Midnight Cry

Red Scarf

I s***k my face with both hands.

What was I thinking?

I was blushing and my face is red. I know because I feel how it hurts. It's winter.

"Am I sick?!" I exclaimed.

I stopped for a moment and pull out my scarf from my bag. I saw an old lady sitting on the sidewalk. She's looking blankly, no expression in the face. I feel an urge to help the old lady.

It's cold night.

"I bet this would help her." I murmured.

"Old lady, here."

I gave her my red scarf. I know how hard it is to stay outside. She gazed at me and I saw her eyes widened. Terrified.

"I can see now how all will end. The living will be dead soon... It's near… " The old lady took my scarf. "Look at your scarf it's red. As red as the blood." She laughed like crazy and that made me take a step back and fell in the cold ground. That hurts.

She held unto my face. I am as shocked as she is. I don't know what to say. Then a man walking at the sidewalk grab by arms and I stood up. He looks like a businessman. He’s wearing a suite. He’s 7-foot tall or more than that, I’m not sure, and has a great complexion. I suddenly thought of what’s in the news today. Pick pockets are now wearing suites.

With an instinct, I pushed him.

I became furious all of a sudden. I don’t like being touched by strangers.

"Why? Pardon?!" I exclaimed.

"Don't you see? This old lady is crazy. What? --- are you blind?" He's looking like a mad man now as he fix his wavy blonde hair. "Plus, a woman like you should never walk pass by the streets at this hour, It's dangerous." Now, he’s doing a sweet talk to get what he want—This pick pocket! I tightened my grasp on my bag.

"At least I did something. I gave her my scarf because she's freezing." I crossed my arms. " Who are you to tell me what to do?! I walk pass by this street every day and tell you what.. There's no danger." I looked at him from head to toe. " Well you look dangerous to me."

"I need to get to the other side of the street. Would you mind helping me?"

The old lady cut us off with our endless bickering. She needs help and we felt embarrassed by the way we behaved in front of her. The man tried to held the old lady to help her stood up. I was clueless of what's happening.

"What? Don't you just stand there, stubborn girl. Do something." This man really...

I went on the other side of the old lady and we both escort her to the other side of the road. There’re just a few cabs riding at this hour.

The old lady thanked the both of us.

And I began walking... But hey! He's also walking behind me..

My heart was racing. It's like, the movies that I watch every weekend. A guy follows a girl and then he'll kill the girl with a knife.

I bravely looked behind, grabbing my bag. “I have a pepper spray inside my bag. Don't you dare touch me again."

The man just laughs. He's really surprised. He covered his lips with his hand covering his smile.

"Do you think that I'm going to hurt you?" He is laughing really hard now. "Okay… Okay…First, the name's Rick. Don't you remember me?"

Rick... Rick who? Not familiar. I don't know that name. I don't even know that face do exist. But all I know now is that I wouldn't like to remember. That kind of attitude does not compliment with the looks.

"I don't remember..." I cannot look at him straight for I am dismayed. How could a beautiful face be so cruel?

"Then do your best to remember, Rease Stanford."

I was suddenly weakened by embarrassment.

He even knows my full name...

He part ways with me. He was heading towards a house besides ours. I felt totally embarrassed because I just thought wrong about him. He’s actually my neighbor as he lives exactly right next to our house.

But second thought....

No, He's just evil. He's worse than Doctor Galvine! I won't bother myself knowing him. I don't care. He's just another pain in the head.

I was in front of our house now.

Was it me or is it just too dark? No lighting inside our house. It's creeping me out. I thought Shayne was here by now. She texted me. I checked my phone and she told me that she’s already inside. My sister should be at home as well.

"I guess nobody's at home yet…"

I unlocked the door and opened it.

"SURPRISE!!"

Lights turned on, Party poppers explode and I saw lots of balloons in the place.

"Gosh, It's Rease everyone. False alarm."

It's my annoyed sister Anne with her few College friends holding party poppers.

I saw my mom's co-workers, also planning to surprise her for her birthday. It's cheesy.

I even saw my best friend Shayne cooking. I guess we're not the only one who'll enjoy dinner tonight.

I woke up early in the morning. 

"Oh, it's Saturday" 

It was a blast last night! Can It be like that all the time? People laughing, chatting like there's something important everyone should know. People singing Happy Birthday merely. Smiles surround the room. A smile not being forced. It's all real. Last night's real. So, what Shayne said is too real that I couldn't even imagine.

Flashback...

"Rease! I missed you..." Hugs." I already greet Mrs. Standford a Happy Birthday. She looks younger day by day." Shayne and I we’re both grooving to Marshmello’s Faded.

"I missed you more Shayne. It's like we haven't seen each other last week." We both look at each other and laugh. "Mom's like a vampire. Never aging. Runs in the blood." I told her.

We both do the dab while dancing in the music. She tugs me to the couch and we sat there comfortably. She began talking.