(~ Chapter 4 - Past finds Fact ~)
Wednesday, June 29, 2005
The unfamiliar sound of the drawer closing; it has been some time I’ve last touched that drawer for reasons other than accessing my personal documents like my passport and bank passbook. The letters spoke of innocence and care, concern and a tinge of love. Sometimes I wondered if she kept my letters, or had she jus tossed her past aside and threw all the letters and gifts away. I wondered throughout these years she had remembered or recalled anything that had happened between us in those years being together.
Wait a moment. Were we together? This too has been a question that has plagued me over the years, always pondering for an answer yet unable to get one. Not to mention that one single fact I’ve found out during one of my “curiosity searches” in Friendster.
Anne is married. She looked beautiful and happy in that wedding gown. Her pictures were not featured in her own account but her husband’s which I’ve accidentally chanced upon when I was looking at her sister’s profile. Life took such a twist I really couldn’t accept facts this fast. I know I shouldn’t have even been bothered about all these, but it was part of the past that I simply couldn’t have accepted. I realized I have to get over my past…but when I can’t understand part of it, how do I get over it?
“Hey Anne,” Stella was beside Anne’s desk as she spoke. “How are you going to celebrate your birthday on 2nd July?” A thought lit up. Her birthday! Am I lucky or what??
“Nothing much I suppose.” Anne beamed a smile back to Stella. “It’s a school day after all, and I have piano lessons that day. Besides, mom will be back early so I doubt I have any reason to be home late.”
Stella showed a sign of disappointment. “And I would have thought we’ll be able to give you a small party or something. Don’t worry; you’ll sure get your presents!” Both of them laughed with me noticing the brightness of the smile from Anne, something I will remember a long time. My mind started to plan ahead, thinking of whatever ideas I can probably have for presents.
The evening on the same day, I went out to look for a present. As a kid I did not have much cash reserves, so I can only afford what I can…furthermore my allowance was assigned on a day-by-day basis, so I did not have single large cash reserves at a time. I walked around my neighborhood, going in every stationary shop and gift stores. Finally I got into one gift store and saw the present I was looking for: a container made of glass, shaped like a Christmas tree (closest description I could think of). It did not have sharp ends like a tree though as it is rounded and smooth on every side, it looked pretty nice with those few lucky stars in it. I looked at the price. Wow. It’s not expensive to an adult but certainly burns a hole in my pocket. I took out every dollar and coin from my pockets, and found that I had just enough provided I skip my breakfast and lunch the next day. A major investment I thought, so I took the item, went to the counter and made the payment. Hope this investment is worth it.
I proceeded with my plan on her birthday. As a boy it’s certainly going to be difficult to hand her the present because everyone will be looking at me if I hand it to her in class, and it was certainly much more tougher handing it to her after school as she often disappears right after school. I grinned at the fact I was a prefect in school.
The day was usual but on a lively mood around me as every girlfriend of Anne’s came congratulating her on her birthday, some even gave her the gifts and presents she deserved. Upon hearing such an obvious occasion, I gave myself a bolt of confidence.
“Happy birthday, Anne.” I mustered my courage and said.
“Thanks Luke.” She gave me the very same smile that captivated me. I was really falling into it. I really hoped the investment is worth it.
The bell rang for recess and everyone went out of the classrooms. Being a prefect (and no money to take lunch), I stayed behind for a while on an excuse and waited for everyone to be off the level (just in case someone spotted me doing this, I will have zero ways to explain myself) before I proceeded with my plans.
Looked around, no one in my classroom. Walked out and looked left and right…no one in sight. Double-checked the two classrooms beside mine – no one. Very good. I took out the present I’ve intended for her and put it into her schoolbag. Looked around once more. Good, no one spotted me. I had to be back at my standby berth as I was not in charge of the level. Someone did spot me after all – but not for the gift but for the fact I wasn’t at my berth.
Recess ended and everyone was back in class. Seems that Anne had a busy recess as everyone greeted and showered her with so much birthday greetings she literally collapsed on her chair – and my present. I was wide-eyed for a moment, wondering if she had squashed my gift (which of course wasn’t really at all logical). She sat up and realized the foreign object in her bag, so she opened her bag and saw it; however she did not take it out but instead looked at it from the confinements of her bag. She’s really a smart girl to have realized whoever did this did not want others to know about it.
It was English lesson when I noticed a small note under my desk.
“Was it you who gave me the present? – Anne”
I was surprised she could guess it so easily. I scribbled on the note and returned it to her – under the desk.
I wrote “yea, it was me all right, but how did you guess?”
Then a reply note. “Because you are the only guy who stayed behind during recess. I did not see you during recess, neither are you at your usual place where you are stationed. Why did you give a present to me? Why don’t you give it to me directly?”
My reply? “Just wanted to surprise you. Happy Birthday.”
I’m impressed by her observance and intelligence. Then her following note totally caught me off guard.
“Is it because you like me?”
That took me a few moments of consideration before I made a reply. “Well, if you say I am then I am, right? Hahaha…”
“Luke, what are you doing?” Miss Lee’s voice echoed into my ears.
“Nothing, I’m listening.”
“Read the paragraph from where Benson stopped.”
Great, I’m stumped. I wasn’t even paying attention to the class. I saw Anne giggling but at the same time her finger lingered to a paragraph in the passage. I got the cue and continued from where we left off. That was close!
(~ Chapter 4 - Past finds Fact ~)
Wednesday, June 29, 2005
The unfamiliar sound of the drawer closing; it has been some time I’ve last touched that drawer for reasons other than accessing my personal documents like my passport and bank passbook. The letters spoke of innocence and care, concern and a tinge of love. Sometimes I wondered if she kept my letters, or had she jus tossed her past aside and threw all the letters and gifts away. I wondered throughout these years she had remembered or recalled anything that had happened between us in those years being together.
Wait a moment. Were we together? This too has been a question that has plagued me over the years, always pondering for an answer yet unable to get one. Not to mention that one single fact I’ve found out during one of my “curiosity searches” in Friendster.
Anne is married. She looked beautiful and happy in that wedding gown. Her pictures were not featured in her own account but her husband’s which I’ve accidentally chanced upon when I was looking at her sister’s profile. Life took such a twist I really couldn’t accept facts this fast. I know I shouldn’t have even been bothered about all these, but it was part of the past that I simply couldn’t have accepted. I realized I have to get over my past…but when I can’t understand part of it, how do I get over it?
“Hey Anne,” Stella was beside Anne’s desk as she spoke. “How are you going to celebrate your birthday on 2nd July?” A thought lit up. Her birthday! Am I lucky or what??
“Nothing much I suppose.” Anne beamed a smile back to Stella. “It’s a school day after all, and I have piano lessons that day. Besides, mom will be back early so I doubt I have any reason to be home late.”
Stella showed a sign of disappointment. “And I would have thought we’ll be able to give you a small party or something. Don’t worry; you’ll sure get your presents!” Both of them laughed with me noticing the brightness of the smile from Anne, something I will remember a long time. My mind started to plan ahead, thinking of whatever ideas I can probably have for presents.
The evening on the same day, I went out to look for a present. As a kid I did not have much cash reserves, so I can only afford what I can…furthermore my allowance was assigned on a day-by-day basis, so I did not have single large cash reserves at a time. I walked around my neighborhood, going in every stationary shop and gift stores. Finally I got into one gift store and saw the present I was looking for: a container made of glass, shaped like a Christmas tree (closest description I could think of). It did not have sharp ends like a tree though as it is rounded and smooth on every side, it looked pretty nice with those few lucky stars in it. I looked at the price. Wow. It’s not expensive to an adult but certainly burns a hole in my pocket. I took out every dollar and coin from my pockets, and found that I had just enough provided I skip my breakfast and lunch the next day. A major investment I thought, so I took the item, went to the counter and made the payment. Hope this investment is worth it.
I proceeded with my plan on her birthday. As a boy it’s certainly going to be difficult to hand her the present because everyone will be looking at me if I hand it to her in class, and it was certainly much more tougher handing it to her after school as she often disappears right after school. I grinned at the fact I was a prefect in school.
The day was usual but on a lively mood around me as every girlfriend of Anne’s came congratulating her on her birthday, some even gave her the gifts and presents she deserved. Upon hearing such an obvious occasion, I gave myself a bolt of confidence.
“Happy birthday, Anne.” I mustered my courage and said.
“Thanks Luke.” She gave me the very same smile that captivated me. I was really falling into it. I really hoped the investment is worth it.
The bell rang for recess and everyone went out of the classrooms. Being a prefect (and no money to take lunch), I stayed behind for a while on an excuse and waited for everyone to be off the level (just in case someone spotted me doing this, I will have zero ways to explain myself) before I proceeded with my plans.
Looked around, no one in my classroom. Walked out and looked left and right…no one in sight. Double-checked the two classrooms beside mine – no one. Very good. I took out the present I’ve intended for her and put it into her schoolbag. Looked around once more. Good, no one spotted me. I had to be back at my standby berth as I was not in charge of the level. Someone did spot me after all – but not for the gift but for the fact I wasn’t at my berth.
Recess ended and everyone was back in class. Seems that Anne had a busy recess as everyone greeted and showered her with so much birthday greetings she literally collapsed on her chair – and my present. I was wide-eyed for a moment, wondering if she had squashed my gift (which of course wasn’t really at all logical). She sat up and realized the foreign object in her bag, so she opened her bag and saw it; however she did not take it out but instead looked at it from the confinements of her bag. She’s really a smart girl to have realized whoever did this did not want others to know about it.
It was English lesson when I noticed a small note under my desk.
“Was it you who gave me the present? – Anne”
I was surprised she could guess it so easily. I scribbled on the note and returned it to her – under the desk.
I wrote “yea, it was me all right, but how did you guess?”
Then a reply note. “Because you are the only guy who stayed behind during recess. I did not see you during recess, neither are you at your usual place where you are stationed. Why did you give a present to me? Why don’t you give it to me directly?”
My reply? “Just wanted to surprise you. Happy Birthday.”
I’m impressed by her observance and intelligence. Then her following note totally caught me off guard.
“Is it because you like me?”
That took me a few moments of consideration before I made a reply. “Well, if you say I am then I am, right? Hahaha…”
“Luke, what are you doing?” Miss Lee’s voice echoed into my ears.
“Nothing, I’m listening.”
“Read the paragraph from where Benson stopped.”
Great, I’m stumped. I wasn’t even paying attention to the class. I saw Anne giggling but at the same time her finger lingered to a paragraph in the passage. I got the cue and continued from where we left off. That was close!
