"No! I don't want to do this kind of thing anymore!"
"You have to. We had an agreement, correct?"
"Yes we did. But killing was never part of this!"
"Uh, yes there is?"
"Pft. As if."
"Dude, it's the game snakes and ladders. If you go to the snakes one more
time, you'll die."
"I said no killing!" he would always whine.

Thim was a very.. cautious friend of mine.
He would always whine and get afraid. That little baby.
Don't get me wrong, he's a very good friend to me - was a good friend to me.
He died 3 days ago.
But we made a path together. That we'll put a letter inside our special secret
box every year and bury it under the tree where we first met. And where
he first cried. Like, 5 minutes after we met.

We would always open the box 6 months later and gather more secrets with the remaining 6 months.

"Ooo! I'm curious!! What is it? Please tell me! I can't wait anymore!" I said.
"No. You have to wait for the promised time." Then he smiled so warmly and kind of sadly.
I can't understand. Must be part of the
whole baby thing.
"Mm.. Fine. But I won't tell you mine either!"
"Oh.Uhm. Could I please know yours?" He grinned innocently. Which was actually quite impossible but he still pulled it off.
"Uh, no?" I raised my brow up.
"You can't tell me yours but you want me to tell mine??"
"Uhm. Yeah, kind of." He said.
"Stop that."
"Stop what??" He tilted his head and looked at me curiously.
"That!! Exactly that!"
"What??"
"Stop it!!"
"You have issues, Paul."
"No Thim, I meant that innocent look that makes me feel guilty not telling you my secret."
"well good. You should be guilty not telling me the secret now."
"Why should I anyway?"
"Because you might regret not telling me."
"You'll find out after a month anyway!"
"Right. Of course." He looked away with sadness in his eyes. UGH!
I felt a spasm of guilt and regret right there and now.
"Oh! Fine! I'll tell you." No, wait. What am I, an idiot??
"Yey!" He smiled warmly again. Happily this time.
"No. I'll let you read it."
"Mmkay."
After a while, he suddenly attacks me with an ugly face.
"Thank you, Paul!"
"Stop crying, sissy. It's cute when you hug me, I confess, but crying in my shirt is not cool."
I patted his head and tried to smile warmly too.
"Stop doing that. Haha."
"What?"
"You trying to immitate my warm smile."
"Of course I failed.."
We both laughed.

And then a day after that I didn't see him. And another day after that.
Then to my surprise, the next day, Thim's parents arrived here looking sad.
I said "No." "He can't be."
"Paul, I guess you figured it out. You are smart. Like he said."
"No, he isn't dead!" I gasped and gasped for air fastly.
"No, no no no NO!!!"
I ran up the stairs while blocking my eyes with my arm trying to hold back the tears.
I couldn't hear what they were saying because of my sob.
I only heard something like "You have to understand," or something.

Well, today I open our special box which accompanied Thim and me for 3 years.
I am going to read his secret. His secret that I didn't hear from him even when I begged him to tell me otherwise.
I dug the box up from under the tree and opened it.
I can see the closed letter.
I reached for it and read it.
Wet drops of sadness came rushing down my eyes.

Dear Paul,
You're the best friend I have ever had. You are the most understanding, fun,
cool and supportive friend ever.


I am.. so sorry. I have cancer. I didn't tell you, I know. Tomorrow's my last day. And I wanted to spend it with you.
I'm so glad we watched the sun set everyday we can get together.
I would miss you're mockings. Hehe. I'll see you soon.

Love,
Thim.

I sobbed endlessly after I read it.

I just stood there. Looking at the majestic view of the Sun's setting.

"Huh. I guess he was right." I put the letter down.
"I would regret it if I didn't tell him my secret."