How We Met

I look out the window in my room absentmindedly. The sky is so clear today that can I see it dotted with several stars. The city lights and the night sky make a brilliant, romantic view. But.... I'm still alone and single!

I look away and sigh. I still feel terrible for leaving him like that. He was only saying that for my sake and yet I was so rude. I pull my phone out of my bag. Should I call him? No, I might lose my resolve if I hear his voice. I can still text him!

I open the messenger app and start typing.

Mia: 'Sorry for just leaving you in a hurry! (×~×") I was too tired to walk home so I decided to take the bus, I didn't mean to be rude. I'll put what you told me to do in action though! :D'

And... Sent! I put the emoticons in the text just like before. I generally use stickers and don't do this very often (or ever) but... It feels special to do this somehow. Hah, I don't really have a colourful soul, do I? I place my phone on my nightstand and notice a very familiar notebook on it. This is...

I pick it up and flip through it. I stop at a random page and trace the outline of a macaron on it, my eyes narrowed. I made this notebook to jot down all the desert recipe ideas that came to my mind so that I could recommend them to the pastry chefs at Sweet Treats during the brainstorming sessions.

All the while I worked there, I never actually had the guts to speak up and these recipes remained in the book.

Mia:.....

*Ding!*

I receive a text on my phone and quickly open it. It's from Jason!

Custard Face: 'That's good then. I was worried that I might've been too harsh. : )'

Mia:..!

He's still being so nice to me. A wry smile spreads across my face. What did I do to have a friend like that? Huh, come to think of it, the day we met...

21 years ago..

Hmph! Nobody came to play today! I stroll by the stream, which is the favourite playground of all the kids in the town, kicking stones along the way. There's nothing to do.

*SPLASH!*

Mia:!!!

What was that?! I whip my to side to look at the stream where the sound came from. It was as though something big fell in the stream. I keep staring the stream trying to see what fell in it. Suddenly, something rises up from the waves.

Wh-What is that? Still feeling a little scared, I walk closer. I shouldn't be so close to the stream but, I'm curious. I squint my eyes slightly to see the mysterious object and my face goes pale. Th-That's..!

It's a person's hand! The size is small, it has to be a kid! I need to call someone for help!! I turn to look at the street on the opposite side and see some people passing.

Mia: Help!! Someone is drowning!

I keep yelling at the people at the top of my voice to attract their attention. Some people are coming this way! Hang on, kid! I turn to look back at the hand but it's nowhere to be seen.

No.... Did he drown?! All the colour drains from my face. What if they aren't able to make it in time?! I can't swim really well in such a strong current (*it was a strong current for a 3 year old*) but, I can't let that kid drown either! I brace myself, hold my breath and jump in.

I spot the kid and swim towards him. Uh-oh the current is too strong, I might not be able to make it! No, I can't just give up! I strain my eyes to see properly, there, a little ahead, is an unconscious boy who's probably around the same age as me, sinking deeper and deeper into the water.

I'm so tired but, I'm almost there! I grab his arm and try to swim upwards. However, my foot cramps.

Mia:..!!!

Ugh, why now?! I don't have any energy to move around either. If we both can't get to the surface soon, we'll die. But there's no way out, is there? Unable to hold my breath any longer, I let go and immediately choke. I'm starting to lose consciousness too. This can't be... Am I really going to die?

Why didn't I think it through before jumping in? If I die, how would my parents hold themselves up? Mom, Dad... I'm sorry. And the boy, I'm sorry I couldn't save you. Finally, my vision blacks out and I lose my senses....

Mia: Mmn...

I slowly blink my eyes open to see an unfamiliar ceiling. Where... am I? I look to my side to spot my Dad rubbing my Mom's back to console her. All this equipment, it must be a hospital. That means someone saved me.

Mia: Dad..

Mia's parents:!!!

Hearing my rough voice, their shoulders jerk up in surprise.

Mom: Mia!

My mother rushes to my side and gently takes a hold of my hand. She starts asking me all sorts of questions and scolding me for being so reckless. Dad tries to calm her down but it's no use, she's too panicked.

Even though I try to focus on what she is trying to say, I'm still absentminded. Am I forgetting something? I'm here but...

Mia:..!!! The boy!!

Mia's parents: Huh..?

*Ker-chlack*

This must be that boy's room. I timidly peek inside and see a kind looking couple, supposedly his parents, and on the bed is...

Mia:..!

A boy, about my age, with pale skin, eyes blue as the sky and hair as black as the night sky. Is he... an angel?! My starts beating wildly when our eyes meet. D-Do I have a heart problem now or something?! I'm almost sucked into his doll-like eyes when his mother speaks out to me in a kind voice.

The Angel's mother: You must be the girl who saved our Jason.

Ah, she's talking to me. So, this angel- I mean boy's name is Jason. I didn't actually save him but, I did jump in the stream to do that. look towards her and nod my head slightly. His parents smile and urge me to come inside. I hold my hands behind my back and shyly step inside.

I walk towards them and his mother bends down to my eye level and ruffles my hair gently.

Jason's mother: What's your name, little girl?

I purse my lips into a straight line nervously before opening my mouth to speak.

Mia:... Mia.

Jason's mother: How adorable you are!

Heat rises to my cheeks when she says that.

Jason's father: Well, Mia.

Mia:..?

This time his father speaks to me.

Jason's father: We are truly grateful to you for trying to save Jason but, don't do something so reckless in the future, okay?

Mia: O-Okay..

His tone is tender and at the same time a little stern, just like my Mom's. I shift my gaze to the Angel who had been silently staring at me the whole time. His mother notices this and looks over to him.

Jason's mother: Well, Jassie, shouldn't you thank Mia for saving you?

..... His mother calls him 'Jassie'? Pfft, that's so cute! I try to hold back my laughter. Looking at me smiling, his face flares red and he looks away.

Jason: Mom! My name is 'Jason'!

He complains, pouting. His parents glance at each other and chuckle. His father rubs his back.

Jason's father: Alright then, 'Jason', say "thank you" to Mia.

He stops sulking and looks at me. He smiles wide and opens his mouth.

Jason: Thank you, Mia!

Mia:..!!!

His angelic makes my heart skip a beat. I smile back bashfully, my heart thumping wildly in my chest. It seems like.... I really do have a heart disease.....