The Annoying Guy

(Flashback - 9 years ago)

(Month of August)

I saw Aunt Emily tried to pull Daddy from the wrecked car.

She had blood on her face but my dad was worse. He was pinned on the driver's seat and could not get himself out of the nearly crushed vehicle. My aunt took me out first and brought me to a safer place under a nearby tree. Enough for me to see how bad their situation was.

I was shaking and crying silently while hugging myself.

"Go! You have to get out of here before they arrive!" I heard Daddy said to Aunt Emily.

"No! I must get you out of that damned car, first!" Aunt Emily answered desperately. She was trying to open the car door on Daddy's side. But it wouldn't work.

She even tried to strike it hard with the pipe she found among the tools scattered around her. But still, it wouldn't budge.

From my place, I could smell the gasoline spilled from the car's tank.

"Emily! Look at me!" Daddy commanded her.

Aunt Emily stopped and stared at Daddy.

"You must get out of here NOW! You have to save Hannah. Don't let them get her and do the same things as they did to us. Do you understand?" my dad intently looked at her. As if he was relaying some secret message to her that I should not hear.

"But--"

"I said, GO! Take Hannah with you and bring her to a safe place. Anywhere. Just don't let them find her. Emily, please..." Daddy pleaded to her.

"No!" Aunt Emily cried hard.

"Please...do this for me. For Hannah." Daddy's voice cracked. He was on the verge of crying. I thought I saw a tear fell on his eyes. He wiped Aunt Emily's tear-stained face.

We heard a faint sound of sirens. They were coming for us.

Aunt Emily got up and turned her back to Daddy. She hurriedly walked towards me. Without looking back, she pulled me away from the wrecked car. Away from Daddy.

I wanted to return to him but I didn't have the energy to do so. I felt like my energy was drained and my head hurt so badly. Like a lifeless ragdoll, I let my aunt pulled me away from that depressing scenario. With eyes blinded by my tears, I took one last look to him. Daddy smiled at me. It was a sad one. And I knew he was crying too.

Aunt Emily and I were half running when we went through the thick bushes. She was holding my hand tightly. As if her life was depended on it.

We never stopped even though we were already gasping for air to breathe. My face and my feet hurt with all the thorns and branches that hit me. But we continued to run as if they were running after us. I could feel the pain all over my body but it was not enough to take my thoughts away from Daddy. I remembered his face, his pain, his tears, and that sad smile.

An explosion stopped us on our tracks. It came from where we left Daddy and the wrecked car. Both tired and panting, we waited for another sound. We heard sirens.

I looked at Aunt Emily's face. She was staring blankly. Until I saw tears formed and fell from her eyes. It wouldn't stop. Until she sobbed so hard that I could see her shoulders shaking.

I hugged her and she hugged me back. I cried with her.

We both cried our hearts out.

Daddy was gone. I lost my Daddy...

Aunt Emily's big brother was gone now. She lost the only person who took care of her since she was a child.

(Present time)

Another nightmare.

I shut my eyes and try to divert my thoughts. I just couldn't stop remembering the bad dream I had last night. I didn't sleep after that. I could not concentrate on my classes and I am having a hard time focusing on our activities.

I decide to spend my lunch break on the farthest spot on the track field. I sit under a large Narra tree and look at the wide and vast grassland. This is the most isolated part so far. Students seldom go here since it is hard to walk through the field especially when the sun is at its peak. Most of them are in the canteen and having their lunch. I simply don't have the appetite to eat. I need to breathe.

What I want is to break away from all those horrible thoughts and memories.

I want to forget it all... but my anxieties wouldn't let me.

I stretch out and lie down on my back. I try to relax a bit and set my mind to happier thoughts. I force myself to remember all those comedy films I had previously watched.

I close my eyes and concentrate.

"Ha! This is heaven!" I hear a voice suddenly popped out of nowhere. And I feel something collapsed beside me.

I suddenly open my eyes and look on my left side. It is not something. It is a boy.

Shocked and since my mind is still processing, I stare at the guy who is lying beside me. His eyes are closed and the thing that really gets my attention is the smile plastered on his face. I see a dimple on his cheek.

He suddenly turns to me. He smiles more and I see he has dimples both on his cheeks. He has the warmest smile I have ever seen.

"Hi!" He greets me.

I immediately get up and take my bag.

"Hey-- Wait!" I am suddenly pulled back before I could walk further.

"Where are you going?" The guy asks me with curiosity.

"I have to go..." I simply say and look at his hand holding my wrist. This is the first time that a boy has the guts to touch me.

He looks at it too and frees my hand. "Sorry about that."

"Are you perhaps mad because I disturbed you?" he asks again. He looks amused. And I don't have an idea why.

I want to say yes but instead, "I just have to go."

"I don't think so," he answers back.

I look at him with questioning eyes. What?

"You looked so irritated that I bet you wanted to say is, to mind my own business." He confidently says.

I stare at his annoying smile and his dimples. Fine. He has a pretty face. Too pretty for a guy with an irritating behavior. He has this aura of playfulness and confidence.

"I need to go." I firmly say and turn my back to him.

He suddenly appears in front of me blocking my way.

"Answer me first. Are you mad at me?" He is still smiling. It really annoys me.

"No," I reply and try to walk past him. He blocks my way again.

What is wrong with this guy?

"See? You're mad but you're not telling me the truth." He insists.

I give him my coldest stare. He suddenly laughs.

"Are you trying to scare me?" he chuckles.

"I don't know you." I seriously say. Do I look like a joke to him?

"Oh, my bad! I'm Sean." He extends his hand to me. He is still wearing that annoying smile.

I don't answer him and turn past him again. He blocks my way. Again.

I feel so seriously irritated that I want to shout at him.

"Your name, please?" He is enjoying it. I want to wipe that annoying smile off his face.

"It's, none-of-your-business." I spit back.

He laughs again. "You're so cute and funny."

He gets his bag and turns his back on me. I really couldn't understand this guy!

He suddenly stops meters away and looks at me. He smiles with his warmest smile. That annoying smile.

"Nice to meet you, Ms. None-of-your-business. See you!" Then he leaves me.

His warm smile and dimples linger on my thoughts. Really annoying.