novellete

The Encoder, The Writer and The Bus Stop

CHAPTER I

“Expecting is one way of hurting yourself”

          My name is Marvin. I am 26 years old. The “Encoder” of this story.

          This is her story.

          My soon-to-be boyfriend is waiting outside the campus. He is waiting on the bus stop. For sure, she will see his mad face again for keeping him to wait long.

          My phone beeped.

          “Hey! Where are you?” That’s his message from my phone. I didn’t reply to that and just rush going to the bus stop to meet him.

          “What’s that facial expression again?” I asked him.

          “Let’s go” he said and he didn’t smile to me.

          He just grabs my hand to walk with his side.

          His name is Keith. We are not schoolmate. He is studying on other university. I’ve got to known him on the youth service and we became best of friends. We always meet to go somewhere to walk together. And eat together and ride together.

          “You still not considered me as  your boyfriend?” he asked her.

          “Not yet. I’m sure you can wait more” I said to him.

          “Why make me wait? I’m sure you like me and I feel it.” He said.

          I just smiled on him and said “I’m happy that I have you”.

          “Where going here?” I asked him confusedly because we are entering the gate of a hospital.

          “Yep“he said.

          “My little sister was hospitalized yesterday.” He said. “I miss her”. He added.

          We go together to the area where her little sister is there too. We didn’t spend much time there. Keith only wants to see her little sister and introduce me to them.

          We got to the internet shop after that.

          “Hear this song.” Keith said while the headphone on my ears.

          “What song is this?” I asked him.

          “Faraway” he said. By Nickleback.” He added

          “You like this song? “I asked him

Yep. See their music video. The guy is waiting the girl for how many but the girl is dead actually the guy didn’t know about it. Keith said while were viewing the music video of the song.

I stopped typing. I asked myself what is this song. I browse the net. I type on you tube about Faraway by Nickleback. Searched. I adjust the volume so that my room could be filled with some music. Faraway’s playing. As I listened to the song, I continue typing the story.

           

Spending on our time in the internet café is not too long. We just only consume 30mins. Sitting in front of the monitor and listen to the Nickleback’s song.

I checked my phone for the time, it’s already nine o’clock. I’m sleepy I send a message to the writer using the email.

Me: “Still awake”

Writer:”Yaps, why”

Me: “now playing”

Writer: ”what?”

Me: “your song”

Writer: ”what song?”

Me:”Faraway” 

Writer: “J Nice”

Me:” I will continue tomorrow”

Writer: “sure. Goodnight.”

A short chat with the writer I saved the story on the document and sleep.

* * * * * *

It was Saturday I don’t have class and just spending my time in doing households chores.

My phone is ringing and I answered the call.

          “Where are you?” the line said.

That was Keith he is asking me to meet him again.

I bring my laptop in school and continue encoding the story.

“I will wait for you on the bus stop.”

It’s already ten o’clock when I arrived at the bus stop.

I decide to tell him that we will start a relationship as girlfriend and boyfriend that day and that was very happy. We went to a park just to sit and walk around.

Keith is not a romantic guy as you know. I’m contented and feel secured in the simple way his doing for me. He will just send me a message that he will wait me in the bus stop.

He will push me to walk with him from the bus stop going to the mall. Maybe we walk 800meters. The good thing of having him is I can’t feel that it’s tiring because I’m with him. He will just buy me a bottle of c2 and chippy in the grocery. He will not say I love you or I miss you but he will always say “take care.”

Nice love story. I thought to myself

* * * * * *

Our first month relationship is good. There are times that we meet always. He always waits on the bus stop. There are also times that there is no need to meet especially when we are busy in school business like homework and projects but still the relationship is there.

After two months….

        I’ve got a message from Keith.

        “Let’s have a break.” That is his message from my phone.

        “What kind of a break is this?” I asked myself.

        I send him a message if he means it but didn’t response. When I’m leaving from school, I went to the bus stop but I didn’t see him there. I keep sending him a message but he is still didn’t response.

       Until month passed. I tried to call him but the line said it can’t reach.

      “Did he change his number?” I asked myself.

      I stop going to the bus stop but I’m still making a way to reach him.

The writer was broken hearted. Why her boyfriend do that to her? I asked myself.

* * * * * *

I continue to encode the story.

        One day, we accidentally meet on the bus stop. My eyes were shock when I saw him because she got a girl holding his arm. Keith didn’t give a look on me. I’m standing not so far from him but it’s like that we are stranger to each other sight. I was silently holding my tears to fall. I can’t stand anymore so I walked out on that bus stop; I feel the raindrops on my body.

        I looked up in the sky and its really raining. I don’t know what to do but I don’t care anymore. I’m crying with the rain. My hearts is broken and even my trust to that guy. I’m completely loose.

       The god punished her; I smiled and quietly laughed about the story. The rain is timing. I feel sorry about the writer because I know that the story is based from her experience. I asked myself if she forget that guy now.

      Then a bus stop where I stand.

      “Get in”. The man said.

       I ride on the bus sitting and crying silently. Then my phone beeped I’ve got a message from my high school friend.

     “If you love someone, be a warrior fight for it but if he that someone love someone else, be a soldier. Kill them both.” That’s her message. I quietly laugh with tears and I’ve got a call from her, she’s Yana. I’m hurt but she makes me feel comforted.

                

                      CHAPTER II

   “Our prime purpose in this life is to love others…and if you can’t love them, at least don’t hurt them.”

       I still not meet the writer of this story. She just passed this this turn-out papers to my friend and stick a message saying “please encode this, boss. And a big “THANK YOU” to the last page of the chapter.

I began encoding

“That I love you

I love you all along

And I miss you

Been Faraway and for too long

I keep dreaming

You’ll be with me and you’ll never go

Stop breathing if I don’t see you anymore.”

        That’s the lyrics of a song I hear from Tere’s IPod. Tere is my closest friend in school. I borrow her IPod to hear some music but the song I heard is Nickleback’s Faraway and that’s killing me.

        Break-up is not easy for me. I change Keith’s name to “DON’T TEXT HIM” so that I can avoid sending him a message just like “Please comeback or I miss you.” It’s not easy but I try to forget what happen.

       Tere and Yana became my run-out every time I want to cry.

“What is this?” I asked Yana.

She brings a box full of different brand of chocolate.

“Are you blind?” She said to me. “I just want to comfort you, so eat this. You know, he is stupid and I’m going to kill him if I see him. But I can’t. “She laugh and get a chocolate, opened it and give it to me.

“You, stupid girl” Tere said, “You easily believed in that guy and you’re too good not to say something to him.” She added

“Ok. Ok. Forget it guys. Well, I know it hurt but I can’t do anything about it. I don’t want to wake up for this same reason. So guys, just help me to build myself. I want to start to be happy. I said and eat up the chocolate.

* * * * * *

It’s good the writer have that kind of friends. I’m sure it is hard for her to move on if no one comforts her.

I went to the kitchen to make some hotcake because I’m hungry. Besides of encoding the story, I still need to my assignment.

Sem-break.

         The term end I excel on my studies because I focused so much. I’ve learned to forget the past and begin to shape my brokenness. I’m glad that Tere and Yana is there for me.

“Let’s go on hiking” I said to the two

“Hiking? “ Yana asked

“Are you serious? Are you sick?” Tere said.

“Well, the whole class will go”, I said.

Two days later… They went on hiking.

“Let rest here” I said to the two.

I was really sweaty and I’m very thirsty

“You must give up” Tere said and shot a picture of myself using her digicam.

I and Yana laugh.

“Have you forgotten him?” Yana asked.

“Not yet. I considered him now as a friend.” I said.

“You, crazy! Tere said. “Let continue going to tee top” She added,

Until they reach the peak or the mountain.

“Wow, it’s so beautiful, I can’t believe were here” I said.

* * * * * *

It is raining. I’m in the mood of finishing this encoding everything.

I checked my mail first. I got a message from the writer. She said that I can do it and a capital “THANK YOU” again.

A few seconds, there’s a message again coming from her. She said that we will meet if I’m done.

“He’s there” I said to myself.

As I go to the bus stop, I see Keith approaching me.

“How are you?” he said.

I didn’t answer him.

“Let’s walk” he added, I still not speaking. We’re walking again going to the mall.

 “You’ve change. I think you’ve grown and you look matured.

“What happen to you? You even cut your hair.” he said.

“You were right.” I said sadly

“I thought you just said I was wrong..”

“What I meant was you were right about breaking me.”

Keith fell silent.

“I was too expecting on you.” I continued.

“Keith let’s start over….”

“Yes”, he said.

“..As friends” There, I had said it as soon. As those words escaped from my mouth, I felt this weight lift from my shoulder and chest.

“Is there someone else? He asked me

“There is,” I smiled. “The possibility of someone perfect for me.

“Then we reach the mall and we separate there. As I walk, I received a message from him.

“Take care always.”

* * * * * *

Finished.     

I read again the first chapter and I remember the bus stop in front of our campus. The bus stop is the place where they always meet. I thought to myself. Then I smiled and run to the bus stop.

Chapter III

“One should carefully choose his words as carefully as we  should choose  our friends”

I cant forget the day that I  meet the writer .I feel so dull about myself because i always wait on the bus stop every late on the afternoon without knowing that the girl beside s me is the writer. I’m not aware of that because I don’t know what she looks like .the write r can’t stop laughing when I told about that the writer said she is always on the bus stop and she just waited me to discover her. She handed me again the papers.

“You’re really stupid!” I was angrily said to him on his phone.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t bring my phone at work. I left it on the house. I’m sorry.” the other line said.

        I hang up the phone. I was holding my tear on the front of a big tarpaulin of an image of a yellow flower. I don’t know if I was comforted on that areas .I  went to his workplace and waited him there for almost three hours just to see him but I didn’t know that he is already home. I feel so very mad not in him but I’m mad at what he’s done. Seems that my php30.00 will be going to waste because he’s not there. My wide smile was zipped like that I don’t have any teeth to show anymore.

He went back.

“Why are your eyes so red?” he asked.” You cried?” he added.

“No” I said with a low voice .then I asked him to go on a walked around the mall.

         We walked but I feel there is something that separates us. Were bestfriend but I feel were not anymore that time. He is a busy guy and don’t have time to face his bestfriend.

“You didn’t understand me. That’s all” he said.

The moment he said that to me, I turn my back and walked away from him and ride a bus.

***

        I asked myself if this is another character or this is the first one. I send a message to the writer but she didn’t response. I didn’t see her on the bus stop too.

       My close friends Yana and Tere still in school but I’m not always with them now because they are graduating soon but we still find time to meet every Sunday to go to church togethr.eat together and have laughed together.

I meet Mind Reader . She is good at reading minds, of course that why I called her that way.

“You’re in love with him.” She   said to me one time when we are   having our lunch.

“What?”  I said with my eyes so wide. ”Were only best of friends.

“No you’re more than in that.

I just smiled to her and said that I can’t lie to myself but she’s not giving up reading my mind.

          He’s not keith. I thought to myself. Then he got another bestfriend? I  stop encoding.  I went to the kitchen to make a coffee.ive got a message from he writer and she’s asking me to help her on her powerpoint presentation called her to meet me on the bus stop tomorrow  after the class. I  went back to th table to continue typing the story.

        The classroom was very noisy. Everybody  is selling there chikas. Chatting is everywhere. Mind reader an I were sitting to the left side corner  and writing some school stuff. Until I notice someone in our row. I thought that he’s from other department and will join to our section.

‘’Ask his name.’’ I said to Mind Reader.

“Hey !What your name?’ Mind Reader asked the guy

The guy just passed his ID so that we can know his name.

“Dranyem?” I asked

He just smiled.

“You’re a certified comsci student?” I asked him.

He again smiled. Its means yes.

        I get a poece of paper and write an agreement between us. Its stae that he will help me in my school stuff invoving computer like encoding,making  powerpoint ,excel and the likes. He signed thetr without hesitating. That moment we beame friends. He got his first job with that agreement when I saked him toencode one of my critic paper.

 ***

            Our friendship was good. That was I thought. I consider him as a family I like that I choose for myself. I am happy that I meet a guy like him. He is a brother who scold me when I do wrong and he tease me when he notice that my day is bright and happy. That is how he show his care toward me.

        I was sitting on a bench on the bus stop and he is with me that time. I’m waiting for a bus. Then I was hocked because he kissed me in my forehead.

“Am I your grandmother?’ I asked him confusedly

He just laughed.

     “Is that your best kiss? Why on my forehead? Why not on mu\y cheek or lips?” I said to him kiddingly.

He is with me on the bus stop until I got a ride than he went his way home.

        When I got arrived at home, Mind Reader called. She’s asking from a handout for a review on our subject. I told her that I don’t have a handout either and asked her to find tomorrow at school.

          “Make it three copies”, I said to the lady on the photocopy shop as she put the handout on the machine.

          “For Dranyem?” Mind Reader asked.

          “Yap. I don’t have and in one will give him and it’s only us.”

          “You’re always together.” Mind Reader said.

          I just smiled to her. That day after our class, I didn’t meet my friend and just went home and I didn’t know that Dranyem is waiting on the gate.

          Mind Reader and Dranyem tallied and it’s about the “being always together.” And the most focus is me. That’s why Dranyem asked me to meet him the next day.

          “You like me?” he asked.

          “What? Why, do you ask that?” I said to him.

          “Just answer me yes or no.” He said.

          “I write no” on the paper.

          “Good, I warn you to be my best friend.”

          The reason why we because best friend is the issue of “being always together.” I was offended when he asked me that thing but it’s the only way so that we can stay because the world her many eyes looking for criticism.

          It was my birthday. He asked me to go out. He gave a mug with a snoopy design.

          He even gave me a letter and the last line said “Please stay and never go away.”

          We eat together and walk together. After that he escorts me to the bus stop. That was December and last day in school because its holiday vacation. We will meet again on class resume on January.

January

          Everybody was asking me why I cut my hair. Some of them like it, some are not.

          When I meet Dranyem at California, he scolded me. He didn’t like it. Then he didn’t talked to me the whole day. But that’s okay. This month is his birthday. I gave him a drawing book because he is good at drawing manga.

          When I see his drawings before, I see myself on him. I remember the dreams that I have before. The very best dreams that I build when I was a child and also when I turn to high school. That dream is to dream to be a cartoonist or illustrator. I plan to enrolled in fine arts but I gave up this dream. I stop to draw when I got in college. I lose my interest about sketching, designing or any relation with drawing. But Dranyem’s drawings wake my dead dreams. Every page was whispering that I should draw to so I didn’t finish seeing those pages of drawing.

          Instead of bringing back that cream I gave him a drawing book on his birthday.

          He is really good.

          “Thanks. I draw one tonight. I will show you this tomorrow.” That’s his message from my phone.

          Everything is changed this month. He’s seemed that everyday is a lucky day because I didn’t meet Dranyem even the last two weeks of February. He sent some messages sometimes and he last one that I received is he got a girl. He always say sorry too because he can’t meet me until he graduated.

          We didn’t meet after then but fill we have contact.

          Two months later, he break-up and he got a work.

          Then I meet his workplace.

          The word “you didn’t understand” always bothered me. I was in silence. If I speak out, I’m sure he can never understand my word.

          I went in the kitchen and get the mug he gave to me on my birthday. I put it on the table. The cat pushed it and was broke.

          I waited the writer for almost 30 minutes. I see her approaching me. She seem so stress and she looked pale but she said she was alright. We enter the synapse and do her powerpoint. I thought she was looking on the monitor because she is sitting beside me but when I look at her, she was asleep totally. I just smiled and continued doing her powerpoint.

         

Chapter IV

“Friendship is the only cement that will forever hold the world together.”

                                                                                    -Woodnow Wilson

          The bus stop on the front of the school bench that painted in he’s a new figure. The maroons turn into light-blue color. I’m going out with the writer to have a walk.

          I wake up without remembering anything. I looked around the four corner room then someone entered from the door. A nurse approaching me. He hold my hand and touch our of my finger and shot me with needle.

          She’s getting me a blood.

          “Am I in hospital” I asked her.

          “No, you’re not” she said and smiled to me. “I will be there later. Your parents are downstairs paying your bills. Get well soon.” She added.

          I can’t remember anything what happened to me.

          I noticed my phone on the table. I’ve got more than fifty messages.

          Some of them said “get well soon”

          Others will said they will pay a visit, some asked what happen, if I’m okay, and everybody was worried about me.

          I feel so dizzy so I closed my eyes. I’m not aware that Keith was there where I fall asleep. When I wake up I see notes in my side saying that he is leaving the ipod and will get it when I’m well.

          I noticed it on the table and get it with my hand. I turn it on and the headset on my ears.

          It’s Nickleback’s Faraway.

          “What really happen to you?”

          My mom asked. “I just see you lying on the floor and your head has full of blood” she added.

          “I don’t really remember, mom.” Please don’t force me to think it. I said to her.

          “Tere and I was was coming today. They called me yesterday.” My mom said.

          “Here they are”. I said.

          “Girls… I miss you” Yana said and gives me a hug as well as Tere.

          “Both of you lose weight.” I said to them.

          The two donate blood for me. They didn’t tell it to me. That’s why they lose weight.

          “I only had seen this IPOD now.” Tere said while looking the black apple IPOD.

          “Keith was here yesterday. He leaves that here. He will be here after his class” I said to Tere.

          “He’s back with you?” Yana asked.

          Before I answered Yana’s questioned, someone laughed. Yana opened it and the guy is Keith.

          “Hi guys.” He greeted then.

          “It’s been a long time huh,” Tere said.

          “I’m sorry guys” he said.

          The four of us have talked and have laughed together. He seemed that nobody remember the past. The bitter event between Keith and I, and there anger for Tere and Yana to Keith was all forgotten.

          “Hello guys” Mind Reader said from the door.

          “Were late?” Dranyem show up too.

          Dranyem  get near to me and kissed on my forehead.

          “Am I your grandmother?” I asked him and everybody laughed.

          Then Keith gives me one on my cheeked and I was blushed.

          “Why you do that?” I said.

          I missed them all. They make my day so light and they are the best medicine I take that day.

          Two months later….

          “I’m sorry, I’m late” I said to Keith.

          “Maybe you went to the wrong bus stop.” He said.

          “They still not here?” I asked him again.

          “Yes.” Then he point Dranyen, Mind Reader, Tere and Yana already walking a meter away.

          “Guys, faster!” Dranyem said loudly.

          Keith grabs my hand. “They said let walk faster”.

          Keith and I build a strong relationship again. We forget the passed and learned from it. We got help from our friends. Dranyem, Mind Reader, Tere and Yana were my best friends that I will never forget. I’ve realized that our friendship is more important than anything in the world I can’t live without them and I’m sure I will not grow in life without their help.

          “Smile” Click!

          I told the writer that I failed on my guilt. She laughed and she said that I must do better next time. I ordered an ice cream for her.

          “Thanks for this and thanks for your help” she said. Then she gets a rectangular box in her bag. It was covered and granted it to me. Because of my curiosity, I opened it and said “Why? Why? Why?”. The writer laughed.

          I went home with that box. I get my notebook. I get one ballpen on that box and start to write.

         

“After 7 years, I’ve got an old friend from my grade school. I still have contact the last 5 years and now, it seemed that destiny is going to start.”

…