Chapter 1
"Brandon," I hold his hand in mine as he lay on the hospital bed.
He seems so weak. It's hard for me to look at him in his eyes. Brandon was the captain of our high school football team. His enthusiasm for the sport was evident in his eyes. He is ready to push himself every time during practice.
The gleam in his eyes as he punches his victorious waves in the air was a sight to see. I was there, in his every game, cheering him up. The smile plastered on his face as he scored the goal still hangs there in my mind.
Gone the bulging muscle on his arm and torso, leaving only bones. His eyes that one sparkles every time he smiles replaced with sadness. He is the love of my life and will always be. His view on life was different from mine. He always tells me that we need to enjoy every moment of life as if it is the last day of our life.
"Life throws you lemons, pick it up, throw in the juice blender, swoosh, lemonade," that was his advice to me if I come to him whining about my problem. Live for me, must be taken seriously, set up with a career. There must be a purpose in our life, which is what I always tell him.
His reply amazes me, "We work hard to earn money, to get this and that but do we take that to the grave?"
"We take people's love with us, people blessing and prayers with us, nothing more" than what he said whenever we argue.
True to his jovial spirit, he lives his life with fun and free spirit as I toiled in the university, to get my hold on a piece of paper. Whenever we meet, however, we didn't let our different views get in between our love.
He smiles at me weakly, groaning in pain as he tries to move closer to me. My hand stopped him. "It's okay handsome, I'm here."
"Regina, your word tickles me," he speaks slowly.
His finger showed me the table on my back. My eyes darted to the place where he pointed. Standing up, I showed him one item on the table. He shakes his head. Finally, when I show him an old brown leather-bound notebook; he nodded.
My fingers were on the tie, which was on the book when his finger lay on top of my hand. "Opens it when I'm no longer in this world," he instructed.
Tears almost rolled down on my cheek, "You will get better, believe me."
He gave me a crooked smile, "Do you believe that? my love?" he hurled his question at me.
I stand there, dumbfounded. There is no answer to that question. I feel defeated with his question. Sighing, I rested my head next to his body, grabbing his hand into mine.
"I've lived my life the way I want, we're just twenty, I know but-," he coughs.
Hurriedly, I placed a cup of water to his lips, helping him to drink it.
"I don't have regrets, but... If I survive this... Which seems impossible now, I want to get married to you," his eyes look at me adoringly.
"Are you proposing to me? On the bed?" I smiled at him, while my finger caressing his cheek.
He shakes his head as his eyes drooping. I couldn't decipher the longing look in his eyes at that time. Suddenly his grip on my hand loosened as the machine beside him blaring. Doctors with nurses then barged in. His family walks in at the same time. The small room was cramped with people and chaos.
Panic started to settle inside me. My stomach suddenly feels like it falls on the floor and my breath caught in the back of my throat. I can still see his eyes fluttering as they bored into mine. The doctor then blocked my view as he tried to recuperate him. They were hurling at each other with medical terms that were beyond my understanding. Black filled the edge of my vision. The only thing I can hear was my heartbeat.
Slowly they then move away, plucking out the wires away from him. I know right there that the love of my life may be elsewhere free of pain. The doctor was consoling Brandon's mum, who was wailing out his name. Clutching his book to my chest, I walk towards his lifeless body, kissing his still warm forehead, bidding him adieu.
Today, two weeks have passed since Brandon laid to rest. Many people attended his funeral. In his short life, he has touched other people's lives, helping them. His words replayed in my mind, "We take people's love with us, people blessing and prayers with us, nothing more".
Sitting on the bench at the park, which was our favorite bench, I opened his notebook. The first page makes my eyes blurry with my tears.
Regina, my love,
You're the fire in my heart that melts away all my worries.
Your smile is like the sunshine after a rainy day,
Your eyes, it likes two orbs of fire, full of life.
The only thing is, you are so serious, losing the joy of life in it.
Dear cutie Pie,
Please remember me in your prayers
Regina, I have started writing this book since I know that I'm dying. I'm just a guest in this world for few days.
Darling, I'm the proof that life is too short for you to stay serious all the time. Live your life at the moment. Take time to enjoy it. Take time to help others then you will do a great job in your life.
Since the day I got the news, I've listed down the things I want to do before...you know. you reading this means two things, one, I'm no longer there, beside you. Second, there are unfulfilled wish that I want you to fulfill it.
Do it for both of us, please. Live your life a little as I did.
There is a warning though, don't move to the next page unless you have fulfilled the one on the previous page. Take it slowly my dear. Once the wish has already been fulfilled, you have to take a picture. I'm looking at you from up here, remember that!
Then, I flipped the page, one by one the wishes that he already fulfilled like playing in the mud with kids. Helping 10 couples to get married. I laughed as the one that he helps, was the old couple. Dancing in rain was his fourth wish, which he has a photo of both of us, dancing under the rain. It was taken about ten months ago, meaning that he already knew about cancer that finally took him away from me.
I flipped the page until I stop on a page that doesn't have any picture attached to it. Written on it is, Attending someone's funeral to realize that, death will be around the corner, cherish your life as you are still breathing.
Tears rolled down my cheek, as that wish has been fulfilled by me, as I have attended his funeral two weeks ago
TEN people!I have to wait for ten people before ordering two cups of cappuccino.Slowly, pulling down the zip, my fingers touched a thousand things that I chucked into the bag hastily this morning.my eyes widened with a wicked smile plastered on my face as I found the thing that will push the plan forward.Glancing around, I have to make sure that nobody sees me or looking at me suspiciously. Satisfied that nobody is watching me, I throw out the plastic snake on the floor while screaming on top of my voice, like a crazy banshee. "snake, help."With people running around, trying to save themselves from the 'poisonous snake', I moved forward, placing myself at the front.
Chapter 3(unedited) The light in the cabin flickered, on and off before going off. Did I tell you that I hate darkness? The only light in the cabin is the light from the thunder outside. My hand closing my ear every time the light brightens inside the cabin. Add that to the list, thunder with flashes of light. Just the right combination for a perfect horror story. Ironically, this is what I pictured whenever I read a thriller or a mystery novel. It's in a situation like this the murderer will come to the heroine, hiding his weapon stealthily under his coat. You will read further with your heart pounding behind your chest as if you want to warn the heroine or the main character, hey look out. As if god is granting my wish, I saw an obsidian shadow nearing me in a very suspicious manner. My eyes flew open, fearing my life. This is not how I expect my life to end. Taking trembling step backwards, I looked around. Someone help me, please.
Out of thousands of flights today, why it should be mine that was affected by the weather? The bad curse has been following me since I met that Mr Dumbass that kept on asking whether I know him or not.The turbulence that happened a while ago was just a sign. Unfortunately, due to bad weather, the pilot had to land the plane at Mykonos. Athens is not far but again, bad weather and it means no travelling by land too."How would I know Jenna? It's not like Thor is my boyfriend and I can ask him to create this bad weather." I yelled. A small headache forming on the frontal part of my head. it will be a big one later."You know what, it was your fault. Destination wedding my foot." Someone gasped behind me hearing me throwing back the blame to a bride who has gone to bridezilla mode.The wedding is not tomorrow. It will be held on this Saturday. Five days more and I'm just the guest, not someone special. holding the mobile, I knocked it to my head.
The sound of chirping was the first thing I heard as I opens my eyes slowly. Groggily, extending my arms sideways, I yawned. Rays of yellow hues with a tinge of red peeked through the window. As the colours clashed with the glass, a rainbow of beautiful colours splashed on the tiles, creating a stunning view celebrating a new morning with a new day and I hoped for better ones.A ding whistled, signalling a new message. After entering the password, I smiled. Indeed it was a promising morning, with favourable news. The weather has changed for the better and now the flight to Athens continues as normal.Then, a small flicker interrupted the reasonable train of thought. This means only one thing. I and Alex will meet again.Deciding not to disturb the nice feeling I'm having, I lifted that thought away. Morning is better started with coffee and a smile.After having quite a decent breakfast consist of toast and eggs, I made my way back to Mykonos Airpor
ALEX POVTrudging the small space provided in the room, I sighed again. I've told Jack there will be snow in Africa, but there is no way in this current time that I will be willingly agreeing to be his best man. There was a lot of other option than I. There is no lack of good looking men in the family.Furthermore, that woman is married. Shouldn't be her husband be the best pairing?Thousands of questions now besieged my mind. Imposing a lot of question marks. That woman is like a puzzle with a missing piece. Nothing seems to be the right fitting. Changing into a polo t-shirt, I make my way towards Jack's room.Knocking on his door, he let me in after a few seconds."Look for another best man." I gave my answer without him asking."You can ask Will. He'll be ecstatic."Jack sighed. "I want you, man. Have I asked any favour from you before?"Shaking my head, "Nope. Ask me anything but no
REGINA"What happened between the both of you?" Jenna yelled, closing the door with a hard push. "Nothing," I said shrugging my shoulder. "And what is he talking about Brandon being your husband?" Her eyes bored into mine, asking for an explanation. "He made his assumption Jenna." sighing, I showed the ring. Slowly, I trudged the short gap between me and the bed. Sitting on the end side I looked around, trying to avoid Jenna's piercing look. Knowing Jenna, she won't be satisfied until I tell her the whole drama. So, I begin the story with the first incident, splashing the coffee on his shirt. I have to stop a few times when she needs me to repeat the biting episode.I thought she would be angry and the few curse words that she knew will fly out of her mouth and I will be stopping her from going out of this room and punching that asshole that she called her fiance's cousin. Lo and behold, she is laughing like a mad woman. "You bite his hand?""yeah," I answered, munching some fr
PEACE, NO WAR?SHOPPING with Jenna was something I dreaded as her cousin. She has this amazing stamina while I have a problem with my heel.It's not like I can lessen the pain by wearing flat-heeled sandals. It's just something that I inherited from my grandma. She had the same problem. The solution is less walking. Which seems impossible today. "Jenna, this is the last boutique. Please." "The last for today. I hope we can find something for you here." she walked inside the boutique that has this lavish outlook on the outside."I'm looking for a bridesmaid dress," Jenna announce to a rather jovial-looking girl at the counter."What colour would you prefer to have a look at?" The same girl asked.Jenna looked around for a while, not answering the girl's question."Any colour frankly and any type of dress," I answered. I'm the one who is going to wear it right? So it's better suited to my preference.The girl which has a name tag that reads as Rebecca called out another rather elegan
CAKE ANYONE?JENNA as my cousin and as the bride are two different people. One is calm, happy, kind and nice to be with. One quality that can be good and bad at the same time is being a perfectionist.The same person however as a bride is like a horror movie. I don't understand the term bridezilla before this. Looking at her, I now fathom the term 'Zilla' at the end. Warning though, don't tell her that. She will chew me as dinner and flush me during breakfast.Jenna as a bride is terrifying. She needs everything to work out as she planned in small detail. She wants the seating like this. Flower arrangements like a Google picture. The bridesmaid has to walk like this and wave like that. I must smile as I meant it. Wedding planner? She is an event manager. Imagine that event planner as a bride. Cool ha!"I have looked around, Regina. My shoes are missing and the hair clips are missing. On top of that, we are late for the cake tasting." She sat down, looking under the bed and fat tears