The One That Got Away

Chapter Five

The driver park the car at the parking lot. They are in the mall in the downtown. They went out the car and start walking towards the entrance of the mall. Marcus can't believe they skip the class just to go in the mall. He never experienced like this. He can't remember when was the last he went to a mall. But one thing is for sure, it was the time when his father is still alive. They used to go to the mall on weekends. It was their family day. Every time they went to mall, it was always the best day of his life. He misses his old life. 

They were in average family. They can enjoy life once in a week without worrying. Unlike now that he has to work just to help his mother. He considered his life now a poor as a rat. After his father died, his mother sell all their belongings and even their house just to pay the debt his father left. But even though they sell their properties, still they didn't complete the money they have to pay. Luckily, the have relatives that helped them, but in return, they have to work for them. They accepted the offer because if not, Mr. Moore will going to kill them. Mr. Moore gave them enough time and extention to pay the debt and they were grateful for that. 

They stopped at one of branded clothing lines. The guard greeted them as they entered. Sasy picked around five polo shirts for Marcus. She gave them to him for him to measure. Marcus hesitate to get the shirts, but Sasy gets mad so he quickly get the polo shirts and measure it. Sasy tells Marcus that she wants to see him wearing the shirts and he obeyed her. 

Marcus is still in fitting room. He was ashamed to come out. This is the first time he wear expensive clothes, he even can't afford it. He thinks that Sasy will get mad if he will not come out. He take a deep breath before he come out from the fitting room. 

Sasy is sitting in a waiting couch. She's reading the magazine. She looked up as she felt him leave the fitting room. She's staring him for 10 seconds.

"He is more handsome wearing it than the school uniform. It really suitable for him." She said in her mind.

Marcus could sense the astonishment of Sasy's face. He could not explain why she was reacting that way. There is a little joy in Marcus's heart. But Sasy's face suddenly change in no time when she saw Marcus is smiling to her. She rolled her eyes but Marcus find it cute. 

Sasy faced the saleslady.

"We will get all of those. Please pack them for us." The saleslady has already taken the shirts so she can pay for them.

The went out the store and entered to another branded store. She bought a lot of stuffs for Marcus. From garments, bags and shoes. She also bought him cellphone. Marcus can't believe that Sasy bought all of these for him. 

Sasy give the shopping bags to her driver and order him to take it to the care and wait for them at the parking lot. 

Marcus gather his courage to talk to Sasy. He was overwhelmed by Sasy's gestures. He doesn't know how he can pay her. Maybe he will work years to pay her. The things are expensive. He can feed his family for 5 days with one shirt, what more that she bought him like an entire closet. 

"Sasy? Don't you think this is too much? I really don't need those stuffs." He said with courage. He know she may get angry. He noticed that she was easy to get upset. 

"I know you don't need any of those but you have to wear those whenever we are together. I don't want my boyfriend looks like rag." She smirked and walk towards the restaurant. She felt hungry from shopping. 

Before they entered the restaurant, some people recognize her and ask for her pictures. Her fans pushed Marcus to get a good shots of her. Some made her a cameraman. He didn't complain and he took them some photos. After some time, her fans thank her for giving them chance a have pictures with her. 

Marcus was amazed at this behavior of Sasy. He didn't think she has a hidden kindness either. But he didn't know it's for her publicity. She wants her fans see her as a good influence.

"Let's go now. I'm hungry." And they entered in a Chinese restaurant.

A waiter come and give them a menu. 

"Can I get your orders ma'am, sir?" Said the water while getting his pen and paper ready.

Marcus couldn't choose what to order. They were expensive. He was already ashamed of how much Sasy had spent for him.

"Can I have Gnocchi Gorgonzola, a Calamari and Ceasar Salad, please!" She ordered. 

The waiter then approach Marcus for his order. He didn't know any in the menu. It is like the menus are foreign to him.

She look at Marcus who is tensed. You can tell that it is his first time in Chinese restaurant. Sasy is about to order for Marcus, but..

"I will also just have the same as what she ordered." He said.

"2 Gnocchi Gorgonzola, 2 Calamari and 2 Ceasar Salad. Anything else?" The waiter asked.

"And 2 fruit juices. That's all!" She replied.

"Just in a minute ma'am, sir!" And the waiter get the menu and went straight to kitchen to get their orders.

Sasy smiled at him.

"I must say this is your first time in such restaurant." She said wit a tease. 

Marcus was shy but he answered Sasy with confidence. 

"Yes, this is my first time. We can't afford to go and eat in fancy restaurants. My mom spend the money for more important things. We prioritize our needs than our wants. Besides, my mother taught me that it is not the expensive things that really gives us happiness. It is how you appreciate even the small things with your loved ones. That will gives you a real happiness." 

Little did he know, Sasy got hurt with what he said. She then remembered her mom and dad. They barely see each other. They got family bonding once in a blue moon. Sometimes her parents brought their works along in their vacation. At the end, she didn't enjoyed the vacation. 

But even so it happened, still Sasy is grateful that she has Lily who is always with her. They lean on each other since they both in the same situation. And her nanny, Amelia. They were more family to her than her parents. 

"Are you happy with your life?" She asked Marcus. 

Marcus can see sadness in Sasy's eyes. He is aware that some rich families doesn't have much time with their family. Especially if they were business minded. 

"Of course, I am! I have my family beside me. They are my strength that why I can do anything for them."

Sasy saw how genuine Marcus is. She ignore Marcus because she feel jealous with his family. 

Soon their orders arrived and they eat in silence. 

When they finish eating, Sasy thought of going to fun fair. So she called her driver to take them to the amusement park just near they were. Sasy loves to go to carnival since she was a kid. Amelia bought her in a carnival when she was 5 years old and she enjoyed a lot, so every time she is in stress and feeling alone, she come to carnival to have fun. 

As soon as they arrived at amusement park, she immediately bought 2 tickets that was available on all rides. 

Marcus was overjoyed when Sasy brought him to the amusement park. It was like 3 years ago since he visit a carnival with his family. 

"What are we doing here?" Marcus asked with joyful tone. 

"This will be our first date. Let's just say that today will be our first month being boyfriend and girlfriend. We have to pretend that we were lovers for a while. But this is our first time going on date." Sasy gave him a wide smile. "I always used to come here. This is my favorite place. So let's go!" 

They entered but before anything else, Sasy bought a amusement park's t-shirts to feel more the vibes of the carnival. 

They first stop at a balloon pop. Sasy throw the darts in the balloons like a pro. She hit all the balloons, she jump like a kid. When it was Marcus's turn, he only hit 1 balloon. She laughed at Marcus. Sasy got a cute stuff toy as a prize while Marcus got a candy. They gave their prizes to the kid who is crying.

Second they went to the station of Whack-a-Mole. This is one of her favorite activity here where you have to force the individual moles back into their holes by hitting them directly on the head with the mallet, thereby adding to the player's score. She hit the moles so hard like she was about to destroy the machine. She didn't stop until her arms hurts. 

Next, the shooting game where you have to use a gun loaded by small balls. The target should be dropped. Sasy let Marcus play it. Marcus is so focused to hit the target. He fired the gun three times but those three where failed to hit a single target. Sasy tells him that he must knock down ten targets to get the stuff toy she wants. Marcus calm himself and focus more on a target. And boom! He hit one. And hit another and another. He hit all 9 targets. He had one bullet left. He must hit the last target or else they will lose. Marcus concentrates more. He doesn't want to lose this. Atleast this way he can pay Sasy. 

He ready himself to aim the trigger. He is a bit nervous  what if he can't hit it. Sasy will surely git mad. He take a deep breath. And click! He hit the last target. Sasy jumps for joy. The man gave Sasy their prize. It is a cute big face yellow cat plush doll stuffed toy and it is a cute bow in it. Sasy hugged the stuffed toy like it was her first time having one. 

Sasy decided that they will going on a rides. She first chose the carousel. It may sounds like for small kids but she love to ride those horses. 

Then they ride another one like bumper boats, bumper car, tilt-a-whirl and arcade. 

Finally, the ferris wheel was the last ride they had ever ridden. She feel the relaxation in riding the ferris wheel. It has 40 capacity seats. The ferris wheel function slowly. 

Marcus witness a care free Sasy today. He didn't saw her this kind of attitude in school. They sit in front of each other. There was an awkward silence between them. He noticed that all the rides that they rode were slow.

"Are you scared of those rides?" He broke the silence. 

Sasy know that he is referring with those dangerous rides. She close her eyes and a flashback appears on that day. It really scare her. It is like a living nightmare. She open her eyes and give Marcus a weak smile.

"Yes! It scared me to death. I tried to rode the pendulum ride. It was fun at first but the safety belt breaks. I thought I'm gonna fall. Luckily the ride was about to end that's why I'm still safe. I thought I could die there." Sasy narrates.

"It's good to know that you are safe then."

"Yeah! By the way, where do you live? I'll drop you there." Sasy asked. 

Marcus gave Sasy his home information. After the ride, Sasy delivered Marcus in his way home. 

"I will call you if I will need you. You better answer immediately my call. Or else you will face consequences." She warned. 

"Okay, I will." Marcus replied. 

"And by the way Marcus." She got out the car. "I had fun today. Thank you!" And she hug him.

Marcus's body got rigid. He was shock when she hugged him. Then he came in his senses the moment she lost the grip.

"No Sasy, I must be the one to thank you. For these stuffs.." he raised the shopping bags. "And for this day. Thank you!"

"Well then! See you tomorrow. Babe!" And she laugh as she enter her car.