Chapter 19
If This Is the End, Let's Make It Ours.
We still had exams left.
Which meant we still had time.
Time to smile.
Time to laugh.
Time to make something beautiful before goodbye.
So I planned it.
Because if he was going to remember me, I wanted it to be something sweet.
Not tear-streaked hallways or whispered goodbyes.
But chocolate on his lips and my laughter in his ears.
I bought his favorite chocolate.
The one he always stole from Yuri's bag.
And perfume — a tiny bottle. Not too strong. Just enough to make him remember this version of me:
The girl who cursed too much.
Who rolled her eyes but held his hand under the table.
Who never said "I love you," but maybe, almost, meant it.
I wrote a note too.
Didn't sign it.
Just folded it neatly inside the gift bag and prayed he'd understand.
The plan was simple:
Sneak out after the last exam.
Tell our parents the wrong time to pick us up school.
Avoid teachers.
Run.
Our little rebellion.
One of our last ones.
Yuri was the distraction.
Fatima and I slipped past the courtyard wall.
Keifer jumped from the side gate like it was a movie scene.
By the time we hit the main road, we were laughing so hard it hurt.
We ate street food until our mouths were burning.
Drank from plastic cups with too much ice.
Sat on the sidewalk and talked about everything but what was coming.
"Are you still sad?" he asked, casually, like he didn't want to dig too deep.
I shrugged. "Not today."
He smiled.
"Today feels like summer vacation before we all die," Yuri said, eating chips upside down.
"Shut up," Fatima groaned, throwing a tissue at him.
We wandered around like we were kids again.
No parents.
No expectations.
Just us.
Us — with all the mess and the tension and the unsaid things.
And when we were sitting on that curb, sunlight turning gold behind us, I handed him the gift bag.
"What's this?" Keifer asked.
"Don't ask questions."
He peeked in.
His favorite chocolate.
The perfume.
He looked at me, suddenly quiet.
"What's the note?"
I shrugged. "Nothing. Just read it later."
He nodded.
Didn't say thank you.
Didn't have to.
We went back to school before they came to pick us up.
Fatima covered for me like a pro.
I washed my face, put my books out like I'd been studying all day, and crawled into bed with the quietest smile.
Because maybe it wasn't goodbye just yet.
Maybe this memory would last longer than the pain.
End of Chapter 19.