

“Sorry... You know I’m not that fond when it comes to dancing... Don’t worry, you can chose anyone except me...” I assured him.

“But I want you...”

He held my hand and before I could say something nor complain, we are already at the center of the dance floor, Gabriel guiding me step by step.

“Now put your hands on my shoulder...” He put my hands where it should be as he stated. “Then I’m going to put my hands in here...” I felt his hands slowly wrapping itself on my waist. “There... And we are going to move very slowly...” he sweetly smiled, and I did the same as I avoided his eyes.

In just minutes, I learned how to dance with him. It felt strange, being on the verge of crying for apparently no reason. Maybe because of the fact that I will miss this kind of treatment from my bestfriend if ever that I’ve gone to somewhere unknown... A place where I don’t have a deadly disease such as cancer.

“Erevell... Hey, are you crying?” he worriedly asked.

“Nope...” I secretly wiped my tears away.

“I saw it.”

“Sorry. I’m just... Happy, I guess.”

He chuckled, before pulling me closer towards him.

“You shouldn’t cry if you’re happy, you know.”

“Sorry. I can’t contain it. I’m really glad I met you, Gab,” I stated.

He looked at me worriedly, maybe confused at the way I’m acting right now.

“I should not be surprised if you’re acting weird, right?” he asked, chuckling unsure.

I bitterly laughed, before hugging him. This is strange... Weird, as he said it.

“Yeah, maybe. I just got a feeling that maybe this is the last time I’m going to see you.”

“What are you talking about?” he gently pulled away a little bit, before looking at my eyes.

“Nothing. Let’s just enjoy the night.” I gulped, before embracing him again.

He didn’t say a word until the music change after one another. He just caressed my hair as we continued dancing for I don’t know how long for now... Until I couldn’t properly breath again. My disease is attacking me, and I couldn’t do anything about it.

“Are you okay? You’re panting heavily, Erevell...” He cupped my face, making me looked up to him.

“G-Gabriel... Can you... B-bring me to t-the nearest h-ospital?”

His eyes widen, before I passed out in his arms for how many times now since I met him. And there, I don’t know what happened next.