The Sinkhole

Captivated

Attract /verb/

cause to come to a place; evoke, allure, charm; captivate, woo

"I'm surprised how much she attracts me when she's completely different from me."

My grandmother once told me that the most important thing in life is to learn how to give out love, because we don't know how much time is left. When we give love, we attract love. But it's not always about the giving, we should also let ourselves feel it. Love is not a one-way thing.

Bright blue skies, chalk white beaches, turquoise seawater, green-clad island and a lot of beings tying it all together. These are just few of one of God's creations. There are much more in this place; out of this world. But as Kai Abe looks more into the young lady's eyes, he feels like he is the artist of a beautiful canvas.

People always thought the moment you meet with the 'love' of your life would be more like in the movies. You know, the cliché stuff: bad boys turned good, kisses in the rain, climbing through bedroom windows, obviously with the slow-mo and the hair blowing in the chilled breeze and the awful but pleasing instrumental soundtrack, but we all know it only happens in the movies.

But Kai Abe didn't expect a tug at his soul where something goes like, "Hey man, quit staring at her," and stuff like, "You should probably ask her name, now."  Could this be him capturing the messy, awkward, all-consuming emotions of his first love? The young lady stared at her back, maybe planning to ask his name or just waiting for him to do something. He sheepishly smiled and scratched his head, making the lady chuckled.

Their little act was cut off when he felt a tug on the hem of his brown coat. A little girl with pink clips on the side of her hair, eyes are puffy, dress kind of messy, are looking up at Kai. Between her sobs, her hiccups made Kai chuckle. He knelt down to level the little girl and begin to ask her, "What's wrong? Did you come here with your parents?"

The girl nodded, she opened her mouth to talk but her little sobs and hiccups interrupted her. Kai patted her head and held hand with her, in case she'll get lost again. He remembered that there is a lost and found center near the apartment building he lives, so he decided to take the lost girl, hoping for her parents to be there.

Kai tried to talk to the little girl and asked for her name. "My name is Yua Marie and I am seven years old. I came here with my Mama, then someone called her and she left me near the fountain. She was gone for a long time so I decided to find her, but I can't find her anymore." Kai was surprised at how the girl speaks with so much direction. He thought that between her sobs earlier was adorable, but he can also tell that Yua is very smart. That's why in the first place she found him, coincidence that he is a tourist guide or she knows.

After a few minutes of walking, they found the center and asked the workers if a parent went there and was searching for Yua. "Actually, yes. She's in the waiting room, Kai. We're glad you were the one who found her."

Kai smiled and thanked them and went straight in the room. Yua let go of his hand and approach the woman fidgeting on her phone. When she noticed Yua tugging her coat, she burst out crying and hugged her daughter. Kai noticed the pain from the mother's sobs, enough for him to remember his family.

Kai Abe is the second child. He doesn't believe that there is a favoritism between parents. He doesn't hold grudges, because he knows that his mother loves him and took care of him very well, and acting like a child doesn't solve anything. So he shrugged off the uneasy feeling of being not the favorite.

But as he grows older, his father was always coming home drunk. Still loved by his mother, hoping for her husband to behave and be better for the family. So in the process of them taking care of the father, giving unlimited chances, it got worse. Kai still respects his father, but the man he looked up since he was a child, was no longer there. He realized that home wasn't his safe place anymore.

"Ma'am, I was the one who brought Yua here. My name is Kai Abe, I am a tour guide from Odori Park. I have to say you're daughter is a very smart girl, she--"

Kai widened his eyes in shock when the Yua's mother knelt down on her knees very low, thanking him over and over again. Still crying, the woman looked up at Kai and rubbed her palms together, "You don't know how grateful I am young man. I wasn't thinking straight when my husband called me and left Yua at the fountain! I'm sorry, and thank you so much you were the one who brought her here. Thank...you.. Thank you, Kai."

Nothing can come close to the love a mother can give for her children. Mothers make sure that their children are safe and happy throughout the things they may encounter in their every day's journey. It is the unconditional love that a mother feels that drives the feeling of being loved, wanted and nourished. Kai felt a tug at his heart when he heard Yua's mother voice saying his name. He felt a stir of emotions. The woman was still on her knees so Kai knelt down too, and held the woman's hands and helped her stand up.

"Ma'am, thank you for your gratefulness. I am so happy you appreciated my help. I, too, longing for my parent's love, I'm just glad I found your daughter. Yua is very smart, I can tell that you raised her well."

Yua smiled as her mother tugged her closer and touched her hair. The atmosphere lightened and they exchanged laughs and just pure happiness. The mother thanked the staff from the center for accommodating her, and Kai, again. Kai bowed down as a sign of respect, and Yua did the same too.

"Nisan, thank you for helping me find my Mama. I promise I won't get lost again~"

Kai smiled genuinely and patted Yua's head. As the mother and Yua left, Kai felt peace somewhere in his heart. Little did he know that a little helping to people will make a huge impact on his life. He knows that describing a mother's love is personally impossible. He believes that it can be only, truly be understood by those that experience it. He doesn't underestimate the influence that a mother has over a child. Mothers have incredible power over everything that he really respects.

He fixed himself and went in the front lobby. He's friends with the staff, since he's been working as a tourist guide for a very long time. Being a curious person, he noticed that Yua's mother talks like she experienced this before. Like there's an entire fear living inside her now. So she asked the worker from the front lobby if they had seen Yua's mother before.

"Oh, good thing that you asked Kai. I was sure that the mother looked familiar. Then, I remembered that I was working that night when she pounded on the door, unable to open it. She said that she lost her daughter."

"Was it Yua?" Kai asked.

"No, I thought it was earlier, but a moment back there: Yua doesn't look like the kid back then. But the mother didn't found her. Ever again.

Kai felt pain for the mother, like a relationship cut in half. Imagine a mother and daughter to each side of the bridge. While the mother helped the girl cross the bridge, a huge wave went over them and broke the bridge in half. Everything ends. This is catastrophe. Inevitable and apocalypse. The end.

Kai raised his left brow and asked the staff, "What was the name of the lost girl?"

"If I remembered correctly, her name is Kayla Marie."

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