Secret Love Story; Heung-Min Son

Chapter Three

It was John Hamlin's birthday. 2 weeks went by and there Marilyn was, busy preparing the surprise party she've been planning for weeks for her one and only best friend. She had the red velvet birthday cake freshly baked, as it was John's favourite. She had bought him the pair of shoes he had been eyeing on for a while and now, she was in her dining room, squeezing out everything she had in mind to pour out into a birthday card. 

"Dear John, 

You have been my best friends since we were kids. And, I never would've thought that one day, you'd be someone really important in my life. You've brought me into so much joy and happiness and I only wish to do the same for you. Your heart that's filled with pure love and acceptance for who I am is truly appreciated. Happy birthday, John."

Marilyn had a wide stretched smile etched from ear to ear as she grinned at the card she's written. Everything's perfect. John's away to send his little sister to school so he'd only be home in the late afternoon. Now Marilyn only had to do the waiting game, where she sit in her living room and pretend to have forgotten to wish her best friend a birthday wish, or even drop by his house for a few minutes, that was literally across the street. Normally, John would've been pissed at the fact that Marilyn wasn't the first person to spam his messages on this very day and he would've rung her by now but he wasn't. He wasn't online on any social media either. His parents were out of town so the house was empty. And it didn't seem like John was home because the windows were all closed. 

Marilyn waited for a while and then greeted her father who was leaving for work. 

"Ah, John's birthday is it?" her father raised an eyebrow and tilted his head towards the balloons at the corner of the kitchen. 

"Indeed. And I'm planning a surprise this year," Marilyn chuckled, before her father placed a soft peck on her forehead. 

The house was silent. So silent that Marilyn could hear the balloons bouncing against each other. And then, she couldn't contain it anymore. She picked up her phone and started to punch John's number on the dialpad. 

"Marilyn?" John picked up the phone. It sounded like he was whispering at the atmosphere around him was quiet. 

"Finally! Where have you been? I thought you'd call me by now," Marilyn giggled.

"W-why would I call?"

"You're kidding me right?" Marilyn said, her face slowly deforming from the smile she had on.

"Wait.. Oh right... You were always the first to wish me. Uh, I- I'm in the cinema right now, can I... call you later?" John's voice was distorted, almost like he was covering his mouth with his hands. 

He immediately hung up, leaving Marilyn shocked and frozen from what've just occured.

What was that? 

Soon, her phone buzzed and John's name lit up on the screen. 

1 New Message from John Hamilton: 

John: Remember you told me to ask Olivia out?

Marilyn: I was joking but yeah, what's up?

John: I asked her out last night so... that's why we're in the cinema right now :P

Marilyn: Oh... That's nice. 

John: Right? Lol I should've asked her out earlier if I'd known she'd accept so easily. She's really nice and hey Marilyn?

Marilyn: ?

John: I know we always spend the night together during our birthdays but I might have to bail tonight... Might be home late >.<

Marilyn: Ok.

Well, what else was Marilyn supposed to react or reply? She turned her head to look at the preparations she's made and heaved out a sigh before she sink herself into the couch, facing the ceiling. Indeed, she had challenged John to ask Olivia out but she wasn't expecting it to happen. You know how you always say something out of sarcasm, silently hoping that it wold turn out to be the opposite but it didn't? There's really no one else to blame. 

'Remember what you wish for,' Marilyn silently uttered the words as she fit herself into her coat and grabbed the grocery  list her father had prepared for her. She plugged in her earphones and made her way down the street as her mind started to fill up with questions and "what ifs". 

'What if I never challenged John? Would he have not asked Olivia out?'

'What if John never liked Olivia?'

'Why did he pick to spend time with her over me?'

'Did he not care... about us?'

Her thoughts suddenly disappeared as soon as she felt a strong force pulling her back. A strong grip around her wrist pulled her weight back before she landed on the concrete ground with a thud. Her phone dropped to the side and her earphones came unplugged. Her knees were bleeding and everything was a blur as she tried to adjust to what had happened. She slowly looked up and a tall figure approached her and helped her up. Everything was too blur that she blindingly took his hand, as he slowly walked her to the bench nearby, and then made his way back to the accident infront of her eyes. Right, it was an accident. 

"Are you okay?" Mrs Lola hurried her way towards Marilyn with a first aid kit in her hand. It was where Marilyn intended to go. The supermarket was a few feet away so Mrs Lola must've seen the whole incident. 

"Wh-what happened?" Marilyn cleared her throat. 

Mrs Lola remained silent as she cleaned up Marilyn's wound before she pulled up her head and turned to look at the man who was talking to the driver of the speeding car. 

"Someone must've pulled me and I fell," Marilyn added. 

"That guy," Mrs Lola answered. 

Marilyn rubbed her eyes and took another look at the well dressed man who had a perfectly tailored navy blue suit. He was holding a briefcase and he looked like he wasn't from around here. The town was pretty small so everyone knew everyone but he, he definitely wasn't from around here. He had a glowy complexion and he had dark hair and eyes, different from the people around here. She couldn't make up what he was discussing with the driver but he seemed angry and annoyed. 

"Great, now after he's done confronting that driver, I'll confront him for causing this," Marilyn heaved out a sigh and took a look at her bandaged knees.

"That man saved your life," Mrs Lola responded.