The One

Landon

I sigh as I look away from Marten. We were currently touring around the city by foot as if we had nothing better to do. And the sad truth was, we really didn't have anything better to do.

We have already roamed around for hours and have walked into almost every store with open doors. I was getting tired of just aimlessly walking around. But I know he only meant the best for me. To get my mind off things even it was just for these moments.

"Let's go into that one too." He says as he pushes me towards one of those overly crowded stores, full of colourful figurines and whatnots.

I hold my ground and give him a look. The loud music already making my head spin. "I'm not going in there Mart, feel free to go ahead if you wish to."

But Martens just chuckles as he pushes me into the store. "Come on man, it's going to be fun."

And as soon as we enter, he leaves me by the entrance with a tap on my shoulder and busies himself as he wanders off once again. I sigh and grunt, but follow him inside regardless while shaking my head at his disappearing back.

And like all the other places we have been to, it was packed with colours. Too many juvenile items decorated the entire shop. And the further we made our way in, the more blinded I became and the deeper the ache in my head got. But unlike me, Marten was having fun as he submerged into the crowd, finding something interesting in each and every corner he passed by.

"Hey Lan, look at this. Isn't this your type? It looks like one of those things that you always carry around." He chuckles as he holds up a keychain and lets it to dangle on his finger.

The moment I see the familiar object in his hand, I march towards him and snatch it from his hand. Turning it over and around, I take out the similar looking keychain from my own pocket.

It was an exact copy of what I had. Although mine had aged with time, its colour a little faded, but it was in fact the same.

And with a reminder of past, a vivid image replays over my head once again. But it was all as clear as if it was just yesterday. I still remember that day. That one summer day.

***

With distant voices echoing around, I look at the place surrounding me. Miles and miles of green stretched everywhere. I was truly lost. Inhaling and exhaling a tired breath, I dismiss my rising thoughts and once again scan the plain green land around me. Where even was this? Maybe if I walk further ahead, I can catch up with them and ask for direction.

And as I had nothing more to lose, I follow the echoes of their voices without giving it much thought. My strides a little longer when their voices became more than just a murmur.

"I only have this much, is this good?"

"Eh, this is too much miss. I don't have enough change to give you back."

"It's okay. Keep it. Hmm. But how am I going to take it with me though?"

"I can take it to wherever you want miss. After all, you are paying me more than enough for these."

"No, no. It's okay. I live quite far."

"But there isn't any vehicle around this place. Miss, I don't mind."

"But I don't want you to be pushing this heavy cart around. Nah ah."

There was just something in her voice, a little bit of sweetness, a little delicate, and a whole lot of kindness. The more I listened to her, the more I wanted to keep indulging myself in her. And the more I wanted to see her. So, I tighten my hold on my rather huge bag pack and march ahead, my heart skipping a beat the closer I get to her.

"Then I'll push."

"But miss, this is a lot-"

"No. Um you just walk beside me. Ugh!"

"See miss, I told you. It's very heavy, let me-"

"No. How can I let you push this heavy cart? But ooh this is harder than I thought!"

I see an older lady with a genuinely worried look on her face as she looks at the petite girl beside her who was struggling with the wooden cart filled with all kinds of fruits. Although she was tiny, she was trying her best to prove the lady that she was strong. Just the sight of her makes a smile stretch upon my lips. 

With her black hair in a high bun and a few strands dangling here and there, she grunts as she exerts another force on the unmoving cart. I observe her for a while longer like a stalker would, unashamed and I noticed how her t-shirt hung loose on her body which looked to be few sizes too big for her. It only emphasised the fact that she was small. But it somehow made her look cute.

What was I even thinking? I should be embarrassed, openly gawking a stranger and having such thoughts cross my mind.

After shaking my thoughts away, I take the last few steps to them. "Excuse me. Sorry but would you mind giving me the direction to Old Hill school please?"

The older woman looks at me, brows knitting together, while she gasps loudly. "Of course." She turns around rather too quick but for me, everything slows down.

I see everything in a slow motion. Those loose strands of her hair flies across as she turns around to face me. The first thing I notice is her bright smile. Her pink plump lips and pearly white teeth.

Her big brown oval eyes were mesmerising, and as she looked deep into my dark ones, my breath gets caught in my throat. She owned her beautiful Asian features, but I was very much aware of the fact that she was not of this place.

Regardless, I could hear my heart flutter and my ears ring as her lips moved. She was saying something. But I didn't hear a word she said. Afterall, she held me captive with those sinner eyes of hers and I quickly became a willing victim for that sweet smile.

Probably forever.

Because there was this sensation in my body, telling me something, almost like-

-like I found the one.

I don't know when she stops talking but she looks at me now with her perfectly arched brows turning into a deep frown as time goes by without me answering to whatever she may have said or suggested.

"So, what do you say?" Oh, I just love the sound of your voice. The sweet melodic sound. I think I may have fallen for you. That was what I wanted to say but I quickly adjust myself with a shake of my head.

"Sorry, I didn't catch that. Could you repeat that again please?" I try to look more focused and not make a fool of myself than I already have.

"I can take you there if-" She has this hesitant smile on her face as she points her head towards the cart. "If you help me take this cart there. So, what do you say?"

There was so much uncertainty in her voice as she asks for help in return for the favour I just asked. But who was I to deny her of anything? I think if she had asked me to run to the top of the hill, I would have happily done that too. If it meant that I would get to see that smile, I would do anything.

"Sure."

Right that moment, I thought I knew what an angel would look like. She looked like one, or probably they looked like her. An angel. That stunning smile that took my breath away was once again implanted on her face, radiating so much joy and happiness, I didn't know that one word could bring.

I unconsciously smile as I look at her. "Let's be on our way then, shall we?" She smiles cheerfully as she goes to the elderly woman and snakes her arm under hers and drags her ahead.

Quickly removing the heavy load off my back, I place it on top of the cart and start pushing it forward, a little afraid that she would disappear right in front of me. No, I was terrified of losing sight of her. Having done the extreme drills regularly, this wasn't very hard. I easily push the cart forward and follow right behind, smiling occasionally at her small talks as she stretched the few vocabularies she had.

Throughout the half an hour walk, I learned that she was indeed very kind. She had bought the whole cart of fruits just so she could help the lady earn some money for her family. But she denied it and said that it was for the students at the school she was teaching. One more thing I have learned about her, she was a teacher.

At one point, she grabbed an orange and gave it to the lady. She also got one for herself and starts peeling it off. I watch her as she puts one in her mouth and makes a face, scrunching her small nose. She looked way too adorable. Just then she turns around and catches me off off-guard, making me come to a stop.

I try to think of an excuse as she walks towards me. But then she puts a slice of an orange into my parted lips, her fingertips lightly brushing against them, making any thoughts or words disappear even before they had time to form. Just a simple touch sends a shiver across my entire body. Just a brush of her fingers had my heart running wild. And that moment I instantly knew that I had fallen. I had fallen deep. I had fallen hard.

"Try it yourself." She steps closer and reaches up on her tiptoes so she can whisper it onto my ear.

She was close. A bit too close. I can smell her mouth-watering perfume. It was sweet just like her and I wished to taste it. I wanted it badly. I take a big gulp and nod. My voice getting stuck in my throat as I bite into that slice of orange. Soon a sour taste invades my taste bud and I too scrunch my face.

"Now you know." She chuckles deeply as steps back. The laughter of her sounds heavenly to my ears.

She jogs back to the lady and once again connects her arm to hers. And how much I wished that was me. How much I wanted to be the one she speaks to. The one that she shares her stories, anything and everything. All of it. I want to hear her. Her sweet laughter and her melodious voice.

I wished the journey to be longer. For it to never end. I wish to follow her as she leads the way. To wherever the destination was. To wherever her heart desired. Because my heart desired just one thing from this moment on.

Her. And only her.

Right there, I started to dream of a life with her in it. Her enchanting laughter. Her angelic face. The little her. The kind her. But like every tragic story, mine came to an end too.

Before I could even separate my dream from reality, it was time to say goodbye. With an iron on my heart, I watch her as she gives me a small smile, bidding me farewell. I watch as she takes off the little keychain from her pocket and puts it on my hand.

But the tingles that spread over the palm of my hand as her fingertips once again lightly brushes against my skin, makes me want to grab her wrist and hold her tight. I hated the fact that it seemed like she did not feel what I felt. And so, I could not be strong enough to hold her. To say, 'hey I think I might have fallen for you' or 'could you please at least tell me your name'.

No word escapes my still lips. It remains slightly parted as if calling out to her, silently begging her to stop as I watch her disappear behind the orange brick walls.

And that was the last time I ever saw her. And how I wished every moment after that it wasn't. That I will see her once again.

I should have talked to her. I should have gone back immediately. But no, I waited. I waited until her face haunted my sleep and her whispers my conscious.

I did go back, but it was too late.

I found out later that she just was another that came to volunteer over the summer, and with the summer now gone, she too had left. Both the place and my life.

I would have been content if I had her name. Just a name would have been enough to start the search of my one-sided love. But with everything being confidential, they refused me of my fictive rights. So, I had nothing.

Just a bit of her in my thoughts.

And as the years passed by, she wholly occupied the entirety of my mind. For she holds my precious memories. She was an angel that came gliding into my life and in a blink of my eyes passed right through. I couldn't even look for her. Without a name or any other proof that she exists, she was just a mirage in my head.

If only I could go back in time. I would have change everything. I would have hold onto her the moment I saw her. I would have asked her name. I would have talked to her. I would have never let our touch, just be a brush of her fingertips over my palm.

But one could never go back in time. Cause time does not wait for anyone. And definitely not for a pathetic loser like me who couldn't gather his strength when he needed it.

I found my the one. My only one.

But I lost her right after I found her...

(Note: Just imagine that the quotation in bold is spoken in another language)