A Journey Of Life and Love - A Little Story

For all you budding lovers out there! XD

ONE

I woke up today with her image still fresh on my mind. I winced at the sudden thought of her before I sighed dejectedly.

Looks like it's going to be another one of those days, I thought.

Still feeling dead tired, I dragged myself off the bed and shuffled towards the bathroom. Slathering my brush with toothpaste I began to brush up, while random memories slowly came to my mind and, ultimately, led to this?this event.

It couldn't be happening, could it? Me, an ordinary 18 year old boy, suddenly finds himself in love? It's just too hard for me to believe. But then again, it has to be true. All the facts added up to this sole conclusion, and there doesn't seem to be another viewpoint to the whole fiasco. Am I actually dreaming? Is this some nightmare of some sort?

Something tells me this is real. In fact, it's happening right now. I cringed again at that notion ?certainly not! There has to be some kind of mistake! Of all people, why me? Why now?

To get a better idea let's take it back to the beginning first.

It's only been about a year since we met at some school event held early March or so. Maybe it's just pure coincidence that our families actually know each other well, but that we never got a chance to meet each other at all. It was only from a chance encounter with them last June that we soon found out about it. It was a pleasant surprise indeed.

She was unarguably a rare gem in this world. Apart from being a most prodigious student, the lass had the looks to complement her superior knowledge. But she didn't see herself as someone better than the rest. She's a polite, easy-going and humorous gal with a big heart, and everyone who knows or just met her always feels comfortable when conversing with her.

Everyone, of course, but me.

Sure, I can strike up a conversation if I wanted to, but even if I did it always ends up getting cut short. Why? Because, I can never EVER find another topic to continue it any longer. When I see my other pals hanging out with her, I feel like a total jerk. What the hell's really going on?

So why the awkwardness? Why all the internal fuss over whether I really am crazy over her? Where's the evidence? What can actually prove that I really pine for her? Good grief, all this is killing me slowly. Might I even find a solution to this crisis in time?

I don't know how I'm supposed to feel right now. I'm numb for the moment.

Finished with the wash-up, I closed the bathroom door behind me just as my mom called out, saying that I have a call on my phone.

Running back to my room, I was surprised to see my best friend抯 name displayed. Why would he be calling me now, I wondered? Thankfully it's just a Saturday, and it's not early morning or whatsoever.

I picked it up and answered. "Hello, Daniel," I spoke to the caller in hushed whispers, not wanting my mom to hear what we were talking about.

"Good day, buddy," he replied cheerily. "Got some good sleep yesterday?"

"I could say so, yeah," I sheepishly replied, still a little tired.

"Dreaming of her, eh?"

"Very funny, dumbass."

Daniel laughed cynically. He probably is the only one who knows I have a love problem, only because he is my best friend, and that we've both shared highs and lows together. Now that I had a difficulty like this in my life, it was only fitting that I called him up for some good advice. Besides, he's already in a relationship and is going steady. How did he do it? He never told me anything about his own love life anyway. Well, not yet.

"Look, it only reinforces the fact you love her," he said matter-of-factly, a sly grin still visible. "Get used to it, bro!"

"I still can't stomach that verdict, Dan. What the hell am I supposed to do about it?"

He sighed, as though I were a moron.

"Dude," he began, "It's not too hard. All you have to do is to get to know her better, talk more, share more - the list goes on!"

"What, just like that and something miraculously happens in the end?" I snorted. "I find that hard to believe."

"All you have to do is try, man. It wouldn't hurt."

"Hey, she's WAY out of my league," I quickly answered, a little peeved by Dan's provocation. "She won't go with a totally worthless guy like me. No way will that happen!"

"You're really being pessimistic, dude," he softly said, trying not to stir up a storm. He knows what I can become when I'm sufficiently angry, and he wouldn't want that to happen again.

"As much as I don't intend to be pessimistic, it's the truth," I simply remarked.

"The cuss it is," he muttered, as if on purpose. I ignored his remark.

"Well, you can't just jump to conclusions like that! Not everyone thinks the same as others, y'know. She's different than other girls."

"Oh believe me, everyone's just the same! Ever since I've come to realize how important friendships are in Life, I began to actively advocate great friendship among all my other friends. And what do I get? Nothing! It's the same thing every day and every year."

"Oh come on, don't be such a louse, Alex," he hissed, while I imagined him rolling his eyes in disgust. It's what he always does when he's pissed off about something. "All you have to do is stop thinking like a total loser and just try your luck," he added nonchalantly. "It won't hurt!"

I snorted grumpily. "What," I said, "just go up to her one fine day and declare: 'Evangeline, I love you oh so much'? Ha! She'd probably get a heart attack and die on the spot!"

"Well, I didn't ask you to do that anyway!" he laughed in reply. "No idiot's going to do such a crazy thing so fast!"

"And then just what do you want me to do?"

Then it just hit me that I inadvertently got myself involved in the problem I was desperately trying to avoid all the while. How ironic. Either this was my own entire fault for letting almost every bit of detail out, or that Dan knows very well on what he's doing.

Have I been hiding all this pent-up emotions deep inside, because I fear of what may happen in the end? Or was it out of ignorance? Or maybe I had already come to terms with it, but I just didn't see it? Now things are seriously f---ed up.

"Like I've said before, Alex," he continued, "Don't think about it, just DO it!" Mind you, he said this with a very hearty tone.

For a moment I felt like hanging up on him.

"I am surprised you're supporting me to do something I initially had no interest in doing," I told Daniel with some surprise.

"You're my buddy, Lex my bro! I'll never turn down a help offer from you. Now, the point is -"

"Only if it involves embarrassing me?" I interrupted.

"The point is," he quickly continued, "Can you live without her and suddenly realize you're too late to do anything when she marries someone else in near future?"

I remained silent. I never expected a question like that to come hurtling at me.

"I... well, I..."

I fumbled on my words, feeling extremely nervous now.

"Damn it, I don't even know if it's love!" I almost shouted.

"You'll know soon enough," he replied calmly. I could almost imagine him in a calm Zen-like expression when he said that.

"What if it isn't then? What if, in the end, I still lose her?"

He thought about it for just a while. "It takes time, man. You can't just rush love like in the movies. Even that kinda thing takes days or even months, you know!"

"Sure, but... I just worry I'll lose her trust as a friend."

"Well, you're NOT gonna tell her now, obviously," he commented wryly. "Just stay friends, work from that point onwards and soon enough you'll know when's the right time."

"That may be difficult," I reminded him.

"When there's a will, there's a way," he cheerily pointed out.

We had to cut the conversation short, as I still hadn't taken breakfast yet. As we said goodbye, Dan offered some final words.

"The thing is, love comes naturally. You can't force it, you can't buy it, and you can't sell it for something else. So when you're looking for the One, you need to have your mind properly focused on the task ahead. Prioritize and do what thou wilt."

As I exited the room and tried hard to digest the facts, my mom came over and asked: "Who was that?"

"Just Daniel," I answered with a smile.

She nodded. "That was a long talk," she joked warmly.

I laughed along before she entered her room. I turned away to head to the dining room for breakfast, just as her face materialized in my head again. I winced once more, but this time it didn't feel like it was out of disgust, instead more of... something else. I just couldn't put my finger on it.

(TO BE CONTINUED)