Chapter 1

According to Census, there are about 7 Billion people here on Earth today. By that large number of people, how would you know if you already have met the person that you will spend the rest of your life with?

What if you have already bumped into her but you just did not able to notice? Or what if that person had already passed by in front of you but suddenly you ducked down to tie the shoelace of your shoe? She might have been already beside you but you were too busy looking at the pedestrian crossing light, waiting for the green man to appear. Maybe she's already there, that you almost met her but suddenly there is a cab that blocked both of your way.

For so many people here today, there are some people who are lucky enough that they have finally found the person that they want to grow old with; there are also some people who are still hopefully looking out there; but also, there are some who already gave up.

But you know what? The worse thing is, when you are already holding it on your hands but suddenly you just... dropped it.

The thing is what if you have only had one chance to meet that person? Would you just let it slip even if it is already in front of you?

I smiled as I heard a round of applause after I finished my talk.

"Thank you guys!" I said by the claps fade out. "So it's simple as that. Just always remember, by the time you enter the room, that's when the opportunity starts. You grab that chance and make it happen!"

I paused to let them absorb what I'm saying. "Because if not, you may find a hard time grabbing the second chance, or worse, there may no longer have a second chance"

Once I've done speaking, I felt my phone vibrates inside my pocket.

"Thank you Ms. Ashley Davies, Summit Division head from 2008 to 2012 who just arrived from New York" said the organiser before I excused myself and exit the room. I heard a round of applause once again and I waved my hand a goodbye and pick-up my phone.

Before I had the chance to say hello, "Where the hell are you Ash?!" was hissed by my sister on the other line. Cue to roll my eyes, "I'm on my way Ky, just a bit stuck at the traffic" I lied.

"Traffic your ass" she scoffed.

"I'm gonna hung up, I'll see you ok?"

I made my way to my car to drive to Tina's wedding. Tina was a close friend of ours and she had been our roommate for a long time. She moved out after she got engaged with Trish eight months ago.

I just got back from a business trip from New York. I'm living now with Kyla, Aiden and Emma. Kyla is my sister, and I met Aiden, Emma, and Tina from College and been my roommates and close friends ever since here in L.A.

When I arrived at the venue, of course Kyla is already on her way berating how late I am. God, such a drama queen! After she get the idea that I'm not going to argue with her, she pulled me to our hotel room so that I can start preparing and getting change.

"Ash I know you're allergic to weddings, but please can you just do this for Tina?" she asked softly watching what will be my reaction to what she said.

"I know Ky, I am not planning to bail out ok? I just caught up at the conference, is all." I muttered while I'm putting my make-up. "Besides, I know better than putting myself in a hospital bed when Tina hunts me down for not coming." I smirked glancing at the reflection of my sister to the mirror. "Damn straight!" She chuckled.

The wedding will be held at the beach and we arrived there, I can't help to take in the place. The ocean, the sand, chairs, flowers, cloth, altar, deck, the aisle, the decorations... all of it, it brings me back to that day. I feel like I've been drowning by the past. I feel like I couldn't breathe, it's all too much.

It did not help when I saw Tina marching down the aisle. It brings me back the memories. I felt like I'm reliving that day again and it took everything in me to hold it together.

"Are you ok Ash?" Aiden asked me from my left. "Yeah, just having a head ache" was my alibi. He knows better not to push it and just squeezed my shoulder, this is the first time I attended a wedding since that day. I took a deep breath and tried to ignore what I'm feeling just focusing on the ceremony.

The wedding ceremony was done and I am now sitting with the crew at the table here in the reception. We were watching how happy Tina and Trish dancing at the dance floor as they get lost in their own world.

"Aww, have you guys see how cute they are together? Oh God, how I wish I had finally found the person that I'm going to marry!" Emma gushed as she watched the couple dancing. Geez, she's such a girl sometimes!

"Maybe try not to sleep around and start dating, eh Ems?" Aiden bantered. "Nah I'm good, getting attached is just messy" She answered nonchalantly.

"okaaaay?" my sister look incredulously to our roommate, "You just said you want to find that 'someone' then next thing you're saying that you don't want to get attached, make up your mind Ems!" Kyla grumbled. I snickered at Emma and nod in agreement.

"It's true!" Emma starts to defend herself, "The best thing about being single is sleeping around. You can sleep all over that big lonely bed of yours. Left, right, middle, wherever." Everyone hollered in laughter as she tried to change the track of the topic.

"So Ash, how about you, hasn't found anyone yet?" Emma asked turning to face me.

Before I could answer, Tina and Trish reached our table to have a chat with us. After hugs and congratulations later, I was relieved that Emma dropped the topic about me – "So Ash, you did not answer my question, still not dating?" – or not...

All eyes turned on me waiting for an answer, "uh, nope" was all I can muster and shrugged.

"eh? Who knows, maybe Ash found 'her' already. Maybe she just let it slipped in her hands and we just don't know it" Kyla queried on my right and shrugged. That caused me to glare at her.

"Oh yeah! Maybe it's the high school teacher, yeah Ash?" Aiden exclaimed remembering one of my Exes. "She always took a goooood care of you" I just shook my head remembering the girl.

"Yeah right" Emma snorted. "So good to the point that she treats Ash like her daughter, not her girlfriend!" Ems mocked and earned everyone to laugh again.

Ok seems like the spotlight was mine tonight.

"Ha! How about Ms. Perfect? yeah?" Tina shoots the question at the table. Everyone laughed once again. "Oh yes! Remember those times when she makes Ash feels like she's a moron?"

I got lost at the conversation as I remember one moment with 'Ms. Perfect'...

We were walking at the beach hand in hand and she speaks "It's amazing how a whale cannot swallow something that is bigger than a beach ball despite how big its mouth isn't it, Babe?" She asked while looking at the sea.

Being an amused girlfriend that I am, I asked her "Oh really? Wow, I didn't know that"

She looked at me in disgust and questioned "How could you not know that?!" All I could do there was to stand dumbfounded.

I joined them laughing after I remember that moment, I guess it's also the story they're thinking about right now.

When our laughter fades out, suddenly Aiden's face lights up as if there is an imaginary light bulb above his head, "ooh, maybe it's the flight attendant! Dude, she almost brought you to heaven right?" he wiggled his brows and gave me a knowing look...

I chuckled as I wander back at the moment with this sexy flight attendant,

When we reached our hotel room, I gasped as she slammed me at the wall harder than necessary. Just before I regain my composure, she's already kissing me hard, biting here and there. I was surprised as she took my clothes off hungrily ripping it in the process. Then I was tossed in the bed like I was a ragged doll. Man, that girl was such a cat in the sack!

I shook my head with the smirk trying to clear my mind.

"The thing is she's just like a dream man. When I wake up, poof! She's gone" they all hollered in laughter with what I just said. I remember her always leaving me a note when I wake up saying she has flight in the morning so she needs to leave early, just always leaving me with bite marks as a souvenir. I can't help but snicker at the taught.

This time, it's Kyla who begins to speak, "But guys? Remember someone who came after all of them?" Kyla looked at my direction to tease me. "Mhmm" Aiden nods slowly, humming in agreement.

"The Photographer!" Aiden filled in.

I just glared at the two of them trying to stop them. Ok here we go again. Then it took everything in me to push the memory to the back of my mind.