Always Been You

[2007, April]

“Hey, hey. Are you there?”

This question continued to sound vague in Grace's ears. But her eyes were too heavy to open, her head too dizzy to be fully awake. “Please, save my Mom,” she said softly.

It was raining heavily that afternoon. The sky looked so gloomy. The cars that were barely moving and filling the one-way street, were then completely motionless due to a traffic collision involving three motorcycle riders. While Grace and her mom helplessly lay down on the street, the guy who caused this fateful incident escaped.

Having been in the same shoes once, Evan could care less about his expensive clothes being wet and dirty. He just wanted to help the casualties. As he was helped by a total stranger in the past and could get a second chance at life, he also wanted to pass that kindness on to others.

“Help! Call an ambulance!” Evan shouted at everyone around him. He took off his backpack and put it under the girl's head as a pillow. “Please wait here.”

Afterward, he left Grace and headed for the middle-aged woman on the side of the road. She didn't look good. There was blood coming out of the back of her head. Evan believed that this woman needed help as soon as possible.

“Doctor! Is there a doctor out here? If there is, please come! This woman needs immediate help,” Evan shouted repeatedly.

Somehow the message traveled from the scene to somewhere a distance away. A woman in her thirties came running over.

"Is it that bad?" The woman rhetorically asked as she crouched down next to Evan. She immediately caught the bad situation that happened.

"I don't know. There is quite a lot of blood obviously," said Evan who knew nothing about medical matters. "What should I help you with?"

The woman looked around her and then at Evan. "Please find any clean cloth that is not wet. If possible, find alcohol. And also an umbrella," she said.

Evan quickly stood up from his place. No matter how hard it was to get them, he started shouting around the cars there. He ran to and fro, past people who didn't care enough to help.

An umbrella and a clean t-shirt were easy to get, but not alcohol. Learning that the two items in his hands were indispensable, Evan ran back to the scene. He handed her the clean t-shirt while covering the young doctor and the woman.

Luckily someone came, offering some help. Evan immediately asked him to hold the umbrella. He knew the girl who was still lying near her motorbike couldn't be left alone either.

Evan hurriedly carried Grace's body into the shade of a tree. He let her lie in his arms. Then he took a jacket from his backpack to use as an umbrella for the helpless girl.

"Oh God, please save them." Evan lifted his prayer in a faint voice.

Although almost unconscious, apparently the guy's words were able to put a smile on Grace's face.

[2011, December]

Grace was holding two large plastic bags of spicy meatball satay and cilok (ball-shaped dumplings). She took them in a bit of a hurry as she wanted to see the fireworks from the roof of her house.

This New Year’s Eve tradition had been carried out for almost five years with her best friend.

"Evan! Help!”

Evan immediately turned around and came closer. "What a habit! You bought too much," he said. He looked into the plastics.

"Well, we're normally here until dawn. So we need plenty of supplies," Grace said cheerfully, moreover when the first big fireworks had been fired. "Oh, it's starting!" Instead of giving him only one of the plastics, she gave them all away and then ran to the edge of the roof.

Evan shook his head in surprise at the girl's behavior. He put their two favorite types of food on the table there. Then he stood next to Grace.

Grace's childlike exclamations didn't stop for some time. She really liked to scream as loud as possible when the sound of fireworks exploding was so loud. It was as if she wanted to have a voice competition.

Evan undoubtedly never missed such an opportunity. He recorded his friend's funny behavior with his handy cam. Somehow he enjoyed this sight without getting bored. More correctly, never bored.

Grace turned to see what Evan was doing. She smiled and laughed too, posing like an inexperienced model. "Here, here. Your turn," she said then took the handy cam from his best friend.

However, Evan aimed the camera so that not only himself but also Grace was in the monitor frame. "So, Miss Grace Melody, please answer my question," he said.

Chuckling, Grace replied, “Okay. Please."

“Are you ready for 2012?” Evan clenched his fist like carrying a microphone and thrust it at the interviewee.

Grace nodded in certainty and replied, “Of course. Whatever happens, I'm ready for it! Furthermore, there is a friend like you by my side, Mr. Evan Williams."

Evan sighed, replying to Grace's words. "But though I'm not around, keep on living your life, Miss Grace!" he shouted right when the biggest fireworks exploded. His voice was barely audible.

Upon hearing this, Grace's expression changed. Her hand holding the handy cam immediately dropped without turning it off. She turned to Evan with a serious look. "What do you mean? Why did you say that?" asked she.

Evan slowly turned to his best friend. "I… have to go to England, Grace," he told her with a weak voice.

“When?”

“The day after tomorrow.”

Grace gasped in disbelief. "Why did you say it just now, Evan?" she exclaimed, disappointed. “And didn't you once say you'd decided to stay in Bali, study, and pursue our careers here together?"

Evan nodded. "Yes. Indeed. That's what I want. But… it's complicated, Grace. I've got no option. I’ve got to go. My dad is sick and I have to live there in England as long as he is undergoing treatment," he said.

Disappointment, sadness, and anger were mixed together in Grace's chest. She could not accept this fact. But she couldn't stop her friend from leaving. It was a serious problem. If she had been in Evan's position, she would have had no other choice either. No matter how close they were as friends, family members were certainly far more important.

“But please promise me, Evan. Don't ever cut off our communication, okay?" Grace asked, starting to sob. Both hands gripped Evan's right and left sleeves. Her head also rested on the guy's chest.

Feeling heartbroken, Evan pulled Grace into his arms. He did not want to leave her either, but fate said otherwise. "I promise, Grace. I promise."

On this New Year's Eve, most people were happy to start anew. But Grace and Evan were drowning in sadness. The two of them were like strong chains that had to be forcibly separated. Both of them secretly hoped they didn't have to separate. However, it was impossible.

[2018, June]

"It's time to move on, Grace. How many years has this been?”

Grace glanced briefly at Nita, her closest office mate, as she cleared up the papers on her desk. "Don't start," she said simply.

"Well, you've been waiting for the guy who's been ghosting you for years. We met four years ago, right, but he's already gone. In fact, you told me that a year after you guys were separated, the communication stopped. That being said, I can say that he already has a life there, and wants to forget you. So don't expect him to come back." Nita expressed her opinion at length, feeling anxious to see her friend doing something unreasonable.

"Are you done with work? Mind your own businesses,” snapped Grace, not wanting to discuss the subject.

Nita sighed, feeling annoyed. "You're already like a sister to me, Grace. So, sorry if I'm such a pain in the neck. But this is for your own good," she uttered. "Instead of you struggling with that guy, what’s his name again? Evan? Well, you’d be better off with Mario. You two are already close. He also cares about you. Just say yes to him. Live happily. You deserve to be happy."

Grace's desk looked neat. She was ready to leave the office, given that work hours were almost over. It was her habit to finish work on time so she wouldn't be late for home.

“What else do you expect from Mario? He's a manager here, Grace. Your life with him will be definitely settled. If I weren't engaged, I'd definitely grab this opportunity you're wasting." Nita was still talking, trying to shake her friend's strong stance.

Grace turned her chair to face the short-haired woman. "Have you finished lecturing me?" She said a little sarcastically. Her ears were itching to hear those words.

Feeling ignored but not offended, Nita touched Grace's arm and said, "I will try my best to make you happy to repay your great kindness in my life, Grace."

"Pay it forward. I didn't help you just to expect something in return." Grace smiled, gently refusing Nita's help to matchmake her with Mario. “And please take note of this. I don't like rich men."

This time Nita was silenced. Grace's words signified her seriousness. Being close to this bull-headed girl made her know when to stop talking.

Grace's phone alarm went off in vibrate mode, letting her know that office hour was over. Grace got up from her chair and said goodbye to Nita. She walked toward the elevator, leaving her work area.

The sun was still shining, golden hues adorned the western sky. As soon as she walked out through the lobby of this famous Bali hotel, Grace's face was sun-kissed and the breeze blew her long brown hair to the side. If only there was a professional photographer around, surely this would make the perfect pose.

It's just that reality didn't always meet expectations or fantasy. Blinded by the sun, Grace's right foot went too wide and landed on the next two steps at once. Unaware of this situation, her body swayed right away.

"Ah!" Grace exclaimed, resigned to finally kissing the ground.

But fortunately, luck was on Grace's side. A pair of strong arms caught her in a warm embrace, saving her from any pain and embarrassment that might befall her.

Due to the sunlight, the face of the man who was helping her was faintly visible. But then he asked, "Miss, are you alright?"

Still not fully aware of what had happened, Grace nodded.

The man straightened the sloppy girl's body back into position. Without saying a word, he turned and left.

"Thank you!" Grace exclaimed as soon as she realized she hadn't said it yet.

Still walking forward, the man half-raised his hand to the side of his head, showing Grace a thumbs up.

"What was that? It was strangely similar to a Korean drama scene, wasn't it? Nah. I might've watched too many dramas." Grace said to herself shaking her head. "Never mind. Forget it. Mom is waiting for me at home."

[ABY]