Memories

Prologue: Rocky

It's been ten years since I have been living here on Grand Avenue in North Bergen, New Jersey. I have been working as a business analyst for the past five years. The great thing about my work is it's hybrid. Most of the time I work from home. Only about five to seven days a month do I have to visit the office in New York.

I graduated high school in 2013. Half of my friends graduated not only with a high school diploma but also with a girlfriend ... for some cases, girlfriends. Hopefully, you got my point!

Anyways. I was the guy who was falling for every other girl. And of course not. I'm not a pervert. It was just that I was a shy guy. I was afraid to talk to people, especially the girls. So basically what I was looking for was that I wanted a girl who starts a conversation with me. I wanted the girl to fall for me and make a first move ... the girl who can change me and help me speak up.

I knew one out of a thousand would propose to a guy or express her feelings at first to the guy. And. When you are in high school, of course, there is no girl who would go for you first. It's the boy who must make the first move to get the girl. Yet, as I already said I was a shy guy, and I didn't have the courage to talk to girls ... no doubt I graduated with a diploma only. Being single. Honestly, I don't have any guilt for that. Everything happens for a reason, and I'm sure I will find someone better. All I need to do is to have patience.

Believe me. It was all worth it.

It was summer break. The first semester of my last year at college was about to start in two weeks. It was a rainy day, and I had off from work on Saturday as always. I was watching the new season of my favorite Netflix series. I was enjoying it. The fact about me is that I don't get distracted once I start watching my favorite series. No matter what's been happening around me. My focus stays still on the TV ... in finding what would happen next in the episode.

But for the first time, I found someone who broke my record of not getting distracted from continuously watching the series.

Mom entered the living room where I was watching the series on TV as I was alone in the house. I didn't notice her presence as I was lost on the TV. As always, she must have shouted my name entering the room. Yet, it's possible I didn't hear her.

But after her, I felt someone's presence as well. I also felt her calling my name. However, I ignored my feelings and continued to focus on the episode. But then I heard a sweet voice. I didn't catch the words, but they did touch my senses. It reached my ears smoothly without any discomfort. It forced me to look at her.

It was a heavenly moment for me. I looked at her, and I just kept staring at her. My eyes were wide, and my mouth was slightly open. My brain wondered how someone can be this beautiful. I'm sure she is much much gorgeous than an angel.

"Hi!" She said.

I tried to greet her, but it seemed like the words were stuck in my throat.

"She's her daughter," said Mom.

I was still unresponsive. It was the first time that TV sound ... more specifically the sound of my favorite series was unable to reach my ears.

A few more seconds, and thank God I was able to say, "H-hi!"

I glanced at Mom and her friend. They were smiling, looking at me. It seemed like they were mocking my act; the way I reacted seeing the daughter of Mom's friend. Then I noticed the same mysterious smile on the girl's face.

"Her name is Sarah," said Mom. "And this is my friend, Luna."

"I'm Rocky. It's nice to meet you," I said, smiling, looking at Sarah first, and then I only glanced at Mrs. Luna while keeping that same smile on my face.

"It's nice meeting you, too," said Sarah, smiling.

"Absolutely," said Mrs. Luna. "I have heard many good things about you." The smile on her face was mysterious. It seemed like she spotted my feelings for her daughter, and she didn't have any complaints about that.

Yet, somewhere inside me, I was getting nervous. I wanted to start talking to Sarah. A lot. Yet, I didn't know where to start. Then as I found Mom and Mrs. Luna glancing at me and Sarah looking at one another, I started feeling shy. I looked down and then to the right out the window. It was different that Sarah stood looking at me, beaming. She wasn't a shy girl for sure. I could say at that moment that she was fearless and a daring girl. And I was completely the opposite.

I tried to say it's nice weather today. However, I stayed quiet. The words didn't come out as I felt it would be too much in the first meeting. It's different that now I understand that it would have been perfect to start a conversation with Sarah and her mom. It was possible I might have impressed her mom as well.

Yet. I was completely stupid. A fucking shy guy.

Then I looked at the TV and then down again.

"I think we should get going," said Mom. "They are here to have their eyebrows set with me."

Now I felt comfortable.

Sarah looked at me. A smile on her face had disappeared.

"That's good," I said. I was slightly sweating now. It wasn't because it was a hot summer day, but it was because I was getting nervous and shy, more and more.

Mom began walking toward the stairs on the left leading down the basement.

"Will see you later," said Mrs. Luna.

"Sure."

She began walking after Mom.

Before I could say something to Sarah, she began walking after Mrs. Luna. I smiled at her at least, but she just completely ignored me. Her face also portrayed slight disappointment and anger. It didn't go well as she expected from me. I thought my behavior didn't match my personality. And I knew without any doubt that I had to work hard to change myself to make my behavior match my personality.