Almost My Love (ONE SHOT)

ONE SHOT

Love strikes when you least expect it, and when it does, you'll never dare to  fight it.

"Hi!" At last he was finally able to say “hi” to her. It takes a lot of milk and convincing from his friends to do this.  And now, here he is, face to face to the woman who made his heart flattered one rainy night on November.

She didn’t respond, panicking he forgot all the lines he practiced in his head. His eyes darted on the book she's  reading—

" Can I borrow that book? " 
He doesn't like the idea of reading long and complicated novel, but perhaps he’ll like the book. He’s a huge fan of comics—the ones with colorful illustrations and full of actions, he enjoyed them a lot.

She looks at him weirdly.
" Little Women." She stated as if  it’s a magic word that could make him disappear. It’s the title of the book, a feminine one. 

The woman nod at him and get back on reading. She agreed!
It's almost like there's a race inside his chest, he might have a heart attack. But at least he was able to take his shot.

He gets up from his seat and walk  directly to his friends’ table. They have a teasing smile plastered on their faces.

"Nice! So what's her name?" Jill his friend, question hits him— He forgot to ask her name!

He looks back to her. But  realized that it's already too late for him to go back and ask her name.

Regret ate him , but later on comforted by the thought of NEXT  TIME

"Here" a woman puts a book in front of him. Feeling drowsy due to sleeping, he's confuse why someone’s giving him a book.

When everything became clear, reality hits, he looks up— a beauty is in front of him! He tried to form  a word to thank her, but he thinks, he lost his tongue somewhere.

" I already told about the librarian about the book, just fill up the form later." She informed him when no words came out from his stupid mouth.  Before he could form a reply, viola she's gone.

For the second  time he forgot to ask her name. Frustrated  he almost one to smack himself. In order not to feel depressed, he comforts himself that next time he will ask her name, he promised to himself he will!

Time pass by like a wind, he's in the library studying and admiring someone. He wants to borrow the book she's reading again, with all the courage he have, he walks towards her seat. He peek on the book she's reading— But shocks! His heart almost jump out of his chest when she turned around. She’s staring at him, lost of words, he tried to move his hands and search for words.

"Okay" she uttered. 
Realizing she don’t want to be bothered, he walk back to his table with a promise to himself.  Next time he will ask her name, next time he will for sure!

The events are cynical, her name remain anonymous.

One morning he woke up with a strong  conviction. Today whatever happens he’ll  approach her, ask her name and form a conversation.
He waited for her… however day wind up yet she didn’t come. Days of waiting turn into weeks, he starts to worry, what if something happen to her? Questions  flooded his mind, he almost lost his sanity.

She never came at the library again—

"Excuse me?"  A woman approached him.

" Are you Jaraya? " Confused how she knows his name, he didn’t respond.

She handed him a small pink notebook, it has a cute rabbit eating carrots design in front.

She explained her intention— stunned, disappointed and grieving he don’t know how to react.  The woman explained to him everything, yet he doesn’t understand.

He left the library, holding the book that's given to him by “HER”—the woman he doesn't
even know the name.

Full of regrets, how come the story that never start ended like this?  Is it possible to feel the pain for someone you don't even know? He silently wish to have an answers to his questions.

When he open her notebook, it’s full of cute doodles, as he flip the pages, he reach the page where a title written boldly.

" BOOKS I WANT TO READ BEFORE I DIE"

He reads every books titles and tried to memorize everything.
At the bottom of the paper her name is written neatly—

"Maraya"

He cried,  weird does men cry? They did. The men who cried are the real brave men, they also experience to love and get hurt. However they’re not going to be stuck with that pain, they'll keep soaring till the pain is already bearable and finally healed.

Jaraya cried all his pain and disappointment. He also  promise to himself that he'll never let any opportunity slides again.

He visited her grave, introduce himself, and said all the unspoken words. Everyday sitting on her grave, he reads a book to Maraya. Half of her list are already finished, but sadly she didn’t make it at the bottom.

Faith didn't gave them a chance to get to know each other, but perhaps next life there’s a chance.

Life is so unpredictable, we never knew what'll happen tomorrow or next day. Never practice the "next time" or "there's still a lot of chance"—nope we're not sure about that. If you ever want to do something go for it, do it!  or if you like some someone confess to him/ her. We don't know what await us, but remember no matter what happened always takes a brave step to move forward. Don't be stuck of the pain of today, always look forward for the healing of tomorrow.

—END—

: Thank you so much for reading this story, i love you!