"Merry Christmas, Lynn!"

"I like when you are wearing white T-shirts!"

"What makes you think that white suits me more?" I asked.

"Because... It's also my favourite colour! Haha...ha..." Suddenly, she lost her smiles.

"Jazz, I really love snow, and I hope I could celebrate Christmas with falling snow. But, I'm not sure whether I have the opportunity to witness the natural phenomena."

"Why not? I promise I will earn more money and bring you to country where there's lots and lots of snow falling from the sky, deal?"

* * * * * *

"Ello, Jazz, this is my cousin, Lynn. Lynn, this is Jazz..."

"Owh, hi! Nice to meet you."

That was actually a date between a friend of mine and her girl. Somehow, I was dragged into that situation. So do the girl's cousin. We both looked so stupid at that moment.

"Okay, let's enter the cinema! Movie is gonna start soon." I say.

Lynn sit beside me. But I don't really pay attention on her, in fact, my focus was on that particular movie.

"Err... Jazz right?" She asked.

"Yeah?" I replied.

"Can you accompany me and go out for a walk? It's kinda boring here. The couple is..."

"Oh, haha, how could I say no, right?"

We left the cinema, and of course, we left the couple in the cinema. That was our first meet. She walked beside me, I could hardly forget the mole on her right cheek. She's ... pretty! Just like an angel. I thought.

"Do you feel hungry? " I asked.

"Erm, kinda. Haha..." She replied.

"Let's go to the coffee shop, okay?"

"Okay."

We walked to the nearest coffee shop. I ordered a cup of cappuccino. She looked at me, with smiling face.

"I guess, you really love coffee, right?" Suddenly, she asked me.

"Har?" I couldn't really respond in that manner of time.

"Just a wild guess..." She quickly add-in.

"Err... Sorry I was getting a lil' shocked of how you know my favourite."

She smile again. A really really pure sweet one. After the movie finished, we met up with the couple. I suggested to my friend that we should buy something for girls. So we decided to pay a visit to gift shop and we bought some items. That day ended in just a blink of eyes.

Since then, I managed to get her mobile number. We often chatted via sms or msn.

"Hey, if I plan to go to beach with you, are you okay with that?" I sms-ed her.

"I'm not sure about that, I've to get my parent's permission first."

"Okay!" She replied after a couple of minutes.

"Err, my parent say it's okay! So, I'm going!"

* * * * * *

"Ahh, how rejuvenating the sea breeze is!" I said.

"Indeed! Haha... Beach! Here I come!" She shouted happily. I put my hand on her head, touched her silky hair. She is really cute...
We had a lot of fun moments there. We scuba-dived. We built sand castle. I splashed sea water on her. She take a little 'revenge' on me too.

"Time really flies. It's going to be evening now." I said.

"Yeah, fun moments always pass faster." She said.

"Wow, the sunset, such scene would definitely touch a girl's heart." She said again after few minutes of silence.

"Oh really? Meaning you're touched now?" I asked purposely.

"Don't know. You guess! Blek!" She showed her tongue.
She kept her smile few seconds later, it seemed like she was in love with the scene. That day, was the first day I hold her hand. The feeling, the rush of blood all over my nerves.

"I like when you are wearing white T-shirts!"

"What makes you think that white suits me more?" I asked.

"Because... It's also my favourite colour! Haha... ha..." Suddenly, she lost her smiles.

"Jazz, I really love snow, and I hope I could celebrate Christmas with falling snow. But, I'm not sure whether I have the opportunity to witness the natural phenomena."

"Why not? I promise I will earn more money and bring you to country where there's lots and lots of snow falling from the sky, deal?"

I could see her eyes were wet. We made a deal, or rather a purely little promise between lovers. at that night where stars twink more than urban sky.

* * * * * *

One ridiculous day which fell on 1st of April, I received a news that she got leukemia. I thought it was a joke. I stunned. My vision gets blurrier. I suddenly remember that she said to me that night. My fragile heart crushed. So this is fate?

"Jazz, I'm Lynn here. I guess you've found out the truth. But, don't you worry. I'm FINE here... Okay?"

" ... "

"Hmm.. That's all I wanna tell you, Bye!"
She hung up the call. I couldn't believe what she just told me and ran to her house, hoping for her to come out. Yet, she didn't show up.

Every day and night, I waited her, in front of her house. At last, the door is opened. Without any hesitation, I rushed into her house.

"So, you are Jazz?" Her parent ask.

"Yes I am, Uncle, Aunty."

"Okay, here's what our plan. We are going to send Lynn to England for a medical treatment. In fact, we bought your flight ticket, too. We hope that you could help us take care of Lynn girl."

My tears fell. I felt so much appreciation and millions of speechless. Few weeks later, we left to England.

* * * * * *

"Who is Lynn's family or any relatives here?" The doctor asked.

"I am! I am her ... friend."

"I'm sorry, I need the signature of her parent or relative. It's a letter of permission to start a surgery. I afraid you don't have the authority to sign, young man."

"I'm the only person that is close to her now. Doc, please."

"We have to contact her parent at first place."

I looked at her. The pale face. A very weak body, is resting in the ward. Suddenly she opened her eyes. She show a smile at me.

"Jazz... I hope you could bring me to a place. I have to see with my eyes. The snow out there."

"But, it's not winter now. We can't be seeing any snow now. Lynn..."

"Owh... I wish I could... live longer..."

At that moment, I felt so helpless. Helpless to her sickness, helpless to her wish, helpless to fate, helpless to God's will.

* * * * * *

Two months later, she left me alone in this world.

The adorable smile, the irreplaceable scent of her hair, the mole on her right cheek, the unforgettable voice. Everything disappeared.

"It has started to snow, finally. Did you see that, Lynn? It's... snowing..." I couldn't stop crying. I hold her tightly with my warm body.

A hard fact and a breathless body...








"Merry Christmas, Lynn!"

蓝色小插曲 The Blue Chords

Ah, I'm so full right now! What a delicious pizza, I thought! Just when I was about to walk out from the restaurant, I saw the guy. A mentally disordered man that always roam around the town with bare feet and some really torn cloths, passed by.

******

"Tell you a secret, wanna listen?"

"Yeah, faster tell la, I'm getting excited here!"

"Oh no, I hope you gotta be prepared. Because... The guy sit behind you, is... a little..."
I show her with my hand pointing beside my head which means ( cookoo! ). She jumped up from her seat at the instant like Tigger in cartoon Winnie The Pooh. What I did? I laughed at her, she blushed and kinda like hitting me with her little hand.

"You are bad! You knew it since I started sitting there, right?!"

"Erm... Yeah... Haha..."

******

"Hey, who you staring at?"

"Uh? Nothing..."

I missed that day, a day which dramatic played its full role on it. A day that I would certainly shout "What A Day!". I opened my umbrella, leaving the Itallian restaurant behind, in the middle of mist floating around the air of Route 16.

日记里的她

仰望着那蓝蓝的天空，一朵朵形形色色的云朵，在那海滩上奔驰，一阵阵微风一直迎面而吹，那随着风飘逸的头发，和那再也看不见的背影…

“素惠啊！我们就求你，别再让基成伤心了啦！求求你啊！”

又到了素惠的祭日，我的兄弟们，都和我一起哀悼素惠的离开……

******

“听说班上来了一位新女同学哦…” 朋友们都在讨论着。

“基成，你不期待吗？”

“还好啦。”

“怎么可以这么说呢？除非你不正常…”

突然间…

“来了来了，她来了！”

所有的男同学都涌着过去，害得班上的女同学都吃起醋来。我把我手上的书稍微放下来，偷瞄了她一眼，看见她那副不知所措的样子，还真的蛮可怜的。

******

自从她转学来，已有一年了，大家开始混在一起，便成了好朋友。她可不是普通人物哦，他有个律师爸爸，医生妈妈。有时候，她会要求我送她回家，毫不犹豫的我，便成了她的司机。骑着破旧的脚踏车，沿着海边的一条小道，迎着海风，一步步地朝她家踩去。

“素惠，告诉你一个秘密…”

“什么吗，搞神秘…”

“你…很重耶！”

“你…什么意思？我很胖吗？坏蛋！该打！” 她跳下车，往我的手臂一直打。

“哈哈…好啦好啦，开玩笑啦！”

“今天的夕阳好美哦！好久没好好地欣赏夕阳了！” 她突然感性起来。我发现她有双真的会发电的眼睛，长长的眼睫毛。

“喂，你发什么呆啊？头脑想些什么啊？”

“啊，没什么…只是很单纯地放空而已啦！”被她这么一问，我回神，害羞了起来，吞吞吐吐地回答。

“你很走运哦，有本小姐陪你看夕阳，哈哈…哈…” 她突然流泪了，投入我怀里哭泣，我不知所措，也不想问太多，右手，轻轻的在她头上抚摸，安慰她。

“基成啊！”

“啊？”

“基成啊！”

“啊？”

“不管我叫你多少次，你都会这样回答我吗？”

“啊…”

******

“素惠已经好几天没来上课了，到底发生了什么事?” 同学们开始担心起来。

“基成，你不知道素惠她去了哪儿吗？” 我摇了摇头。

每天放学都往她家去，却只能望着那豪华的别墅。我试着用哔哔机留言，她却完完全全地如人间蒸发般消失。

哔哔…
是素惠!她终于回复了。

“基成王子，素惠公主被病魔攻击了，快来救救我吧！”

我赶紧骑着脚踏车，往附近的医院去。

“不好意思，护士小姐，请问有没有一位叫庄素惠的病人注册在这个医院里？”

“请稍等……她就在B-1-14病房里。”

“谢谢！”

“不客气”

我不管三七二十一，加快脚步，寻觅着那个病房。

“就是这间了。” 我想。

通过门的小窗窗，看着素惠，感觉如此地遥远，我终于崩溃了。蹲在病房门边的我，脑袋真的好像放映机，许多画面出现在我脑海。可我没察觉，他的爸爸，竟然站在我面前。还记得他是这么对我说的。

“你就是经常送我们素惠回家的那位男同学吧。”

我傻了眼，心想说为什么伯父会晓得。

“素惠这孩子，她真的很漂亮，很像她妈妈，尤其是那双眼睛，有时候，身为老爸的我，也真得替她感到骄傲。她就像我们的女神，可惜，可惜这一切都不长久，其实啊，我把素惠给转来你们的学校，是为了接受治疗，两年前，她不幸得了血癌，这间医院可是我老婆开的。”

我的心就像被一颗重重的石头给打击，痛彻心扉…

“伯父，恕晚辈冒昧，我未曾见过伯母……”

“哦，素惠的妈妈，早在五年前，因为一场车祸……老天爷从我身边带走她…” 伯父眼眶红了。

“没关系，伯父还可以，你就进去看看素惠吧。”

我慢慢地起身，往病房里去，心头里的痛不禁涌上来。

“你来啦，王子终于来救公主啦！” 她很坚强地微笑，为了不把气氛搞僵，还带了小幽默。

“傻瓜王子！为什么你哭呢？公主不是好好的吗？”

“我，才没哭叻！”

“其实，自从我进来到这里，我就有一个小愿望。”

“就是啊，我好想再看多一次日落。”

“可是，你的身体…”

“难道公主的最后一个愿望，都不能被实现吗？” 他那淡淡红的嘴嘟了起来。

我微笑了，手抚摸她的头。

******

“这里的夕阳，真的很让人迷恋，很不舍的离开，可是我时间不多了。要好好看看这日落才行！”

“对了，我有本日记，里面都记载了好多好多东西哦。就在我的背包里，你要答应我，只能在我离开才可以打开哦，而且只能一天看一页哦…”

“不，你不会离开的。”

她靠在我怀里，我们牵着小手，坐在海滩上。不久，她的手，松开了… 她走了…

“素惠… 素惠… ……” 我紧紧地抱着那已经没有气息的她……

******

素惠的离开，已经是五年前的事了。翻着她的日记，一天一页，仿佛感觉她还在我身边，我释怀了……

“基成啊！”

“啊？”

“基成啊！”

“啊？”

“不管我叫你多少次，你都会这样回答我吗？”

“啊…”

亲·爱 part 5

“麟！麟！你到底在哪？！麟！出来啊！”
突然间，惠茹看见麟的背影，冲出了家园，便追了上去，却不见麟的人影，便失望地回到屋里。

反而最痛苦的是麟，他气匆匆地冲到海边，衣服一脱，便潜入海里去，在海里发泄他那心头的悲愤。

“为什么？！”他一边用拳头往海水飞去，一边喊着。

“惠茹！为什么就是不能和我在一起？！老天爷啊！你说！为什么？！”
由于麟过于激动，加上那冰凉的海风，导致严重感冒，而昏在海滩那。幸好有两位乡亲扶麟回到先生妈家里头去。阿嬷向那两位乡亲表达谢意后，赶紧扶麟到房里休息。惠茹很担心地守在麟的身旁，替他换冷巾。

就在这时候，阿嬷开口向惠茹表明。

“惠茹啊，我知道麟这孩子从小就是那么一个‘痴’字。以前，在他父亲被派到南洋为国服务后，他每年新年，都会到海边等着他父亲的归来，一等，就等上一天的时间，却从不觉得不耐烦。自从你来到这个家，他就整天缠着你，跟你形影不离，加上他又是个失去双亲的孤儿，难免会对你产生错觉。你要记得，论辈份，你是长辈，他是你的侄儿。我想你不会做出令我这个阿母难过的事吧。。。”

惠茹懂得阿嬷的意思，点了点头，继续照顾着那始终昏迷不醒的麟。脑袋虽然是回想起刚才阿嬷对她的一番话，眼睛却很挣扎地望着麟，两个念头在心里对决，惠茹感到非常难受。为了不让自己在想些有的没的，惠茹往四周扫望一遍，发现床边藏着一堆白纸。她静静地伸手拿起那些纸张，顿时傻了眼。原来那些纸都是麟一直以来的收藏起来的画，而且每一张都是她的画像，感动得惠茹不禁留下充满感情的眼泪。

慢慢的，麟清醒了过来，他看见惠茹正在看着他的画，赶紧起身抢了过来。

“你。。。怎么可以随便看人家的隐私呢？” 他恼羞成怒地问道。

“我。。。我只是无意间发现到的。。。我只是好奇。。所以。。。是我不好，不应该看你的私人物品。。。”惠茹很内疚的解释。

“其实，这也不是什么秘密啦，只是，我刚才看见你望着那些画的表情，你说，你是不是喜欢我了？！”麟双手捉着惠茹的手臂。

“我。。。”

“你说，你是不是喜欢我了？！你说，你说啊！”

“怎。。。怎么会呢？我是你屘姑。。。我们是不可能的。。。”惠茹在挣扎着。

”你怎么不敢望着我？你骗人！我知道阿嬷不赞成，可是，我只要知道，你是喜欢我的，其他的事都不重要。看着我，看着我的双眼回答我！”麟看见惠茹一直不敢抬起头，很强逼性的追问着惠茹。麟一直捉着惠茹，而惠茹却一直挣扎，结果两人便从床上翻滚了下来。

“你放开我！”惠茹要求。

“不我不放，你说你喜欢我，我才放开！”

“不要这样，麟！待会儿阿母来了，我们就糟糕了！放开我，麟！”

“你先说你喜欢我！”麟还是不放弃。

阿嬷在厨房，似乎听见有人在闹，便悄悄地往麟的房间方向走去。

“阿母快来了啦。麟，快放手！好啦，我喜欢你！”惠茹终于把藏在心里的心声给说了出来。

麟笑了。但贪心的他，装听不见地说。
“什么？再说一次？”

“我。。。喜欢。。。你！”

这时候，麟才甘愿把一只手给放开。听见阿嬷的脚步声，他们俩赶紧当作什么事也没发生过，麟躺在床上，而惠茹准备应酬阿嬷，只是，麟很固执的不跟放开另一只手，还得让惠茹把手藏在身后。

“惠茹，刚才我好像听见麟的声音。。。”

“啊，刚才。。。麟他说梦话，对，我已把他给安抚了。阿母，你就别担心了，这里有我照顾。”惠茹灵机一动，让自己脱离困境。阿嬷以为自己年老，听错了，便慢慢地离开了那个房间。

“好一个梦话哦。”麟很调皮的调戏惠茹。

“还说，还不是因为你。好了啦，快放开啦，我还要做家务的。”惠茹很害羞的回答。

麟终于安心的放开了手。

“孺子可教也。我果然没教错人，你的那些画，还挺逼真的嘛。”

惠茹在离开房间前说了这番话。这对恋人并不知道，其实当他们在一起后，未来还得克服很多人生将面对的荆棘。

（阿嬷所担心的事终于发生了，惠茹和麟将来会是怎么样的艰苦呢？）

亲·爱 part 4

隔天早上，正当旺来忙着提水时，雪出现在他的身后。

“早。。” 雪尴尬地对旺来说道。

“哦？你这么早就起身啦，雪小姐。” 旺来回答了雪，却不敢正眼望着雪。

“其实。。。我想跟你说声。。。失礼啦！昨晚的事。。我。。。”雪很努力的想澄清整件事。

“没关系啦。要是喝醉的人是我，我也会胡言一翻的。”看这旺来傻傻的样子，雪笑了，旺来也不尴尬了，再也不感到僵了。两人一边提着水桶，一边高谈阔论，到屋里忙些家务去了。

这一幕，却被在后院菜园的阿嬷和旺来妈看得一清二楚。

“姐，你觉得这样好吗？” 阿嬷看了看那两个年轻人，便问旺来妈。

“其实他们也蛮投缘的。要是先生妈你没意见，我会找机会更旺来商量着事情的。”旺来妈说道。

“也好，让他们俩继续这样也不会有什么结果。那就拜托你了，姐。”

“哪里，哪里。。。我还要感谢先生妈您呢。。”

“以前，孩子们小时候，我们就替他们的吃穿烦恼，如今，孩子们个个长大了，却让我们为他们的情情爱爱而操心。也许，这就是所谓的亲情吧。”阿嬷叹气说道。两个老人，摇了摇头，仿佛看透了尘世间所有事与物。

******

“旺来啊，你过来一下！”旺来妈吩咐道。

“卡桑，有事吗？这么晚了怎么还不睡觉呢？”旺来很有礼貌地关心她。

“旺来，其实，我是有话想跟你说，关于雪和你的事。。。”

“卡桑，干嘛在这个时候说这些东西啊？害人浑身不自然叻。”旺来顿时脸红起来。

“卡桑知道你对雪小姐是有意思的，人家都已经表明了，女生都那么主动了，你还在犹豫什么呀？要是你不喜欢，就别耽误人家的青春啊！”旺来妈劝告旺来。

“卡桑，我。。我不是不喜欢人家，只是，我拿什么东西来跟人家交往啊？我又没工作，又没钱。难道就要像癞蛤蟆想吃天鹅肉吗？”旺来自卑地说道。

“我是想说，等到我拼出一番天地，才。。。”旺来还没把话说完，旺来妈就很生气地插嘴，教训旺来。

“难道你没听过成家立事吗？先成立一个温暖的家，再来拼事业嘛！卡桑是很喜欢雪这个女孩，又温柔孝顺，又有智慧。旺来，卡桑只是想看到你能有个温暖的家庭，那我就安心了。”旺来妈终于把心声都吐出来。旺来看见他卡桑的一片好意，下决定向雪表白。

“卡桑，你去睡吧!这里由我来就好。”

“好吧，你好好想想吧。”旺来妈一步一步走入屋里，旺来看着房间着灯火熄灭后，继续砍柴。

那一夜，雪一直在床上翻来翻去，睡不着的她，想到屋外散散心，结果看到旺来还没睡，便上前去，她悄悄的接近旺来的背后，打算吓吓他，谁知道，旺来刚好转身，刹那间，两人的嘴唇，就像蜻蜓点水那样，轻轻接触了一下。两人顿时脸红，旺来不想把事情搞僵，便主动开口转移雪的注意力。

“雪小姐，这么晚这么还没睡？”

“我。。我睡不着。。。便打算出来散散心。”脸红耳赤的雪害羞的回答道。

两人坐在门口的梯阶，望着眼前的夜景，听着不远处传来的阵阵海浪声，加上草丛里蟾蜍的声音。两人忍不住偷看了对方一眼，暧昧得很。

“雪小姐，我想问说，其实。。。那天你说的话，我都考虑过，我。。。我只是觉得自己没有成就，所以，一直以来，都不敢。。。”旺来鼓起勇气说道。

雪知道旺来想说什么，心神不定，感觉到自己的心跳加速百倍，期待着旺来的告白。旺来始终说不出口。雪一时冲动，在旺来的右脸颊亲了一口，便含羞答答地跑入房里。旺来，傻了一阵子，右手慢慢的摸着刚才雪献上香吻的脸颊，不知不觉，幸福地笑了起来。

******

“阿嬷，我们上学去啦！”孩子们向阿嬷打个招呼后，一伙儿离开家园。麟放慢脚步，牵着脚踏车，一步一步跟随在蘭和勤的后头，头却一直往后看，望着那道泥路。为了避免于麟碰面，惠茹躲在屋旁的一道墙后，等到他们稍微有了一段距离，才才开始上路。走着走着，突然眼前冒出一群流氓，调戏着惠茹。

“咦？！是那位新来的老师耶！不错嘛，长得还蛮让人想疼爱嘛。。。让我们来给你些疼爱嘛。。。”
惠茹一直不敢抬头，心里一直想默默的求救着。那群流氓对惠茹开始毛手毛脚的，惠茹顿时慌张了。

“你们这群人渣！到底在做什么？！” 人算不如天算，惠茹怎么也想不到，心里一直不放心她单独行走的麟，竟然在他掉头后望时发现惠茹被欺负，便很冲动地上前去阻止。勤也不例外。

“你们是哪来的小子？！竟然想破坏我们的好事？”那群流氓，恐吓麟和勤。麟不分青红皂白的就往那流氓的左脸颊飞出个拳头。勤也跟着拳打脚踢的，赶走了那群流氓。

“惠茹，你有事吗？”
惠茹摇了摇头，眼神一直不敢望麟一眼，点了个头表示感激后，赶紧上路去，蘭也跟着惠茹，两人继续往学校去，抛下麟和勤。

在学校，麟常常想着惠茹，有时候，惠茹在班上教书，麟却傻傻地望着惠茹，下课时，麟会坐在办公室前的石头堆，等待着见惠茹一面的机会。害得惠茹处处不自在，想尽办法避开他。也就因为这样，麟失去读书的上进心，成绩一落千仗，考试还不及格呢。整个人好像活尸体般，没有了灵魂。

“惠茹，最近，我发现麟不是很对劲，常常不在家，到很晚才肯回来，你可知道他是怎么了吗？”阿嬷担心地向惠茹问道。

惠茹不知怎么回答阿嬷，便赶紧到房里四处寻找，始终不见麟的踪影，心开始慌了起来。。

“麟！麟！你到底在哪？！麟！出来啊！”
突然间，惠茹看见麟的背影，冲出了家园，便追了上去。


（麟到底去了哪里？惠茹似乎对麟，有了些好感，担心着麟。。。到底他们，会有结果吗？）

亲·爱 part 3

“糟糕，先生妈，不好了！旺来母子遇难啦！”

阿嬷被门外的求救声吵醒了。

“什么事那么严重？”

“旺来母子俩都被军人给赶出家园啦！”

“那你等我一下，马上就来！”

阿嬷到了旺来的家，看见旺来妈在伤心哭泣，眼见他们的安乐窝被土匪军强制夺走，当然充满着千万个不舍得。其实，旺来是个很勤劳肯吃苦的人，年龄大概更麟他们相差不大，只是从没真正受过教育。由于阿公对他有恩情，自从阿公过世以后，常到阿嬷那儿帮忙家务，以报答阿公。

“唉～我旺来妈，居住在这，已不是一天两天的事了，现在叫我往哪儿去好啊？” 旺来妈向阿嬷哭诉着。

“旺来妈，你就别伤心啦，如果你不嫌弃的话，我家如今空荡得很，我一个人在家，想找个伴来聊天也难。如果有旺来妈做伴，日子会比较好过，你说，对不对啊？”

“啊？那这么好意思呢？一直以来先生妈都非常地照顾我家旺来。。。那怎么好啊？”

“有什么不好的呢？别犹豫了，哦，旺来啊，马上收拾收拾，我们回家去吧！”

“谢谢先生妈！谢谢！”

“傻孩子。” 阿嬷笑着说。

******

自从旺来母子搬到阿嬷家来后，阿嬷每天早上都与旺来妈到市场去买菜，乐趣无穷，整个人也都开朗了起来。早在三年前就毕业的雪和梅，常常在家帮忙旺来打理，也许是日久生情吧，雪渐渐地发现自己的心已不再是自己的了，每次都会和旺来一边打理家务，一边开聊起来。而每次看见旺来，她的笑容，便会不由自主地表露出来。
梅也发现了这个异状，只是在还没确定之前，取消了向雪问个究竟的念头。万万没想到，阿嬷其实早已替雪安排了相亲的事。

“嗯，雪小姐，其实你已经到了应该嫁的年龄了，你心目中的男人是怎样子啊？” 旺来一边砍柴，一边问道。

雪顿时变得含羞答答地，然后回答说大概像旺来这类型的, 暗示着旺来她的心。一直以来不醒目的旺来感到惊讶，便回答了雪说。

“哦？那样的话哦，对面街那个买烧肉的阿合不就是了吗？那好，我会通知阿嬷，说相亲对象就找阿合好了。”

“什么？！木头！你真是个木头！” 雪傻了眼，没想到天底下竟然有这么笨的人，气得她转身就走进房间里去。

“有错吗？整个村子只有他长得跟我这类型很像啊！”旺来不了解雪生气的原因，捉了捉脑袋，继续劈柴。

刚好路过的阿嬷，听到了他们俩的对话，也知道雪的意思。便找来了旺来妈商量。

“姐，你觉得让雪和旺来来往，你赞同吗？”

“其实我也看得出来雪对我家那旺来有意思，只不过我还怕先生妈嫌弃呢。。。”

“雪一向主动大胆。要是他们年轻人有自己的想法，我不反对。只不过，旺来那孩子，似乎不了解雪的心意。就看他们的造化吧。”

旺来妈点了点头，眼神显得飘然，担忧着那两个年轻人的将来。

******

一年一度的元宵节，让先生妈平时冷清清的家顿时温暖了起来。一大清早，蘭、梅和雪都在厨房帮忙阿嬷和姨嬤（孩子们对旺来妈的称呼）搓汤圆。

“还记得七年前，大小不一致的汤圆如今已变成了整整齐齐的，孩子们都长大了，说起来真的还蛮怀念的。。。” 阿嬷突然有感而发的说道，姨嬤在一边点点头。

“阿嬷！我们都把酿好的花雕酒存放在那酒桶了！” 麟和勤冲入厨房，告诉阿嬷。

“好，好。” 阿嬷一边回答，一边继续搓汤圆。

不知不觉，夕阳渐渐躲在山谷后了。大伯夫妇和二伯夫妇也放工回到老家来聚餐。

“今天，是一年一度的元宵节，看来所有人都到齐了，阿嬷想在大家用餐前，说些话。。。” 阿嬷在餐桌做了个开场白。

“阿嬷，看着你们这些乖子孙们，一天一天的长大，从爬到学会走路，再骑脚踏车上学。阿嬷真的感觉到很欣慰，阿嬷也老了，只是盼望来日你们都能成才，然后成家立事。那阿嬷，真的满足了。”

“阿嬷，你就别烦啦，我一定会好好地提阿嬷盯着勤，不会让他乱来的啦！哈哈。。。”

“是啊，阿嬷，你一会长命百岁的！阿嬷万岁！” 懂事的孩子们，异口同声说。

白头银发的阿嬷点点头，嘴边不时挂着一丝丝笑容。孩子们都先为阿嬷夹了肉菜，害阿嬷饭碗叠得高高的。雪也很主动地夹了菜给旺来，麟也不例外，夹了块鸡翼给惠茹。刹那间，两人双眼望着对方。

“阿嬷有你们这些乖孙，真的很幸福耶！好啦好啦，大家敬请享用吧！那儿有阿嬷酿的花雕酒，麟，盛几杯来好让大家庆祝庆祝！”阿嬷吩咐道。

“噢！”

旺来是个很懂礼貌的孩子，便上前帮忙麟。麟拿了一杯给惠茹，两人眼神异常，惠茹回避了麟的眼神，不好意思的把杯子给接了。阿嬷在这时候察觉到这个现象，心里有数。为了不破坏气氛，阿嬷终究不吭一声。

这时候。。。

“旺来啊，我也要一杯！” 雪吩咐了旺来。

“雪小姐，你不可以喝啊！就请你别为难我了。” 旺来关心的回答道。

“是啊，雪，你可知道，虽然花雕酒感觉是甜甜的，但是酒精可不少哦。。。” 阿嬷奉劝了雪，由于雪个性顽固，便到酒桶盛了一杯。喝着喝着，也许是酒精发作，酒后吐真言吧！雪因为旺来的含蓄，竟然在大家面前发脾气，胆大包天地把真心话一句句说了出来。

“木头就是木头！人家已经表示的这么明显，却还不知。。。我就是喜欢旺来你这个木头！木头！”脸颊通红的雪，用很深情的眼神望着旺来。一边骂着，一边哭泣，害得全部人都傻了眼。梅和蘭赶紧安抚雪。

“雪，你已经醉了，来，别说了，哦。。。”

“我很清醒，我很清楚的知道，我就是要说。。。 我。。喜欢。。旺来！” 不一会儿，便倒在桌上，昏睡了过去。蘭和梅扶雪入房，阿嬷则赶紧替雪解酒精，在雪的额头上反反复复地敷上冷巾。他们还隐隐约约听见雪在唤着旺来的名字。

旺来一时不知所措，冲到外面，痛苦地坐在柴堆边。回想着雪和他之间发生过的一幕幕。

“我觉得呢，我的理想男人，应该就是你这类型的吧！”

突然，旺来会想到这一幕。差点昏了过去。还傻傻地想把雪许配给对面街那位名叫阿合，乱凑鸳鸯。旺来很气自己，生气自己竟然没发现，一路来雪的心意，自责万分。其实，他也知道，自己已对雪产生了一种莫名的感觉，只是不知那就是爱。

至于麟和惠茹呢？两人对望了一下，惠茹立刻帮忙收拾碗碟，再度回避麟，也因为惠茹的不理会，麟悲痛地走入房间。那天，说来奇怪，月亮渐渐消失在乌云后。。。


（旺来和雪竟然走入了这个地步，究竟旺来还来得及挽回吗？）

亲·爱 part 2

突然间，阿嬷晕了过去。所有人赶紧扶着阿嬷。大伯赶紧替阿嬷把把脉，才发现阿嬷身体只是有点虚，而且还加上贫血和天气的闷热，才会导致头昏。那天的气氛非常的糟糕，所有人都处在于沉闷的心情。

回到屋里，大伯他熬了些药给阿嬷喝，想趁此机会向阿嬷表明他的立场。一向比较灵机的阿嬷，一眼就看得出来大伯想说的话。

“阿母啊，其实我是觉得那个外省婆。。。”

“我很明白你对外省人的那一份仇恨，可是你有想过吗？他们其实来到这儿，无依无靠，懵里懵懂地被送到台湾来当兵，与家人及妻子相隔了一片海洋，深感无奈，有怨没人了啊。要是没有上司的一声命令，他们哪会对我们乱来呢？如果你真的想把惠茹给赶走，那你不如也把你这个外省妈也一起给赶出这个家吗?! 想当年，我父亲，也就是你的外公他为人君子，是位堂堂的明朝高级官，却在一场与共产党的战争，而被逼带着你妈我往南下来到这片土地求生，远离战场。在一次机缘遇上你老爸，是他让我感觉到世间的人情，我便将我一生幸福托在他身上。”

阿嬷不禁想起当年，嘴边露出了一丝怀旧的微笑。

“我更你说了这么多，而且你是续传着你老爸他的医道，继续你老爸他的遗愿，你应该听的懂吧？会不会你在汉医堂哪儿也分个外不外省来看病啊？”

大伯顿时傻了眼，无法回答，只是很勉强地笑了一下，掉头就走。阿嬷摇了摇头，仰望着阿公那挂着墙上的那张遗照，叹了口气，便走入房间里去了。其实这一场对话，惠茹全都听入耳里，她也体谅到阿嬷如此的为难。为了不让阿嬷伤心难过，便打算告诉阿嬷一件好消息。

“阿母，我已被批准转来麟他们的学校教学，那，我就能常常陪在阿母的身边，孝顺你啦！也顺便看看麟他们在学校的一举一动了，你就别操心啦。”

“妈知道惠茹乖，虽然说你不是妈亲生的，但妈知道你有妈的心就已满足了。。。”

阿嬷笑了，两人在那刹那，给彼此一个温暖的拥抱。

******

“咦？屘姑，你今天不用回去台大那儿吗？怎么你还在这啊？” 蘭，也就是麟的堂姐，问道。

“告诉大家一个好消息哦，屘姑，已办了转校手续，如今是你们学校的文科老师啦！以后你们在校园里都不可叫我屘姑，得称呼一声顾老师，知道吗？”

调皮的孩子们异口同声地回答道，“是的，顾老师！哈哈哈。。。” 大家便快快乐乐地上学去了，留下孤单的阿嬷独自一个人守着那老家。她坐着摇椅，慢慢的便睡着了。

不久，便有人上门来求助。

“糟糕，先生妈，不好了！旺来母子俩遇难啦！”


（究竟旺来家发生了什么大事呢？阿嬷将如何伸出援手来帮助他们呢？）

亲·爱 part 1

麟，是个很乖巧又懂事的十岁小孩。身为老五的他，总是比其他堂兄堂姐来的成熟。还记得有一次，他阿公救了个外省小姐，阿嬷也刚巧没有女儿，便收了那位名叫惠茹的外省小姐做乾女儿，也就这样变成了麟的屘姑。是麟，在惠茹醒过来的那一刻，喂她吃口温温的地瓜稀饭，让她感受到如家乡般温暖，使惠茹感动不已。

也因为如此，他的阿嬷为了不让他难过，宁愿憋着痛苦，隐瞒了麟他父亲在南洋的战场上丧失性命的事实。每一年的新年，他都盼望着他父亲的归来，却一次次的让他心碎。

“阿嬷。” 他说。
“为什么到现在爸都还没回来?”

阿嬷很勉强的忍住了眼泪，却什么也说不出口。幸好麟他屘姑很灵机的回答说他爸很快就会回来。这个现象已维持了好几年。一直以来，阿嬷都会为麟的父亲留个吃位，也是个古早人流传下来的传统。这个习俗，是希望说没归来的亲人，好快回来一家团圆的意思。也许是年长了，阿嬷却在今年忘了为麟的父亲留个吃位。那孩子一气，就冲出了家园，便躲在离家不远的秘密“基地”-屋旁的茅草堆。

那天晚上，下了场大雨。所有亲戚包括堂兄弟姐妹们， 蘭、梅、勤、雪，都到四处寻找，却连一个鬼影都没带回来，使阿嬷非常地担心。却在每个人都累的时候，他屘姑无意间发现在茅草堆边的一道墙上射映着一个孩子的影子。惠茹抱着一丝丝的希望，果然发现了麟躲在那儿哭泣。惠茹看着麟思念父亲而哭泣，也在她心灵深处，感触万分，不时想起了她亲眼目睹父亲被大陆军人枪毙的画面。一边把麟拥抱在怀里安慰他，一边却痛苦的流泪，还得让那懂事的麟为她擦眼泪。

惠茹常常教导麟，使麟在阿公的生前的书房学会拿起毛笔来写字，有时教他用炭笔来画画，有时还会叫麟读写文言文。两人的感情是无法以字眼来形容的。慢慢的，麟对他屘姑已有着一种内藏深处的爱慕及尊敬。

******

一天，阿嬷突然有个念头。于是，她叫来了惠茹。

“惠茹啊！”她召唤。

“是，妈，有事吗？”惠茹回答道。

“这里有我老公生前所留下来一部分的老本，我想了想，心里有个打算，便向台大那边申请了个学位，好让你到首都考个大学文凭回来，不知你有何看法？”
阿嬷手拿着一封装有银钞的信封问道。惠茹眼眶顿时充满泪光，点了点头儿，紧紧拥抱着阿嬷。

躲在布帘后的麟，对他的屘姑非常的不舍得，也就因为这样，却让他对此事感到不体谅。他东撞西翻的冲入阿公的房间里去。说是碰巧也好，天意也罢，让麟无意间发现了他阿公的遗书，他过目后，更加的悲愤。伤心着他屘姑将离开他，愤怒着他阿嬷一直以来都瞒着他父亲过世的事实。他带着那封遗书冲出房间。

“你们大人为什么就是爱说谎？为什么我爸的死都要瞒着我？呜呜呜。。。”
麟把那封遗书丢了后，气冲冲地跑出家园。

惠茹看见阿嬷如此伤心自责，便跑到茅草堆去看看麟。她试着两手搭着麟的肩膀，却被麟给甩开。

“麟，你阿嬷会这么做，也是为了不忍心让你难过啊。你现在这么对阿嬷，你可知道她心里有多难过吗？”

麟还是没回应，头也没回看一眼。

“麟，你比其他堂兄堂姐还要成熟，也应该要很理智的面对事实，屘姑了解你现在的心情，当时屘姑获知屘姑的亲生父亲过世了，也是一样的痛苦。。。”

说着说着，惠茹也不禁眼眶湿了。但她强忍着心头上的痛苦，表示着一面坚强的样子，目的是让麟知道要学着坚强。麟终于回头，靠在他屘姑的怀里哭泣。惠茹抚摸着麟的陆军头，安慰着那可怜的孩子，欣慰而笑中带泪。

“你可要向阿嬷道歉哦，知道吗？乖。。。” 惠茹对麟说道。

“噢！”

惠茹带着麟回到屋里。麟知道该怎么做。便跪着向阿嬷赔个失礼。

“阿嬷，失礼啦！害你那么伤心，我以后不敢再对阿嬷乱发脾气了。。。”

“阿嬷不怪你，哦，起来吧！” 阿嬷扶着那孩子，把他搂在怀里。

******

“小姐，这里有你家的信。” 一名邮差交了封信给惠茹。

“好谢谢你！”

惠茹看了看，是台大的回信耶！惠茹战战兢兢地拆开来，深了个呼吸来放松自己。。。

“妈！妈！” 惠茹冲着告诉阿嬷。

“妈，我。。。被台大接受了！”

“那就好！那就好！” 阿嬷那脸上的皱纹，顿时被笑容挤了出来。

“麟呢？” 惠茹问道。

“对啊，那孩子呢？是又跑到哪儿去啦。。。”

就在那下午，惠茹与阿嬷乘着三轮车到总车站去。麟却偷偷跟着后头。惠茹和麟之间的默契，就是那么的强烈。惠茹回头一看，发现那天真的麟躲躲藏藏地，不禁微笑着。惠茹向麟招手示离别，麟也同样的给了他屘姑一样的手示。依依不舍的他，靠着路边的一颗树，望着那三轮车渐渐地消失于路的平行线。

******

光阴似箭，转眼间，七年就这样过去了。麟也变成高大的少男了， 他已不再是那小麟了。如今，麟是个优秀生，他可是学校里数一数二的好学生, 而惠茹则在台大成了一位令人敬贤的文科老师。 每天晚上都躲在房里，温书。虽说他和屘姑常以书信保持联系，有时候却忍不住挂念着她。麟将所有与惠茹的回忆，一幕幕画在纸上。

麟与其他的堂兄弟姐妹们的感情好如当初，却从来没向他们透露任何东西。
清明节即将来临，麟盼望着惠茹在心里头所约定的归来。到了清明那天，却迟迟见不着惠茹的人影。虽然大伯是名汉医，但憎恨外省人的他，借此机会，大开骂戒。

“惠茹到底还是个外省人，她没回来扫墓也不出奇啊。说不定人家嘛，领了钱，读了大学，不回来孝顺你这个母亲咯。”

麟再也无法忍受他大伯对惠茹如此的糟蹋，便和他大伯展开了舌战。由于惠茹路上等不到三轮车所以迟了一些，却没想到听到她自己被侮辱。

“妈，我回来了！” 惠茹向阿嬷报道。

麟停止那场争吵，脸露出了笑容。阿嬷也感到很安慰。

“好了别吵了，今天是来祭拜你们老爸的，别再孩子们面前示范这些有的没的!” 阿嬷对着麟的大伯教训了一番。

突然间，阿嬷晕了过去。所有人赶紧扶着阿嬷。


（接下来阿嬷的身体状况将会是如何？麟和惠茹将怎么面对在亲情与爱情之间的考验呢？）

story3 - chapter5 : Love, perhaps? Those memories...

Snow starts to fall before my eyes.
Well, it's another year of Christmas. Paris, the city of romance, is now covered with my favourite pure white snow.

No matter it's Sa-rang-he-yo, Aishiteru, Aku Cinta PadaMu, Wo Ai Ni, or even just I Love You, the feeling of numbness all around my nerves as if i was covered by snow.
While I was opening up my wallet to take the parking card, the familiar face appeared.

" It has been 2 years, i guess.. "
I walked out from the lift and drove along the road to nowhere. A little warm-smoky vapour from the exhaust pipe was the left-behind of everything. Everything of those fade-away memories...

story3 - chapter4 : Reality

"erm, tze, are you free tonight? I was thinking that may be we can have a dinner at La Contri' Paso..."

A text message appeared on my mobile.

"ok, 7pm we meet there!"
I replied her.

Time dashed in a blink off eyes. Once I reached the five-star Italian restaurant, a waiter served me to a table.

"Here's the menu for our restaurant, sir."
I opened up the menu, a letter dropped out from it. I thought it was a misplaced by the waiter, so i quickly call the waiter to confirm.

"Waiter!"
I called.

"How may I help you, sir?"
The waiter replied with a very polite manner.

"There's this unnamed letter dropped from the menu, and I would like to pass it to you."
I handover the letter to the waiter, yet the waiter seemed to reject my will.

"I'm sorry sir, just before your presence, there was a lady handed this letter to me, and ask me to insert into the menu which will be served to the customer of this table. And I guess this letter belongs to you, sir." The waiter calmly replied.

Without any hesitation, I opened up the letter, the handwriting, it's Charlynn!

I stunned for few ticking moment, mind went blank... why?
My vision was getting blur, tears fall onto the letter..

Is it a Reality?!

- The letter -

story3 - chapter3 : It's a SecRet

"It's a secret!"
Everytime I saw her writting her diary, I got excited and curious about the content. And, everytime I asked for permission to read, she will reply me with that 3 familiar words.
But i just got my special way to persuade her.

"Come on, dar, erm... how if I play 1 song for you as a trade for your diary?

"1 song for 1 random picked page!" she replied after some considering moment.

"So, it's a deal? haha... "
a very sweet-looking face, laying on my shoulder, and I played " secret " from Jay Chou for the trade.

After I finished the song, suddenly, a soft lips touched my cheek. We hugged together at that very sentimental moment. Thay day went perfectly well, and because of that, I totally forgot about the diary deal though.

story3 - chapter2 : How If?

I've made up my mind, the unforgettable, will only sink, deep into the sea of memories. There's no way I would forget such an adorable girl that appeared in my life...

____________________________________________________

We dated each other after school everyday, to meet at the field near our house. That was our little promise, we sat on the marble bench beside the basketball court, sometimes we even discussed some maths question there, as my math is kinda " pro "... XD

Even though for others, such thing, is not even interesting or in other word, it is really boring, but for me, it has been a certain kind of satisfaction. Looking at her wondering face and confusion about math question, it was really cute. My mind started to go blank...

" Why are you smiling?! I'm asking you question la, wei ... "

I felt a little finger touched my right arm.

" Yeah? Which part you don't understand? ", I quickly responded to her as she was frustrated with the math problem-solving.

" See, is that easy, just use y= mx+c, substitute the coordinates x and y of the point P into the x and y of the equation, then... ", I continued my lesson to her. Her cute face appeared again every time she bumps into a dead-end of a question.

" Owh, i got it, thanks Tze, thanks a million ya! ", her cheerful smile indirectly affected my mood,
I smiled too..

" Tze, why u like to squat and not sitting? hmm... weird guy, but cute... hahaha.. like Lawliet in Death Note, I adore him, he's such a cool and smart character! Don't you agree?? ". I like to squat on benches or seats rather than sitting on it, because of that, she had always been curious about my position of sitting on the bench.

"Like Lawliet in Death Note?! hahaha.. you must be kidding! But he is really cool. Yeah I do agree with you."

" Really?! Oh ya, 'L Change the World' is coming out next week, erm.. I'm asking whether if you would like to accompany me to the cinema for a movie?". Her cheeks and ears blushed.

" Okay no problem, but why are you blushing?? hahaha... "

" What... Am I?! err... err... I think the weather is too hot for me, so... "

Before she could finished her sentence, instinct whispered in my mind, spontaneously I hold her little soft hand, she was stunned. I looked through her eyes and asked.

" How if... I say I love you? Would you... accept me?"

She nodded her head, smiling.

That gloaming, the purple-orange-colored sky was so beautiful... The most beautiful
gloaming in my life..

story3 - chapter1 : ShOuld I?

"Au plaisir de vous revoir !"
I smiled and waved to the guy.
The night, was so peaceful.. the city of Paris still lively with lights. Romance fill-up the atmosphere.
Such place, was used to be our dream, 7 hours of flight, 2 person, 1 couple.

Rolling film in my head, as if the movie had just started. A long movie indeed. I was standing alone, in a descending lift surrounded with transparent glass that provide the best view of Paris city at night. 3 years after the history carved deeply in my 'mind-book', weird smile appears on my face..

Remembered the way you smiled at me, our 1st date, 1st movie, even, our 1st kiss. . Lights around the Eiffel Tower represented our love. Passionate red, a very warm color at the cold night... thousands of words is not even comparable with a little touch of lips on your forehead.

......

The memories... I've tried real hard to cover it with tonnes of overloaded daily work, but such memorable moment with you. If I was given a chance to remove it from my mind..


Should I ... ?

story2 - SecReT wiThiN

After the incident, every lonely night, I talk and pray in my heart…
“I do really love you, I will love you always… and I’ll keep it as a promise, I hope you heard that, Annie…” this was probably the first and the last confession I had said to a girl…
In that sudden, my life had changed tremendously. My heart as fragile as glasses, it was just…
Going to break into pieces…

* * * * * *

It was the first day I moved into this new house. After spending half of my childhood in the old house, my parent decided to buy a new house and tried to live in a brand new and unfamiliar environment. At that time, the place was not yet fully-developed, it was only a small housing estate in the town. My life was like every kid, innocent, naughty and playful enough…

Hot sun burned my skin, I could feel the burning heat that shined on my hair when I was on my way back home from a new yet boring school life. Ah… after finished eating a hearty and scrumptious lunch prepared by my mum, I took a cooling and rejuvenating bath. Then I started to do tonnes of homework in my room. Unexpectedly, noise came from outside of the window made me feel curious and looked out from the window. I saw Lorries, workers and mess stuff in front of my eyes. For some reason, I knew, I will have a new neighbour soon. Realised that there was still a bunch of unfinished homework, my pen started to dance on the exercise book again, my life went on as usual for another half a year…

Time slipped off from me in the speed of light, one day, the owner of the opposite house moved in. The children of the family was making loud noise, running and wandering around the new living environment with excitement. I could not see the face of the family, but I was very sure, from my instinct, they will be a very friendly family…

* * * * * *

“Today, we have a new friend joins our class, her name is Annie. Well, let’s welcome her with a big applause,” our class teacher said. Everyone was clapping their hands and cheering for her welcoming, except for me. The first impression she gave me was too good until I was amazed and stunned by her angelic smile and Barbie-doll-liked eyes. Is her an angel? A fair complexion, a black and straight hair… awesome! I just couldn’t resist her beauty and I started to fantasize, daydreaming…

Ring…
Recess bell rang and it woke me up from building castle in the air. After having few mouthful of mineral water, I decided to go to school canteen and ‘kill away my hunger’. Just at the moment, I saw Annie, sitting alone in our class. “Today is the first day of studying in this new school, may be she still can’t adapt to the environment, but… should I walk forward and make friend with her?” somehow, my shyness ask me not to do so. I walked away and joined my ‘gang’ and friends from the other class. I was shocked by the topic they were discussing. It was all related to the new girl, Annie. “How the heck they managed to receive ‘news’ such quickly?”. My friends kept on questioning me about Annie. I hate gossips and disgusted by their questions. So, I just simply responded them.

Few weeks later, I was playing with my puppy, Mocha, in the compound of my house, I heard some noise came from the direction of the new house. I looked at the new neighbour and I was shocked by what was in front of my eyes. A girl was playing with her brother and sister – it was Annie! Thanks to my blurriness, now only I found out that my new neighbour was her. Oh my god! How stupid was I, never know it was her. I planned to greet her, but once again my shyness made me moved a step backward and be a ‘chicken’. Yet, from that moment, I could see her everyday. How nice the feeling is when an angel lives in front of my house.

* * * * * * *

I had been living as a coward for more than four years, even though my other family members and her family had became good friends. Yet, I still managed to get her mobile number, until the year of Form3, I wasn’t study in the same class with her anymore. One day, I received news that she had a boyfriend, my heart was broken; totally. Every time when I saw them, the scar in my heart grew deeper. Although I pretended to be strong and not to show out my sadness in front of my friends and family, but every time I tuned and listened to sentimental songs, my nose will get itchy and tears started to fall.

That year, I had grown into a different person, after such disastrous thing happened on me and the aftermath changed me a lot. Yet, at year-end school break, her relationship with the boy was found out by her parent. Her parent was so upset and decided to separate them off forcefully by sending her to another new school. Should I feel happy or sad? Happy because she broke up with her boyfriend? Or feel sad because I couldn’t see her in school anymore? I faced dilemma.
I gained my courage, to send her a short message with mobile service. I did not put much hope on the action I had taken. I was waiting for her reply from afternoon until evening. Wait and wait…

Miraculously, my mobile alarmed with message tone at night, I quickly rushed to get my mobile and read what she replied. This was the starting point when I got to know her closer and we kept in touch by this way. Sometimes, we would meet at shopping complex and watch movies in cinema. I even had a chance to celebrate her 15th birthday with her in a restaurant with surprises. I thought it was the happiest moment I had ever been. Yet, the worst was just few steps ahead from me…

* * * * * * *

It had been almost a year we chat in SMS and MSN throughout our Form 4’s life. The chance to come out and meet each other became lesser and lastly reached zero as there were too many exams and we were too busy with our study. Slowly, I could feel that she started to neglect me… and my worry was I might be disturbing her if I always SMS her. And after some time, I stopped contacting her…
I had lost confidence and I thought it will be better to let things go naturally…

One day, just as I was thinking the same rubbish, suddenly my phone rang and distracted my mind. I picked up the phone…
“Hello?”
“Hello, is there Chad?”
“Yes, who is speaking?”
“I’m Annie’s mum, Annie… she had just met a serious car accident, please come to Central Hospital quick! The ward number is 3b9. Please come quickly, she wanted to have LAST conversation with you… she is going to... leave us very soon…” her mum hung off the phone call just like that…
My phone slipped off from my right hand. Before I could react and my mind went blank totally, adrenalin drove me and I rushed to tell me parent… on the way to the hospital, my soul was chasing with time, hoping that everything was not true. Tears fell from my eyes like the rain outside of the car. Could it be God’s tears?

* * * * * * *

I rushed into the hospital without losing any second and looked for Annie’s ward. I was afraid, if everything had been too late…
“3b4… 3b5… 3b6… …ah… 3b9”
My heart was beating so hard as if it was counting the time like a ticker timer when I was searching for Annie’s ward…

Everyone was standing beside the bed include her dad, mum, brother and sister, many were sobbing, some cried uncontrollably. I forced myself not to let Annie see my tears.
“Ann…” I was holding her hand, remained speechless and the pain took over and conquered my whole sense.
“Chad… I’m sorry for not replying your message and stop caring about you… because I don’t trust love anymore and I’m doubted if I can give u happiness. But I have regretted, I have regretted for everything… I do love you Chad, I do… but everything is useless now… I …
Before she could finish her words, she closed her eyes… I could hear doctor and nurses’ footsteps rushed in… Without any signal or warning, I blanked out and collapsed at the moment…

I had lost contact with her whole family after I woke up… It had been 3 days I was in unconscious state… I tried so hard to ask my parent about them, they remained silent. I only knew that they moved out of the house when I reached home…

* * * * * * *

After the incident, every lonely night, I talk and pray in my heart…
“I do really love you, I will love you always… and I’ll keep it as a promise, I hope you heard that, Annie…” this was probably the first and the last confession I had said to a girl…
In that sudden, my life had changed tremendously. My heart as fragile as glasses, it was just…
Going to break into pieces…

* * * * * * *

One year later, I graduated and finished my secondary education with flying colours. I had proved to Annie and myself that I lived well. Looking at the sky, I believed she will always watch me and bless me…

“Knock-knock”

“Sorry sir, I was late,” I say to the 60years-old-lecturer with wrinkles on his friendly face. He turns and nods his head. I quickly find myself a comfort seat, settle down and take out a notebook to take down what the old, white-hair-lecturer teaches in class. Just as I am preparing myself for the class, I look up and take a glimpse at a corner. I see a familiar figure sitting not very far from me. I take a closer look, almost unbelievable, it is HER, it is… Annie…

Flowers need sunshine,
Violets need dew,
All angels in the heaven know I need you;
Years may fly,
Tears may dry,
But my love to you will never die…

THE END..

story1 - prOmiSe

“Promise?”
“Yea, it’s our promise!”
We put our last finger together, outside of the fence of our secondary school and we exchanged present as memorial purpose… looking at her smiling face, it had been a satisfaction for me… I really thought it was…

* * * * * *

I had just finished my degree course in a music institute. It had been 12 years since I graduated from secondary. After I graduated from the secondary school, my dad instantly got a job promotion and sent to a newly-opened branch in New Zealand, and of course, we followed him to a place where everything was so unfamiliar, so lonely…

Before the flight, I gave Rosabelle a call…
Thinking about that, it had been quite a long time I lost contact with her. Her blurry image is still in my mind…
A long black hair, big watery eyes and a little mole on her right cheek… I could never forget…

* * * * * *

“Remember to practice everyday, ok? See you next week then…” I reminded my new student, Aaron, before he left the class.
“Ok teacher, I will! I wanna be as good as you teacher!” that cute little
5-years-old student replied… he handed over the piano book to his mother…
She gave me a smile, I smiled and I waved at them… After they left, I started packing up my teaching materials and walked out from the small music class. It was a dream comes true when I become a piano teacher.

Ah… It was good to be home, finally. I rented a house a year ago when I came back, as my family were still living in New Zealand… I quickly took a refreshing bath and filled my hungry stomach with some pizza. For some reason, I recalled about the class I had just now, the strong determination of learning shown by Aaron, it made me remind of my life as teenagers…

“Wow, I love this song, can you play once more, please?” she clapped her hand and requested…
“Okay, with a condition…” I pointed on my cheek, and, she kissed me… I smiled sweetly…
That gloaming, it was the most memorable moment… I sat in front of the old acoustic piano in the music room of our school, and she was beside me, laying her head comfortably on my shoulder… we didn’t speak a lot, I let my fingers danced gracefully on the black and white keys, a perfect melody came out from the piano…

* * * * * *

“Well, today teacher will teach you a song, since you have mastered the fingering practice, so, it’s up to you which song you would like to learn…” I said.
“Teacher, I wanna learn ‘The Promise’, I love that song so much. My mummy loves it too, she told me to play the song for her one day. Mummy also said that there was a boy played this song to her before she met my papa.” Aaron told me…

I was stunned by what came out from his mouth. But I forced myself to remain calmed and continued the piano lesson. I really hoped the lady that was going to appear before me was not her…

An hour later, the class finished.

“Mummy!” Aaron ran towards her mother.
“Hm… mummy heard what my little boy was learning just now, it is mummy FAVOURITE song, right? Look at you, sweat all over your forehead, come and let mummy clean your face…” her mother said as she was wiping Aaron’s face with a little handkerchief.
“Thanks for teaching my son this song, I hope it won’t be any difficulties for you.” She smiled and thanked me gratefully.

Wait a second, the mole, on her right cheek, I recognised that! How come I never realized it before… at first, I doubted, until my instinct whispered and gained my courage to ask her…

“Are you… Rosabelle?” she responded and looked at me curiously…
“Yeah, that’s my old name, but people know me as Rose now, do I know you? Sorry if I couldn’t recognise you…”
“I… I am… Timothy…” she looked at me with a blank stare. The situation was like a time-stop…

* * * * * *

Ring…
“Hey Tim, are you going to fold your love letter into a paper plane and throw it to her? Tell me that you’re joking…”
“How if the wind blows in the wrong direction and you may miss it…”
“Yeah, probably you will throw it to the wrong person and it’s bad…”

I just ignored what my friend said and warned… ah, finally, the paper plane completed!

“Hey! Give it back! I mean it, give it back!” I chased and shouted. My voice could be heard all over the class like I was a mad person…
Darn friend grabbed it from me and ran to the next class…

“Since the first encounter with you, I know I have fallen in love with you; my heart was stolen by you; if you absent for a day, that day would be a dull and grey day for me… your presence painted my life and it turned incredibly colourful… I…”

Before my friend finished reading, I managed to grab it back, but, in a very short moment, Rosabelle and I became the focus in the class, everyone was looking at both of us, my face quickly turned red… as well as hers…

“Woo... Accept him! Accept him! Accept him! Accept him…” whole class cheered… and surprisingly, she nodded her head, shyly… she took a little glimpse on me and faced down again… everyone was so excited and made a lot of noise like there was a goal in a football match…

Suddenly, our school ‘monster’, discipline teacher walked in with a long and big cane, everyone quickly dismissed and ran like mice met a Persian cat… leaving me behind and put me in responsible for the incident… I was caned and punished to stand for a period in the discipline room… but, the feeling of happy overwhelmed the pain on my palm. My mind was all about the confession made moments ago… was it a dream after all?

“You may go now, but remember, no more next time! School is not a place for monkeys to play around!” the discipline teacher warned me with such ferocious tone…
I nodded, took a little glimpse on her, and quickly walked away… huh… I was relief after I left the hell-like place…

* * * * * *

Ring…
Yeah, school dismissed! I walked out from my class and a girl next class informed me to visit our school field. She said that Rosabelle was waiting me there… my heart was pumping hard as I was on the ‘journey to the west’, well, our school field was really located west from my class…

“H—I, are you…” before I could finished my sentence, Rosabelle turned and faced me… she pulled my left hand and observed if there was any injury during the battle with ‘monster’. I could see her watery eyes…

“Is that hurt? It looked so red and swollen.”
“Is… Is okay…”
A little tear was at the edge of my eyes… it was a mixture of happy and touched… little salty and sweet…

“Erm… about the confession just now, what your friend read from the paper, is that true?” She looked at me, hoping for an exact and certain answer that would come out from my mouth…
I only nodded with a smile, and surprisingly, she hugged me. Although everything was out of my expectation, I was still so happy though…

Since then, everyday, I got a scrumptious breakfast prepared by her… when there was exam, we studied together and discussed about the questions in the exercise book… we were so close to each other, everywhere I go, she would just stick on me like a koala bear… sometimes, we would go out to a shopping mall for a walk, watch some movies. I even drove her to a lake nearby one night to watch the falling meteors reported by astrologist.

I secretly drew her portrait and prepared to give her as a surprised gift, as I was going to walked out from my room, I heard a discussion of my parent accidentally, my mind went completely blank… no way… it shouldn’t be like that… but I kept it from Rosabelle, it was too cruel for her to accept such reality… I would rather share my last few moments in this country with her, happily.

Days after days, weeks after weeks and the moment of truth had arrived, I had to go, leaving this old home, my buddies, my school, and most importantly, my beloved Rosabelle… I still kept the present we exchanged, she received the portrait, and I got a necklace she made by her own… I was afraid that I couldn’t do like what I had promised to her, which was to go for a trip, just for both of us… I knew, I would definitely leave her a deep scar this time…

Toot-toot… Toot-toot… Toot-toot… … hello there, I’m Rosabelle, I’m sorry ‘cos I couldn’t answer your phone now, please leave your message after the beep sound, thank you… …Beep…

“H-I, is me, Timothy, I… I have to say goodbye now… I’m leaving this country and follow my family to overseas, I’m… sorry… sorry for not informing you earlier, I know, it will be a certain shock for u, and now, I would probably on the plane already… I won’t blame you if you hate me…” I hung off the phone… tears dropped uncontrollably and fell down to my cheek… I swore for god sake, I won’t forget you…

* * * * * *

“What a beautiful night view from here, right? Looking at the image of the moon reflected on the surface of the lake water, it was not much of the difference here… it had been 14 years since I left this place, so many memories…” I said to Rosabelle… I meant Rose.

“Yeah not much difference here, only some sky scrappers were built after you left… … Oh! The necklace?! Don’t tell me is that necklace… haha… you are such… …”

Eventually, she turned out to be speechless… and silence, took control on us, we both know that we still care for each other…
That night, we talked about many things… and the night was the longest night ever in my life…

After what we have gone through for such a long period of time, I become confused and uncertain now, the relationship between us, is it a pure friendship? Or it’s a true love that I missed for 14 years?