Rethink, Remember

At the end of their meal it was no surprise that Goku won. ChiChi actually lost the challenge, but it was Bulma who offered to pay the bill anyways. She had other things on her mind now.

"Hey, um, don't mean to cut our day short but, I gotta go." Bulma got up from her seat and adjusted her bag.

"Is anything the matter? Stomach hurting or anything? Dang it! See, I knew you and Goku were taking our little 'challenge' way too seriously." ChiChi said. Indirectly scolding the two.

"Hey, don't get upset just because you lost Chi. Haha. I'll let you win next time." Goku kissed her on the cheek.

"Ha. That'll be the day." ChiChi rolled her eyes.

Bulma smiled at the two. "Well, nothing's wrong. I'm just going to take a walk. You know what I mean?"

Goku and ChiChi grinned at each other then looked back up at their friend. "Of course. Call us if anything comes up. We love you." ChiChi hugged her.

"Love you guys, too!" Bulma ruffled Goku's hair before walking out the exit. "I'll see you guys later." Then she left the shop.

She was about four blocks away from the ramen restaurant when she realized she didn't know where she was going. But after thinking about it for about two blocks more, she thought that not knowing was for the best. She's been thinking things over way too much lately. Overanalyzing every single detail only to notice that thinking wouldn't help her situation. She needed to think, but it was best to just do. And spontaneously walking like this was just the thing she needed to do. But while she was walking, of course she needed to think! Why the hell do I keep contradicting myself like this? Ughhhh.

Bulma looked up at the street signs and noticed that she was heading north east; the opposite direction of her house. That was for the best. She knew that she was most likely to return home a little after dark, but she wanted to make sure that there was enough space between her and her home. She wanted to make sure that she used this day to think things through. It was 12:14. About nine hours until the sun would be completely gone. Great. That should be plenty time for today.

While walking dead ahead, trying to avoid traffic as much as possible, Bulma began thinking about everything wrong about her life first. Shit. But that's a long ass list.

When I was about four years old, I found out that I was adopted. Even now I have no idea who my birth parents could be. Now that I think about it, anyone on these streets could actually be them. I can't help to think about who they were or how their personalities and looks were like. Growing up, I had no social life throughout all of elementary school. Each day I would remember crying myself to sleep. It was about third grade when I stopped. I had no more tears to shed. I was emotionally dead. I always felt no need to actually study. Instead, I would just doze off during class or stare out through the windows. Then, I knew I was searching for something, I just didn't know what. At the time, I wondered if anyone else's life was as bad as mine. Then I realized I was being ridiculous. OF COURSE, DUMDUM. I would always tell myself. STOP COMPLAINING. YOU THINK YOU HAVE IT BAD? WELL, THERE'S ALWAYS SOMEONE OUT THERE WHO HAS IT EVEN WORSE. But damn. I always thought my life was pretty unfair, but if there are people with lives ten times as bad as mine…well I pray for their strength. I just hope that'll I'll be able to keep my own. Middle school and high school weren't so bad. It was the second semester of my senior year that dumped stress onto every single nerve in my body. I had already met Master Roshi and BaBa. Baba had told me of the reason why I was supposed to die on March of 2014. And to be honest, I found it depressing. Like: "Fuck. Am I really that much of a loser?" kind of depressing. I will die because I'm apparently incompetent enough to find love. Sheesh. Here I am thinking that I'm at least not half ugly, and I try not to be a total bitch. I am who I am. What upsets me the most is that when I was born, fate predetermined that I would have found no one that accepts me for me in my 26 years of living. "What's wrong with me?" is a question I would almost ask myself daily. Not to mention that I was to die on my twenty-sixth birthday. When I was old enough to realize the meaning of my book, I slowly began dreading my birthday. To me, they became like countdowns and reminders of how long I would have left. Whenever my birthday would come by, I'd stay in my room the whole day. I wouldn't accept any gifts, no phone calls, texts, presents, because to me birthdays weren't days to be celebrating. Nope. Birthdays became the shittiest days of my life. But, I did at one point stop hating my life so much. I fell somewhat in love with Yamcha right after graduating. I honestly don't know what made me feel so attracted to him. Yamcha was Yamcha. There was no real explanation for him. After about a year of being together I guess we got bored of each other. He began seeing girls behind my back, making room for others on the side. It became overwhelming to me. To know that I alone was no longer good enough for him. I knew it wasn't really love. It was just physical attraction. I did really care about him, but he lacked loyalty. And I guess I lacked the excitement he was searching for. After our relationship ended, Goku and ChiChi set me up on a bunch of dates with their friends. They were all kind people, but I felt no spark when I talked to them. That extra oomph wasn't in our smiles or conversations. We weren't right for one another. I felt as if I was being picky. But thinking about it over, I really wasn't. I guess I can't blame myself for feeling the way I was for them. Feeling nothing. It's just that, they weren't who I was looking for. But at the same time, I didn't know who or what I was looking for. As strangely as it sounds, I just knew that when I found whoever it was, it wouldn't take me too long to know. However time kept passing me by, whether I liked it or not. I started losing all hope. I started to think that it was impossible to change my fate. Actually, I found myself in denial at one point. I tried my hardest every day to put my brain through so much in order to forget about my book, my life, and my fate. I would get up early in the morning just to start up or work on new inventions. I avoided as much social confrontation as I could. Sometimes I couldn't even talk to my parents. They did nothing but try to help me but I kept pushing them away! I'm a horrible daughter. I'm a horrible person in general. Fuck. I hate this. Before today I had nothing but restless nights. Sleep was the last thing on my mind. I could only just stare at the ceiling or take midnight strolls through the parks. I was becoming the little girl I was in elementary school: alone, lost, miserable. There really was nothing I could do for myself. I had given up completely.

Bulma stopped and waited for the okay to walk sign turn red, initiating her to move forward. She was tired of all the negatives and wanted to tally up to positives that had happened.

Sure, I don't know who my biological parents were, but the parents I have now are my real parents. They raised me, loved me, and showed me nothing but care and support. I thank them for that. Sure elementary was pretty bad, but things got better once I met Goku. He showed me kindness that no other kid my age ever had. He defended me when I got teased and was there when I cried. He made me a stronger person. Senior year, I had real friends. I got insight in what direction my life was going. If I had never met Roshi and BaBa, I would have never found out why I was going to die. I would've been left in the dark about all of this forever. They answered so many important questions for me. BaBa told me that my birth parents did care for me. My heart felt lighter that they. And after high school Yamcha and I got together. He was great, I have to admit. Sure, it was a bumpy ride, but I experienced happiness with him. Every one that I've encountered throughout my life… I honestly don't know where I'd be now without them. They brought me so far and if this is my last year on this earth, I want to do everything in my power to let them know how much I appreciated it. Yeah, there were some definite struggles in my life, but that only made me cherish the peace granted to me by the people I've met. If this really is my last year, I promise, I won't go out with regrets. Not anymore. It's not worth it.

Bulma was a couple miles into North City. She wasn't that familiar with the territory, but it didn't matter to her. She was glad that she had time for her to ponder about everything that had happened to her. She grabbed a snack from a street vendor and continued walking forward.

"Mommy? Daddy? Mommy!? Daddy!? Where are you?!" cried a little boy on the crosswalk. Bulma wasn't too far from the boy, but wasn't too close either. The boy kept walking back and forth, from the street back to the crosswalk. Obviously, he was lost and it looked like no one was stopping to help him. Quickening her pace, Bulma walked toward the little boy. But she wasn't the only one heading in his direction. An eighteen wheeler was charging through the streets. When the driver noticed that the lights turned yellow, he tried stepping on the gas to make it through the intersection not even paying attention to the minor pedestrian. Shit. Bulma thought, practically running toward the child.

"Hey kid! Kid watch out! WATCH OUT!" she yelled. But it was too late. The semi was only feet away from the boy. Bulma unconsciously jumped in front of the little boy in an attempt to shield him.

I guess… I guess my book really was wrong. Though fear and anxiety rushed through her body, she looked back and smiled at the boy, still holding her ground. A single tear fell down her cheek as she heard the horn of the semi-truck blare.

Watching the scene from the background, a man dropped his late lunch sprinting towards the crazy woman and bratty child. As fast as he could, he swung both of them in his arms and tackled them into the other lane of the street. The truck's horn still honking as it zoomed past the scene. The child looked at the man in complete shock and ran to the other side of the road.

"Mommy! Daddy! I was looking for you!" he cried while slamming into the arms of his parents, who were oblivious to the commotion that was displayed in the background.

The man grunted as he lifted himself off of the blue haired woman. His body was sore, but knowing his weight and acceleration in which he rammed into this lady, damn. She must be real uncomfortable. He glared at her groaning body with twitching eyes.

"IDIOT! WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU WERE DOING?!"