There he is. [full]

I give up. I give up on love. I give up on guys. Go ahead and call me judgmental, but all guys are the same.

That's what the old me would say; simply because I was hurt by a jerk. I even fought with a guy because of it. Once I regained my sanity, I rethink about everything. It's true that he's a jerk, but I can't put all the blame on him, it was my bad too. Truth is, on my side, I put all the blame on me for falling too easily. I was the one who played with fire, and I got burned. I learned my lessons now. That guy I called a jerk, is now someone who I call my friend.

Those things happened so many years ago. The memories are still somewhere in my mind, safely buried. I am now living a very happy life. I forgive people; I've stopped putting hope in anything but only on my Lord. I am still on my own, and I have no plan of finding someone or anyone even though I have tonnes of crushes. My friends have been trying to pair me up with their guy friends, some of them are really cute but that's just it. They say I'm pushing people away, am I?

Oh well, it doesn't matter anyway.The day that I had been waiting for had finally arrived, all my bags ware packed and I was all ready to go to the airport. My cab was already waiting outside. That was my first time travelling alone; I was nervous and excited all at the same time. A soul-searching journey was what I call it. Being an average-sized Asian girl, my backpack was about the same size as I am. Was that why everyone in this airport staring at me?

"How old are you? Travelling alone?"

"19, and yes I am." I smiled at him, he then looked at my passport and gave a warm smile in return.

"Have fun and be careful yeah."

"Will do."

Gate G-9. Why isn't there anyone at the boarding gate?. So I asked a lady in police uniform standing there, "Flight to Krabi Island?" she looked at me with a facial expression I can't describe, and then asks "Can you run?" "Urm, yes?" I was shocked when she kind of screamed "Okay now run! To the F-6. It's leaving in 15 minutes!" "OKAY!"

Oh God. I could hardly breathe when I entered the plane, the cute steward asked "Miss Krueger?" I nodded and he showed my seat. Just when I thought I could sit and settle my oxygen debt and clear up the building of lactic acid in my body, my heart stopped beating. I could not believe my eyes. I would be spending my 4-hour flight sitting beside a guy whom I've been having a crush on since I was thirteen. Oh. My. God.

*

Oh my god I'm hyperventilating oh my god oh my god what should I do now? I think I'm in the wrong plane. This can't be happening. Or maybe I should just turn around and ditch this vacation; but oh snap, the plane door is already closed. "Everyone, please be seated. We are ready for boarding." Oh snap snap snap. Okay fine, breathe Maddie Krueger, now turn around, act cool and just sit at your place.

"AHH!" I screamed as I tripped on my shoelace and I had to hold on to the seat right in front of him to get a grip. That made him look straight to my face. Oh my god this can't be happening, am I having a nightmare oh no Maddie wake up please.

"Maddie?" His eyes are so brown and his voice is just..... "Maddie Krueger right? Steph's sister? Are you okay?"

"Oh yeah, I'm fine. I'm sorry, I tripped on my shoelace, I'm so clumsy blergh." I said that while rolling my eyes, he flashed his perfect white teeth at me and helped me to put my backpack on the overhead compartment.

"Thanks." That's the only word I could utter while looking at his Greekgod-like features.

"Fear of flying?" He asked in a very friendly way. Was it really that obvious how nervous I am sitting beside him? I thanked God I'm in a plane, I could think of thousands of other excuses.

"Nah I'm not usually like this. It's my first time travelling alone so I'm kinda nervous."

"Wow that's very brave of you. You're the youngest in the family right? The youngest ones aren't usually so independent. My youngest sister always always drag me to places, even to the shop at the end of the road."

"Haha. You're travelling alone too? Why don't you drag her with you this time?"

"I told her I need a me-time. It's good to escape from her for a few days."

"Oh my, that's mean! I wonder if that's what my brothers think about me."

We had a good laugh and he's friendlier than I thought he is. If only I had known this earlier, I would have started talking to him years ago. A few hours flew while we were chatting. The pilot just announced that we'll be there in about fifteen minutes. I really wish I could spend more time with him but let's cut it off, it's good enough to have been given the chance to talk to him for hours.

"Yay! Here we are. So where are you staying in Krabi?" he asked me while I was busy mourning over the fact that I don't know when I'll get this kind of opportunity again.

"I'm not sure yet. I'm just gonna walk around and find a cheap motel. Hopefully they're not full." Please tell me you're gonna do the same so that we can still walk together and spend a couple more hours. or even better days, together.

"I'll be staying over at my cousin's place, I think she'd be glad to have you around. You want to come with me?"

I was hesitating for a few seconds, should I say yes so that I can spend more time with him and I don't have to spend my money for hotels but my ego asked me to say no. "I don't think so. Since you'll be having a me-time and I doubt you want to have a 'little sister' tagging along."

He laughed out loud and unexpectedly, he said "I'll be very happy to have a company. By the way, that's my cousin over there. Let us give you a ride and this time I won't take 'no' as an answer."

A part of me still couldn't believe that it was really happening, the only logic I could think at that moment was that I'm dead and this is heaven. Is God really answering my prayers now?

*

His cousin drove my dream car, a yellow Volkswagen beetle. I was surprised to see a forty-year-old lady in the car because when he mentioned "cousin", I expected a girl about our age. She had short brown hair and her eyes sparkled when she smiled, giving me a pleasant warmth.

"So where are we heading to? Are you kids hungry?" First she looked at Ian, then to me. Before I had the chance to turn down the offer, Ian answered "I'm starving. I bet Maddie is too since we didn't get anything to eat in the plane just now."

All of a sudden, I felt the need of being alone. I come here to find myself, to enjoy the beauty of nature - the beach, to experience traveling alone. I can't possibly spend my days here with a guy I barely know. Don't get me wrong, he is nice, his cousin is too, it's just that.....I want to be alone.

Tiara brought us to the tourists' favorite place, Samsuk's Fish Garden. It's a great place by the beach with a spectacular view, I really enjoyed the food and their company. Once we were done, Tiara asked again "Do you guys wanna go anywhere else? I can show you around."

"That's so sweet of you but I am very tired now I think I wanna have some rest first." Maddie

"Oh yes, of course. I'll prepare a room for you and we'll go around once you're ready." Tiara

"Urm, prepare a room....for me?" Maddie

"Oh wait, are you not staying with us?" Tiara

"Actually....." Then I shot a glance at Ian, I can't say no to Tiara she's so sweet. Ian answered for me "No she's not. I already asked her and she doesn't want."

"Oh it's okay I get it, but if you want a company to explore the place, just let us know alright?" Tiara

"Will do. Thanks a lot, both of you are so sweet. I'll see you when I see you?" Maddie.

"I'll see you soon." Ian said with a big smile on his face. He's weird, but he's cute. Then we parted, I started walking to the nearest motel, checked-in and now I'm just lying down in my tiny room. Since its just a cheap motel, it doesn't really have the nicest view. From my window I can still see some parts of the beach, blocked by dozens of coconut trees, but the sea breeze is ever so calming. Without realizing, I fall asleep hugging my backpack.

I am woken up with a very loud noise of the iPhone ringing tone and a very strong vibration. I haven't even turned on my phone, where does this came from? I thought. Then it stops, then I hear the sound of a text coming in. It's 11AM already, so I wake up and shower. It is when I was searching for something to wear that I see a freaking white iPhone 5 in the pocket of my backpack. Has my iPhone 4 transformed itself over-sea? What kind of a miracle is this? I take it out and see a missed call from a foreign unknown number, then I open the text message;

Hey Maddie. I left my phone with you so that its easy for me to reach you and in case you need anything, call this number. I'll see you around! :-) Ian

Wait? What is happening? In the plane, I get to sit beside my dream guy and now I get an iPhone 5 from him? I don't remember using a black magic or any chants for good luck. Then another text came in, could it be a "Will you marry me?" Or "Maddie you're so gorgeous please be mine?" HAHA

BTW, that phone is just for you to use while we're here. I'm not really that nice to give it to you :-P Ian

Blerghhh, I thought my iPhone just transformed. You give me false hopes. Thanks btw. Maddie.

Sorry about that, can I make it up to you by taking you for lunch today? Ian.

Oh my god is he asking me out? Oh my god. I need to talk to my best friend now but no, she'd kill me if I go out with a guy on my so-called soul-searching journey. Oh my god oh my god oh my god. What is happening to my life.

*

I gotta stop flattering myself. It's nothing, maybe he's just excited to bump into someone he knows when travelling. So this lunch treat is definitely because of that. So I replied;

By all means! Where? Maddie.

I'll pick you up at your motel in 10 minutes. See ya! :-) Ian.

TEN MINUTES?! And I'm still in my towel what the heck. So I put on my simplest tshirt and my worn out jeans. There he is, looking ever so gorgeous with his sunglasses. Can I just marry him already?

The lunch goes well. We even make plans to do water sports together tomorrow. He's cool, we can be awesome friends. Plus, he's my brother-in-law's relative, this thing can't really go anywhere further than that.

After lunch, he brings me to the market where the local sells souvenirs and stuffs. I'm so excited, but I don't think he is.

"Don't you like shopping?" Maddie.

"Err not really." Ian

"But why? Your cousin, Dean loves to shop." Maddie

"Well, me and him, we're not really alike." Ian

"Haha yeah, exactly." Maddie

"Is it that obvious? Haha. Plus he has Steph, a shopaholic. He wasn't really into shopping in his single life." Ian

"I see. Wait, so are you like saying you're single?" Maddie

He nods and laughs. NO WAY! He's freaking single why must you be Dean's close cousin why oh why T-T haha but that makes the whole thing a lot more fun. We're both single and enjoying our single life. He then brings me to see sunset and at night, we sit by the beach, enjoying the sea breeze while having a light conversation. It's more like an ice breaking session.

"I started travelling once I finish high school. Right after the big exams, I went to Sabah alone and I really enjoyed it. Then I started to get addicted to it. I go to different places every 3 months." Ian

Then we share our same interest in travelling, can he be more perfect?

*

There's a loud bang on the door which causes me to wake up. Then I check my phone, there is like twelve missed calls and four texts. It's 10AM WHAT THE HELL I'm supposed to meet Ian at 930AM cause he already made an appointment for the water sports at 1030AM. That must be him.

"Maddie, you there?" he shouted.

"Yes. Wait for me downstairs. I'll be there in 5 minutes!" I shouted back. I run to the bathroom, brush my teeth, wash my face and ran downstairs. I don't even bath and shhh, it's a secret.

"Overslept?" he laughs.

"Err sorry to keep you waiting, and my phone was on silent." I said apologetically.

We arrive at the beach right on time. Start off with parasailing, one thing I've always wanted to try. The feeling was incredible, for that few minutes, I feel weightless. Then, the doughnut is hilarious! Being a small-sized Asian girl with weight of 43kg, I almost got thrown out of the doughnut. I can't stop laughing I could've died of asphyxiation. Haha. Snorkelling and scuba diving are awesome, having the schools of fish so close to you, it's an amazing experience. And it's funny to see Ian cause he's scared of fish. Hahaha. Weird, but true.

"That was AMAZING!" I exclaim after we're done with everything. It's almost 3PM already and neither of us have eaten a thing yet. We decided to have rice for lunch cause we're literally STARVING.

"I wanna try surfing." I let out a random thought while we're eating.

"I can teach you." he said nonchalantly. I choked on my food. "What?!"

That late afternoon, again, we go to the beach. I rent a surfboard and I bet you can guess who becomes my instructor. First, he teaches me the theory. Then we start going into the water. I manage to stand on the surf board on my first try.

"Wow, you're really good!" he says. I'm blushing already haha. So we do it again, increases the hardness little by little. Up to a point where I lose balance and fall off the board. I don't see the board coming right at me when I try to get up, it hits my head so hard, my world spins but I still manage to get up.

"You're okay? Do you wanna take a break?" he asks, worried.

"I'm fine. Really. Let's continue." I say, smiling but I think I'm experiencing vertigo. I can't keep my balance I fall again, and being the bad luck Maddie, the board hits my head, again. This time, everything goes blank, I can hear Ian calling out my name, his voice slowly fading away.....

*

"Babe, wake up. Babe, please, don't leave me. Wake up." I heard a very familiar voice calling out for me, but it's not Ian's. My head feels so heavy yet I manage to open my eyes.

And that's when I see him. Harry, the guy who taught me how to hate guys for all my life. I know I said I forgive him, but babe please don't leave me? What bullshit is that?

"What the hell are you doing here?" I struggle to let the few words out. My hands are in his, tears flowing down his cheeks. The first person that crosses my mind is Ian. "Where's Ian?"

"Ian? Who's Ian? Babe, I'm Harry."

"Where's Ian?!" I'm starting to get angry. I was with Ian, I remember his voice when I fell down from the surfboard. And where am I even?

"Why are you even here? And where are we? Where's Ian? Where's Ian?!" I shouted.

"I think it's the dream you have while you're in comma. We're in a hospital, you passed out after giving birth to our baby girl. She's safe now, and I'm glad you are too." he smiles at me while explaining all that.

What. The. Hell? Give birth? To our baby girl? What the hell is happening here. The last thing I remember was a surfboard hits my head, and now I'm married to this jerk and I have a......kid?

*

"No! This is NOT happening. I want Ian. I want Ian!" I scream until I'm awakened from the terrible nightmare.

"Hey Maddie, chill, I'm here. Wait, let me call the doctor." he tries to calm me down.

Whatever just happened? Did I just scream I want him? Oh God this should be rated as my number one most embarrassing vacation ever. But before he get up to call the doctor, I reach out for him and hug him.

"Thanks." I utter. I know it's stupid to randomly hug a guy friend but I can't help it. I'm thankful to wake up and see him and not any other guys (you-know-who> with me, and I can't be more thankful that I'm still single, and not a mom.

"is something bothering you?" Ian

"A terrible nightmare. How long have I been unconscious?" that's the thing that I really wanna know. What day is it? I can't believe I spend my holidays in the hospital......

"Only for two days. Your flight back to Malaysia will be the day after tomorrow, at 6AM. So you stay here, calm yourself down and I'll call the doctor. If everything is okay, you can go out today. Okay?" Ian.

I nod. He's such a sweetheart. The doctor said I'm fine. There's no fractures or anything, I passed out maybe because I was too tired and I was pushing myself too hard. I need rest. I need rest? But hell-o? I'm on a vacation you don't expect me to rest? I'll keep that part when I go back home.

Ian insists that I stay at Tiara's place for my last night in Krabi. After a massive persuasion by the "Greek god", I agree. We go to my hotel room, stuffed everything into my backpack and then straight away heading to Tiara's house.

"Oh dear, are you alright? Ian is such a terrible surfing instructor, isn't he?" she jokes, friendly as always. She prepares lunch for us and she insists on having a girls' night out with me alone. if I'm not mistaken, that's what she calls it. Haha she's hilarious.

Back at her house that night, she knocks on my door while I am getting ready to sleep.

"Come in." Maddie

She opens the door and smiles at me, "Are you gonna sleep already?"

"Nah it's okay. Come in." I invite her. I only have a few hours left in here, don't wanna waste it by sleeping.

I sit beside her on the bed. Suddenly she looks at me in the eyes, "I'm so glad to see you. I've heard a lot about you long before you came here, Maddie." she smiles.

"Errr you did? Ian and I, we weren't so close. We never even talked actually, until we bumped into each other on the plane." Maddie.

"I've never seen him so happy for so long. I used to wonder what kind of a girl is this Maddie he always talks to me about, the girl who makes his eyes sparkle at the mention of her name. Don't you know how much he likes you?" Tiara.

She's gotta be kidding me, right? All these while, he actually likes me, back? HE KNOWS I LIKE HIM ALL ALONG WHY DIDN'T HE JUST COME AND TALK TO ME?!

"This 'bumping' into each other on the plane, it wasn't a coincidence. He told Steph that he likes you, she told him that you're going alone so he bought a ticket of the same flight. But not that he knows the seating arrangement though. I was very surprised when he told me you guys sat next to each other. It seems like fate has brought the two of you together." she explains all that, but I can't seem to believe it. It takes me a minute to digest all that.

"So like, everyone knows he likes me, but me?" I questioned.

"He is actually a very shy person. I wonder how such a handsome, perfect guy like him can be so shy. I'm happy to see him with you, I can see him being himself but saying straight to your face that he likes you? That might not be so easy." Tiara

"So why are you telling me all these?" Maddie

"He told me about how you don't trust guys easily, and that's another reason why he wants to be friends with you first so that he can really understand you and try to be the best one for you." Tiara

"He really did tell you a lot about me eh?" I forced a laugh.

Wow, I really really didn't see this coming. All this while I thought I was flattering myself, I wasn't. It was the real thing. Ian Nicholson likes me.

Then there's a knock on the door, it's him. Smiling ever so gorgeously.

*

"So I've heard Tiara knows a lot more about me than I thought she does?" Maddie

He laughs and enters to room. The conversation goes on, on different topics of course, until the time comes for me to leave. It's hard parting from Tiara, not knowing when will be the next time I see her. Since Ian chooses to stay in Krabi for a couple more days, or maybe weeks, I don't know how should I feel about it.

Spending 4 hours on the plane feels like forever when a part of me wants a company. Whatever Tiara said last night hovers my mind. Ian likes me? Really? Or maybe it's her who likes me being with him. It happens all the time, I'm not bragging but all my crushes' parents like me. In a way that they invite me for family dinner or just for a chit chat. But that's the problem. It's the parents who like me, not their son.

You know what? I should get over it. Or shall I say, what happens in Krabi stays in Krabi? Once I step back in Malaysia, everything will go back to normal, Ian and I will become acquaintance again.

I'm so tired when I get home. It's already 10:45PM, but I feel like talking to someone. I call Anne, my one and only best friend and ask her to come over. She's so excited to see what I bought for her.

"Things happened in Krabi." Maddie

"Things? Good things? Bad things? You found your soulmate there?" Anne says while busy helping me unpack. She is not paying much attention to me until I say, "Err not really....."

She turns and jumps right next to me, "Not really? So you actually found someone there?"

"It's not really 'someone there', it's..... Ian." Maddie

"OH . MY . GOD ? Oh my god Maddie tell me EVERY-THING!" Anne

So I told her everything starting from what happened in the plane. Of course a part that I won't miss is what Tiara told me.

"But you see, Anne. I don't really have any feelings for him. He's just a crush, and maybe cause we spend a lot of time having fun together I thought it's something. I enjoy his company but that's all." Maddie

"That's what you said everytime you know someone likes you, even when that someone is someone you like, once they confess, that would be your respond. Open up Maddie, who knows if he's the one?" Anne

"The one? Are you kidding me? I would know if he's the one." Maddie

"Are you still hurt? Do you, by any chance, still have feelings for him?" Anne

"Him who? Harry? Are you kidding me? Of course no. And I'm not at all hurt, can't you see how happy I am?" Maddie

"Babe please, give Ian a chance. Would you? Just try. Who knows if the feelings can grow? People say its always better to go for someone who loves you than someone you love." Anne

"What chance? I can't even be sure if he'll come find me when he's back. Hey it's late already. Let's sleep." Urgh I hate this situation.

*

It has been a few weeks but there's still no calls nor texts from him. His phone is still with me but it's switched off. But if he's back here, he can easily find my phone number, if he wants to.

Am I waiting for him? Anne is busy playing with my phone. I'm not shocked when she suddenly screams.

"Beaten my high score?" Maddie

"NO!" Anne

"Urm, unlocked new levels? Unlocked a tough goal?" I keep guessing.

"NO! THIS!" Anne passes my phone to me. I take it and read the text.

Hi! You free today? Let's meet up! :-) And don't forget to bring my phone :-p Ian

"Why are you so excited?" Maddie

"Are you really asking me that? For God's sake Maddie that's Ian!" Anne

"He wants to see me cause he wants his phone back. What's so special about that?" I say, trying to hide my disappointment for thinking how true is the thing I just let out. I almost reply "If you wanna take your phone you can just drop by at my house.", then I realise that I do, urm kinda miss him, so I said OK.

Anne makes me dress-up when all I wanted to wear is my jeans and sweatshirt. I bet that's what all the girls do when he asks them out, Anne just made me one of those girls. Blergh.

"I'm sorry I took so long." Ian

"Hm?" Maddie

"I just got back yesterday and I wasn't from Krabi. I went somewhere else first and I couldn't reach you." Ian

"Oh nah, it's fine. I've been very busy settling the documents for the university. Can't believe I'm leaving in less than a month." Maddie

"Speaking about university, you can have that phone. A present for you, so that you won't forget me once you're there. Here's the charger btw, I wonder how long has it died." Ian

"For real?! I thought that's the main reason for you to come and see me today?" Maddie

"How could you think that way? Haha. I just wanna see you." Ian

"Yeah rightttt." Maddie

"By the way, my phone has a name. It's Mika." Ian

"Mika? Haha that's cute." Maddie

A few seconds after he left, I got a text from him.

You look stunning today :-)

I can't help but smile to that. Then I reply;

I bet you say that to all girls you go out with? :-p don't drive and text!

The hangout goes on well. Yes, it's just a hangout, nothing more than that. Nothing special.

*

Only a week left before I leave to start my degree. I've been spending almost every day with Ian since our last hangout. He brings me to all places I want to go and let me eat all the food I feel like having. Some days go unplanned, we go where the road takes us to. Some other days are perfectly planned by him and he insists that I agree with all of it. One thing I love about him is that, he'll never ask me to decide where to eat coz he knows how much I hate it.

I enjoy every seconds spent with him. I'm happy, I never thought I could feel all these ever again. But also, I'm starting to get scared.

Today, before going out of the car, I let out something that has been bugging me.

"I'm leaving in exactly a week. I know I used to be very excited but now I'm starting to feel very reluctant." I sigh

"Don't be. It's your dream to be a dentist. I know you're reluctant because of the other offer you get, but India is definitely a good place. Once graduated, you'll have a lot of experience and you'll definitely be a great dentist." Ian

"It's not just that. It's the people here that I'm gonna miss." Maddie

"You mean Anne and your family? There's always Skype!" Ian

Urgh it's you, idiot! Doesn't he feel anything about me leaving? I can't really expect a "I'm gonna miss you" kind of thing, we've only known each other for like less than two months. But I don't know why I'm so pissed off with his response.

"Do you know how I've never opened up to anyone after my terrible heart break many years ago? How I hate guys and think that all of them are jerks, especially the good looking ones, like you? I got my heart broken once and I don't wanna go through it all again. I'm starting to fall for you and it's not good, let's stop all these before it goes further." I don't know where all that comes from. My eyes start to get all starry, I won't let the tears fall in front of him. I ran out of the car into my house.

I expect him to run after me, to convince me I'm wrong and to say that everything is okay. Then my phone beeps, it's him saying "I'm sorry" then I hear his car goes off. I'm sorry? That's all? I spend the whole night crying at the front door.

The next morning Anne comes, I try to act happy and excited. Though I'm dying to tell it to someone, I don't want Anne to know. She's sad enough about me leaving, I can't tell her. She'll start getting worried and also feeling guilty for asking me to open up.

We're laughing while packing, when suddenly she blurts out the question "What happened? You're not okay and there's something you're not telling me."

Being my best friend of 15 years, she knows me even better than I know myself. A very great friend who can bear with my silly attitude and annoying questions.

"What? I'm okay. What's up with a random question and statement while we're having fun?" Maddie

"Bitch, please. Are you really using the 'I'm okay' on me with that eyes of sadness you're wearing?" Anne

"I'm happy. Can't you see how happy I am?" that's when I start crying. I can't help it.

A few days go by and Anne is always by my side. Giving me mental support and help me with all the last minute preparation. There's still nothing from him after the 'I'm sorry'. It's so stupid doing all this to avoid getting my mended heart broken, while in fact it's already scattered in pieces.

It's my last day in Malaysia, I lower down my ego and decide to call him.

Sorry, the number you're calling is out of coverage.

Out of coverage? Don't tell me he's travelling on my day of departure? I'll just leave him a text, in case maybe his phone is just dead or.... I don't know.

Hey. I'm leaving tomorrow. Just saying, in case you wanna send me to the airport. Bye.

A few seconds after that there's a text coming in. My heart flutters, then it breaks when I open it.

The phone is switched off. The message will be sent once the phone is switched on - Service Provider.

Sigh.

At the airport, I try to keep up the happy face but it's hard with Anne looking at me in such a way. I am really leaving now, and I don't even catch a glimpse of him. Maybe whatever I thought is true. I don't mean a thing to him. It's so obvious where I stand now.

Instead of mourning and crying when I'm all alone in the plane, I sit up straight and tell myself, this is the start of something new and I shall leave everything behind. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger and one thing for sure, life goes on. Now, I'll build another wall by which even the strongest earthquake won't be able to bring it down.

"Welcome to India!" banners are all over the Bangalore Airport. It's very crowded and with my shitload of luggages, I don't think it's possible to get a cab. India, please be nice to me. I whisper to myself.

Suddenly, someone pats my back.

"Hey, what are you doing here?" I'm shocked, or surprised? I'm not sure. It's him, Ian.

"Looking for a house to rent." Ian

"A house? To rent? How long do you plan to stay here?" Maddie

"It depends." Ian

"On?" Maddie

"Your answer." Ian

"I don't see how my answer would affect your length of stay." it's amazing how I could still keep a straight face though inside I'm all broken and torn apart to see him looking so good, while me? I'm dying.

"Well, if you say no, I'll have to burn my deposit money and get a flight ticket to somewhere else. But if you say yes, hurm, I might stay here for....5 years?" Ian

"Huh?" Maddie

"You see, I'm sorry. I'm sorry for leaving you hanging just like that. After what happened in the car, all my past memories came haunting me back. About the heartbreak, neither do I wanna face all that again. I start to doubt whatever feelings I have for you, but now, I don't care anymore. I know you're worth the risk." Ian

I don't think I hear any questions that I can answer, all of that are statements. What has all that explanations got anything to do with a yes or no?

"So....yes or no?" Ian

"Yes or no to what? I don't get any questions to answer." I really don't get it. What is he trying to say?

"Oh god, are you really that stupid?" he laughs nervously, and my face is still expressionless. So he goes on, "I, Ian Nicholson want to propose you, Maddie Krueger. Will you marry me?" Ian

Wait, hold on a second. WHAT?! This is not really happening, is it? I can't digest all this. I feel like passing out. Okay, breathe Maddie, keep calm. And of all the other possible response I could give, l laugh. Out loud.

"You leave me just like that, for a freaking week, with just an 'I'm sorry', do you really expect a yes from me?" blame my ego problem for such an answer.

"I'm sorry Maddie. I didn't mean to. I'm very sorry, I need some time to figure myself out. I'm sorry. I really do." Ian

His face is full of frustration and I can tell how sorry he is. Actually I'm just kidding when I said no. But oh well, he makes me suffer for a week, what's wrong making him feel that way for a few seconds right?

"Even if I say yes, my sponsor won't let me get married until my third year. So you still have to wait for another three years." it's amazing how I can control myself this good. Oh my god, I need Anne with me now!

"What do you think I've been doing this whole week I wasn't around? Your sponsor, Anne, Steph and your other siblings, and of course your aunt, has given me the approval. So now it's all really up to you." his face is so serious I have to stop myself from laughing. Oh god, I'm such a hopeless romantic.

"Anne knows all these and she let's me....." I stop there. I can't let him know how much tears I've wasted on him.

"Hmmm so?" Ian

"Wasn't it you who called me stupid? Don't you realise how much stupider you are? Do you think anyone would ever say no when being proposed by a Greekgod lookalike?" Maddie.

"So it's a yes?" his face brighten.

I just smile, he reach out to hug me and I swear that's the best moment in my life. And now I remember a good friend once told me, "I know you'll have a good love life ahead of you, one day the right guy will come and prove all your thoughts wrong."

I think that day is finally here. I guess fairy tales do exist. Never give up hope, always have faith! :)

*the end*l