I remember vividly the smooth and silky yet soft hair whom my beloved have. The memory of her still fresh and kept inside my thoughts. All the good times we spent together, the ups and downs, all of the stored away in my mind. I remember the time when we walk along the sandy beach of California, we were holding hands. I went to the nearby stall to buy drinks for both of us. But unfortunately, as I turned my head back towards her, she’s gone. For this past 3 years, I’ve been searching her. Her sweet scent, golden eyes and blonde silky hair, not to mention her beautiful yet angelic face that always appear in my dreams. Every day, I will got to the beach where we last seen each other, just to wait for her. But one day, when my mind was wandering around and my eyes were looking towards the open sea, I was hugged by someone from the back. It was a woman. She wrapped her arms tightly around my body. I felt the smooth hair that touched my neck and then, she cried. I turned my face towards her and I was surprise to see her. She has returned to me, the woman whom I loved for so many years.
“Where have you been, baby?” I asked with a slight tone of joy.
“You said that you want to focus on your career, so, I left you for a while.” She said.
“I’m so sorry, please accept my sincere apology.”
“I’ve already forgive you.”
Then, I said to her a three letter word which every lover in this world will always use which was ‘I love you’. She replied with ‘I love you too’. I was so happy to hear that. That fateful day had changed my life forever. It has made me smile cheerfully after a few years of sadness and sorrow.
* * *
Sssssssss…..
The sound of the rattlesnake echoed around the house. The snake slithered swiftly to get away from any threat. The threat that day was me. With length of one and a half meter-two fangs that filled with deadly venom, I must be extremely careful not to get too close with its head. One bite could send me to the next world. By the way, my name is John. This was my part-time job. Catching snakes on the loose and released them to the wild or send it to the zoo. I did my job with my uncle, Mike. I loved this job because it is very risky and just awesome, right. One time, I was bitten by the King Cobra snake during my tour to Africa with my uncle. I was hospitalized for a whole week and the doctor had to use 15 bottle of anti-venom that were injected inside me every 10 seconds. Ever since that fateful day which I almost lost my life, I sworn that I’ll always be extra careful not to get bitten again. Back to the part where I was trying to catch the stubborn rattlesnake. I lured the snake out with a dead frog which my uncle brought along. When the snake ate the bait, I caught the tail and kept the snake’s head as far away from me. My uncle gave me a bag and I put the snake gently in the bag. I wiped off my sweats that were rolling across my face. My uncle would pat my back as a good job sign. Then, my uncle received another phone call. Another phone call meant another job. The caller claimed that he saw a large python slithered to his neighbor’s backyard. A brief introduction about my uncle. He was an animal lover especially with snake. He believed that snakes are misunderstood creature. Often killed by the humans. That’s the reason he became a snake catcher. When he caught the snake, he will study about them and released it to the wild. He had 20 years of experience in catching snakes. He’ll know what to do and what not to do. His name was recognized throughout the state of Los Angeles.
I get into the car with my uncle and drove off to the location where the python was last seen. The caller claimed that the snake was an adult-size one. It can eat an adult buffalo and possibly an adult-size human. My uncle called a few of his friend to assist him. When we arrived there, I spotted the python. Luckily, no one was eaten or injured by the python. My uncle brought out his custom magnum .365 pistol-loaded with some tranquillizer. He shot the python. The python squirmed and then, stop moving. My uncle and his couple of friend lifted the snake and placed it in the wooden box. The wooden box was placed in the trunk. Then, we went to the zoo. Although this kind of job was very much rare for any people, but for those who love animal, it took a lot of commitment and a lot of bravery to get this job done. After a hard day, I went back to my apartment. I locked the door and threw my clothes that I had worn today into the washing machine. I sat on the sofa, thinking about my college application. There’s no point of worrying about it anymore. It’s whether I got it or not. I opened my laptop and click on the Mozilla Firefox icon and opened my email. I saw an unfamiliar email. I opened it and read the email thoroughly. I was astonished because I was accepted to an awesome university. I told my uncle that my application to the University of California, Los Angeles was accepted. He congratulated me and he decided to throw me a party at his mansion.
Perhaps you’re wondering why I didn’t mentioned about my parents. The thing is, my parents died in a tragic accident, an airplane crash. Since then, my uncle raised me. Every achievement that I’ve ever accomplished, I will share it with him. Later that night, I went to Uncle Mike’s mansion to join the party. I saw many people that I don’t even know. Maybe they were my uncle’s friends. I enjoyed the party until three in the morning. At four, I went back to my apartment and hit the sack. I woke up at one o’clock in the afternoon. I put on my jeans and wore my worn out shirt. Then, I went to the grocery store to buy some things needed. While I was busy looking around, I saw a beautiful figure along the aisle. I walked towards her and said ‘hi’ to her. She ‘hi’ back to me.
“You seem like a college student, right?” I asked.
”Yeah, why?” she said.
“Nothin’, just askin’ you”
“Where are you going to?” she asked.
“UCLA, what about you?” I asked her.
“I’m going there too; I hope we’ll meet again.”
Then, she walked away and continued shopping. I couldn’t stop watching her. Unfortunately, I didn’t ask her name. what kind of person I was, having a conversation without even asking her name. After I finished shopping, I went back to my apartment and did some spring cleaning. I sell all the unneeded junk earn me a couple of bucks. I made sure the room clean and spotless. I paid my last rent to the owner. I bid my last farewell to him. The next day, my uncle sent me to UCLA. I was awe-struck because it was so awesome and cool. For a man my type, I could any sports club or any physical club. I’m hoping to join the football team. In the U.S, football is not soccer. After the registration, I went to my room. Luckily, my roommate was Sid. Sid was my old friend since pre-school. I put away my bag and said goodbye to my uncle. I promised him that I will do well. I won’t let him down.
I unpacked my stuff and stored it in my locker. Then, I went to sleep because I haven’t had a shut eye since yesterday. At eight o’clock at night, I woke up because I was so hungry. I was so hungry that I thought that I can eat the whole town. I asked Sid where I could find any cheap restaurant. Without a slight hesitation, he claimed that there are no cheap food here. So, I went out to eat. I found a small diner which sell some large hamburger and cheap beer. I opened the door and looked around. There were few people in the diner. I sat at one of the table and ordered a hamburger. While I was waiting for my order, I saw her. She was the girl from the grocery store. I asked her to sit with me. Finally, I got the opportunity to ask her name. She’s Kate. I offered her a glass of beer and treat her some burger. We talk and talk until midnight. The saying goes, ‘time fly when we’re having fun’. After finished my meal, I accompanied her to her room. I meant that I walk her to her room.
“Good night, Kate. See you tomorrow.”I said to her.
She smiled back to me. I was ok with that.
I went back to my room and said to Sid that I had found an angel. He didn’t impress at all. He claimed that his was more beautiful than anything in this world. I laughed off his statement and went to sleep.
Ring…………………..
My alarm clock sure made a loud and irritating noise in the morning. I turned off the clock and hit the shower. I wiped my body. I sprayed some deodorant and some BOSS fragrance. I put on my Levi’s jeans and wore my casual shirt. I woke up Sid. I waited him even though he was slow as hell. Then, we dashed to class. I opened the door slowly and see if the lecturer had come. It looks like Lady-luck was on our side. We walked calmly and sat in the middle of the lecture hall. I scanned around the hall and saw Kate. I shouted her name and said hi. Every student in the lecture hall stared oddly towards me. Then, Kate waved at me. During lecture session, I couldn’t stop looking at her. After the lecture, I asked her out for lunch.
“Are you still single?” I asked.
“Yeah, why?” she said.
“I think I could fill in the space in your life.” I said with a slight giggled.
“What makes you say that?” she asked.
“You’re kind and very beautiful, just like my mother.”
“Is it true?”
“Yeah, really, I couldn’t possibly lie to you.”
After she heard what I said, she couldn’t stop smiling. I thought to myself about the compliment. Am I exaggerating? I think not. I think that was the best compliment that I’ve ever given to someone.
As days passed, our relationship was getting stronger every second. Until one day, she asked me out to go somewhere. She needed as a tour guide to show her around L.A , but I decided not to go because I have ton of assignment to finish. Then, she said that it’s ok, so she went alone. Before that, I said to her not to talk or even walk near a gang or strangers. In this city, there were a lot of gangs that claimed that the street in some avenue were their territory. The sell women, drug, guns and even took the offer of killing someone. Then, I went to the library to do my research and finish my book report. Almost an hour after she left to the city. I began to worry because if anything happen to her, I was the one to blame. I called her cell phone. But, she didn’t answer. I call her again, still no answer. The third time I called her, she answer, but I only heard the sound of many screaming girls. Then, I heard her voice screaming. I used my GPS phone tracker in my iPhone apps. I waited for her location to pop-up and called Sid to get his gang. When the location was shown, I gave Sid the location and I meet up with him there. She was at an old factory. I arrived there and heard many people laughing hardly. I bust opened the door.
“Who the hell made my woman scream?!” I angrily asked them.
“You got a problem with that?” a guy with a scar on his face asked.
Then, he walked towards me.
“I didn’t catch your name dude?” he asked.
“It’s John, you?” I asked him back.
Just when he turned away, I hit his head with the crowbar. I KO-ed him. Then, all his gang members ran towards me. I don’t know what to door where I should run to because I was surrounded. I’m a sitting duck. Then, the factory was echoed by a gun shot from Magnum .365. Each and every one of them search for the source of the gun shot.
“Let him go, you couple of bastard.” Sid said.
“There’s one of you and hundreds of us.” One of them said.
“Let us see who’ll win.” Sid challenged them.
Then, Sid’s gang came behind him followed by a mocking laugh by Sid. Then, they all laughed. The sound of laughter was deafening. They all bust inside and had had an all-out fight. It was like a war of the century. While they were busy fighting, I searched for Kate. I bust opened every single room that was locked. Luckily in one of those rooms, I found Kate. She was tied up without any string attached. I untied the rope and gave her my shirt.
“Stay close, Kate”
I took Kate out of the factory and went back to the college. I called Sid and thanked him. He said that he will try to enjoy the fight as much as he could because he hadn’t involved in any fight for some times. I sent Kate to her room. She seemed traumatized and I thought that she was extremely mad at me. The next day, I went to see her if she’s okay or not.
I said, ”You feeling any better, Kate?”
“I think so.” She said
“I’m sorry Kate for not being there when you needed me.”
“I’m at fault for running into a bunch of gangs. I didn’t follow your advice. I’m so sorry, John.”
“That’s okay, Kate”
After a few days, we’re both back in good terms. We had normal conversation just like before. We hung out every day, we eat together and I always stayed beside her most of the time. As the final ex was around the corner, I had to focus and get my grades up. Last minute study could turn yourself upside down if you haven’t got the hang of it. That’s what I did. I took 2 or 3 hours break and asked Kate to the beach. She agreed and then, we went there.
“I think I want to focus on my career, Kate.” I said to Kate.
“Do you think of me as a hindrance, John?” She asked.
“No, not at all.”
“Okay, I get it.” She said.
As we walked along the beach, waiting for the sunset, I’ve got thirsty and went to the stall and bought us some cold drinks. When I turned back, she was gone. I called her but the service claimed that the number was no longer in the service. I’m all alone and I watched the sunset with a gaping hole in my heart. Part of my heart seems gone with her. The next day, I asked her friend. She said that Kate was transferred to a much better university. I felt devastated. I don’t know what to do. There were only two things in my head. First, Kate. Second, my promise to Uncle Mike.
I thought to myself, “Is she gone because of me?”
Two years later, I successfully graduated from UCLA, majoring in zoology. I spent the whole two years studying about the snakes and their behavior. Kate used to love snakes. I continued working with my uncle and earned some money. At the same time, I searched Kate. I was beginning to give up because all my effort seemed fruitless. I tried to let it be and carried on with my life, but I couldn’t. Every day, I would put on my fake smile just to please other people. A year later, I went to the beach of California, just to calm down my mind. On that fateful day, she came back to me. On the day that I almost given up all my hopes, she had returned. And on the same day, I stated my love to her. I couldn’t be any happier. With her on my side, my life felt at calmer and ease the job that I did for a living. Then, we kissed as we watched the sun slowly descents. We looked at each other in the eye and kissed.
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