MIA

I Love Saturdays

Like who wouldn't? It meant no school, no homework and a ton of free time so what's not to love?

Aside from the occasional chores that were a must in our household, I didn't see any problems with the weekend. I was currently lying on my bed, completely engrossed in my all-time favorite book, "The Notebook" by Nicholas Sparks-for the hundredth time. Sure, the movie adaptation was great, but there's something about a girl's imagination that can't be beat, especially when it comes to envisioning the iconic kiss in the rain scene.

Ah, the rain scenes.

They were the best, without a doubt. Whether in books or movies, there was just something magical about the raindrops gently touching the skin of two lovers, while a soft breeze carried their passion to new heights.

As I read, my cheeks started to heat up with excitement and a longing for that kind of love. The author described Noah's emotions and intensity as he kissed Allie in the pouring rain. I closed my eyes and imagined myself in that scene, with the one person who would make my heart race like that.

Sadly, there were none.

Suddenly, my thoughts were rudely interrupted by the one person who always managed to ruin everything-my older brother, Miles. Bursting into my room without knocking, he nearly knocked over the framed photos from my beach vacation. " Mum's looking for you" he lamely announced.

"Miles, can't you knock like a normal human being?" I sighed, trying to hide my annoyance. He rolled his eyes and glanced at the book I was holding. In an instant, a mischievous smirk spread across his face-trouble was coming.

"What'cha reading Mia," he teased, clearly enjoying my discomfort. I got up from my bed, clutching the book tightly. Suddenly, he lunged at me, snatching the book from my hand before I could protest.

"Miles!" I cried out, frustrated and desperate. "Give me back my book!" But he paid no attention, opening it to the exact page I had been reading. My eyes widened when I realized he was reading the steamy kissing scene that had captured my imagination just moments earlier.

"Well, well, maybe I was wrong about it not being spicy," he remarked, a mischievous glint in his eyes. He began to pace around my room, still reading the scene aloud. I followed him, desperately trying to retrieve my book, but he swiftly darted out of the room, holding it just out of my reach.

"Miles, what is wrong with you?!" I shouted, embarrassed and angry that my twenty-year-old brother had invaded my private moments.

I'm gonna kill him.

"His hands quickly grab--" Miles began reading the scene out loud and without a second thought, I swiftly removed one of my slippers and aimed it right at his baby maker. He let out a painful groan, dropping the book onto the floor, which gave me the perfect opportunity to snatch it up and make my escape downstairs before he could retaliate.

I hurried down the stairs and was greeted by the enticing aroma of pancakes wafting through the hallway. My excitement grew as I bounced towards the source and spotted Maddy, my 14 year old younger sister, feeding Baby Max his breakfast.

Now, you might have noticed that all our names start with the letter M. That's just one of our mom's quirks. She once told us that she fell in love with the letter M simply because our dad's name started with it.

I guess being a hopeless romantic clearly runs in the genes.

"Good morning, Mum," I greeted her with a kiss on the cheek before plopping down on the nearest available chair.

"Where's Miles?" Maddy asked, studying me with curiosity. A mischievous smirk crossed my face as I struggled to contain my laughter.

"Oh, he'll be here soon. He just got... uh, delayed," I replied, barely able to keep a straight face. Maddy raised an eyebrow inquisitively, a skill I wished I possessed. The only people I knew who could do that were her and Dwayne Johnson-aka The Rock.

"Eat your breakfast, Mia. You have a long day ahead," Mum said, placing a stack of delicious pancakes on my plate before returning to the stove to turn off the gas.

"But, Mum, it's Saturday. I have nothing to do except sleep all day," I protested, taking a bite of the pancake and letting out a satisfied moan as its delightful flavors danced on my tongue. It was simply scrumptious.

"No, you're going out," Miles suddenly chimed in, walking in with an odd gait and shooting me a fierce glare as he took a seat at the table. Hehe, next time don't disturb a girl's fantasy land.

"Where am I going, Mum?" I asked, nearly finished with my breakfast. Mum paused her own meal and glanced at the rest of my siblings, excluding Baby Max, who was blissfully unaware of the conversation unfolding around him.

"We're going to pick up a friend of mine from the airport," she replied quickly, and I couldn't help but feel perplexed about why I was being included in this outing.

"Why can't Miles go with you? It's going to be awkward if I'm just there, listening to your conversation," I pointed out. It was true; it would be rather dull to be a mere bystander while they chatted away.

"Don't worry, you won't be alone," Miles chimed in, his smirk taking on a devilish quality. I couldn't shake the feeling that they were keeping something from me.

"Miles," Mum warned, her tone firm, which finally silenced him and allowed him to focus on finishing his food. I glanced over at Maddy, who was giggling while engrossed in her phone. Curiosity got the better of me, so I leaned in closer to see what had her so captivated. As I caught a glimpse of her screen, I couldn't help but burst into laughter. Startled, Maddy quickly put her phone down on the table.

"Have you ever heard of privacy?" she scolded, adjusting her glasses.

"I'm supposed to be telling you that," I chuckled at her reaction, realizing she had been smiling at the latest picture of Nam Joo-Hyuk on Instagram. Ever since we watched the Korean drama series "Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo" and "Twenty-Five Twenty-One," she had completely, in her own words, fallen head over heels for him.

As if love worked that way.

"Well, tell him not to be so beautiful," she quipped, causing me to laugh. I couldn't blame her-Nam Joo-Hyuk was indeed beautiful. However, I felt the need to bring her back to reality before she covered her room walls with his pictures.

"What about that boy in your class?" I teased, prompting her to cough out her pancake and shoot me a glare, taking a sip of water from her sacred cup that no one else was allowed to touch.

"Sorry," I whispered, secretly enjoying the playful banter. With a satisfied grin, I finished my breakfast, expressing my gratitude to Mum, and made my way to the dishwasher. Just as I began the task, Maddy suddenly called out my name urgently.

"Mia, quick, his page is finally working!" she exclaimed, causing me to drop my plate and rush over to her in excitement. I set my eyes on her phone, but to my disappointment, it suddenly turned off. My excitement quickly drained away as I realized the phone had died.

"Sorry, Mia. I forgot to charge my phone, but I promise his page was really working," Maddy pleaded, tears welling up in her eyes.

I gently patted her head, mustering a comforting smile. "It's okay, Maddy. There will be a next time," I reassured her, though inside, they won't be. I noticed Mum and Miles exchange sympathetic glances, clearly feeling sorry for me too.

"I'll be upstairs. Mum, just shout my name when it's time for us to head out," I muttered, not bothering to meet their gaze. Clutching my book tightly, I made my way upstairs and slammed my bedroom door shut behind me. I flopped onto my bed, staring up at the ceiling, wondering why the universe seemed so determined to keep me apart from him.

It had been five long years-five years of missed chances and lost connections. It hurt not knowing how I had managed to lose his contact from my phone. Despite my efforts to reconnect, nothing seemed to work.

Holding my book close to my chest, I closed my eyes and allowed memories of him to flood my mind.

He was my first friend.

My first best friend.

My first crush.

Jackson Yung.

I couldn't quite remember the exact moment our paths first crossed. It felt like an eternity ago, a hazy memory buried deep within the recesses of my mind. But what I could recall with crystal clarity were the countless adventures we embarked on together. Those memories were etched into my soul, impossible to forget.

Jackson Yung entered my life as a chubby kid, always swathed in baggy clothes that turned him into a walking puffball. The sight of him running towards me every time we met never failed to make me burst into laughter. He stuck to me like glue, following my every move, sometimes acting way wiser than his years even though we were the same age.

What struck me as peculiar was his strange affinity for vegetables. It seemed ironic that he could love greens so much and yet remain blissfully unconcerned about his own plump figure. He had an uncanny ability to shrug off the opinions of others, caring only about what I thought of him.

One sunny afternoon at the age of seven, we found ourselves on the playground, aiming to conquer the swings. That's when a boy, foolishly thinking he was clever, called Jackson a meatball. I watched, seething with anger, as the insult rolled off his lips.

"You're the meatball douchebag!" I retorted, swinging my bat and sending a ball hurtling towards the boy's head. Jackson grabbed my hand, his eyes filled with concern.

"Mia, why did you hit that ball at the boy? Your mom will be angry," he said, tugging me away from the scene.

"He called you a meatball! Why should I let him get away with it?" I replied, my voice filled with righteous indignation. Jackson paused, releasing my hand and looking deep into my eyes.

"Do you think I'm a meatball?" he asked, his voice laced with vulnerability. I shook my head fervently, my cheeks blushing at the thought. To me, he was the epitome of adorableness, far from being a meatball.

"Then stop fighting because of me. Your opinion is the only one that truly matters," he said, a gentle smile gracing his lips, revealing the gap where his baby teeth had recently fallen out.

My heart fluttered at his words,Truth be told, I had a massive crush on him. He was different from me, with his Korean father and Chinese mother, a captivating mix of cultures. I couldn't fathom why people would bully him when he possessed boundless energy and an intellect that outshone most of our classmates.

By the time we turned twelve, it became evident that Jackson's brilliance surpassed our current grade level. The principal approached him, suggesting he skip a grade. I should have been overjoyed for him, but deep down, a surge of anger coursed through me. I wished I were just as smart so that we could have moved up together.

One day, tears streaming down my face, I found solace in the confines of my room. Back then, Maddy and I shared a space, before I got my own room once I turned sixteen.

A soft, familiar knock resonated through the door. It was Jackson's special knock, a signal that he sought permission to enter. I hesitated, remembering my mother's words about his parents contemplating transferring him to another class. I couldn't bear to face him, not when he was on the verge of leaving me behind.

Yet, without waiting for my response, he pushed open the door. I glanced up, my tear-stained eyes locking with his concerned gaze. He approached me slowly, his footsteps gentle.

"Mia, why are you crying?" he asked, his voice laced with worry. I averted my gaze, refusing to answer him directly. Instead, my eyes fixated on the shoe he had received as a gift on his eleventh birthday.

"I'm not going," he suddenly declared, causing me to sit up and see his familiar smile that always reached his eyes. Over the years, I had noticed that he strongly resembled his dad, inheriting most of his features and began to look more attractive. He had lost a bit of weight over the summer, and it seemed to catch the attention of a few girls, which bothered me.

I studied him for a moment, taking in his light brown hair. Unlike my own straight and sometimes unruly hair, his was soft and curly, effortlessly stylish. "Why?" I asked, feeling confused. I thought he had wanted to go.

"It would be boring there," he replied simply, taking a seat next to me. I chuckled at his peculiar response.

"You can make new friends there, it won't be so bad," I suggested, trying to stay positive.

"They would be too serious there. I want to have fun and goof around," he explained, and I nodded in understanding.

We sat in silence until he heard his mom calling for him. I waved goodbye, and as he was about to leave, he stopped at my door. "Mia, you know I can't leave you alone in that class, right? Who would teach you?" he confessed with a hint of concern before running off.

His response made me feel better, as I was glad he had reconsidered. Then fifteen-year-old Miles walked in with a smirk on his face. "Mia, just tell him," he said, holding a ball and dressed in his sporty attire. I brushed off his comment as a waste of time. Telling Jackson that I had a crush on him would only result in an awkward situation, and I didn't want to risk losing our friendship.

Jackson had never shown any romantic interest in me. Instead, he treated me like a little sister, even though we were practically the same age, with only a few months separating us.

Everything seemed fine for a couple of months. Jackson continued to be in my class, and we hung out as usual. Then, out of nowhere, a bombshell dropped on me.

Jackson was moving back to South Korea.

Unfortunately, his dad had been laid off from his job and had accumulated significant debts. They could no longer afford to stay in California, so they had to return to Korea. I cried in my room and refused to bid him farewell. Looking back, I realized I had been selfish.

The day came for him to leave, and I stared at them through the window in my room, watching his parents say their goodbyes to mom and dad. I caught a glimpse of him searching for me outside, I avoided his gaze when his eyes finally landed on my window. I knew he was sad, and I hadn't even mustered the courage to give him a hug or bid him goodbye

I was a terrible friend.

As he bid farewell and disappeared from my life, it felt like the universe was out to get me for my past mistakes. I would make desperate attempts to call him, but every time I dialed his number, it taunted me with the dreaded message: "unavailable." It was as if the universe itself conspired to keep us apart. However, whenever I left the room, my mom would engage in lengthy conversations with his mom.

Miles used to chat with him occasionally. They would laugh and play video games online, but whenever I tried to join in, it was as if a barrier erected between us. My phone would stubbornly refuse to connect to his location, leaving me frustrated and longing for a connection that seemed just out of reach. It felt like the universe was playing a cruel game with my heart

But then, everything changed when I turned seventeen. One day, I overheard my mom's voice filled with excitement as she video chatted with someone. Curiosity piqued, I hovered near the door, straining to catch any snippet of the conversation. And then, like a melody to my ears, I heard her utter his full name, her voice brimming with happiness. My heart skipped a beat, hope surging through my veins.

He greeted my mom warmly, and I yearned to join the conversation, to finally speak to him after what felt like an eternity apart. But fear gripped me-what if he had forgotten about me? What if he didn't want to talk to me? My mind raced with doubts and insecurities, holding me back from embracing the moment.

"Mrs. Smith, is Mia there?" I heard him call my name. His voice sounded different-deep and smooth than I remembered calling out my name. Relief washed over me like a crashing wave. He still remembered me! My mom, on the verge of saying no, caught sight of me standing at her door. Her eyes widened, realizing the significance of the moment, and she hurriedly informed him that I was indeed there.

But I was wrong.

As I rushed toward the desk, my leg accidentally hit it, causing wires to tangle and knocking over the coffee that was on her desk, which spilled onto her new laptop. The laptop instantly shut off, and my mom had to save up to buy a replacement.

I felt like I was going crazy. It wasn't fair! And it seemed like the universe didn't care. I wondered if he knew how desperately I longed to chat with him, to see his face, to reconnect with the friend I held dear in my heart. I couldn't even get a glimpse of him. Every time I tried on my mom's phone, it would either glitch or suddenly disappear. I started to entertain the thought that a spirit was haunting me, interfering with every attempt to connect.

The only picture I had of him was from my twelfth birthday when we took a picture together. I held onto that picture tightly, making sure it never left my sight. One day, Maddy approached me and said she had found him on Instagram, and without any hesitation I instantly downloaded the app.

With eager fingers, I typed his name into the search bar, hoping against hope that this time, the universe would relent. But as if mocking me, my phone flashed a message: "Username not found." I tried every trick in the book, switching networks, restarting the phone, but the result remained the same-no connection, no access to the one person who held a special place in my heart.

"Mia!" Maddy burst into my room, interrupting my thoughts. I blinked and sat up, wondering why she was in such a rush. "Did mom say it's time to leave?" I asked, feeling not in the mood to go anywhere currently.

She nodded and I swung my legs off the bed, stretching my arms lazily. Maddy's face suddenly lit up, and she blurted out, "He looks like him!" Confusion washed over me as I tilted my head. "Who looks like who?" I asked, my curiosity piqued.

Maddy giggled mischievously before answering, "Jackson! He looks just like Nam Joo-Hyuk!" Her statement made me roll my eyes in disbelief. One of the reasons I got hooked on Korean dramas was because of Jackson, and since Maddy followed him on Instagram, she kept comparing him to other actors from the dramas we watched.

"Come on, Maddy," I teased. "Last week, you said he looked like Ahn Hyo-seop from 'Abyss'!" She waved her hand dismissively.

"Well, maybe they could be brothers," she defended herself, grinning playfully. I shook my head, amused by her enthusiasm, and headed for the bathroom to get ready.

I rummaged through my wardrobe and settled on a cozy, oversized purple hoodie I had recently bought. Pairing it with a worn-out pair of jeans, I quickly changed and stepped out of the bathroom. Maddy's gaze shifted from my phone to my outfit, and she raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed.

"Mom won't like what you're wearing," she remarked, a hint of concern in her voice.

I shrugged, feeling a tad defensive. "Well, it's her guest, not mine," I retorted, brushing off Maddy's worries. She opened her mouth as if to say something, but then decided against it, leaving me puzzled. Something seemed off about their behavior today.

Leaving Maddy behind in my room, I descended the stairs, entering the living room where Miles sat engrossed in a video game. He glanced at me, shaking his head disapprovingly. "You look like someone who just got dumped over the phone," he teased, a smirk playing on his lips.

I stuck my tongue out at him, not in the mood for his banter. He rolled his eyes in response and resumed his game, leaving me to wonder what was bothering everyone about my choice of attire.

As I made my way to the front door, ready to leave, Miles called out to me. "Hey, Mia! At least remove the hoodie from your head!" he shouted, a note of exasperation in his voice. I sighed, feeling a mix of annoyance and curiosity. What was with everyone's obsession with my hoodie today?

Reluctantly, I pulled the hood off my head, revealing my tousled hair. With a deep breath, I swung open the front door, only to find my mom waiting impatiently in the car. The moment she caught sight of me, her face contorted into a disapproving scowl, mirroring Maddy's earlier prediction.

"What on earth are you wearing?" she exclaimed, her voice laced with disapproval.

Not this again..

......