I Will Always Remember You - Hmong Sad Love Story

Chapter 7: This Must Be A Dream

Ever since Grandpa Va died, he also told me to take care of his house and cows so I did as he asked. I was in the middle of roasting my fishes until I heard a knock at the door. Who at this hour would be knocking at my door I thought to myself. I went to open it anyway. As I open the door, I see Crystal standing there waving at me. "So this is your house now?" She asked. "Yes, how did you find my house?" I ask. "I followed you home." She says in a flirty way. I didn't know how to respond to that but I just ignored it and told her to come in. I hand her one of the roasted fish. "Crystal, can you tell me who you really are and why do you keep following me? You do know that I'm an orphan and if others see you with me, they will make fun of you or even worse. You're also a very beautiful girl, I wouldn't want others to look down on you." I say to her. She took a small bite off the fish and turned her face at me. "That doesn't matter to me. I'm not a part of your people anyway. I'm interested in you and you wouldn't mind that right?" She says. I wasn't sure what she was saying or trying to do but the only thing I can do now is try to talk as much as I can to get some info out of her. "So are you from around here?" I ask. "Yes, I live around here, I see you every day whenever you come to take my chickens and pigs (Hmong dragons call their fish chicken and pig.) Chicken and pig? What is she talking about? I never went to steal any chicken or pig from anyone, is she accusing me? "But I never stole anyone's chickens or pigs." I say confused. "Yes you did, haha, you come to my home on most days and take my chickens and pigs." I had no idea what she was saying but I just apologized and tried to think if I had stolen anyone's pigs or chickens. "It's ok, everyone does that. They always come to my house and take my chicken and pigs when they have nothing to eat. So there's no need to apologize." She says giggling at me. "O-ok then." I say. "Hey Cheenou, do you have a girlfriend?" She asked. Wait, did she just ask if I got a girlfriend? I'm just an orphan who can barely take care of myself. Also, no one even likes me. Why did she ask that? "No I don't. Nobody will like an orphan like me anyway. When my grandpa was alive, he told me I should go find a wife but I can't get any wife knowing that I'm just an orphan that everyone hates and looks down on." I say looking down at the ground as I take a bite off my roasted fish. She frowns then says "If you don't mind, I can be your girlfriend." She says turning her face to look at me. I am in total shock, did she just ask if she can be my girlfriend? Why would such a beautiful girl like this would want an orphan like me? This must be a dream! I got up and hit my head hard with my shovel telling me over and over again that it's just a dream and that she isn't real. But when I look back to see if she was gone, she was still there looking at me confused for a second then she starts to chuckle. "What's so funny?" I asked. "Why did you hit yourself with the shovel, silly." She says laughing at me. "Are you happy now?" I say seriously while looking down. "Am I happy at what?" She asked. "That you get to bully me and lie to an orphan like me just like everyone else would." I say quietly. "You think I'm lying about wanting to be your girlfriend?" She asked. "Of course, no one would ever dare to like someone like me, if you're only here to bully me then you won." I say back turning away but the moment I try to turn away, I feel her warm hands on my shoulders turning me around and kiss me on my lips.