Always Been You

[2007, April]

“Hey, hey. Are you there?”

This question kept sounding vague to Grace. But her eyes were too heavy to stay open, and her head felt too dizzy to be fully alert. “Please, save my Mom,” she whispered.

It was pouring rain that afternoon. The sky looked so dark and gloomy. The cars that had been barely moving along the one-way street suddenly came to a complete stop because of a traffic collision involving three motorcycle riders. While Grace and her mom helplessly lay on the street, the person responsible for the incident managed to escape.

Having been in the same shoes once, Evan couldn't care less about his expensive clothes getting wet and dirty. He just wanted to help the casualties. Seeing how a total stranger helped him in the past and gave him 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 placed it under the girl's head as a pillow. “Please wait here.”

Then, he left Grace and moved toward the middle-aged woman on the side of the road. She didn't look good. Blood was coming out of the back of her head. Evan believed she 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 a distant location. 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 understood the severity of the situation.

"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 spot. No matter how difficult it was to get them, he began shouting around the cars nearby. He ran back and forth, past people who didn't seem willing to help.

An umbrella and a clean T-shirt were easy to find, but alcohol was not. Realizing that both items in his hands were essential, Evan rushed back to the scene. He handed her the clean T-shirt while shielding the young doctor and the woman.

Fortunately, someone arrived offering assistance. Evan immediately asked him to hold the umbrella. He also knew the girl lying near her motorcycle couldn't be left alone either.

Evan hurriedly carried Grace's body into the shade of a tree. He gently laid her in his arms. Then he grabbed a jacket from his backpack to serve as an umbrella for the helpless girl.

"Oh God, please save them," Evan whispered in a faint voice.

Although nearly unconscious, the guy's words managed to bring a smile to Grace's face.

[2011, December]

Grace was holding two large plastic bags filled with spicy meatball satay and ball-shaped dumplings. She grabbed them quickly because she wanted to watch the fireworks from her roof. This New Year’s Eve tradition had gone on for nearly five years with her best friend.

"Evan! Help!”

Evan immediately turned around and moved closer. "What a habit! You bought too much," he said, looking into the plastic bags.

"Well, we usually stay until dawn, so we need plenty of supplies," Grace chirped, especially when the first big fireworks went off. "Oh, it's starting!" Instead of giving him just one bag, she handed him all of them and then ran to the edge of the roof.

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

Grace's childlike exclamations didn't stop for a while. She really enjoyed screaming as loudly 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 Handycam. Somehow, he enjoyed this sight without getting bored—more accurately, he was 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 and then took the Handycam from his best friend.

However, Evan aimed the camera so that not only he 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, as if holding a microphone, and thrust it at the interviewee.

Grace nodded confidently and replied, “Of course. Whatever happens, I'm ready for it! Plus, I have a friend like you by my side, Mr. Evan Williams."

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

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

Evan slowly looked at his best friend. "I… have to go to England, Grace," he told her in a soft 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 churned together in Grace's chest as she struggled to accept the reality of the situation. She knew she couldn't stop her friend from leaving, but it felt like a serious problem. If she were in Evan's position, she would have no choice either; family members, after all, were far more important than even the closest friendships.

“Please promise me, Evan, that you'll never cut off our communication, okay?" Grace pleaded, tears beginning to fall. She gripped both of Evan's sleeves tightly, her head resting against his chest.

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

On New Year's Eve, while most people were excited to start fresh, Grace and Evan felt overwhelmed by sadness. They felt like they were bound by strong chains that needed to be broken. Deep down, both secretly hoped their breakup wouldn't have to happen.

But it seemed impossible.

[2018, June]

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

Grace glanced briefly at Nita, her closest office mate, as she cleaned up the papers on her desk. "Don't start," she cut Nita off, not wanting to get more stressed after a long day.

However, Nita seemed determined to continue. "You've been waiting for a guy who has ghosted you for years. We met four years ago, right? But he’s already gone. In fact, you told me that a year after you two separated, the communication stopped. That means he probably has a life where he is now and wants to forget you. So, don’t expect him to come back," she expressed her opinion at length, anxious to see her friend stop holding on to something unreasonable.

Are you finished with work? For the past few days, you've been working overtime because you haven't been finishing your tasks on time. So, mind your own business," snapped Grace, not wanting to discuss the subject. She knew she was a little too harsh, but she couldn't help it. After all, she had already warned her not to continue this discussion, but she ignored it.

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 said, defending herself. "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 was tidy as she prepared to leave the office; work hours were nearly over. It was her habit to finish on time so she wouldn’t be late getting home to help her mom.

“What else do you expect from Mario? He’s a manager here, Grace. You will definitely settle your life with him. I’ve looked into him, and I know he’s perfect husband material. You know what? If I weren’t engaged, I would definitely take advantage of this opportunity you’re wasting!” Nita continued to talk, trying to change her friend’s mind.

Grace turned her chair to face the medium-length-haired woman. "Have you finished lecturing me?" she said a little more 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."

Ever since Grace helped Nita with some financial issues when her dad was hospitalized, she felt indebted to her. In fact, she was the only one who was there for her, even when all of her relatives refused to lend a helping hand. Therefore, she was determined to repay her kindness.

"Pay it forward. I didn't help you just to expect something in return." Grace refused Nita's offer to set her up with Mario. “And please note this. I don't like rich men."

This time, Nita remained quiet. Being close to this stubborn girl made her realize when to stop talking. Grace's final statement showed her seriousness. The key phrase was 'rich men,' which referred to her dad.

Grace's phone alarm went off on vibrate mode, signaling that office hours were over. Grace stood up from her chair and said goodbye to Nita. She headed toward the elevator, leaving her work area. Though she regretted being too hard on herself and knew she actually meant well, she wasn't in the mood to go back and apologize.

The sun was still shining, with golden hues lighting up the western sky. As she stepped out of the lobby of this famous Bali hotel, Grace's face was sun-kissed, and the breeze swept her long brown hair to the side. If only a professional photographer were nearby, this would absolutely be the perfect shot.

The problem was that reality didn't always match expectations or fantasies. Blinded by the sun, Grace's right foot went too far to the side and landed on the next two steps simultaneously. Unaware of what was happening, her body swayed to the right instantly.

"Ah!" Grace exclaimed, resigned to finally hitting the ground. She didn't even get a chance to shield herself with her hands.

Fortunately, luck was on her side. A pair of strong arms caught her in a warm embrace, shielding her from any pain and embarrassment that could have come her way.

Because of the sunlight, the man's face, 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. She seemed to need a moment to recover from the 'almost' fall.

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

"Thank you!" Grace exclaimed as soon as she realized she hadn't said it yet. She had never in her life forgotten to say thanks after receiving help, no matter how small. It was all thanks to her long-gone best friend.

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

With her eyes fixed on the man's figure, Grace observed his attractive features from behind. He was tall and quite muscular, at least as far as she could see. His hair resembled Liam Hemsworth's when he attended the 2019 Met Gala. He might be good-looking. It was only natural that any girl would have a crush on him upon first meeting.

"What am I thinking?" Grace shook her head, brushing off her idea about him. But then a flash of memory, of when the man saved her, popped into her mind. "Ooh, it was strangely similar to a Korean drama scene, wasn't it? Nah. I might have watched too many dramas." Grace said to herself, shaking her head. "Never mind. Forget it. Mom is waiting for me at home.”

[ABY]