Lights of Love III

“Hey! Jessica, how much time had passed? 4 years, true? Sorry I was late, I never thought it would come to this," said Arya as he stood in the pouring rain while holding a black umbrella over him.

"I regret doing it that day because I shouldn't have, and I feel bad now. I wasn't even in a position to stand in front of you because I was...confused. I know it's all my fault; I screwed everything up and, like a coward, I ran away from my problems rather than confront them. I should not have left you alone...it's too late; I'm not even sure if you have forgiven me at this point”

He started crying as he spoke, and as he sat gently next to Jessica's grave, tears started to flow. As the rain lashed down on him, his umbrella dropped from his grasp. He felt guilty about his life and his past choices as the silent grave observed. While the sun was shining on the other graves, the ominous clouds had just passed over the grave. No one placed flowers on Jessica's grave, and no birds flew over it. It seems as though her loneliness would follow her even beyond death.

"I'm sorry... I doubt I'll ever be able to forgive myself for this" Arya sobbed as he knelt down, placing his hands on his knees and his head on them.

4 years ago…

"I'm sure I'll tell him."

"I'm sure I'll tell her."

They didn’t. For this time, it wasn’t about the bright lights of love, it was about hope. The fireworks burnt bright but their eyes burnt brighter with the hope of something that neither of them could describe. This time they knew one thing for sure- no opportunities were being wasted. There were no regrets. Childish, even if genuine infatuations were no longer a matter of concern for Jessica and Arya. What mattered was the person themselves and their presence in each other’s lives.

"Hello, Arya! Long time had passed. What's up?" In the reunion, Dev noticed Arya. He approached him slowly and said, "I wasn't expecting you to come here; I'm sure Jessica would have asked you to come. Is this right?”

Jessica and Arya shared a class with Dev at the time. He was the "famous" student in the school, well-known to practically everyone. strong grades, social skills, relationships with teachers, and other things. For six months, Jessica and Dev were together before calling it quits on their love. Dev still holds out hope that Jessica will return despite the fact that she has entirely moved on. He sought to gradually reenter Jessica's life through Arya after learning that they were now great friends.

“Hi! How are you doing, Dev? No, Jessica didn't ask me, Arya said as he turned his chair to face Dev. “Since I hadn't seen you guys since I finished school, I just wanted to say hello.”

Jessica regarded Dev with a look that suggested she could not be willing to see him once more after school. She didn't really like him after they broke up. She thought he wasn't aware enough of what he was doing. Even if he got everything he could ever want, he would still be a childish young man who only wanted attention. To grab people's attention, he would do anything. Jessica watched him closely for six months, even though the majority of people were aware of his toxic qualities, and she never looked back on her choice to leave him.

Yes, I have been performing well ever since I started college. In my first semester, I already had a 9.8 CGPA. Along with other of my friends, I also began working on my project." Dev looked sometimes at Jessica while speaking to Arya but promised to tell more about it shortly. "How are you two doing?"

"Yeah, I just enjoy my college courses. I find it all to be fascinating, and I also considered beginning my own research on nanoscience and nanotechnology, which is a..."  Arya tried to continue but Jessica cut him off. "Perhaps we should take a walk outside."

Despite being in the same class, Dev and Arya never spoke to one another in school. Arya seemed strange and nerdy to Dev, and he would be really boring to be friends with. Dev was never a concern for Arya. Arya liked Jessica when they were dating, but he never showed any interest in Dev. Dev was unable to process it and began to feel envious as soon as the tables flipped and Jessica made friends with Arya. Since that time, he has been keeping an eye on Arya despite the fact that he is aware that getting Jessica back into his life will be much more problematic.

"So Arya never let me know you two were close friends?"  As they made their way towards the river along the road, Jessica questioned. The river seems beautiful to the eyes when the moonlight shines on it. "Since this is our first time meeting after school," Arya remarked, "I never... like we are just friends, we just started talking a few months ago."

Arya is unaware of Dev's desire to make friends with him as a result. Anyway, he is too innocent to be aware of it, but I should watch out that he doesn't fall for that man's tricks. Jessica thought

"Yeah, I just realized I never spoke to Arya in class. I assumed he was... too busy to talk to me, but I don't think that's the case now." Dev looked at Jessica, but she consciously tried to avoid making eye contact with him. "Like if he is friends with you, I feel I can also be a good friend, " he remarked.

As they made their short journey towards the river, there was utter quiet the entire time. It was almost time for Jessica to head home at 8:55 o'clock. When they arrived at the river, the clouds began to gradually lift, showing the moonlight falling over the slow-running river going eastward. Jessica felt at ease as she watched Arya soak in the scenery, but she was still concerned about the bond Dev and Arya had developed; she didn't, particularly like this. She didn't appreciate it when a stranger entered their special friendship. She would find it much more difficult to reveal her actual feelings to Arya.

Though he didn't know Dev well, Arya had the same impression. Despite this, he wasn't stupid enough to overlook the fact that Dev had just started talking to him. He was aware that everything was done for Jessica, but Arya also opposes it. If he could persuade Jessica to leave Dev, he doesn't know if she would like him or stay with him. When a familiar third person entered their lives that evening, it caught both of them off guard and in the middle of their dilemma.

Present day…

Arya drove his car over to the building where they watched the fireworks on that New Year's Eve on that terrace, where he and Jessica had one of their nicest moments ever. The first time they both saw each other's signs of love, they each refrained from telling the other how they felt. He approached the fence slowly while gazing up at the stars. His phone rang when he was immersed in thought.

“Hello!” He responded.

Dev was on the other end, saying, "Hey! I've heard you've returned to the city. Is a meeting possible?"

Arya remained still for a while. “Hello?” Dev enquired. “Yes! Where are you asking me to come?" Arya answered.

4 years ago…

"I feel like leaving; it's too late." Jessica moved quickly because it was already 9:00. She got in auto and went off.

Dev and Arya were the only two left, and for the next ten minutes, they didn't say a word while gazing at the river. They exchanged uncomfortable looks. Arya wanted to go, but he wasn't sure how to let him know; after all, the only reason he came to the reunion was to see Jessica, and now he felt as though all those moments had been spoiled by him. After giving it some thought, he actually addressed, "I guess I also have to go; I'm going to college tom…"

Dev interrupted him with a question Arya had never anticipated being asked: "You like her, don't you?"

“What…? No… Just friends". Arya answered the one question he was never prepared to answer, pretending calm while doing so.

Dev smirked and turned to face Arya. "Forget it; I was only asking. I only assumed that you liked her. Once again, I apologize for interrupting you.”

“Yeah…It’s okay. Cool! Bye meet you later” Arya left with all these thoughts in mind now. Did he know? Was it really a doubt? Does Jessica also know? Why does he ask that all of a sudden?

To be continued…

(I promise that next one would be the last one hehehehehehe!!!!)