CHAPTER 59: TOGETHER
Winter’s POV
“Now, let me teach you how to ride a bike alone.”
Matthew’s eyes widened as soon as he heard that from me. “What?”
“You know, it’s better if you learn it. You can’t just pedal forever, of course, there will come a time when you’ll have to ride a bike. I’ll guide you, anyway.”
“Fine.” he immediately gave up.
“That’s good! Then go ride that bike already!”
Obviously nervous to ride it alone, Matthew had no choice but to follow what I told him. He rode the bike and tried to pedal it, but he immediately stopped because it kept on wiggling as if he was about to fall. I walked toward him. “You have to balance yourself in order not to fall. Also, you shouldn’t be nervous and just focus on what’s in front of you. Try again, I’ll guide you from the back.”
“Okay.”
As I stood behind him to hold the back of the bicycle, Matthew started to pedal again. When he began moving, I let go of him and he still managed to continue biking until he noticed I wasn’t behind him anymore. It’s really funny how a man like him doesn’t know how to ride a bike.
“Look at you! You were able to ride it without my help! You’re doing great, Matthew!”
Just when I said that he forcefully halted the bicycle and almost fell again. I ran to a nearby tree and waved at him. “Try to reach me here!”
Without any hesitation, Matthew started riding the bike again. He was looking directly at me while I was just standing beside the tree, waiting for him. The bike was still a bit wiggly, but he still managed to ride it.
Just when I thought he would finally be able to halt it properly, he yelled while looking at me. “Move! Move away, Winter!”
“H-Huh?”
“I don’t know how to stop it!”
“The brake! Use it!”
He tried doing that, but it seems like the brake wasn’t working. If the bike keeps on moving, he will go straight to the river.
“Matthew! Jump off that bike!” I yelled again.
“I will!”
The bike kept on moving, and when he was already in front of me, he jumped off the bike. He was still looking at me as we both fell down to the ground. He fell after me, but he was able to put his right hand on my head so it wouldn’t hit the ground.Nôvel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.
When I opened my eyes, I saw Matthew’s deep ocean blue eyes staring back at me. He was so close that our noses almost touched. His brows were furrowed and I saw the worry in his eyes. “Are you alright?”
“I-I’m alright. How about you?”
“I-I’m fine.”
Then silence enveloped the two of us. We were just staring at each other as if that was the first time we met. I could hear a heart beating so fast. I don’t know if it was his, or mine.
“What are they doing there? Kids nowadays are just too reckless and shameless..”
Only when an old woman passing by said that we realized that we were in an awkward position. Matthew immediately moved away from me and helped me stand up. “I-I’m sorry. I didn’t know the brake wasn’t working.”
“It’s alright, at least you finally learned how to ride a bike alone.”
“Does that even count?”
“Of course, it does.”
Then we burst into laughter upon recalling what just happened. It was the very first time we shared a laugh together. After that, we went to the shop to pay for the bicycle then we decided to buy some burgers and other snacks that we would take with us to the fields of tulips.
We had to ride a small boat going there, it wasn’t that far, but the sun was already setting when we reached the field. The tour guide even led us to a perfect spot where we could picnic.
There were different colors of tulips lined up in endless rows.
“This must be heaven. It’s so beautiful here.” I mumbled while looking around us.
“You’re right.”
“How I wish I could just stay here forever. Away from everyone, away from the spotlight. Living with the people I love.”
Matthew just gave me a simple smile although he didn’t say anything.
“Do you know that Tulips symbolize perfect and deep love? They say that if someone gives you a tulip, that means they love you wholeheartedly. I received one when I was just in middle school, I just don’t know if that has a meaning though.” I chuckled.
“I guess there’s a meaning behind that act. Even if that’s a tulip or not, the mere fact that person gave you a flower already holds a meaning.”
Hearing that from him, I couldn’t help but remember Winston. The tulips that he gave me before, it’s still in my room. He didn’t say anything when he gave that to me, and I never got the chance to ask him.
“By the way, should buy something for Elisse before we go home? For sure she’s looking forward to it even though he keeps on telling me she doesn’t want new toys anymore.” I said.
“Sure.”
“One of the movies that are being offered to me caught my attention.”
Matthew looked at me. “What movie?”
“It’s about a woman who hides her identity from people because she didn’t want everyone to know that she came from a wealthy family and judge her afterward. Then she’ll meet a man who fell in love with her. He fell in love with her facade.” I smiled. “How do we even know if the person that we love is the same as the person they really are?”
“We all have personalities that we hide from everyone. May it has a good reason, or for our own good. But the real person who sees through you and accepts the real you would be the only person you can show your true self to.”
I nodded my head. I took a sip of my juice then I turned my head to him again.
“Matthew.”
“Huh?”
“Is that the real you? Or am I just seeing a person who’s way different from the real you?”