You are my Wild Rose

The journey has just started

"The only thrill you need in life."

The words in bold on the neon display have somehow come alive.

I could hear the cartoon boy, holding the soda can, shouting and thrusting the can in my face. Standing overhead of the vending machine.

While I am standing alone in this dormitory hall. Sounds of shouts, moans, laughter and balls bouncing behind my back.

The living room, the sanctuary of teenage-reckless-brainless-evolved-monkeys called boys.

I swear I heard. Someone imitates the cry and giggle of a girl followed by bouts of laughter. After every time.

I guess one place I’ll definitely miss visiting would be this boy's frat house. As much as the foolish pranks, stupid jokes with double meanings used to irritate me. Evil dumping buckets of mud on everyone's head, followed by kicking them out to have a sense of peace and quiet. It all made me laugh too at random moments. Silly, I know.

I should have got to know at least some of them better. Those ones who seemed nice. Apart from those who always ended up offering a back seat ride or a place in their tiny bed. Every time I came over while knowing my boyfriend was the captain of the soccer team, but no. Some of them thought of me as a golden opportunity to get on Leon's nerves and it all became a running joke here.

Is anyone aware of our breakup or more like Leon did tell Jack, his best mate, about it? Come on, it can't be that bad. It’s been only 15 minutes since he left in his hired cab, leaving me in the dormitory guest hall waiting for a soda can.

My head on the vending machine, installed in the open kitchen.  And analysing the advertisement tagline.

Leon was always a private person. He didn’t even tell anyone about our dating until two months later. Jack didn't even know about our relationship until he told him himself.

The fact that I kissed him before his match, in front of the whole school - became an official announcement.

It took him off guard and he still used to say that it was bold of me to do so.

No one needs to know about a small breakup.

Attracting unwanted attention has never been my forte.

"Congratulations on being finally free."

The proclamation came in a sweet, seductive voice behind me.

And I had to cut off my short term happiness period over the disappointment. Of course, he would know.

He knows everything about me. It comes with the job of always following my every move.

I don’t turn around to acknowledge my headache-in-human-form. Lying now seems futile to his face, but at least I should give it a try.

"I’ve always been free. I live in a democratic world where I have the right to choose my ruler." That was a weak attempt. Good job hiding my secrets. There goes my chance of becoming a diplomat.

"You do know you are a terrible liar, right?" He is quick on catching up. "You always avoid meeting eyes while doing that."

I was distracting myself by counting the total of soda cans in a row. To avoid looking at him and trying to appear nonchalant from the outside.

He now walked around me to antagonise me from the front. His spicy Cologne, now filling up my nostrils.

If you ask any girl in school is Michael Andrews hot? They should reply in unison voice - You have to be blind to ask that question. With a height of above-average male, strong shoulders, a slim waist he appears as a future male model. Add on blemish-free skin and dark chocolate curls falling over his similar eyes and curls at nape. Then you would believe that he is a catalogue model. The truth.

A new talent on the rise - the name given by few critics. He is in international magazines already. Quite impressive if you ask me. But I would never tell him that.

In a few minutes in the downtown area, you’ll see his charming smile more than five times. All in different sizes, different angles and for different brand posters. This made him humble as a flying kite on a windy morning.

"There was a bet going around about you two. I’m sure your relationship hashtag is gonna land in the dumps now. Girls are gonna lose their s**t as the hero of the school is finally available in the field." He looks so happy. No, he is happy about my misery.

I knew this was going to be a long torture session. Thanks to past experiences. So, I went to the couch. I need to sit down now.

"I’m sure you were the admin of the we-hate-this-relationship-break-up-already page." He simply sat down beside me with small guava flavoured water in hand.

"Oh no, I adored it. Although I was also plotting to invite girls over here every weekend so that he can cheat on you. Lucky you, he was never a cheater." Michael quickly gets comfortable to spill out this fact.

Every weekend? Before I could get any word out.  The soda went down the wrong pipe on this thought. After a coughing fit leading to drinking the guava water. Meanwhile, he is soothing my cough while rubbing my back.

Still, I accused him. "It was you? Why didn’t I know this before?" A sly smile was the answer to my question.

"Of course, who runs a cult of overexcited party radicals who never run out of their wardrobe?"

He is holding his arms in the air. Pleading innocence with all his body.

"It’s not my fault that girls come running to me. Looking for the playboy they see in billboards. One who’s wearing makeup and dressed by a village to promote one small product."  Michael is now busy striking his latest work pose.

He’s not handsome. He is beautiful with soft, inviting eyes and a sharp jaw with full pink lips.

"How are your lips so pink? I have seen this smoking behind the Chemistry lab." I lean in and pinch his cheeks to emphasise my point to him.

"Want to know the secret? Why don’t you taste them to find out?" Michael takes the opportunity, letting his cunningness get his way and holds me close to him.

"We have known each other for too long for your district awards. Go find some new girl and she might just take you to her dorm room." Michael and I have been classmates since elementary school and he still feels like nothing to me. No special vibe here.

"But more than his smirk, his sly smile always frightens me. It always leads to trouble.

"I respect girls way too much to try this cheap trick on them. I will save these only for you." His full-blown laughter attracts some curious eyeballs towards us. Reminding me of our awkward sitting position and my situation.

How great heartbreak to be forgotten this early.

I grab my handbag and my phone while discarding both our half-drunk beverages in the dustbin.

"I should go staying here doesn’t mean much now." I’m about to turn around when Michael calls. I am close to him. Again.

His full height makes my head reach only his shoulders. Suddenly thrown in a loop on his transition from puberty to becoming a man. He tucks in the loose strands, behind my ear and warmly parts my head.

"Ryn, a girl like you who loves anyone with her whole heart, will find someone too." His tone is for the first time so serious.

"Trust me the journey has just started. This is not the end but an open invitation for true love to come into your life."

His last words will always continue to echo in my head.

"Someone who would put you above everything else. Not just his dreams but his whole life."