> * Do the right thing even when no one is watching. — Oprah Winfrey. * *** ----- Mira ------ It's been one week since I'd last heard from Jose. Though we've been in no contact for almost three weeks, it still feels different, especially after our last encounter. The memory of how he'd thrown me out of his room the other day still haunts me, though I knew he’d only done that because he was pissed. Yet, it didn't stop it from hurting. “ How could he? ” As much as I try to make excuses for him, it still doesn't change the fact that he'd hurt me. I've always heard that being sensitive and understanding is a bad thing, I'd never known how true that was until now. On one hand, I'm very well aware of how hurt he is by what happened, but yet it still doesn't give him the right to treat me the way he did. It doesn't. My alarm clock went off indicating the end of my ten minute break. I went back to my desk and plopped my butt on my study chair, as I opened my bi
> * You can't connect the dots looking forward, you can only connect them looking backwards. --- Steve jobs. * **** ----- Joseph ----- I sat on my bed after breakfast, feeling confused and lost. I'd thought my decision had been set and unchangeable until the conversation I had with Nanny. “ Am I really blinded by Vera's words, that I'm failing to see the truth? ” “ Am I paying more attention to logic than to my heart? ” ‘ Always listen to your heart, Jose. ’ Mira's words from two years ago rang in my mind, making me wonder if I'm really doing that. Am I really not listening to my heart? Is that why I've been way too confused? “ What should I do, Lord? ” I stared at the painting of Mira, I had hung on the wall with mixed thoughts. I desperately wanted to believe that Mira's innocent and Nanny's right. But how can I do that, when all odds are against her? Especially now that believing in her will mean betraying my girlfriend. “ I'll never hurt you, Jose. You know
> * If you live each day as if it were your last, then one day you most certainly will be right. * *** —Joseph — I arrived at the canteen in no time and found it crowded as usual - it was filled up with my school mates; chatting, gisting, laughing and eating. I covered my hair and half of my face with a hoodie, trying hard to go on unnoticed but failed. “ Isn't that Joseph Winfrey? ” I heard a girl say and all eyes Immediately turned on me. “ Yes, it's him. ” “ What do you think he's doing here? ” “ What do you think? ” “ Haven't you seen how depressed Vera Lynn had been ever since he was suspended. ” “ Oh… I wouldn't be surprised if he came here to see her. ” “ What do you expect? ” Ignoring the chatters around me, I walked into the canteen in search of Vera and soon found her at our usual spot. Vera Lynn, she lived up to the beauty of her name as she's an epitome of beauty. With straight brownish black long hair, well blossomed pink lips
>* You gotta find what you love. *****----- Joseph ------Vera was dressed in the school's uniform; light purple shirt, dark purple flay skirt, white pop socks and black flat shoes. Her long hair covered half of her face as she scrolled through her phone with her well manicured fingers. She didn't notice my presence even when I stood right beside her. “ Hey Babe. ” She looked up immediately, I didn't miss the beautiful smile that made its way to her lips the moment she saw me. “ Hey, Joe… ” She stood up and crashed into my embrace, hugging me tightly. “ I've missed you a lot. "Her words made my heart swell with wonder and pride. “ Me too. ” I replied, patting her hair.We remained in that position for minutes in silence until she spoke up, “ I've missed your presence greatly. ” I sighed, breaking the hug. “ Let's have a seat. ” I pulled her towards the chair and we both took a seat side by side. “ Have you ordered? ”“ Not yet, I was waiting for you. ” she said w
> * If dreams were easy, everyone would make it happen. * *** ------ Mira ------ Saturday, I headed to the restaurant earlier than usual today, since I now have less commitments. The sky was clear and beautiful. I'd always loved staring up at the sky as a child. An almost forgotten memory from my childhood flashed in my mind. I was 4 years old and popularly known as the Daddy's girl. It was on my birthday and we had a picnic at the beach. Though old enough to move around, I stay clung to my Dad like a koala. “ Dad, what are those little shiny things in the sky? ” “ They are called stars, Ira. ” “ What are stars? ” “ They are huge, glowing balls of gasses and each one of them is bigger than the earth. ” “ Really, Dad? ” “ Yes, Ira and you know what? ” “ What's it, Dad? ” “ There are about 200 billion trillion stars in the universe and God knows them all by name. ” “ Wow. ” I remembered the companionable silence that had reigned between us, before I spoke u
> * There's power in momentum. * **** ------ Mira ------ I rolled on my bed for the time being, not able to sleep despite being exhausted. Though it's been several hours since Felicia and I spoke, I couldn't stop pondering on her plan. Though it appeared perfect and flawless from a stranger's point of view, when I looked at it from a close range, I could see the many flaws in it. She'd asked me to appear defeated and deflated, as this way, Vera and her friends will be able to relent thinking they've won. Then, I'll use that opportunity to penetrate into their circle and sow discord among them. It seemed very simple and concise, but is it really? Definitely not. First because Vera isn't just a beauty, but a very intelligent, smart and cunning one, her friends were also the same. So why wouldn't they suspect if I started being friendly and docile towards them? They definitely aren't stupid. Because if they were, they wouldn't have succeeded in capturing the hea
> * Everytime you lose at something, you are one step closer to winning the next time. * **** ----- Joseph ------ I'd always been an expert at decision making. “ Don't think of the odds, just follow your Intuition. ” Has been my mantra. But now? I'm faced with a tough decision which requires me not to only follow my intuition, but also my heart as this concerns two ladies in my life. One is my best friend of over five years and the second is the love of my life, Vera Lynn. I've seen a lot of guys have both a best friend and a girlfriend and succeeded in maintaining a balance. But why is mine so different? Couldn't Mira have simply been happy with my relationship with Vera and not tried to split us apart? If she had, then I wouldn't be stuck between two mountains. “ We'll always be together right, Jose? ” The image of fourteen year old Miranda flashed in my eyes. It was May 3rd, on my sixteenth birthday and we'd sat in the living room consuming the remnants of th
> * Don't just dream. Dream big. * **** Flash back ( 1 ) “ I'm feeling dizzy, Jose! ” Thirteen year old Mira complained, as she ran ahead with her best friend trailing right behind her trying to catch up with her. “ Stop chasing after me. ” She pleaded, increasing her pace as her plea fell on deaf ears. She ran till she was out of the house and collapsed on the ground, Joseph caught up with her and laid right beside her on the slightly damp grass. They laid there for several minutes in silence, simply staring at the clouds. “ The sky is beautiful today, Jose. ” “ It's always beautiful, Miranda. ” His sullen voice was heard beside her. “ Maybe, but I don't see the beauty of it on most days. ” “ Yeah, but the fact remains that it's always beautiful. ” He paused, “ It's just like life, you know. It's said that it's 10 percent of what happens to us and 90 percent how we react to it. There are good and bad days, we simply have to learn to maintain a balance be