2 years ago

CATHERINE

I keep looking at my watch. He is 4 hours late. I let a sigh of frustration. He won't come. Tears started to form in my eyes. I feel betrayed. I raked my hands on my hair, trying to straighten the tangled. I looked at the door where the people come and go. I can't see his figure. He won't come I repeated to myself.

"He doesn't love you" An old homeless man suddenly appear on the back of my chair, looked like he just woke up from his sleep. He stink but in my state of confusion, I don't really care. I turn around.

I frown on his statement. "What?"

"Man like him is not worth loving." He look at me. "If he loves you, he will be the one who's waiting here, not you."

"How do you know I'm waiting a man?" I asked him.

"I can't count how many years I lived here in this station. I have seen a lot of people who rode on that bus happily and started a new life outside this city and I also seen many people like you sitting here, waiting for their future. Most of them were leaving broken hearted. I saw you before I take nap" His word hit me. Do I want to do this? Do I want to have a future outside this city where I grew up most of my life? Do I want to spent the rest of my life with him? I'm starting to doubt myself, for making a stupid decision. Obviously he won't come.

"He told me he will give up his life for me and fulfill my happy ending."

"Well, he's lying. He can't see what it's in front of him. I may not know you well but I can see in your eyes that you are craving for love and you thought that this man will give you the love that you want."

I sniff, unable to control my tears. He's right. I wanted someone will love me unconditionally. The love that I've never seen with my parents. The kind of love when a man give so much attention to the woman he loved. When he rather chose to spent some time with her instead of working whole day in the office. Doing crazy things together, traveling together, playing with their children and most of all, happy and contented with their lives. Thinking this now I realize that I never see myself doing this with him. I caught up with all the fantasy that we can be happy together.

I nod slowly agreeing with him. "I thought he's the one"

"Don't worry kiddo, you are still young. It is not the end of you. Maybe God has a better plan for you. You might not know one day you will meet The One."

"How will I know if he is The One?" I ask.

"You can feel it" he smile. How can this homeless man know anything about love? I can't believe I'm listening to him.

"Go home and get yourself back. There is someone who is waiting, like you." Just like that he stand up and walk away. I watched him, after a few moments of thinking, I grab my duffle bag and went back to my home.

~~00~~

I walk a little unsteady, my head is spinning. After one bottle of vodka, I decided that I will go home before I pass out on the road. My throat is burning. I want to drink something very cold. I saw a convenient store in the corner of the street. I went inside and grab my favorite cola. I walk toward the cashier. My hands are shaky and I think my hair is messy because of the look of the teller giving me. He thought I'm wasted. The chimes on the door rang, I turned around and the bulky man enter. He looked at me with his bad boy look. His face surrounded of scruff. His eyebrow thick but in straight line and his hair is quite long, half of his forehead is covered with his lock. His looks remind me of those guy in an action movies. I think I'm going to faint or maybe my eyes deceive me. He is the most beautiful man I've ever seen. I didn't notice that the cashier in front of me calling me. He handed me my change. I thank him then left the store.

I inhale heavily, fighting my urge to cry. That's why I don't want to drink alcohol, it brings out my emotion. I put my hands between my eyes, suddenly feeling dizzy. I frown when I realize I don't have any cola on my hands. I went back to the convenient store which 10 steps away only. When I'm about to enter the door open, revealing the action movie guy wannabe. I caught my breath. He looks arrogant but something in his eyes that I can't distinguish. I'm waiting for him to step aside but seems like he's waiting for me to do the same. I just looked at him. He raise his hands, and open the same cola he bought. I look at the counter then at him. I grab it from his hand and drink all of it. Damn, that was delicious! I return the can to him and left.

Few minutes later, the bus arrived. I open my duffle bag to search my wallet. I can't find it. The driver is getting mad for making him wait. I shut my eyes, remembering when I left it. I jumped out of the bus nearly tripping myself on the ground. I went back on the convenient store. I think the cashier recognize me right away because while walking toward the counter, he bend down and grab something below.

"Miss, you left your cola and your wallet." He smiled at me.

"Oh. Thanks" grabbing the items I strode fast from him, embarrassed.

I sit on the bench in front of that store, watching the cars passing by. I feel like I'm about to throw up. My head is throbbing and my vision is becoming double and slowly fading. I dialed our home number, praying our helper will answer the phone not my parents. The last thing I've heard before I pass out is my mother's voice.

~~00~~

I woke up feeling like I've been in hell. I hate hung over. I sit up and I realize I'm in my bedroom. I heard some voices outside my room. I walk toward it and press my ear on the door. The voices came from my parents.

"You have to teach her a lesson," My dad exclaim.

"Thomas, you'll wake her up. I'm sure she learned a lesson. She won't call us if she did not." My mom said, defending me.

"She just can't call us in the middle of the night. She left us and live with that guy. She knows how I despise that guy." I stop listening. Unable to control myself, I went outside to face my angry father.

"Oh darling you're awake" my mother hug me. When her arms wrapped around me, I stop fighting. I cry. I cried for all the things I've done to them. For all the shame I put on my father, on my family. "Shhh. Catherine. Don't cry."

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I never meant to hurt you mom." I hug her tight, feeling the burden I kept since I left them.

"It's okay." she pull me to look at me. She grab my face with her both hands. "The only thing that you've done is you fall in love with a wrong guy." I nod. I look at my father, searching for his forgiveness. I slowly approach him. Reaching his hand I open my mouth to speak.

"Dad. I'm sorry. I should've listen to you. I'm sorry that I became the girl who is very stubborn when it comes to love. The only lesson that I've learn on my mistake is that, never doubt your parents because they know what is best for their children." I frown when I remember what they've told me about Patrick. They told me that he has a family and that they are living in the suburban area in New York. My dad told me that Patrick is using me to gain connections for his upcoming business. He wants investor and my dad is a businessman himself and have a lot of friends in a construction firm. I got mad on my father for investigating him. I never believed him. I never believed to anyone. I only believed Patrick. He encourage me to move out from my parents and live with him. I agreed. For three months I thought I'm living my dreams. Everything is perfect. I didn't bother to care about what people think. I am happy. Or so I thought. Until one day I saw him talking with a girl. He told me that she was just a colleague. Again, I believe him. That was the time he asked me to move out and live far away in the city. Now, all of those things came back and I feel so ashamed. I made a huge mistake. I silently vow that I will never put my family into shame.

I understand that my father will not give his forgiveness to me yet. He didn't forget the looks of his colleagues when they found out that her older daughter is a mistress. He is the man with full of principle, authority and control. He is very strict with his rule not only in his business but also in our own house. That is why it's easy for him to despise me when I run off with Patrick. He can't believe that he raise a child to be called The Other woman.

That night, we take our dinner in an awkward silence. No one dare to say a word especially about me. Even my little sister Heather who is very talkative and bubbly kept her mouth shut, afraid she might say a word that will hurt me or offend my father. After dinner I went straight to my room, thinking how my life turned out. I remember what that old man said, I'm still young. I just hope that The one who he's talking about still out there waiting for me. I heard a soft knock on my door. It was my mother, she open the door slightly enough to peak her head.

"Can I come in?" she asked.

"Of course" I scoot a little and rested half of my body on the headboard.

"Are you ok?"

"I don't know Mom. Seems like dad will never forgive me."

"He will forgive you Cat. You know your father, he always put a up a face in front of us but inside, he has a soft heart."

"I didn't listen to him. I'm always his little girl but I let him down."

"I'm sure he will forgive you. I will talk to him."

"No mom. Let him think for a while. I'll wait till he cool down."

"Ok." She scoot over me and kiss my forehead. "Good night darling. And welcome back" she smile then left my room.

~~00~~

A month after I went back home, I finally received my father's forgiveness. We forgot what happened and we talk like we used to be. Our bond came back, though it feels not right to stay at home again. I feel like at my age I should be living on my own but my parents won't allow me yet coz they are afraid it will happened again. I don't blame them. Their reputation is too much precious for them to destroy it again and put them in shameless position.

I also went back to my job with Tess, my best friend who welcome me back with wide arms open. She was very happy when she found out that I finally broke up with Patrick. She is not a fan of him when she found out that he has a family. She didn't spoke to nme for months because of my decision but now I finally realize my mistake she forgave me and we got closer than before.

My family is not happy with my decision to work as a tailor. They thought I should pursue my career as an architect but my love for drawings is not for the building. I love dressing up and I love making clothes. So I work in the shop where I can do what I love. At least this time my father can't argue with me.

After a productive day at work, I bid goodbye to Tess. She has a date tonight so she hurried home to change. I hate traffic that's why I don't bring my car, so I take a train going home. I was walking on the side walk enjoying the sunset. The sun is like playing pick-a-boo with the buildings. Suddenly I feel some force from my left hands, it dragged me forward causing me to stumbled on the ground. Someone grabbed my bag from my shoulder. I stand up and chase after it. The robber rode a motorcycle so it's impossible for me to catch him. The traffic lights came flashed to red. Cars stopped but still the robber continue when suddenly an old jeep open the driver's door. The man slammed his door to the robber and the his bike flew away with my bag. Pens and my other stuff scattered on the road. I ran to pick them up. The man on the jeep went down and help me. One thing I love about New York is that nobody cares you. They are minding their own business. But this man chose to help me.

He handed me my pencils and when I looked up, my heart skip a beat. His face is so familiar. His eyes that are mesmerizing staring back at me. Recognition flashed through his face. Right! He is the man on the convenient store. The action star wannabe.

"Thank you" I said.

"Are you a designer?" he asked.

"Ahmm. Yeah. How do you know?"

"Because you have a lot of colorful pencils." He smile and I saw a glimpse of his dimple. His appearance changed from the last time I saw him. His face less scruff and his hair is a little bit longer. I think he looks more handsome. In the corner of my eyes I saw the robber run away. He looks like he is about to chase him but I stop him. "It's okay." I assured him.

Some people behind us yelling. I saw that the lights turn green. We both turn around and smile when saw how angry they are.

"I think I'm going. Next time be careful. Don't walk alone, it's too dangerous for a pretty girl like you." Just like that he climbed on his jeep and I left stunned at his words.

Author's Note:

I know it's a boring chapter. Forgive me if you got bored reading this. J