“The One That Got Away”

Breaking the rules? I’m good at that. I always get away with everything I do. Pick pocketing? I’m a master with it. Getting girls? It’s as easy as counting 123. But finding true love? It’s impossible for me.

“I’m sick of my life. I don’t want to live anymore” I screamed at the top of the building.


I am a master thief. Steal things, change my identity, and have nobody in my life – That’s my motto. I work alone and cared for nobody. But this time I was tired of it. I just want to end my life. I stepped on the edge of the building, and was getting myself the courage to jump.


“Excuse me mister. Are you going to jump?” A little boy asked me.


“Yes. Leave me alone. Go back to your mommy. My life’s a shit.” I said.


“I could grant you a wish of pure enjoyment if you want to. You can go anywhere you want, do anything you want and/or be anyone you want” He added


“Ugh. Just go home boy.” I shooed him away.


“Make a wish first.” He said again.


“Okay fine. Then you leave. It’s already 11 pm” I said to him


“There are ‘three limitations’: First, you have a 24 hour time limit and you must remember it. Second, you must go alone. And finally, you cannot bring back with you anything except for a foggy memory. Now make a wish” the boy commanded.


“Okay. I wish I could find the one I could love and be with” I said to him “Now could you plea…” before I can finish my words, my world twisted and was distorted. My eyes blackened and the last thing I heard is “Your wish is my command. Just remember the rules.”


“Wake up Jim” A beautiful lady keeps on shrugging my shoulder.


“Uhhh. Where am I? What happened?” I looked around. It was still the busy street of Rio. So was that a dream? I wondered what really happened.


“Thank you miss. I seemed to pass out last night. How do you know my name?” I asked her.


“You don’t remember me? It’s me, Stella Pena, your classmate from high school. Remember?”


“Oh. Stella, you look… Ravishing” I smiled at her. I remembered her. She was my first crush when I was in high school. We were classmates back then but didn’t have time to be so close. She seems to ignore me because I was a bad ass back then.


“Mind to stand up? You’re still sitting there at the post” She chuckled.


“Aww. I’m sorry. Can you help me?” I lend my hand to her.


Stella pulled me up and said that she’ll be going ‘cause she’s late for her work. As she crossed the road, I shouted


“Dinner at Jones Café 8:00 PM, my treat!” “Sure Jim. See ya.” She waved at me.


I can’t believe this. I’m really having a chance with the girl I love since high school. I went back to my apartment to prepare for the later event. I was shocked when I entered the door. Everything was fixed, it’s like the day is going the way I like it.


“Is the boy real?” I asked myself. “If the boy is really real then this will gonna be my greatest adventure, the adventure of stealing love and time.”


I called the Jones Café to reserve the whole restaurant for us because I found out that I have a million pesos in my bank account. It was 2 pm already when I left the apartment. I went to Dave’s Salon to have a haircut and spa. I want myself to be physically appealing to her. Then I shopped at the Fifth Avenue and bought the best suit that they offer. Then I bought a new pair of black shoes, a necktie and bowtie, and a white polo. It was 6 pm when I went back home.


“Black tux? I looked definitely hot in this one. What should I pair it with? A bowtie or a necktie?” I asked myself. I showered again and perfumed a lot. I applied hair wax on my shimmering black hair. I even brushed my teeth thrice and gargled twice. I should look perfect. This is my biggest shot; I can’t afford to lose it. “Hmmmm. The bowtie looks much better.” I complimented myself. I left my apartment 7:20 pm and went to Maria Isabel’s Flower Shop to buy a bouquet of white roses. Then I ordered a two kilogram of red roses’ petals.


“Good evening sir. Are you Jim Coxe?” The manager of the restaurant greeted me.


“Yes I am.” I smiled at him. I entered the resto and looked at the place. It was nice and cozy.


“Can you shower these petals all over the table and on the carpet?” I said to him. “Also I would like to have a candle lighted dinner and can you play this song later?” I handed to him the bucket of petals and gave him the CD of the song.


“Here’s 20 thousand for the rental fee” I said to him. “Also prepare the best wine for the evening.” “Yes sir.” He said smiling.


It was 8 pm when Stella arrived. She was wearing a black tube dress. She looked so gorgeous. Her body has this amazing figure that could make every man drop his jaws and drool over her like a dog. “Am I late?” She asked me. “No, you are just in time” I smiled at her.


“All I can say is wow. The place is perfect.” She said. “Yes. I know.”


I said. I raised my hand to call the waiter. “Good evening ma’am and sir. Here’s the menu for the night” He handed to us the menu.


“I would like to order a Cordon Bleu sautéed with steak sauce. How about you Stella, what would you like to eat?” I asked her. “T-Bone Steak with strawberry side sauce” She said.


“What would you like to order for your drinks?” The waiter asked.


“Bauhini Iced tea” I said


“I would like to have a mango-strawberry smoothie” she said.


“Thank you ma’am and sir. Your orders will be delivered here in a while.” The waiter said politely.


“The champagne” I whispered to him and he brought us the champagne.


“So how are you doing? I mean how are you? You look great” I said to her and gave her the wine glass with champagne.


“I’m doing fine. I’m working at ABC Company as the Sales Manager” She said.


“The real question is how you are doing? You were sleeping down the road and now you’re here. You even reserved the entire restaurant for us. So how are you really? I haven’t seen you in a while since college days.”


“I’m working as …” I thought for a while. What would I tell her? I can’t just say I’m a thief. She’ll get freak out by that. “Working as?” she asked again


“Working as the vice president for sales in our company at London” I said to her. Damn. How can I get away from this? I hope she’s gonna believe my lie.


“That’s great!” She exclaimed. “I hope I can go to London one of these days”


“Here’s your order ma’am.” The waiter said and he put the food in the table. “This is for you sir” He also did the same. “Enjoy your meal” I waved my hand to signal them to play the CD.


It was an hour long violin orchestra so that it would be relaxing for the both of us.


“So do you have a boyfriend?” I asked her. “I still don’t have one.” She chuckled


“Why? You are a great person. You are friendly and beautiful. I don’t believe you.” I looked at her seriously.


“Yes I swear. I don’t have a boyfriend. Not even one.” She said in a convincing way.


“How come you don’t have one? Don’t you have any suitors?” I said to her.


“I have suitors but … I just don’t like any of them” She said to me.


“Then who do you like?” I was curious who she likes. “You” She said softly.


“You like me?” Shocked with what she said. “I have always liked you since high school. But you seemed to be annoyed with me” She said to me.


“I… I liked you too. I thought you were ignoring me because I was a bad boy back then. I’m sorry” I said to her.


“No need to say sorry. You know, this day is so great. I met you and had this wonderful dinner with you.” She laughed.


“How about this, let’s start up again.” I said to her.


“Good evening miss. I’m Jim Coxe.” I smiled to her and offered to shake hands with her.


“Stella, Stella Pena” She smiled back.


We spent several hours talking, laughing and catching up with what was happening with each other’s life.


“Thank you Stella.” I looked at her. She was so damn attractive.


“Jim” She said. I can’t help myself but to kiss her. I kissed her lips passionately. Then I heard someone say “Tik tok tik tok.”


I looked around, everything froze in time.


“It’s eleven now.” The boy said. “Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten already.”


“Please, let me live this life.” I begged him


“No sir, I can’t. That’s the rule.” He smiled at me. Then I felt time and space is distorting again. I blacked out.


“Excuse me.” A girl was shrugging my shoulder.


“What?” I asked her, still sleepy.


“You are sleeping here at the sidewalk.” She said to me.


“Ugh. My head hurts. I can’t remember a thing.” I said to her.


“Jim? Is that you? It’s me Stella Pena.” She offered her hand to pull me up. I grabbed her hand.


“Thank you.” I smiled “Sorry but I have to go already. It’s nice meeting you again.” She smiled and said goodbye.


“Hey! Dinner at Mcdo Atrium later at 8 PM! It’s my treat!” I shouted and waved at her.


“Sure!” She shouted back and smiled at me. Everything is foggy last night. I don’t remember what happened but I know something special occurred.


“Excuse me mister?” A boy pulled my shirt. “Yes? What is it?” I asked him


“If you have one wish…” He smiled at me.


“I want perfect happiness” I thought.





“What are you going to do?” He smiled and disappeared.

Friends > Lovers

Have you ever felt that certain rush when you are with someone you like? Do you feel that time stands still when you are with him/her? Does that person bring out the best in you? But have you answered this question, does he/she likes you? 

Let’s put it this way, kids these days are somewhat full of affection. When their heart beats a little, they’ll call it love. But what is really love? If you’re gonna ask that to different kinds of people you’ll hear a thousand answers. It is because we have our own perspective about what love is. For me, if you ask what love is I’ll simply answer that love is a positive phenomena experienced by a person to someone or something, it is deep yet easy to understand, high yet easy to reach, wide yet it covers every boundaries of our soul, and long for it never runs short. Let’s take this for example. We've read our Bibles yet no one really understands what Leah has been through all of her life. She has been seeking for love that Jacob can’t give. The pain of having someone there all those years yet never been loved fully by that person. I know some of us have been experiencing this. We've been expecting so much that that person will love us and ends up losing ourselves to him/her, not even leaving a piece of us behind. To think of it, it’s not their fault but ours instead. The problem is we end up assuming things because of their actions. Couldn't it just that they are friendly or is it because you asked for those kinds of signs and ends up thinking that way? Love is a strong word for teenagers like us. There is no definite time, place, or moment for this. You just have to wait for it and not force your way up to find this. You may have already missed a lot of time enjoying your life because you’re busy searching for the right person. God will provide, you just have to learn to trust His ways. 

Ending up with this, if you are troubled by what you feel and is confused if he/she likes you, you could ask that person. Just mutter up the courage to confess your feelings because there is no harm in trying. If that person ignores you and leaves you behind then they lost someone who really cares for them. 

Remember, it’s just a leap of faith for someone to move a mountain.