In your dreams

ch 1:How much can a heart hold?

"What are you looking at?"I snatched the photo Ann has been admiring for hours.

" Well guess who? ",she raised her painted eyebrows staring at me.

"Your-"she stopped me.

I blinked at her emotionless face.

" My fiancé!", she pushed her hair back with pride.

"Eh?",my mind couldn't process what I've heard just now.

"But Ann-"

"I know I am too young for this.But look at him,just look at him!" she held the picture of him in front of me.

He seemed in the snapshot to be an attractive young man,possibly even beautiful in American fashion; the black hair, penetrating blue eyes ,pale skin,a radiant smile,all giving his finely carved face an appearance of merriment which promised to be constant in his life.

I looked at the picture and again at her,"well,he's good but-"

" But what? he's rich,he's handsome.What else do I need?After marrying him, I'll pack my bags to Denmark. I've always wanted to go there." she put her hands in the air,smiling from your ear to ear.

I shrugged my shoulders," Then it can't be helped."

We wore our bags and started walking across the bridge,it was already late.

A round of apricot-coloured full moon quietly crawled out of the mouth of the mountain and put its reflection in the lake.

The swing bridge was shaking badly as she held my hand for balance. As we kept walking through the busy streets, we stopped by a parlour to buy ice creams.

"So have you talked about him to mom?", I took a huge bite of the cold frost vanilla which made me to hold my jawn in pain.

"Not yet,I'm afraid she'll not like him. "

"Exactly, I think of it too. Look Ann ,he is not the right one for you.You can't marry someone just because he is rich and handsome."

"So,what else do we need-"

"A true heart that adores you",I shouted as all the people on the street passed me a weird look.

She just sighed and continued to eat her icecream.We reached home,I threw my bag on the couch and went inside the kitchen,took a pack of chips and started munching it.

"You better forget him before mom finds out, he's too old for you".I told her as I walked past her room.

I looked at the clock,it was already eleven;I took my handphone and started scrolling through it.

There was a message from mom,"Me and your dad-busy in an experiment-can't reach home today-take care-loves, mom"

"Huh!again!"

Mom and dad rarely stay at home.They are always busy with their experiments in their laboratory.

I got up from the bed,jumping when I saw a message pop up.It was from Meiko, the only best friend I've ever had.

I dialled her as soon as I read the message,"Eh?Meiko-"

"Jade,don't forget to come.There will be a lot of handsome ones there".

"Huh?!Not this again! ,I sighed."Well,when is the party and why suddenly?!"

"My sister is getting engaged!"

"Wow! seriously.Well my sister got engaged too, but just now I came to know about that.",I laughed.

"I've invited Jake too"

Hearing his name made my heart race, "What? For real-"

"And also his girlfriend, Shiyasoa "

"Shiya?Jake's girlfriend? oh! what on earth? "

"I know how much you've loved him all these years.Well,no one can forget their first love.",she laughed.

"Oh!That was during the elementary school. Don't remind me about that"

Well,during our middle school, me and jake were the class representatives, so we had a lot to discuss about and he was the first boy I had a crush on, we roamed around together.So people started calling us a sweetheart couple.But that was kind of a nice feeling, I liked it.After that we had lost touch , though we remain in the same class, we've never talked to each other since we entered high school.

"Well,I don't know if I can come . I've got other plans",I scratched my head as I sat on my bed.

"We'll have a lot to do there.I need you, I will be alone if you don't come",she talked in a pleading tone.

"Well, it's your party.How will you be alone? What about Adam? Won't he be there? "

"Ofcourse, he'll be there, but -"

"Fine! I'll come.It's already late, gotta go sleep."

"Oof!",I was lying on my bed,thoughts circling around my head.

"Should I go or I shouldn't? ",I kept repeating the same, playing with the light switch.

"Ah!I shall decide it later."

"I'll get going;it's late already",Ann rushed off to school.

"Wait for me!!",I stuffed some cereals inside my mouth and started to run.

This is why sleeping late at night isn't a good idea.I can't step out of my bed when morning arrives.

"Well,I don't think I'll reach my school today".I said to myself.

By the time I reached my school, my clothes were already sweat-soaked, my hair messed up.

While I was busy guiding my lazy legs to climb the long stairs, I was suddenly on the muddy floor which smelled like poop!

Ah!Adding to my troubles, I looked up to see who it was, no way it could be him!

Why did he push me like this? Ugh! I smell so bad!

"Not in front of him",was all I kept whispering to myself.

Jake rushed out to help me,"Are you fine? "

"Ah-yes",I was about to run away, "I gotta go wash this"

"Wait-"

I turned around to look at him.

"I'm sorry, I didn't see that you were coming",he added shyly.

"That-it's fine".The words in my head decided to go down to my stomach instead of reaching my mouth.

"Will you be coming? ",a strange expression came over his face; one that I couldn't recognise and couldn't quite identify.He took a step closer to me,"I'll be waiting",his lips turned into a small smirk.

He looked into my eyes and walked away.I found myself staring at him.

"Ah-s**t",I looked at my watch and rushed into the washroom.

"Ugh!It seems like this thing won't go away".I tried so hard washing the dirt but gave up miserably.

I took a quick glance of myself in the mirror which was in the corner.Well,ugly is ugly!

I started to walk to my class,slowly.

"So,Is this your home to come and go as you wish?",an old man in his late sixties standing with a pair of measuring gauges, staring into my eyes waiting for an answer.

"Um-",I made my way through the tables walking past the disgusting looks they gave me."I can explain".

No one bothered to listen to me,the old man just turned around and started with his classes.

"What is that awful smell! Smells like poop! ",the words echoed in my ear as I stood facing the class.

"I fell down near the groud ".I tried to smile but failed.

"I can't bear the smell!",Lesilda looked at me for a moment,"If she's gonna sit inside the class then that is gonna disturb everyone for sure.What is with that stinky smell?",she gazed at me as I stood there helplessly.

"Get out of the class",Mr.Old man said coldly,"Your presence is of no help here.Let this be a punishment for being late.Get out now, don't disturb my classes",he smiled brightly at me.

His words and expression didn't match each other.

I nodded my head and walked out of the class.The door closed with a little click on my agitated back.I leaned on the wall,folded my arms across the chest.

I looked at them happily chatting inside the classroom as my gaze fell on Lesilda.

Her prominent veins stood out on her forehead,her heavy brown hair hung loose around her wide and bony shoulders.In simple ,she was pretty.But her attitude isn't!!

"How long am I gonna stand like this!!",I looked up at the sky to see the clouds smiling down at me.

When I heard the door open, Mr.Old man walked out with a serious expression on his face.I never cared to know the names of my teachers though I've been here for about five years.When I walked inside,Meiko took her vanilla flavoured pocket perfume and started spraying it on me,as though I'm an insect that should be squashed immediately.

"Stop it!Meiko",I held her hand. "It's getting inside my eyes."I told her,rubbing my eyes aggressively.

"You better dress up like a lady, tonight",she said coldly.

"Stop it,Meiko.You sound like my mom".I tried to laugh it off but she held my wrist tightly, her eyes getting red.

"Don't embarrass me tonight ",she walked away making me to stare at her.

For some reason, I felt like seeing Jake now.I started walking towards his class,"Huh?Isn't that shiyasoa?....They both are really dating,huh?",I sighed.

"But it seems like they are fighting",I leaned into the classroom to hear what they were speaking.Unfortunately,Jake spotted me,his eyes widened as he ran towards me.

I leaned on the wall,and he stood next to me with a smile.

"I'm glad you still remember me ",I laughed.

"I miss those days with you",he looked at me.

I nodded.

"So,how's everything?Heard you and Shiya are dating-"

He was about to say something but I didn't leave a chance for it.

"Congratulations",I tried my best to smile.

"No.Its not what you think",he muttered.

"What?",I showed a cool smirk."The whole school is talking about you guys".

"There's actually a girl I love.Wait till the party,you'll know"he smiled.

For the first time in all these years,I saw his face close to mine.His blue eyes swimming across the room, tiny lips turning into a heart-shaped smile,and smooth hair that shines along with the sunlight.

"What are you doing with this chicken ass girl?,Shiyasoa joined us.

"Eh?-",before I could respond,she started dragging him.

Jake shrugged,it was like he was saying,"I'm sorry,not my fault".

He waved his hand and disappeared.

Oof!Shiya looked really pissed.If they weren't dating,why did she look so upset?!I should go to the party tonight, I'll get my answers there.

The classes were nothing exciting. The moment I heard the bell, I kissed Meiko goodbye and rushed home.

"Gotta look like a lady tonight".I swung open the door.

"I'm home!"

"You're home,sweetie",I heard mom's voice from the kitchen.

"Mom,you're finally back",I hugged her and we exchanged kisses.

"Aww!I missed you",I started playing with carrots and bananas.

"Guess what?!Meiko's giving a party tonight",my lips turned into a pout,"And she told me to look like a lady".I sighed.

"Don't I look pretty.Everyone calls me plain!",I bit my lip in anger."Shiya even called me a chicken ass".

My lips moved to a side, disapproving of what she told.

"You're so pretty.It's just the boys in your school are blind",she laughed.

"Huh?you think.You say this because you're my mother".

"Not at all",she rummaged in her bag and took out a shining heart pendant.

"Wow!what's this?"

She placed it in my hands,carefully.

"You keep complaining that everyone thinks you're just plain",she patted my head."Wear this from now on"

"Huh?Is it a secret weapon that would make me more beautiful?".I looked at her eyes widened like an awakened cat.

"Something like that",she nodded.

I ran to my room and jumped up on my bed with joy.I was jumping so much like crazy till my legs lost balance.

"haha",I wore the pendant and danced across the room.It made me feel confident. It's nice.

I was busy all evening,getting myself ready for the party,tonight.

"I must look like a lady",I kept repeating it to myself.

I took a quick glance of myself in the mirror. I indeed looked pretty in my unaccustomed finery, flowered french silk dress, glimmering green eyes scanning my party look.A strand of hair made a pretty curl at the back of my neck.

But I looked so pale," I just have to pinch myself. "

I came by the living room looking for mom,but she wasn't there.It was time for me to leave. I wore my new shining shoes and off I go, to rock the party tonight!

"It's so cool", I kept playing with the pendant, while walking.

There was no one in the street,"Why is it so dark?",I playfully walked by opening and closing the pendant.

A beam of light fell on my face, I held my pendant tightly.A bike passed by, it seemed like the boy was not able to control it. I heard a loud thud behind me, I froze to the spot.

"Did he fall?",I turned back to find no one there, the bike was lying on the road, its wheels still in motion.

Where did he go? Was he a thief? I was too afraid to think of anything. I held my pendant tightly and started to run.

It looked so colourful, the smell of wine and beers all over and people screaming, finally feels like a party!

I spotted Jake next to Shiya.

"You're so beautiful ",he whispered.

"So,whose the girl?",I was so curious.

"You'll know", he grabbed my hand and started to dance,I had no choice than to follow him.

I didn't mind the disgusted looks and whispers around me. I just kept dancing and dancing and dancing,I was so happy!

Ooh!It was so much fun.

I went to the cocktail bar to rest for a while.

"Yo!Everyone",I heard Jake's voice.

"Look, here. She's my girlfriend.Isn't she gorgeous?",he held Shiya's hand.

Everyone turned to me,Jake's eyes fell on me too.

"It's all thanks to Jade.Me and Shiya had a little fight.So,I pretended to date Jade and make Shiya a little jealous.Jade helped me with that".

"Thanks Jade",he smiled at me.

"Well,which girl will like if her boyfriend dates a trashcan",a girl next to Shiya muttered.

"Atleast,I was a little useful . I'm glad".

I smiled back.

"Thank god, I feared that you would end up with that chicken ass".Lesilda laughed and others joined in too.

"I'm glad that Shiya and Jake got together again.Lets celebrate it",Meiko raised her glass.

Huh?Meiko!!You too!My eyes couldn't hold back the tears,so I ran away from there.

"He just used me to get his love back again.Well-",a lump rose in my throat,tears started to fall.The road was too dark and I didn't have the strength to walk.

"How can you play with someone's feelings like that",I sniffed."Not Jake,god.Not him of all men!I thought he had genuine feelings for me".

I sat by a tree and cried my heart out. My stomach started creating weird noises.I felt so hungry and weak.

I'm just a dreamer with a broken heart,waiting for someone who could fix those broken pieces.The people around me make me feel useless and nothing,but somehow I've always found something encouraging to keep myself going.And now I don't have any lies left,to comfort myself.

Maybe someday when someone from the opposite side,someone who has been waiting for me shall find a path that will bring us together and until that I'll wait for you to come.Wherever you are, I shall wait.