Chapter One
My name is Clayton Nathaniel Xavier Walter Jacobs. (yes, you've read it right, my friedn, I do have five names) My dad is this 1/4 Caucasian and 3/4 Korean guy (okay, let me explain that. You see, my grandfather—my dad's dad—is a full Korean guy, while my grandmother—my dad's mom—is half Korean and half American. I know it's complicated but, you get the picture), while my mom is the 3rd daughter of this African ambassador and his wife, who happens to be a duchess. My mom's British, by the way. Well, she's half African, (again, my grandfather—my mom's dad—is African and my grandmother—my mom's mom—is from Whales. Loooooong story!)
I was born on January 21, 1988 in the Philippines with two of my other siblings, Craig and Harper—triplets—I have a younger brother named, Aedan and another younger sister named, Adrienne. I, being the eldest, I guess, was pretty tough, especially the fact that me and my other siblings didn't grow up in the same house together. But my parents were not divorced, if that’s what you’re thinking. Craig, Harper and I grew up somewhere in the Northen part of the Philippines (Tuguegarao) till we were five, before moving back to the States. But when I turned eleven, decided to go back in Manila because I wanted to study there with my cousin/best friend, Skylerk, while my siblings, Craig and Harper pursued their acting careers (long story). It got harder though, when my parents decided to adopt a baby girl from Cambodia named Caitlin. Because since I was so far away from them, I did not get a good chance of seeing Caitlin grow up. At reunions, she would have a really hard time recognizing me as her brother and it hurt. She’d do her best to break away from my arms and cry and whine as if I was a monster out to get her. In those days, I’d just go home with a box of candies or chocolates to get her attention. A part of me ached because I was missing out on things in life that held magnificent beauty such as watching her grow up. But God had bigger plans for me. And all I had to do was to trust Him.
But then again, enough about me! I, bragging about my life, is not the reason why I am here. For you see, I was told to tell you guys a story that really shook my world. A story which I enjoy calling the “DJStory” (David-Jacobs) and it is something that I will cherish forever.
I first met Samantha Nicole David at my cousin, Kelly Carston’s wedding—I know, I know. I met my future wife at a wedding. Big deal. But I was seven at the time, and Sam was nine. And I remember standing in front of this huge church with my other cousins, Skylerk and Skylark beside me (oh, yeah! Kelly's a boy by the way. Just saying!) when all of a sudden my attention was brought to this flower girl who was starting to march towards me—Samantha. I couldn’t have imagined an even more beautiful memory. Samantha walked four steps before my sister, Harper, gently dropping bits of rose petals along her way. She wore a green scarf over her shoulder and a small crown of roses on top of her head. Now I don’t know if it was just me or this stupid seven year old imagination that I had back then, but as she walked down the aisle that day, I started to notice how everything began to slow down. I saw how this slight breeze blew through her hair and I saw how her eyes sparked like diamonds, causing my heart to skip a beat. And even after the ceremony, while the boys and I were playing our usual seven year games, I would watch her read her book or wonder off somewhere with her mom. I even have this clear memory of her standing in this garden with her back turned against me while the sun seemed to shine its bright light over her. It was the very first time I saw something so extravagant. And as a seven year old little boy, I didn’t know what love was really like, but then again, I was so sure that I felt it.
I never got the chance to see Samantha after that. Though both our parents were close friends, we never got reacquainted for a long, long time. And if you were in my shoes, you’d agree with me when I say that it all literally looked like a huge blur. That beautiful girl I saw at my cousin’s wedding will just forever be a figment of my imaginations. But you know what? I was wrong. Because seven years later, on July 3, 2002, the very first day of my freshmen year, let me tell you.. There she was.. Samantha David. Walking along the halls of my school. She was everything I could have ever imagined.. Her luxurious blonde hair that fell gently down her face, her beautiful hazel eyes that were speckled with colors of light green, that perfect smile.. She literally took my breath away.
Okay... In my defense, I wasn't stalking her. I know that it had been a long time! So, if you're asking how the heck did I know that it was her, here's the answer. Samantha have always had this piece of jewellery around her neck. It was like a ring on a thin silver chain. She wore the same thing when I first saw her. So, that was what made me recognize who she was. PLUS, she approached me… Yes, yes. She approached me. She approached me to ask if I was Clay Jacobs. Because apparently, she had met my parents in London the summer before that school year began, and when they found out that I was going to study in her school, mom and dad showed a recent picture of me. So, yeah.. Way to go, guys! I never felt so embarrassed in my life! But back to my story, with Samantha David standing in front of me, I felt like I had to choice but to stutter my way out of every question that she was asking me. But I knew she didn’t mind. She was way too loving to care.
Oh yeah, if you're asking (if you just are) I have one of those rings too--the one that Samantha had. In my family, you see, we call them ‘purity rings’ a covenant or something that was supposed to be between God and me. It was weird at first, especially when it was given to you at a really young age. With all these rules and regulations of ‘don’t do this’ and ‘don’t do that’, but then, once you've realizes what it was really for, that it was more than just a symbol of things you are committed to do and not to do, you’ll actually get the hang of it. Mine was given to me when I turned 11. But apparently, due to all my guitar playing and basketball dribbling and those sudden growth spurts, I’ve already out grown my ring by the time I was 14. So I, too, had to wear it around my neck next to a dog tag.
But moving on. I guess my first year at Bright Sparks Christian International School was not really as horrible as I thought it would be. To be honest, it was actually...well, fun. I became a part of one of the most promising groups in the campus, I together with three of my other best friends, Skylerk, PJ and Mark were in a band that really did not suck, and Skylerk and I also joined the school basketball team. On top of that, I was also one of the top guys in my class. So it wasn’t all that bad. Most nights I’d bump into Sam along the corridors, I’d be all sweaty and stuff due to a heart pounding basketball practice, while she would look clean and fresh, coming out off from the library, or some lame meeting that regarded the student council. But either way those simple hi’s, take cares and good nights would always get me so pumped up for more. But then again, what chance do I have? She was a junior; smart, top of her class, and the most beautiful girl on campus! While I was this typical freshman, with absolutely nothing to expect but the three more years of high school ahead. I mean, I look at my best friends, it was like all of them are secured with their love lives. Take Skylerk for example. Skylerk was in a very strong relationship with this Hollywood star—like literally a Hollywood star!—Blake Hart, who has starred many movies and was named one of the most promising young actresses in this century. While Mark? Well, as nerdy and geeky he seemed to be, Marky's not doing too bad in that area too because he recently got reacquainted with an old time “friend”. PJ, on the other hand, knows who he wants, Justin just had a girlfriend, and though Tyler made it perfectly clear that he does not want anything to do with relationships for now, trust me when I say that he will not a have a hard time in that area because before you even know it, he’ll be married and have two kids! And Stephen…yeah....let us not forget Mr. Stephen Francis Crawford. Because at that time, he was in a relationship with my twin sister. I mean, what’s up with that? They all seemed very contented with their lives! But me? My chances of getting to hold this girl’s hand were zero at this point.
