Summer Love

Being a youth can be a good experience or a really bad one. And mine was a mixture of both. Love is beautiful in that stage of our life, perhaps everybody would agree. There's that love that passes by and then there's that one that lasts forever. I still don't understand why most beautiful things end tragically- like how sun always sets. But I would not change anything about my own story. It might not be the perfect love but it is strong enough to have led me to what I am now. And it started when I was 17. It's fool enough to believe the idea of love at first sight but I think that was what happened in particular moment in my town that was called Big Pine, which was named after the towering pines around it. So... It was like an any usual day. The summer breeze was warming and kids were all over the yard Mr. Johnson owned. Mr. Johnson was the leader of our town and he donated it for the children's playground and Big Park. There were plenty of swings and slides and play houses. And of course there were pines. The yard was perfect for couples, or dancers or writers who needs inspiration--everyone. The shadows of the trees are like refuge of warmth and cold altogether. And it was where I like to sit because I don't have any friends to hang out with. When someone turned seventeen, dating becomes a mandatory social norm-if you have the wish to fit in, of course. But that doesn't concern me because I didn't care. I always believe that I shouldn't conform to what I've been told to do but pick up my own pace. So I was there just sitting at three in the afternoon when all kids are doing whatever they want, it makes me their audience. At a certain moment in that point of time Mr. Harrison pulled his red track over the side of the yard. I watched him talk to someone inside but I didn't really saw who it was because Mr. Harrison was facing backwards and covering my sight. After a while, a boy got out of it. He wears this faded loose jeans and sneakers in black and white, checkered red blouse and a cap that is worn backwards. I didn't know I could be that cheesy until that moment but I tried so hard to keep it to myself and deny it. He was roaming his eyes around the yard and when he locked his stares to me, I saw the most beautiful eyes in my entire life, emerald green. He then walk towards me and when we were just three feet apart he smiled. "Yo, Jep! you're here," Landon, who called him. "Hey bro, you look tall! How have you been?" then they do some fist-bumping. 'Guys Jepperd's here!" Landon called out his gang. And pulled the boy, who was Jepperd, away after glancing at me once again. The afternoon was the favorite part of the kids during the day. The roads were in between lines of Pine trees and the smell of pastries keep flooding everywhere. Life there was simple but beautiful. Bakery was the source of livelihood in the town. It was where the neighboring towns get there pastries supply from. It was like a town of bread. "Nah, my daughter isn't that type Ally" "George, your daughter is gorgeous and I mean it can't be put to waste!" Dad chuckled. "Ayn, what do you say?" They both glanced at the sink where I was washing the dishes so confused with their opted conversation. "Hum, I don't know yet Ms. Ally" I replied a matter of fact. "See?" that was Dad. "Oh come on, Ayn you're tall and beautiful and petite" I rolled my eyes. "Okay fine, tell me when you change your mind" she said and left. Ms. Ally was the head coordinator of the Pageant for Summer Extravaganza 2002, she's now starting to recruit auditionees and she wants me as one. It was now 3 o'clock and girls and boys are coming out of their houses one by one, it was a routine since I was born and maybe forever. The afternoon was like a daytime party at Mr. Johnson's yard. Three o'clock is fun in Big Pine. "Going to the yard?" Dad has a few dirt on his nose, he was fixing his ride again, I think this was the third time of the week. "Nah, I don't think so" Dad was my favorite person. He raised me alone after my mother went away with some man after I was born. I have hated her to the core, even when Dad never said a single bad thing about her. I mean does a good mother can leave her child? "You know baby, you should, and I think you should consider Ms. Ally's suggestion. I know this isn't like the things you want but I think you should start living your life" "I'm living my life Dad" that goes out with sarcasm. "Come on, go outside" he said. "But I don't feel it, Dad. Can I instead help you out with what you're doing,?" that would be better than just looking at my happy and youthful peers at the yard. "This isn't a work for a lady Ayn" "Dad please?" There was a slight protest in his eyes but he eventually nodded. "A'right can you go to Rio and ask if he can spare me his wrenches? I can't find mine I think I might have misplaced it." Dad is on his fifties now and I can help but be proud of him. He raised me with sweats and blood. And even manage our bakery on his own. That is a hard job, done. "Of course daddy, be back for a while." Mr. Rio Harrison was Dad's best friend. He treats me like a daughter, and brings me something every time he visits the house. He has Mrs. Amelia Harrison as a wife and she was beautiful, it was just so sad that they couldn't have a child, she has a reproductive problem, I think. She was also kind to me like a mother, couldn't be just a bad luck because I have dad and them. Their house was only five houses away from us and I usually ride my bike whenever I go there but since it's the afternoon, a walk would be good.