Chapter Text
"I love you." Three words. Three of the hardest words for someone to say.
Sitting amongst the trees was a young girl, maybe fifteen. Her hair was light brown. Her eyes were kind, with a redness to them that made you wonder if she had been crying. A sniffle of her nose seemed to confirm it. Her hands traced the earth, feeling every bump and scratch and pebble. She leaned against the tree behind her and began to sob uncontrollably. Her voice cracked with pain as she yelled out for answers. Echoes of her cries bounced along the forest. She trembled and shook in agony at the harsh reality of life.
A crack of a twig halted her. With blurry eyes she tried to look and see what could have possibly made the noise. She stumbled to her feet, leaning against the oak. Fear swelled in her heart.
"Who's there?" managed to come out of her throat in an understandable way. Another crack and a flash of a figure caught her attention. "I said," she yelled, "who's there?" Another young girl, the same age, appeared from behind a tree. Her hair was long and straight, as black as a raven. She stood nervously, fiddling with her shirt.
"W-who are you?" the scared girl managed.
"Who are you?" the other deterred.
"Mae," she muttered.
"What was that?"
"My name is Mae. Now, who are you?"
"You can call me Fern," she stepped closer.
"Fern? Like, a plant?"
"Mm," she stopped before her.
"Why are you here?" she wiped her eyes quickly.
"I always come here. This is my tree."
"Your tree? But... it's my tree."
"Hm. Weird. We both claim it's our tree."
"I've been coming here for years. What about you?"
"Mm, same. Since I was little."
"I've never seen you, though. Isn't that strange that we've never met?"
"True. I usually come here early in the morning."
"I come in the afternoon."
"There. That's why we've never met."
"Don't you have school in the morning?"
"I don't go to school. Mum can't drive, and we don't have the money for the bus. It's too far to walk."
"Oh. Where do you live? I live just outside the woods that way," she pointed west.
"I live that way," she pointed east.
"Ah."
"Mm."
"Well, about the tree, since we both claim it's our tree, why don't we say it's both of ours?"
"Shared property?"
"Yeah, it can belong to both of us."
"I like that. Fern and Mae's tree," Fern smiled wide.
"Here," Mae extended her hand, "let's shake on it. It will always be our tree."
"Our tree," Fern shook her hand. They looked at each other with delighted expressions. Their hands remained locked together for several long moments.
"So, does this make us friends now? Or just co-owners?"
"Both."
"Really? You'll be my friend?" Mae exclaimed.
"Sure. You seem fine enough."
"I haven't had a real friend in a while," she trailed off.
"Oh? No?"
"People don't... like me very much."
"Why?"
"My parents have a lot of money. People think I'm just a hollow person that's rich. They bully me and take my cash often."
"I'm sorry."
"It's fine."
"Is that why you were crying?"
"Mm."
"Well, I'm your friend now. You can always tell me about those stupid bullies if you need to."
"Don't you come in the morning? When will we see each other?"
"I'll come in the afternoon instead."
"You'd do that?"
"Why not?"
"Let's meet every day."
"Every day," she offered Mae her pinky, "Promise."
"Promise," their fingers intertwined. They both laughed.
~
"Hey, rich girl!"
"Huh?" Mae turned around and was immediately met with a push.
"Got any money today? I really need it for food," she smirked. Two other girls were standing with her.
"I-," she was pushed again.
"I asked if you had any money. Do you?"
"I- I mean... I do-," she answered reluctantly.
"Give it. Now."
"My parents gave me the money! I can't just give it away!"
"I said give it," the two other girls grabbed Mae by her arms.
"No! No! Get off of me!" Mae screamed.
"Get her purse," one of the girls, the taller of the two, snatched her purse. She threw it over to the leader of the group.
"Give it back!" Mae began to tear up as she struggled.
"Oh, look. Three thousand Baht. Thank you so much, Mae."
"Stop! That's mine!"
"Let her go," they pushed her to the ground. The leader dropped the purse and took the money. They scampered off. Mae sobbed as she sat on the concrete.
~
Mae was curled up against the oak as she waited for Fern. Tears fell profusely from her eyes.
"Mae! I'm here!" Fern happily walked towards her, "Mae?" Mae only hiccuped in response. Fern ran over to her and quickly put her arms around her. "Mae, what happened?"
"F-Fern," Mae hugged her tightly as tears began to seep into Fern's shoulder.
"Mae, what's wrong? Did they steal your money again?"
"Mm," she hummed back.
"Hey, hey. It's okay. I'm here, Mae. Everything's okay." The girls hugged each other for what seemed like hours. Mae's sobs eventually calmed and her breathing slowed. She broke away from the hug and looked at Fern.
"Fern?"
"What is it?" she held Mae's hands with care.
"Why are you crying?"
"Oh," she scrubbed her eyes with her sleeve, "it's nothing. I don't know."
"I'm so sorry. Half of the days we meet up it's just you consoling me."
"No, hey, it's fine! That's what friends are for, aren't they?"
"I guess... I feel so bad about it, though."
"Don't. You're my only friend too, Mae. If this is what it takes to have a friend, it's worth it."
"Thank you, Fern," she hugged her again, "Thank you so much."
"We promised to always meet under our tree. I'll always be here."
~
*One year later*
"Mae! You're here."
"Mm. Of course."
"Hey, you okay? You seem a little off."
"Fern, I need to talk to you."
"What's up?"
"I'm moving away, Fern."
"What?" time seemed to stop. Fern trembled.
"It's not my fault, Fern. My parents are moving us. They said it's for finances and...," Mae's voice faded. Fern couldn't hear her. All she could hear was her heart pounding.
"You can't leave!" Fern broke out.
"Fern, I have to."
"You're all I have, Mae. You can't leave me," her voice shook. She grabbed Mae's wrist pitifully.
"I'm sorry, Fern."
"Mae...," she buried her face into her shoulder.
"It's going to be okay, Fern. I promise."
"Will I ever see you again?"
"I-," she thought for a moment, "I don't know."
"Mae, we promised to always meet under the oak. Are you really going to break your promise?"
"I can't help it, Fern. I can't help it if my parents move us. I'm only sixteen."
"Then you have to promise me something else."
"Anything, Fern."
"Promise to meet me here exactly two years from now when we're eighteen. Promise me, Mae."
"I'll be here. I promise, Fern."
"Pinky promise me," she gave her her hand.
"Mm," they promised just as they had over a year ago.
"I'll see you then, Fern. I'll miss you...," she began to cry.
"We'll see each other again. We promised," Fern hugged her once more.
~
*Two years later*
"Mae, I'm going to need you to work an extra shift."
"Dao, I can't today. I have something really important to tend to."
"I don't pay you to disagree with me, do I?"
"Please, Dao. It's really important."
"Do you want this job or not?"
"I-," she looked down at her desk, "yes, I do."
"Then you're staying for an extra shift?"
"Yes, Dao."
"Good. Now get back to work."
"Mm."
~
"Mum, I'm going out," Fern held her mom's hands as they sat on the couch.
"Huh?"
"I'm going out. Please be careful while I'm gone."
"Where are you going?"
"Out, Mum. Don't worry about it. Just stay here on the couch, and I'll be back in a few hours."
"On the couch?"
"Yes, Mum. Stay here."
"Where are you going?"
"Mum...," Fern sighed, "I said don't worry about it. Just stay where you are, and I'll be back."
"Ah," her mom shook her head.
"I'm going now, Mum. I love you," she kissed her head and walked out the door. She quickly made her way through the woods with the trail she'd created over the years. She knew the path like the back of her hand. She held herself with glee. She was so excited to see Mae. Every single day after Mae had moved, she still went to the tree.
"Mae?" Fern had finally arrived at the old oak, "Mae, are you here?" she looked around excitedly. She realized Mae was not there yet, so she decided to sit at the base of the tree. Before she sat down, she looked at the oak. She ran her hands along the carved out letters. 'F + M,' it read.
~
"How was school today, Mae?"
"Mm, it was fine. Nothing bad happened, so I'd consider it a good day."
"That's good," Fern smiled.
"Hey, Fern?"
"Yeah?"
"Do you ever think about going to school?"
"No, not really. I haven't gone since Dad was with us."
"Do you wish you could?"
"Hm, sometimes. I wish I could go to school to protect you. That's really the only reason I'd want to go."
"You're quite protective of me, aren't you?" she giggled.
"Yes. You're my best friend. Of course I'm protective of you."
"Would," she paused for a second, "you be protective of me if a guy hit on me?"
"What? Has a guy hit on you?" Fern started.
"No!" Mae laughed.
"Hey, that's not funny! That's serious."
"Why's it serious?"
"B-because. It is."
"Hm? Why's it serious?" she leaned into Fern.
"Because," she held out the word, "you could get married one day. Marriage is serious."
"Do you not want me to get married?" Mae smiled mischievously at her.
"That's not it," Fern blushed.
"What is it, then?"
"I just... I just want you to marry a good guy, that's all! I need to get to know him first to know if he's good enough for you."
"What are your standards for being good enough for me?" Mae played with Fern's flannel.
"Well, you know. Nice, Handsome, treats you right."
"You meet all those requirements, don't you?"
"Hah?" Fern was startled by her remark.
"Let's do something," Mae stood up.
"Do what?" Mae helped her up.
"Do you have your pocket knife with you?"
"Mm, I do."
"Give it to me."
"Why? What are you going to do?"
"Just give it."
"Okay," Fern handed her the knife. Mae turned to the tree and pressed the knife into the bark. She scraped the letter 'F' into it.
"What are you doing?"
"Just wait," she continued to cut the tree. She carved 'F + M' in.
"'F plus M'? Fern plus Mae?"
"Yeah! We're always gonna be friends, Fern. You're the most important thing in my heart. Here. Wanna add something?"
"Sure," Fern took the knife. She carved a heart around the letters.
"It's beautiful!"
"It is," Fern stared deeply at Mae. Mae turned to her with a wide grin.
"What's up? Why are you looking at me like that?"
"No reason," she took her hand, "I just love you, Mae."
"Huh? What did you say?"
"I love you, Mae."
"You... love me?" Mae said with a flustered expression.
"I've always loved you," Fern gave her a kind smile, "Ever since the first time I saw you crying under the tree."
"Fern, what are you saying?"
"I don't know."
"What do you mean you don't know? You obviously know. You wouldn't have said it if you didn't know."
"I really don't, Mae. I just know I love you. I don't know why or in what way."
"Fern," her voice subsided.
"Mae, do you love me?"
"I-," she seemed to be searching her brain for an answer, "I think... I think we should go home."
"Mae," Mae turned away from her, "Mae, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable."
"You didn't. You did nothing wrong, Fern. I just need to get going."
"Okay..."
"Bye, Fern."
"Bye, Mae."
~
As Fern sat under the tree waiting, she became tired. She eventually fell asleep.
"Fern?" Mae's voice awoke her, "Fern, is that you?"
"Mae?" Fern stumbled to her feet.
"Fern, it's really you!" she ran and hugged her.
"Mae," Fern stood frozen with Mae's arms around her.
"Fern," Mae pulled away from the hug slightly and caressed Fern's face, "Fern, how are you?"
"Mae, you're here."
"Mm, I promised, didn't I?"
"What time is it? The sun is setting."
"I'm so sorry. It's late afternoon. I was going to meet you early this afternoon, but I had to work another shift at the hospital. I'm just so glad you're still here."
"You really made it."
"Yeah! Why, did you think I wouldn't?"
"I didn't know if you would or not."
"Oh, Fern. Of course I came. How could I ever forget? Ever since I've moved, I've counted the days until we could meet again."
"Really?"
"Yes."
"I've missed you so much, Mae. Every day felt like an eternity. I've longed to see your face and touch your skin again," she placed her hand on Mae's, which was still cupping her face.
"Fern," Mae blushed.
"Mae, there's been something I've been wanting to do for years."
"What is it?" Fern leaned closer to Mae. Mae could feel her breath against her mouth. Their noses touched. Mae could feel her body burning. "Fern-," their mouths met. Fern's soft lips perfectly fit into Mae's. Fern grabbed Mae's waist without patience. She kissed Mae again.
"Fern!" Mae pushed her away.
"Mae," Fern had a worried look.
"We can't do this, Fern. We shouldn't."
"Don't you want to? I could feel you leaning into me as well."
"That doesn't matter, Fern. It doesn't matter."
"Yes, it does. If it feels right, it can't be wrong."
"I need to go."
"Wait, Mae, don't leave yet. We have to meet again."
"Yeah, sure. I'll come back again sometime."
"Promise?"
"Mm, yeah."
"Okay..." Mae walked away.