14th February 2003, 8.00pm

"Can you help me out with this tie honey?" I was never good with neckties and I guess I never will. Ash's hands run through my ties trying to perfect it. I looked deep into her eyes and didn't realize she was all done a few moments ago.

"You sure made me the happiest person in the world today. You come all the way here from Singapore, set up a candle light dinner for me and bring back the one friend I missed a lot. Just how can you do all that in 24 hours?" I can't think of any words right now but just continue on looking into her beautiful eyes, trying to tell everything with my passionate stare.

"Are you two ready yet?" That's Mrs. Goh, Ashley's mom at the door.

"We're all set." I quickly grab my coat while Ash gets her mom at the door.

"Both of you look great together. Come on I'll drive you guys there."

"Thanks, Lucy." I'm used to call Ash's mom Lucy since she asked me to call her by that name. She's like the mother every child wants. So understanding, loving, caring but yet quite strict in a few aspect. She offered to give us a lift to the restaurant me and Lucy picked for my Valentine dinner with Ash. It's a French style restaurant serving French and Italian cuisine. I always know Ash loves Lasagna and that will be something like the main dish for tonight even though it's always served as appetizers.

Lucy dropped us off right in front of the restaurant. Inside, the light is quite dim, creating a romantic atmosphere. The waiter in charge seated us at a well-prepared round table in a deserted section of the restaurant. Even though there are a few other couples enjoying their time, we feel like we are the only person here. We made our order and started a light conversation with jokes and tears of laugh in between.

When we are feasting, a string trio plays romantic tunes to spice up the air. It's so perfect for someone to propose to their loved ones but not me since it's not time yet. I still have a lot to be done in my life. I even haven't finished my studies yet. My minds flew away from the table, thinking about my future. What am I going to be when I reach my thirties? Will I still be with Ash or back with Sha or found someone else better? And the jackpot question, am I still in this world by then?

Suddenly I felt a pinch on my chest. How can I forget to give her the rose and the present I got for her? And worse, we already finished eating. Am I supposed to give her those before or after the food? But it all doesn't matter now since we already finished eating.

"Ash, I got something for you." Quickly, I take out the red rose and the nicely wrapped box out of my pockets and give it to her.

"Oh, how sweet of you. Can I open it now?"

"Sure. After all it's yours." She tears open the wrapper and open the box. It's a silver necklace with a cute kissing swan pendant.

"I love it and I love you even more."

"Glad you like it. Let me hook it for you."

"I got a present for you too. But you need to wait till we get home. It's so special I can't take it with me here." She gives me that cute smile again and I guess I know what she got for me.

14th February 2003, 3.00pm

After lunch with Ash and her mom, I ushered myself into the living room just in time for the news on television. Too bad Ash didn't have TiVo. Without a reason I'm worried about my favorite drama series on Star World. Suddenly I remembered about my date with Sha. It's a date I guess even though I didn't agree. Slowly I walked out the front door and headed towards the cafe I had breakfast this morning.

15 minutes walking and I guess the cafe is just around the corner. That if I didn't make a wrong turn somewhere. A Quick-E-Mart popped in sight and I'm sure I'm on the right path. After a few paces more, I saw the cafe's signs. "Blueville" it says. I pushed the door open and stepped in. There are less people this time than this morning when I had breakfast. But a sweet young woman waving at me from a corner table for two got my attention. I walk towards her table and take the seat opposite her. The air is warmer inside but I'm shivering. Not from coldness but from tremendous guilt and nervousness and excitement. Such a strange feeling.

"You are early. Thought you'll be late with Ash around." She started the conversation with a very sarcastic joke. But it's her nature to be sarcastic so I guess she's still the old Sha I knew.

"I sneaked out actually after lunch. They didn't know I am here actually." She looked surprised even before I finish my sentence. Maybe she expected me to come here with Ash or at least let Ash know I'm meeting her right now.

"So you didn't expect to see me like this, right? But there's no way I can see you again if it's not like this. To tell you the truth, I still miss you. Especially after I have bad times with Andrew." I did expect this kind of conversation but with tears dropping down her cheeks. Instead she is all smiles from the start.

"What happen with you and Andrew after you found out about him doing drugs?" The only question I wanted to ask since inside the airplane that I didn't have the chance to ask.

"Well, you know him. I found out after he started to ask for money from me. Everyday we argued. Until one day I can't stand him anymore and decided to break-up. You should know what happens next. And it's worse than our tragedy."

"He’s been asking money from you? What a big crack head!"

"Yeah. And the amount increases each time. He doesn’t even have money or job and yet addicted to those useless drugs." Now she had this sad look in her face.

"Guess you've learnt your lesson. So what are your plans next?" I try to change the topic. And she's back to her normal state.

"I really want to be Ash's friend again. I didn't tell you I'm moving here yet, right? I want to have a fresh start. I already enrolled into a local college. So I guess having a friend or two will help a lot."

"Oh, really? Hurmmm. How about you come back with me? I'll tell them I met you on the way back from cigarette hunting."

"That'll be great. You're still the sweet guy I knew. Thanks."

After a quick stop at the Quick-E-Mart for my cigarette, we headed towards Ash's house. Questions run in my empty head when Sha suddenly grab my hand like she used to do when we were couples. Is she trying to get me back with her? Or she's just being friendly? I acted like I don’t care and continue walking.

14th February 2003, 5.00am

Time passed as I have a very nice chat with Sha. Without realizing, the plane will touchdown in just under 2 hours. Cabin crews are serving breakfast just after me and Farsha finished yet another coke and rum. I walked down the aisle towards the toilet just to find out it's occupied. I go back to my seat and realized Farsha is looking out the window again.
"I believe this is not the first time for you but why all the fear?"
"Nothing actually. Just kept thinking of my ex-boyfriend."
"Ex-boyfriend? You mean Andrew? What happened to you and Andrew?"
"We broke-up last month after I found out he's been taking drugs."
Sha's face is full of hate when she told me everything about her boyfriend. I made a conclusion they broke-up in a really frustrating way. Even me myself can't believe it when Sha told me Andrew is doing drugs. Andrew was a colleague of mine. He's in the other class but we used to eat and hang-out togather at the school's cafe or Perrier's.
In Auckland International Airport, we said goodbye after taking contact address and phone number. It's really been a long time since I saw her. More than a year I guess. She headed straight to the Limo service when she saw Ash coming towards me. I guess their rivalry is not yet finished.
"There's my big guy. How long have you been waiting here?"Ash hugged me so tightly making me hard to breathe.
"It's been nearly 2 months I've been waiting for you I guess." I said with an angry tone.
"Pity you. I really wonder what you would be doing back in Singapore while i'm having fun here."I tickled her and greeted Mrs. Smith. Their car is parked quite far from the terminal building so I took the chance to play around with Ash.
"What are your plans for today?"
"I just arrived here so I suggest we get something to eat first?"
"Is that all you can think of? Food? But it's a good idea anyway since me and mom haven't had our breakfast yet."
After breakfast, we went to Ash's house and I took a chance to nap for a while. Ash is busy cooking with her mom in the kitchen. Just after I place my head on the couch, my cell phone rang. I wonder who is it since i didn't recognize the number displayed on the called ID.
"Hello, Daryll here."
"It's me, Sha. Err, by any chance can we meet?"
"Oh, it's you. Meet? Why?"
"I'll explain that later. Meet me at the place you had breakfast this morning with Ash. I'll be waiting for you there at 12 noon. Bye." Before I get the chance to ask some more, she hang-up the phone. I'm really suprised with that call. How did she know where me and Ash had breakfast? Did she follow me? I'm so confused right now. There's no way I can take a nap now.

13th February 2003, 8.45pm

It's raining cats and dogs out there when I came back from work. Unfortunate for me to forgot to bring along an umbrella. The boots I wear is flooding with water and there's no single part of me that's dry. I my cell phone is also damp when it rang. It was ash calling me from New Zealand.
"Hi sweetie. Do you miss me?" Ash's voice is so sweet on the phone.
"How can't I miss my muffins? How's New Zealand? You having fun there?"
"New Zealand is fine but i need you here. It feels too weird with you far away from me."
"Don't worry sweetie. I'll be there by tomorrow. We're celebrating Valentine's day togather remember?"
"I know but I can't wait no longer. Can you fly down here a bit faster?"
"I would if i could. But the other flights are full. By the way, my flight will be touching down at seven tomorrow morning. Don't forget to wait me there."
"I promise i'll be there."
"And can you pass on a quick hi to your mum? Tell her i miss her so much."
That's my adorable Ash. She can be so sweet and so grumpy at some time. I just don't know how did I manage to stay with her for this long. Tomorrow's Valentine's day will be our 5th anniversary. It's just amazing that we are still togather even though we had broke off dozens of time.
Time seems flying so fast. The clock stroke 12 when i walked out of the shower and now the digital alarm clock by my bedside is showing 12.30am. My flight to New Zealand is scheduled at 2.oo am. I realized if I keep on at this pace, I might be late. Luckily my mom had already packed everything I needed this morning. In no time I was already driving my Escalade heading towards Changi Airport.
"This is the last call for passengers of flight SQ112 departing for Auckland." I was running when the announcer announced the last call for my flight. I got stuck at the security inspection because of my metal Zippo. I kept praying that the worst won't be happening. Missing my flight. Ash will be so angry at me if i missed this Valentine's day.
"Your boarding pass please, Sir." The flight attendant attended me to my seat when i finally make it into the plane. Lucky for me I arrived just in time.
"If you need anything just call me or the other cabin crews." She smiled as I buckle my seat belt. The flight seems a bit deserted. In fact, there's only 4 people in the business class with me. Luckily there's a fine young lady sitting beside me for me to talk to but she seemed a bit nervous.
"Cabin crew, please prepare for take-off." I hold on tight to my seat as the plane take-off. The plane is shaking a bit but the girl beside me is shaking even more. Maybe it's her first time I guess. And something in her looks familliar to me. I can't quite see her face because she keeps looking out the window. But her partially brown and curly hair is very familliar.
15 minutes pass and the cabin crews are busy serving drinks.
"What would you like to have, Sir?"
"Can you mix me a nice coke and rum, please?"
"In a minute, Sir. And you miss?" By the time she turn around, I knew she is someone that I knew.
"Sha? Farsha Emelda? Oh God! It's been a long time since we last met."
"Err, are you Daryll? Ash's boyfriend?"
"100% correct. Are you going to meet Ash in Auckland too?"
"I didn't know Ash is in Auckland. I'm going there to spend my holidays. And by the way can I have a coke and rum, please?"
"You still love the coke and rum. Remember we used to drink and chat and play games. Boy, I miss those times."
Sha is one of my ex-girlfriend that broke-off with me just before Ash. She was a good friend of Ash but they stop being friends after Ash found out I keep on seing her even though I'm already with Ash. I didn't expect to meet her like this. And deep inside I still love her. I got caught in the situation and all I can do is to be myself which is totally will ruin this.

12th February 2001, 12.20pm.

The sun stood straight above my head as I was walking from my classroom towards my car parked in an open area somewhere near the cafe. It's really hot these days and it gets hotter with the tense from class. School is not yet over but Gary, Fred, Trish and me are skipping early for the routine meetup at Perriers.
"D, you sure that cutie pie of yours will be there today?" Trish asked suddenly as we were getting into my car.
"Somehow I'm not sure. But i guess she'll be there. Last night was nothing. " I tried to ignore last night's arguement with Ash as i drove out the main gates heading towards town. Last night was a disaster when Ash found out I was dating someone else behind her back. I still remember the way she knocks on my door at 3.00 in the morning. Very hard. The horrifying look in her face last night kept circling in my mind.
At perriers, Ash was sitting with her friends at one corner of the tarrace staring at my car as i parked at my usual spot. Being like my usual self, I walked towards the main counter and ordered my usual latte and brownie and took a seat at the other corner of the terrace.
"She sure still angry at you. I can tell it by the look in her eyes." Fred said signaling me to go and apologize to Ash.
"I will talk to her when she come to me. She should know by now I was framed by that no-goodnick Paula." Paula was always jealous of me and Ash. Last night she called Ash to meet her. She gave Ash pictures of me and some girls while i was drunk at Paula's birthday party. I already tried to explain that I didn't remember any unmoral incident like Paula claimed but just not being myself is somehow true. And almost everyone knows what I'll do when I'm drunk. Flirt with any girl i catch in sight.
The daily hangout felt dull when only a few showed up after a couple of hours. Fred was busy with her Trish. Gary was nowhere in sight and I was sitting there alone sipping my latte with my eyes locked on my car. I lit up my cigarette for the seventh time trying to ignore the frozen look Ash was throwing at me since I first arrived. As I was going to order my second latte she stood up and started walking towards me. She grabbed a seat right in front of me and stared deep into my eyes with her green eyes.
"You don't even bother to apologize to me after what you've done!" she yelled, trying to start a conversation I guess.
"I've already apologize to you last night. What more do you expect?"
"You know what? I think we should better go separate ways. I've had it with you being nice to every decent girl you know!"
"Fine! If that you want, we're now nothing. Forget all my words and stop using my credit card."
With a stomp, she walked away with her friends towards her car. I watched her drove away like never before, barely missed an incoming motorist.

Prologue

9th October 1985

The day a new soul was given to a newborn. Never to be known the reason, he crawled into life. A man to be but the hard way for him. Pity him no one would want to tell the story of his unfortunate future life. Unfortunate for him to have the life almost all male like him desired but can't never enjoy it as it should be. This is the story of Daryll Arthur, a great guy and also a looser in it's own way.

Hello all...

I juz wanna share a never ending story derived from my experiences that i wrote every other day or so... Hope you guyz enjoy it...