A Warm Autumn Breeze

i make another short story guys...^^
a lil bit longer from the previous one, btw...:D

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It was autumn. When the leaves fall and the sun warm. Not as cold as winter nor as hot as summer, just warm. Yet, not as beautiful as spring. It was autumn. The season when this story begin.

Ana is sitting in the bench, in the park she used to come every time she needs a time for herself. A red headphone perched in her head as she looked at the crowded of children in front of her. She smiled at those beautiful scenery. Some old memories running out in her head. She takes a deep sigh before close her eyes, enjoying the song played in her ipod. Again, those old memories come, this time more clearly and seems so real.

She was there. Running around with the other child in her age. She was smiling. A wide smile that never faded from her cute face. Behind her, is a cute guy seems around 8 years old, just one year older than her. He can’t  stop giggling while running to catch her up. They played as if the playgroun was theirs. Their own playground where they can do anything they like. They played, just played.

A smile appears in Ana’s lip when she remember those moments, again. Her eyes still closed, but tears falling down slowly. She can never holding it back. She tried, of course. But it seems like the tears never hear her pleading for not streaming down.

How can I forget you?
Should I put an effort to try and forget you?
will we ever be able to go back to what we had?
Last words which made us both at a loss for words.

The tears keep floating as her ipod played the song. Her favourite song recently, How Can I by TVXQ! She tighten her hold in her ipod. She bits her lips, not letting a single sob out from there.

If only time could stop.
If only we could erase.
If only we could go back in time,
To the day when we first met.

Again, she can’t hold it back any longer. This song tells everything she felt. Everything she didn’t want to accept it before. Everything that makes her heart hurt more and more.

She frowns when she feel the sun light suddenly dreary. Thought it is going to be cloudy, she open her eyes. She blinks her eyes once, twice, and then her eyes widen in surprise. There was someone standing in front of her. Someone who is now smiling with his hand stick out offering tissue.

“Need some tissue?” that guy make a gesture for her to take the tissue. Ana, hesitantly, take the tissue from him.

That guy then sit besides her without her permission.

“What are you doing here?” ask him because Ana still in silence.

“I am the one who should ask that question.” She grumbled.

The guy is giggling. “I just passed by unintentionally and I see you, so i decide to come. Anything wrong?”

“What a liar.” She muttered.

“You say something?” he ask as if he didn’t hear her mutter.

“Nothing.” Said she coldly. “So, what’s with this tissue?” she wave a pack of tissue he offered before.

He lift his shoulder lightly, “Just in case. I saw you close your eyes, by the way.”

“I’m not crying!” she protested.

“Who said you are crying? I just said that i saw you close your eyes.” He reverse. “Does it mean you really crying, then?” He teased her.

“I said no! What did you say, huh?!” she repeat it emotionally. It just so shameful to admit she is really crying. Moreover, this guy is so annoying for her.

His name is Collin. You can say they are friend. A close friend indeed, but they never look like they are. They always fight, always argue. But that’s what make their friendship even stronger. Collin is the one who know her so well, the second actually, after someone else.

“Just shut up and go on crying if you still have an urge to cry!” Collin pat her head teasingly.

“I said I’m not cryng! Why can’t you believe me, huh?” she said stubbornly.

Collin shake head before lean his back in the bench. He uses his hands as a pillow as he look at the old leaves left the branches one by one.

“Every greeting always has its farewell. Every beginning always has its ending. Just look at that leaves!” Collin broke the silence between them. He is lost in thought.

Ana look at him curiously. What makes him suddenly speak something like that? It’s not so Collin.

“What?” she ask in doubt.

“Look at that leaves!” he point out at the leave that just fall from its branch. “It’s fell to the ground, right?” noe he focuses his sight right at the fallen leaves.

Ana follows him. She listens to him dearly.

“It’s autumn. Autumn breeze that took them away from their branch. It’s autumn breeze that make them lying in the ground, no one even realize they ever exist before. But...” he smiled, still looking at the fallen leaves in the ground.

“Autumn indicates that the spring will come soon. Those leaves, didn’t fall for nothing. They fall because they know, spring will give the branch the new leaves. The fresh one, the younger one, the new leaves they believe can always decorate the branch beautifully.” He ended his philosophy with a genuine smile in his lips.

Ana still lower her head. She knew what Collin means. She knew it clearly. And that makes her tears streaming down again. At first in silent, then, after she felt a strong arm wrapped her body, she cried it out. She cried her heart aloud. She cried for herself. She cried for all those painful memories. She cried for him. She cried for the loss she got. She just want to cry, cry, and cry.

Collin take her in his embrace, patted her caringly. He doesn’t know what exactly she feel right now. He didn’t even know how hurt she is. But he knows, he always know what she is crying for. It will always the same, he bet. Collin knew Ana for almost half of his life, and he knows her better than anyone else, or more likely.

“Why can’t you forget him, huh?” he ask lowly, not wanting an answer because he already know the answer.

“I just—“

“I know...just don’t answer me.” He cut her explanation lazily. “You know, Ana?”

Ana mumbled as an answer.

“Those leaves, aren’t they seem like us? When the autumn comes, they’ll fall. They’ll leave their branch because they have no strength to survive. They give it up.” He sighed. “Then spring comes. Sweep away all those fallen leaves left by autumn. Spring comes to make up the mess that autumn did. Spring bring back leaves to their lonely branch. Spring comes coloring the day. The warm autumn breeze, change into the warm spring breeze. It’s true that the warm is same, but they bring a different things with them.”

Ana look at the guy next to her in disbelieve. Since when did Collin has that stock of words? But she still smiling. She is smiling. Collin is true. She realizes it.

“Yeah...you are right.” Said she before taking a deep breath. “I should’ve forgot him. It’s been a while, though. I felt sorry for him. I should’ve let him go since then. I am sorry, Alex.” She looks up at the blue sky, she is lost in thought. She looks at it as if she can see someone there. Someone she used to know. Someone very important to her. Someone left her in pain. Someone she loves sincerely. Her bestfriend, her brother, her one dear Alex.

Collin smiles as he patted her head gently. Ana then turn her head to face him. She smiles, a genuine smile.

“Thank you, Collin. You really are my best friend.” Said her from her heart.

“No need to thank me. That’s what a friend for, right?” they exchange smile. A gentle smile. A sincere smile. A smile coming from their heart. A smile with a thousand meaning behind it.

It’s autumn. Let’s enjoy its warm breeze with all our heart. The warm breeze that will bring us a lot of happiness.