Part 2
Ah yes, as I stare up into the gray dimension above me, feeling the rain paddling on my face, today is Friday the thirteenth, the unluckiest day of the year in that matter. Usually today would be my luckiest day of the year, but all good things must come to an end where fate finally gets to me. It took me two months to find a job and another two months to loose one. With my rent at a stifling rate and I would soon start to pay off my student loans, I find myself backed into a corner with no ways of escaping, not by me of course, but by fate itself.
By the time I reached the intersection, I still couldn’t figure out a place to go, at least for a while. I would just depressed out of my mind if I just head to my tiny apartment, I’m already drenched in rain water so no more cafes or shops will let me in. I thought I could handle the depression, the loneliness, the stress. I question myself, is this end of the road for me? I could no longer fend for myself any longer, and I fricking don’t even know what am I searching for anymore. I looked up at the grayness once again, gasping, heaving, trying to get a sense on what am I doing. Before I knew it, warm water was streaming down my face. Mixed with frozen rain water, my face immediately felt numb.
As the crosswalk sign started beeping again, I slumped my way across with my head down. I guess everyone would be staring at me now, that’s just great, let the world know that I’m finally defeated, beaten by whom ever or whatever, I don’t really care.
And suddenly, rain drops stopped pounding on me, feeling the sudden change, I raised my head. A clear umbrella was raised over my head. I stared back at the person which the umbrella belongs to, bewildered.
I tried to open my mouth to speak, but no comprehensible words came out, they were just strange sounds. But the person didn’t seem to mind, continued to smile at me. Finally, I managed something, “Uh, do I know you?”
He smiled wider, with his deep rugged voice said mystically, “You might.” And then he pointed the two carved letters at the bottom of the umbrella’s handle. “E.S.”
“What…” I pointed at the handle, and then pointed back at him. “How do you have that umbrella?”
“It was given to me by a little girl some time ago.” He continued with his twinkling eyes, nearly started laughing.
“You!” I started shouting, “Michael McCormick! You bastard! Leave me alone!” I started walking away from the wonderful roof provided by the umbrella.
“Hey, hey, easy tiger.” Michael pulled me back under the umbrella. “Is that a way to treat an old friend?” He continued with a slanted smile.
I just couldn’t take it, “You’re not my friend! I treated you like a best friend and what did you do? Push me away, so our ‘friendship’ ended the day you didn’t show up!” I exclaimed, air quoted with my one free hand.
“Let me explain, will you?” Michael said patiently while still pulling my arm which I tried so hard to pull away.
“Let me go! You’re the last person in the world I want to see right now!” I continue to use all my power to pull away from him. But all efforts seem to be futile, as his hand is so strong. When did that happen?
“I didn’t come that day because I moved that day!” He exclaimed.
“What? You moved exactly on that day?” I questioned.
“Yes! That’s why I didn’t show up that day in front of the ice cream shop to return your umbrella. Is that why you hate me so much?” He tiled his head, baffled.
“I… I don’t hate you. I just don’t like you, that’s all.” I stammered, but I continued, laying charges on him. “Have you even got a clue how long I’ve waited for you on that day? Huh, have you?”
“As a matter of fact, I do.” He admitted. “I went back to our hometown just before starting college, but they told me that you were already gone, and told me how heart broke you were, too.” He chuckled a little, “I want to find you in your college, but never summed up the courage during the four years, but here we are, met at last.” He smiled and blinded me his dentist-cleaned orthodontist-worked teeth.
“You!” I felt my face heating up, that’s all I could say at that moment, but still pointing at him.
“But I got a question, though.” Michael continued, “Why didn’t you bring an umbrella? And why were you crying?”
“I haven’t brought umbrellas with me for a long time. And I refuse to answer the second question.” I turned my head, not facing him.
“Uh, did you…” I turned around and saw him staring at my box, “Did you just leave your job?”
“Laid-off…” My voice trailed off. “But that’s not your business.”
“What do you major in? Business?” He continued.
“How…” I squinted my eyes, “My parents told you right? Two big-mouths…”
Michael nodded with a sly smile. “Hey, you know what, I’ve started a small business here, and it’s just up on this street, want to go and see? We could use some help you know.”
“You’re giving me a job?” I was suddenly exhilarated, “Wow, thank you so much!” I started jumping up and down.
“On one condition though,” Michael suddenly turned serious, “We have to share this umbrella from now on.”
Now it’s me getting puzzled, “What… You don’t mean…”
“Yup.” He smiled widely, “And I’m not going to get your permission.” He then took my shoulders and led me walking down the street.
As I stared up at the clear umbrella, I nearly started crying once again, but this time out of joy, out of happiness. Just a blink of an eye, I lost everything, and another blink of an eye, I got everything back, and more. Through years of searching, fate kicked me in the behind by giving me more than I bargained for. Fate, certainly has its fair share of fun.
The End.........
[ 本帖最后由 luxiaohui2 于 2008-8-24 12:05 AM 编辑 ]
