Chapter 21: My Aroha

"Tātā!"

"Ah, Lily! You scared me," I laugh. Almost every day I go on a bike ride around the circumference of the whole island, which is about fifteen miles long. I am currently passing through one of the two main villages—Omoka. I go back and forth between the two since I live in between them.

"I do not want you to leave," she says somberly. The nine-year-old hugs my waist. "I do not believe you leave in week."

"I know, Lily. I don't want to leave either. I'll be back soon though. I promise."

"With your aroha?"

I grin. "Yes. Hopefully with my love."

"That will be her new name when I meet her, like how you are Tātā. I am excited to meet your aroha."

"I'm excited for you all to meet her too."

"I—" she begins, but is cut of by her mother.

"Lily! Come help prepare supper!"

Lily gives me an exasperated look and rolls her eyes. "Goodbye, Tātā. I will see you in school tomorrow."

"Goodbye, Lily," I laugh with a wave. I begin my journey on my bicycle again.

I'm almost home with only about two or three more miles to go. Most of this bicycle journey of today has consisted of my thoughts revolving around my life in one week. December 23rd couldn't come faster.

It feels good to not have any American contact, if I'm being honest. I still worry about them—Christina, Zeke, and Uriah. I don't even know if they're alive.

I stop my bike as I leave Omoka Village. I turn it around and start pedaling toward the village again. The next place I find myself is in front of the only payphone on the island. My fingers dial Christina's number.

"Hello?" I hear a voice say. "Tris?" Christina says softly.

"It's Tobias."

She gasps and then squeals. "Tobias! Oh my God, it's so good to hear your voice. We didn't even know if you were alive, you fuckface!" she laughs.

I smile. "Can you get Zeke and Uriah on the phone?"

The frown in her voice is audible. "I wish. They're always gone anymore. Uriah got promoted, so he and Zeke work together doing the same thing you and Tris did."

"That's awesome!" I exclaim. I can actually feel my happiness in my heart. Seeing my friends prosper is one of the many things that make me elated. "So how've you been, Chrissy?"

"I've been… well, I've been amazing. Um… Yeah, so, Will proposed. We're set to marry in April."

I practically squeal like Christina herself. "Holy shit, Chris! That's amazing. God, I'm so happy for all of you."

"So I'm assuming you haven't heard from Tris at all," she says sadly.

I frown. "No. You?"

"Yeah, actually. She calls me once a week."

"Oh," I say with in a hint of surprise. I clear my throat. "How is she?"

Christina's voice wavers, sounding unsure. "I… Well, she says she's well and happy, but I don't believe it for a second. She… She met this guy. I guess he's supposed to be pretty great, but he sounds like an asshole to me. He's not half the man you are. Tris said that. Um, that he wasn't half the man. You know what I mean. I think she's using him to distract herself from her love you, to be honest."

I shrug. "If she wants me, she wants me. If she doesn't, then she doesn't. I'm happy without her. I've learned to do that here. I'm a changed man, Christina. I just… I love her, and if she doesn't love me then I guess I have to set her free and support her all I can."

Christina is silent for a minute. "If I wasn't engaged to Will I'd steal you from Tris, I swear to God. She doesn't appreciate you the way you need to be appreciated. Honest. Men like you don't come around too often."

This brings a smile to my face. "Love ya, Chrissy."

She laughs. "Alright, I better get back to work. I'll see you in a week, Tobias."

I grin. My friends are wonderful. "Bye, Chris."

I hang the phone.

The only thing on my mind—the only thing that swarms my thoughts—is the idea of seeing my aroha.