Thousand Dandelion Fuzz
10 years ago. When I was at the peak of my teens, I met a girl named Dandelion. She was like a fireball that no one can stop.
Persistent and enthusiastic as she was, I could never get used to how she can annoy me in every single thing she do.
Back then she was like this. She secretly pulls out her phone and put it in front of me. "Say cheese!" then laugh at me.
I wanted to see how I looked. "Nope, you better take my phone from me if you want to see." she would say. I would slightly smile and take my phone out by then and 'Click!' goes my shutter.
"Ah? Ahhhh! You took a picture didn't you?" I didn't bother answering that. As serious as I was before, I could hold a lot longer than her, I have a very long patience.
She would grap my pockets and my bag to take my phone, but I am not an easy guy to put my phone there. I always put my phone somewhere she will never reach out to. Try and guess where but I will never tell.
We usually go to a well that was supposed to make our wishes come true. "I wish he would still be my friend after many years to come." she would pray, as I would say, "I wish she would stop being a troublesome friend and just be still."
We would go to several amusement parks a month, and buy one ice cream each. "Here, an ice cream for you." she would say, though she already ate half of what's on top. I would still take it and enjoy.
We would go out to places we usually hang, she always back hugs me while riding behind me, always without fail she'll go, "Oops, sorry." laughing after pulling the brakes of the bike without me knowing.
We would often go to cinemas, just us two, and she'll finish a whole serving of popcorn without giving me any. "Oh, sorry, I thought you didn't like it." she would chuckle. And every time, without fail, she'll buy me another serving of it just after the movie ends.
We would go window shopping, since both don't have any money. She'll go nowhere to be found and later shows herself. She would whisper, "Hey, Anthony, look at this, isn't this pretty." while pointing into random things she normally does not possess. "I took this from that store" she would say. I always freak out because of that, then she'll smile and eventually laugh.
"It's a joke, just a joke. I bought this before hand. Why are you so nervous. Can't trust your girlfriend?" she would jokingly say. I could never get used to it and so I'd always go red beyond control, "Hahaha, ok, ok, Girl - best - friend."
Yes, I did like her. I also felt like I loved her. Her charms are mischievous but lovable. She, as a person too, is too lovable from head to toe, in and out.
She would always ask me out saying we'll hang out to have some fun, but I would always label them as dates.
"When will we actually go out?" I remember asking this. She would definitely say, "Aren't we already going out?" This girl is just too lovable beyond content, I can't get enough of it.
"No, I would like to go out with you officially." I said.. in my mind. I could never say it with my mouth. But thank God, I got out of that friend zone, and who helped me? She did herself.
"Why? Did you want to go out with me? As in a date?" She asked. After finally understanding that sentence, from a long processing time in my head, I answered with a question, "Are you a psychic?"
Making my face red again, she countered, "Misunderstood, misleaded. You got the wrong idea, again and again, and again." I could not help but ask, "What do you mean by that?"
"A date. isn't it a day in a week in a month in a year?" again with her jokes. She chuckled, "Did you catch a cold? Your face is burning red." she said while reaching for my forehead.
When we have math assignments, she'd lend me hers and tell me to just copy it. Then, after copying hers, she'd smile and say, "You seriously copied it? Without checking if it was correct?"
"I gave you my scratch from the activity last time, I didn't think you'll seriously write that." She would laugh like crazy, and all I could do is stare at her and smile secretly.
I never got to have a serious relationship with her. Not that I failed to ask her out, it's just that it felt like everytime I try to ask her, I get the feeling that she's avoiding the question.
I'm well aware of this girl. I know how she was and her state of being. Laughing like that is cute, but when she overdoes that, I know she cries when night comes.
A girl that is bright as sun on the outside could still be as dark as darkness in the inside.
I remember her telling me before, how she felt like having the name Dandelion. "It's cute, and it's easy to remember. I'm really happy my name is Dandelion, you know how cute it is when it blooms out and scatter."
After that kind of positive description, would always be her opposing opinion, "But because my name is Dandelion, it's inevitable for people to compare me with a dandelion. They say, just like a dandelion, I appear out of nowhere and disappear when no one is aware. They said I am just like a weed in a garden." she paused and sighed.
"Ahh~ I don't even know if it is proper to tell you this story."
Ah, this girl.. She works so hard to look like she's having a very fun and exciting life. But isn't it wrong to live like that? Why would anyone work hard to be happy? Isn't happiness natural, doesn't it come to people naturally? Then why, of all people, would she try so hard just to look happy?
While gazing at me, she spoke, "When I was 10, my mom, she died lying next to me. You know what she whispered, when she thought I was sleeping? She said, 'I wish you were really just a dandelion, how I'd love to just blow you away.' She said she became so desperate for life after I was born, that her life went to the gutter when she gave birth to me. I always think, maybe a dandelion really suit me. I mean, I could appear and disappear without anyone knowing. I could just soar high and eventually crach back on the ground."
I rubbed her head and say, "A dandelion, huh? Don't look so down. A dandelion might look like a weed to others, but you should know that for someone else, it is a wish that would definitely come true." I said while smiling at her. "Just one blow and a thousand dandelion fuzz will fly to the sky, just to make that wish come true."
I hugged her tightly, she was trying her best not to shed a tear, but I made them fall, "Don't force yourself, it's ok to cry. Cry all you want, I'll do my best as your cover."
Never would I have known she would disappear after that day.
All I heard is that her father, who has not been in touch with her after her mom died, took her. I suppose he still have some conscience left in him.
But after so many years, I would still wonder whether she's doing well somewhere in this world or not.
I have changed a lot myself, both my personality and appearance. I'm afraid I would not be the Anthony she remembers. But even if she does not remember me, I would still hope she remembers our time together.
I'm here standing in a field full of full-bloomed dandelions. I picked one as I say to myself, "I hope she would still remember our wishes."
I watch thousand dandelion fuzz fly high to the sky, whether it be in the heavens or to her location, I would not mind where these fuzz will go, it wouldn't matter at all, all I wish is that she'll come back here and still recognize me — even if it is just being her friend.
