Dream Page

The envelope

Yulan began, "His heart is closed in an envelope which was delivered to his loved one. She has his heart and he has hers. Meeting again, their halves of the heart will become the whole. " 

.............

It's cloudy and cold today.
A text came to Sarah saying her due date to pay student loans is over and she is requested to pay it as soon as possible.
 Her childhood was always hit by shortness of money.
Once, her family was solvent.
But her dad lost all the money in business investments and tremendous loss.
They started living in pain.
Such pain in the middle class is the worst.
It can't be shown yet cannot be kept hidden.
Her father never willed to pay for her tuition fees afterward and her studies would have been stopped if not for her uncle who supported her financially.

She never told such things to anyone else except Alex.
Alex was like a shade on a sunny day to her.
So, her summer vacation was spent with Alex, her second but only alive relative from her father's side.
No sooner had she gotten into college than she left her home to live in Quebec.
She bought a house and settled there.
She is currently working as a fashion designer and is currently struggling to pay off her dad's other debts too.
Last week a text from the central bank came.

I think she'll manage maybe.
Maybe.


.........

She fretted, " What should I do? I can't pay 6 Million CA$ at this moment. I will be doomed if I don't! WHAT SHOULD I DO?!"

She sold her house and paid the debts.
She went to Ottawa to stay with Alex for a few days to find a house with lower rent.


She noticed that her cousin is kinda inattentive to daily life.
She drops things here and there.
She is not noticing many things and is not remembering everything.

Sarah showed, " My new parka. How do I look?"
Alex jerked, " Huh what? Oh, nice."
Sarah fumed, " Are you even listening? Are you okay?"
Alex replied with a straight face, " Yeah. I'm okay."
Saying this, she left the room.

Sarah suddenly heard a loud shriek from Alex's room and saw Alex's sudden absence. 

Alex kept on hitting the one who took her away. The person turned to her and shook her shoulder lightly as he was looking directly into her eyes.
It was Zuch.
Last night she went back to her home.
His eyes were full of regret as his eyebrows were brought together and raised.
He let out a deep breath and hugged her tightly.
He wrapped his arms more closely to her and burrowed his face on her shoulders.

Alex smiled and hugged him back.
She chuckled, " Why? Missing me already? You like me?"

Zuch burrowed his face more as if he were both hiding his face and hiding her from the world. 

It seemed to last longer, but he pulled away and took a glance at her with teary eyes.

He hugged her back tightly and sobbed, "Don't leave me ever again. I never knew I could cry again. It feels like Minzo is dying once again. But even if you're not her--never leave me again. Okay?"

Alex laughed and then kept smiling.
She patted him softly comforting, " Aww! I didn't know you were THAT cute! Fine! I like you a bit though. Not even equal to your 20%."

Zuch pulled away but was still holding her shoulders.
He wiped his eyes and replied, " I didn't know too. I'm shocked myself. More like embarrassment. I hate my sudden emotional bursts."

Alex joked, "Bursts? You had it before?"

He nodded. He began, " 6 years ago, I went to a nightclub and noticed a tomboy girl wearing casual clothes who was having Cola. But a girl spilled willingly wine on her to insult her. I broke a wine bottle in front of the mean one to scare her and escorted myself out of the club. For unknown reasons, I was extremely furious that day."

Alex chuckled and cupped his face to gaze into his eyes.
She kissed his forehead and he absorbed the kiss with his eyes closed.
 She assured him, "You're seriously unforgettable. I remember you. It was Me!"

Zuch chuckled softly, " Liar."
Alex smiled, " You may never know."

Both of their smiles vanished into a gaze and they don't know that they are close enough.
Their closeness results in touching their lips softly.
Then losing themselves in each other.
He brought her closer for this soft first kiss.


Things changed as soon as  Alex suddenly pulled away and noticed her lip was bleeding.
Zuch was shocked too.


Alex was too shocked to speak when Zuch immediately apologized, " What have I done?! I'm Sorry! I did not intend to! I--"

Alex just backed and raised a hand to make a gesture meaning it's okay. 

His expression changed to that cold one he, Zai, and Gaven share.
Zuch explained being embarrassed, "I tend to forget the fact that I can't be like you. I'm sorry."

Zuch left and Alex woke up from sleep.
She was flustered.
She wondered what happened.
She touched her lip and realized it bled. 

                                                                               TO BE CONTINUED...