A Glimpse of the Past

Ten Years Ago

Knock knock

Athanasia turned her body away from the door, covering herself with her blankets, which she regretted. The scent of the blanket made her want to puke, that familiar scent, the warmth that gave her. It was nauseating.

But before Athanasia could immediately remove herself from the blankets, the door slid open, a shadow hovered over her. Athanasia didn't react, she was too busy to erase everything she was conscious of.

"Athanasia..." A soft voice called her name, she could hear the sadness in her voice from the thick blankets.

Athanasia still didn't budge.

She felt a warm hand caress her back, she felt it tremble no matter how it tries to comfort her. They were in pain also. Athanasia knew that but she could only curl herself in her blankets, clutching her aching heart, covering her ears to stop the pain, the noise, the cries.

Everything.

"It's okay..." She heard them whisper, their voice is on the verge of breaking. "Just let it all out..."

Memories flashed through her mind like a videotape. Every single loving memory she cherished. The ones she wanted to reminisce someday. The ones that gave her to smile with the sun above.

The ones that she can't take back from now on.

And somehow, Athanasia finds herself crying loudly, clutching the blanket as if it were her treasure. Everything was burning until it was all in ashes, let it get blown in the wind, let it scatter. And with a blink

Athanasia forgot the pain, she forgot happiness.

Leaving her phone ringing madly on the floor.

Athanasia felt a cold breeze brushing her back as Lucas never leave his eyes on her. She wanted to run away but her legs aren't listening to her.

She shouldn't have accepted the invitation earlier and remembered that she had the same class as Lucas.

Why now?

"Do you know each other?" Ijekiel stepped in, confused. He felt the cold tension around them.

Lucas lets out a scoff. "I should be asking you guys that," he grumbled. "As I remembered, she was the one who bumped on me and spilled my coffee."

Silence.

THAT'S IT?!! Athanasia yelled in her mind. The heavy feeling in her heart disappeared and was replaced with shock and madness. "Huh?" That was all she could utter, too stunned at Lucas' reply.

"Huh?" Everyone followed, they've become more confused.

"I don't remember her being in our class ten years ago, though..." Lucas hummed, tilting his head but the anger in his tone is still there. "Anyway, that was like three months ago, Christmas Eve when she suddenly bumped on me and destroyed my perfect alone time. I told myself not to meet her or else I would be pissed, which I am now. And the heck, she is right here, looking all buddy-buddy with you two and..."

Is Lucas this talkative before...? Athanasia thought, watching Lucas go on telling his story of how he met her. She compared the past Lucas and the Lucas now, she almost thought that she staring at his illusion because of how he talks.

"Okay, okay! Stop!" Cabel interrupted, covering Lucas' mouth. "We get it, man!"

Jennette chuckled. "Lucas, you've changed."

"I agree," Ijekiel also said with a laugh.

Athanasia was the only one who didn't laugh, she find it weird and... weird... yeah.

Lucas noticed Athanasia's stare and frowned at her before saying, "If you're planning to ruin my day by spilling one of my drinks today, I will let you buy all the foods that I ate with your money."

And Athanasia swore that Lucas almost showed a smirk before going inside with Cabel. She turned to her friends who are nervous about her and her wallet, she could only roll her eyes in annoyance.

"What's up with him?" She muttered, following Ijekiel and Jennette inside.

He doesn't remember me?

The party started as soon as everyone came. Athanasia still hasn't moved on about what happened earlier with Lucas, giving him burning glares on his back as he was just at the corner, minding his own business with his pasta.

"Athy, what are you sitting there for?!" Jennette called while cheering for Cabel who sang, Set Fire to the Rain by Adele with his out-of-tuned voice. They better stop hyping him up, his voice only gave Athanasia a migraine.

"I-I'm fine here..." Athanasia nervously laughed. Getting close to Cabel's singing voice is the last thing that she would do for her ears.

The party went well, fortunately for Athanasia, but the way that Lucas only sees her as someone who spilled his coffee on Christmas and not the girl he talked to ten years ago made her feel angry for no reason.

Even though it was her fault in the first place.

Everyone started going home, some are drunk, passed out and sober. She glanced at Lucas who is giving Cabel a hard slap on the face to wake him up from his sleep, making her sigh at the sight. Is this the Lucas that she knows in the past?

Also, why can't he remember her and she can?! This is unfair!!

Lucas noticed her eyes on him and blinked, confused. "Uhm, Abanasa, right?" He called.

Abanasa...

Athanasia almost bled the inside of her mouth, trying to suppress the anger filling in her. She showed a forced smile at him while hiding the dark schemes of wanting to strangle his neck and hang him on the ceiling. "It's Athanasia..." She corrected with gritted teeth.

"Oh, right. I forgot," Lucas said, scratching his nape. "Anyway, could you help me take this guy to an abandoned place?"

Silence.

Maybe someone took Lucas away and replaced him with someone who looked like Lucas.

Ten years is such a cruel thing.

"Abandoned... place?" She repeated, the fake smile almost wavered.

After trying to understand the idiot holding with another idiot, Athanasia finally helped Lucas to take Cabel inside a taxi to take him to his place. The two watched the taxi moving away with Cabel who is still unconscious inside.

"Well, that's it. That idiot is such a hassle." Lucas stretched his arms wide, letting out a satisfied sigh. "Time to go home, I guess. See ya."

Athanasia stared at Lucas' back. She noticed something from him that she should have known since their first meeting in ten years. And it's making her angry.

She followed Lucas, giving him the glares she gave from the party, hoping that his back would form a hole from her deadly stare. She was waiting for something, just something.

Lucas stopped in his tracks and turned to face Athanasia, he held his body, staring at her weirdly. "Are you... stalking me?" He said with a trembling voice.

Athanasia's patience with him is starting to fade away. She was ready to punch his face for her satisfaction.

"Who would stalk you?!" She exclaimed, she felt her cheeks getting warm but immediately disappeared in a second. She took a step back, frowning at him then lets out a defeated sigh. "The heck, I should be also asking you something..."

Lucas slowly put his hand down, tilting his head. His shoulders tensed. He wanted to leave, now.

Athanasia looked up, her hands clenched into fists of how annoyed she is towards him. "Stop with the act, Lucas. You're making me look like the idiot here instead of the opposite..." She muttered, her voice lowering in every word she says.

Lucas stared at Athanasia with his lips pursed, he almost look away, seeing her sad expression in front of him. The last face that he saw and gave to him before she left. The face that he doesn't want to see again.

Why are you staring at me like that?

Just like what Athanasia said, Lucas knew her in the past but just kept it a secret during the party.

But he is not going to lie that he first knew her as the person who spilled his coffee on Christmas Eve. But he soon found out when Ijekiel and Jennette began to say her name and there is only one person that he knew in the past who had a nickname, Athy.

He knew. But he couldn't bring up the past to her.

His lips curved up into a smile, his body fully faced her as his eyes softened. "It's been ten years, right?"

Athanasia only showed a frown, but Lucas could see the anger lurking beneath those confused eyes. They have been close for just a day ten years ago but it looked like Lucas knew her for years.

Maybe he just find a similarity between them.

"Why didn't you tell me when we saw each other?" Athanasia asked, her voice hesitating as if she already knew why he did that.

Lucas looked away, awkward. "Well, I don't want to ruin the mood and we were about to go to a party, and your friends would only just be curious and think of stuff."

He glanced at her only to see her pout and glare at him in anger, he assumed Athanasia to be relieved after he explained everything, her expression was unexpected. Why is she still angry?

Though with that look, it only made him crack a chuckle.

"What's with that look, Ms. Hero?" He teased.

Ah, if only he had told her sooner.

Athanasia gave up and lets out a sigh, not wanting to smile like an idiot. He doesn't deserve it after what he has done. But somehow...

She finds herself laughing along with him.

---

"You, a teacher?" Lucas gaped, he is still facing Athanasia while walking.

The two decided to walk together for a while in the nearby park, catch up on what they have missed in the past ten years, and to know the new side of them. Time passed by in a flash but both are hesitant to stop the comfortable company from each other.

Athanasia chuckled as she stared at Lucas' reaction to her being a teacher. "It wasn't my first choice but someone gave me the inspiration to do it..." Her voice trailed off, noticing the soft stare from the raven-head.

"That person would be happy to hear that from you," Lucas said, sighing. He shoved his hands in his pockets, finally realizing how cold it is. He decided to be careful about what was behind him and decided to face the road.

Athanasia felt her cheeks heat up before looking away with a cough. "Y-Yeah..." Somehow, she couldn't bring up that it was him who made her the choice to become a teacher.

She glanced back at Lucas, her mind in wonder. There is still one thing that is bothering her but she was afraid to utter a word from it.

"Athanasia, I know I look handsome but you're burning me with your gaze," Lucas suddenly said, smirking at Athanasia.

Athanasia only showed a look of disgust, she rolled her eyes, looking away in annoyance. "Don't get full of yourself. You're not close to my type."

"Ouch."

Athanasia lets out a huff of her triumph and walked past Lucas, the latter followed, running after her but Athanasia rose her pace until they were running in circles around the park. The run ended when they fell on their knees, too tired to even stand up. Well, at least Lucas caught her by getting her hoodie and pulling her down the grassy ground.

"What are you running away for!!" Lucas wheezed, sitting down beside Athanasia. "You're being stubborn. Do you really hate my face to the point you're running away from me as if I'm some sort of germ!!"

Athanasia only laughed despite her panting from the run. She rolled around the ground, clutching her stomach as she laugh. "Are you a puppy?!!" She teased, earning a glare from the raven-head. "Wow, look at him brooding, HAHAHA!!!"

"What's so funny..." Lucas grumbled, looking away. He was too embarrassed to look at her as she just continue to tease him.

Well, at least she looked comfortable and happy.

Athanasia finally calmed down, wiping away the tears. She lets out a last sigh of her laugh before loosening up, she felt the wind gently caress her face, the cold temperature disappeared and was replaced with warmth. It was the best feeling.

She glanced at Lucas who just looked up to the sky, somehow there were no stars. She snickered and let herself lay down on his lap, earning a surprised yelp from the raven-head.

"What are you doing?" Lucas raised a brow, staring down at Athanasia.

"Laying down, the rocks don't help to make me comfortable to lie down," Athanasia said, showing her best smile, only to earn a cold scoff from him. So mean.

The two watched the sky together, even without the stars above, they find themselves getting mesmerized by the empty view above them. Maybe the company of each other made them see a view that was worth staring at. The night sky was beautiful with just an empty black canvas, their eyes painted a new form of art that even them couldn't even describe.

"Thank you..." Athanasia muttered, smiling as she eyed Lucas' chin, his eyes were still stuck in the sky. She then heard a hum from him, confused.

Athanasia just chuckled. "Ten years ago, before I left, I heard what happened to you and your mother... I was guilty of not coming to your side when you needed someone, it was ten years ago but I still feared to face you after what I have done..."

Lucas slowly looked down to face Athanasia. The first thing he saw was the glistening tears filling her blue eyes, his eyes widened in surprise.

"I'm sorry..."

Lucas' gaze softened, unconsciously wiping off the tears that have escaped. His touch was warm and gentle. "What are you apologizing for...?" He muttered with a breathy laugh. "You have your reasons too. And besides, even without knowing the reason why, I still don't see that as your fault..."

Athanasia cried more, which only gave Lucas a hard time wiping every tear with just his hand but his hand never left her skin, he was afraid that if he let go, she would break. His comfortable touch could only stop her from breaking apart.

"It's okay... It's not your fault..." Lucas continued to whisper her soft words. "It must've been hard right?"

"I should be telling you that.." Athanasia sniffled.

"Would you join me then?" Lucas teased. "Let's exchange."

"... I hate you..."

"Hate me all you want, I won't be leaving here until you stop crying."

"Should I punch you then?"

Lucas paused, pondering something before nodding and saying, "Well, I might scoot ten meters away from you..."

Athanasia laughed, tears were still there but her smile came back. "You're a good friend, Lucas!" She sarcastically said, earning a confused frown from the raven-head.

"Indeed I am," Lucas said with a smug. He sighed in contentment, his lips pursed into a thin line, staring down at the cry baby on his lap. "You don't need to cry for me, you know," he muttered, moving his hand away that was still caressing her face and moved to her hair.

Athanasia paused, her smile frozen.

"Because it would be weird if you chose to go to me back then instead of your parents." Lucas softly chuckled. "It was hard for me too but when I realized that your pain was much worse than mine, I wanted to at least help you ease the pain just a bit... Just like how you saved me ten years ago..."

"It wasn't that much," Athanasia muttered, looking away with a sigh. "Someone would've done that when they see someone getting bullied. Though some are cowards... they pissed me off."

Lucas laughed. "True. But because of that, there is something worth remembering in my past... Even just one."

He looked back up to the sky and blinked widely as he noticed something from above. "Athanasia... look up."

"Huh?" Athanasia frowned but followed, looking up with Lucas to see something shining alone in the black sky.

A star.

"Oh, you found one!"

"Wait, it's moving- oh, it's just an airplane..."

"....."

-----Yay update!!Hope you enjoyed it!!!