One Wish

4

You lied to me!

You're so paranoid! Vincent growled. What will happen to me if I enter politics?

You know that's not what I meant, she said, trying to control her anger. We've already talked about that. You promised me not to get into politics!

Dad likes it, Vincent said in a low voice. He does not want to get the attention of people in and out of the Capitol. I can't deny him. And as a principal, your father has a big influence on people. Especially your grandfather. Elijah stared at her boyfriend in amazement. She can't believe she hears that. She could have forgiven him for lying to her. But to hear that from his lips, his motive for their hasty marriage she could not accept.

You want to use me, she hissed. You want to marry me not because you love me but because you want to use me and my family in politics!

Vincent moaned in a way her mentality seemed very narrow. The extent of your imagination, Eli. Of course, I love you. Will I marry you if I don't?

She was seething with anger. If she speaks maybe what else can she say? And they were in the Capitol because Vincent was in his father's office. She didn't want to make a scene. She quickly turned around and left the building.

Elijah! Vincent called, but she did not turn around. She went straight out and hurried to her scooter and before her boyfriend could catch up, she was already gone.

---

I brought you some food, Elijah. You've wasted your time not eating again, you kid! Her Aunt Mihara said in a lecturing tone.

Thank you, Auntie. The big dog sitting next to Elijah immediately stood up and sniffed the food inside the basket.

By the way, Vincent came a while ago. I didn't say you were here as you ordered. He said he would just come back. Are you angry and have you been avoiding your boyfriend for a few days?

The smile disappeared from her lips. I don't want to talk to him, Aunt. What time will I meet my father at the pier? She asked to change the subject.

He said that before five o'clock you should be there. She glanced at another basket that was supposed to hold Elijah's fish catch. It's a good thing and I remembered to bring you food even in the afternoon. I forgot that you won't be standing there until you catch that fishing rod.

I caught something, Auntie. But I let it go because it's not big. She glanced at the fishing rod and hoped someone would pull there any moment. And then at noon, I had breakfast again so I'm not too hungry. She looked up at her old aunt. Can you join me?

No, are you kidding me? I'll be going to the beach later and if I wait for you to catch fish we won't have dinner. And you go early so that a strong wave won't catch you.

Elijah stood up and tied the fishing rod to the wood. Then she turned to her dog sitting next to the food basket.

Hello, Kiwi, she said to the dog as she removed the food from the basket. Except for two bananas and a bottle of water, in one plastic canister, there was rice and in the other two fried chicken. She gave one to Kiwi who immediately devoured it.

If you want rice, Kiwi, that's yours, she spoke to the dog as if it were human and placed the plastic rice in front of it. I've had enough of this banana and fried chicken. I'm on a... diet. She let out a loud laugh to herself. Because she loved to eat. And what she is most thankful for is that she is not even gaining weight.

She was slim for her five feet and six inches in height. Envied by her acquaintances and friends. You can't call her a Miss World beauty but Elijah was pretty. And most of all, Mother Nature has blessed her with a beautiful and delicate complexion. And her cheerfulness further added to the maiden's attraction. She was so easy to please and could laugh and smile at a simple joke.

Hey! She said to Kiwi when she saw that she was sitting on what she was eating, her eyes seemed to be begging. Kiwi was one of her mother's gifts to her. It was just a puppy when it was brought to her and she fell in love with her on sight.

She made a face. The rest of the fried chicken was given to Kiwi. There it is. You are a cheater. She rubbed the lard on her shorts with her hand and again faced the fishing rod while chewing the remaining food in her mouth. She spins the line of it and then throws away the hook and sinker again. But the hook did not immediately sink into the water. It made a clink as if something had hit the little iron.

Elijah frowned and stood up. Looked at that part of the water. What's that, Kiwi? The dog's two ears rose. She made a slight noise and raised her head at the sight of her eyes.

My hook hit a trash bottle! She said disappointingly as the small waves swept the bottle and brought it closer to the dock. This is annoying. She murmured. She spun the line again and threw it into the sea. She reached for the water bottle in the basket and drank. Then she took the banana and the dog's eyes widened. You don't like it! She sighed.

She was splashing her feet on the water while peeling the banana. She would just swallow it when she refocused her attention on the bottle played with by the waves.

H-hey, Kiwi, look... your bottle. She laughed. Maybe there is a genie inside, Kiwi. Take it, quick! She patted Kiwi simultaneously pointing to the water.

Kiwi immediately followed and jumped into the water. If that's a genie, Kiwi, I'll let you go, then I'll make a wish. That he made us rich! And my second wish... She paused for a while, thinking about what to ask next. Then she snapped two fingers. That I will ask to make you a human. A rich and gorgeous Arabian princess! Again her laughter echoed around at the silly thought.

Kiwi pushes the snout closer to the bottle closer to Elijah. Elijah landed on the dock to reach for the water bottle. Maybe it's just garbage? She twisted it first before deciding to open it completely. Before he could toss the bottle to retrieve its contents, Kiwi was beside her and shook herself. All the water hit Elijah's body.

Kiwi, I am wet! She screamed. She continued to open the bottle. Her index finger reached for it. When it was retrieved, she open the paper.

Wow, a message in a bottle, Kiwi! It's like a movie! She said amused. Let us see what is written there.

I am a very rich woman but a lonely one. Find me, and I will take you to the ends of the earth...

Elijah laughed. Really, huh? And there's a calling card included. Hmm... J.N Langley, vice president... Langley Group of Companies. She leaned over and turned to Kiwi who was looking at her.

Who could be crazy to do this, Kiwi? How romantic and foolish. What do you think? Does this woman exist? Did she really write the message? Or did someone just pick up a calling card and joke and put it in the bottle with the message? And why would someone who claims to be someone like this bother to do this nonsense? She flicked the calling card again. It looks authentic the texture of the paper is beautiful and expensive.

The dog just growled. The ears rose. And what does this Ms. Langley look like? Oh, well... in her position in the company, she's probably as old as Warren Buffet.

She shrugged. She folded the message and returned to the bottle. She squeezed the calling card inside her blouse towards the inside of her bra.

Let's go back to that later, Kiwi. Kiwi jumped towards the boat as she removed the rope from the wood. She then started the engine of the big boat. Soon after, she set sail to pick up her father.