Society

When the announcer declared my name and what I do for a living, I went up on the stage. The noise from the audience talking to one another faded away, they stared at me and waited for me. I gazed anxiously through the midst of the audience as I stood still like a statue on the stage, wondering how others managed to pull this off so easily.

The beam from the bright spotlight glared my vision, darkening the faces of the audience. I wasn’t able to find anyone familiar amongst the crowd. My knees were trembling, my heart was palpitating uncontrollably, this is my brain telling me that I couldn’t proceed with the performance. I was nervous.

“Do it!” the audience chant cheerfully! I could also hear people encouraging, “…No need to hesitate!”

“…Come on! Don’t be afraid!”

“…It’s easy!”

The audience were pleased to see me on stage, just like the others before me. Listening to their words of encouragement made me think they actually want to me perform.

“How bad can it be?” I murmured quietly. “How bad was I? How painful could it be?”

I tied the noose around my neck and jumped off stage.

As I was pulled downwards by gravity, the noose tightened itself. I was grasping for air. I tried to reach out the audience with my right hand while I try to remove the noose with my left hand. I felt my body shutting down slowly. The audience were glad that I jumped, they were clapping and cheering. My sight started to blur, I didn’t want to do this, but I had no choice. My eyes were partially closing, and the last thing I saw was my mother in the audience, who was happy to see me like this.

War

The sun was about to set, and the noise of war lessened. Everyone was tired; they took off their helmets and sat down to rest. Most of us were parched and our canteens were empty, but luckily, someone still had their canteen full. We passed it around so everyone could take a swig of it. It was gracious of him to share.

"Damn it! When will this war end? It's like we've been here forever! I got a newborn son waiting for me at home and I want to spend my time with him; I want to be there with him and see him grow up." Someone vented.

"Calm down there, soldier. We all would want to go home if we could. We all have things we want or need to do when we go back, but until this war ends, we have to keep on fighting for the greater good. Understand? Here, have a sip." The commander said to the rookie. "Alright everyone, get some rest. You're going to need it for tomorrow." He advised.

Everyone groaned, but silently agreed with him.

"Except for Beard, Sunshine, Glasses, Big-Nose, and Ace." The commander said while pointing his finger at us. "You five, I want you to guard the abandoned house near the supplies. Make sure the area is secure before you go inside. I don't want to lose anymore soldiers because of another ambush. We will raise an alarm when we are in need of help." He commanded.

We took our helmets and rifles, saluted to our leader, and walked there.

"Do you guys believe in god?" Ace asked us when we arrived.

"Which one?" Glasses queried while standing guard.

"Any of them. Say your prayers before we proceed any further." Ace suggested.

He made us feel scared of whatever's going to happen. Glasses immediately put his rifle down on the ground and went on his knees.

"Dear God, please don't let anything unfortunate happen to us. Forgive me if I ever broke any religious rules that angered you, whether it was on purpose or not. Please, please, please help us if we are in danger. Amen!" Glasses prayed.

"Amen." The four of us solemnly uttered, even though Big-Nose and Ace are atheists. 

The four of us split into two and circulated the area to make sure it was safe. After a while, we grouped up, went inside the abandoned house and checked every room to make sure no one was hiding there.

Grown-up

Harry went inside the convenience store, rushing to find what her boss wants. She kept looking left and right as she walks quickly to every single aisle. She doesn't want to jeopardize her job just because she can't do a simple task for her boss.

When she saw the item, she immediately grabbed it and ran to the cashier. As she was about to arrive, she realized the queue was long; one of the cashier just closed his counter, so everyone had to switch to the only one left.

She was exhausted. She puffed as she waits in line. The guy and his wife in front of her looked back, and he made an uncomfortable face while his wife rolled her eyes. They turned their heads front together, looked at each other and the wife said, "typical." Harry felt embarrassed; she kept quiet and looked the other way.

She received a call from her boss. She answered and her boss yelled, "Damn it Harry! You can't do anything right! That's it! I'm cutting your salary!" The boss hanged up the call right away before she could say anything. She let out a loud sigh. 

She placed the item on the counter. The cashier picked it up, scanned the barcode and straight away put it inside a plastic bag. "That'll be twenty nine dollars ninety nine cents."

"What? It's that much?"

Harry opened her handbag to find her purse. She found a wrinkled paper with a note written on it. She flattens it so she could read it clearly. She forgot that it was a note to herself about her rent that was due 2 weeks ago.

"Come on lady! We got places to be! Hurry up!" One of the people shouted behind her.

She found her purse and checked if she had enough. She could barely purchase the item.

She stepped outside the store and started to think about how she's going to pay her rent while walking on her way back to the restaurant. She kept wondering if she should take another extra shift or have two different part time jobs.

She looked to her right as she was waiting to cross the street. She sees a group of kids playing in a playground; climbing, shouting, tagging each other, running around, not worrying about anything in the world. 

She remembered how that felt, not having a single thing to worry about in life when she was a kid herself. In the past, she used to jump from furniture to another and when she fell, somehow, it doesn't really hurt that much. When she's hungry, she could just go downstairs, open the refrigerator and eat what's left over. She even had time to do her hobbies or hang out with her friends. Happiness was all around. She never thought that growing up could be so difficult, having one or more problems after finishing another.

Now, she worries, just about everything; what she looks like, people judging, what's her dinner for tonight or if there is even a dinner, paying rent, bills, not having time to relax, do her hobby to entertain herself or for relationships. Her own emotions, which is currently uncontrollable due to the fact of what's happening. She hasn't even met her best friend for months because of her extra shifts she had to take to earn enough money to live properly.

The traffic lights glared her eyes as she reminisced how lucky and fun it was to be a kid, catching her attention; making her realize that she's all grown up, and it is time to cross the street and continue her life.

Camp

I set up our tent near the beach. He told me he'll be back shortly. I can see him from afar, rafting on his small boat, fishing under the moon. We haven't had dinner. I just hope that he catches at least a kilogram fish; that, will surely keep my stomach full throughout the whole night. The things that I would do, to get my hands on a rainbow trout. Just the taste of it is so delicious; to season it with salt and pepper, cook it with butter, and finally, mix it with avocado to give it an extra flavour. Oh my, I'm practically drooling only from the thought of it.

The sea was calm, and it's soothing to watch. All I can hear are the waves splashing on the shores, light wind breezing through my ears and rustling the tree leaves. Most of the stars here can be seen clearly. I'm relieved that this area isn't so polluted with lights yet. Sadly, most of the areas in my hometown are polluted with it. I couldn't even see a single star. The temperature here is relatively cold. Luckily I made a campfire to keep me cozy. I'm happy to be here. This is what I call a good night indeed.

I got bored waiting, so I stood up and decided to take a stroll along the long sandy beach. I carried along my blanket and wrapped myself in it. As I stroll the beach barefooted, I reminisce about how we met, how we ended up being together in the first place. The more I think about it, the more I cherish what we are and what we have right now. 

If dad was still here, he would hug me dearly and whisper in my ear, "I'm proud of you sweetie. That's my girl." He would certainly add, "I told you so" while smirking in triumph, because he was the one who taught me how to build a campfire and how to craft things if I ever decided to camp outside, especially in the forest. During that time I let him know, "I don't need to learn these things, dad. I hate camping." I was so wrong, and I appreciate what he did, even when I was reluctant to listen to him; he would always have faith in me. I miss him greatly. 

As I thought about my dad, I began to tear up. I wiped away my tears with my blanket. Apparently, the blanket that I brought along was too lengthy.  I didn't know it would drag along the sand as I stroll. I was in agony when I tried to wipe my tears because the sand got into my eyes.

I immediately rush to the water. I ran as fast as I could before the pain gets worse. Unfortunately, I accidentally stumbled on my own blanket and fell into the water. A simple rinse turned into a midnight dip in the freezing sea. Now my clothes and my blanket are all drenched, so much for warmth.

I began to shiver as I got out of the water. I wanted to get back to my camp right away, but the breeze got stronger and it's pushing towards me. Now I'm freezing and it's difficult for me to walk any faster. I'm scared that I'll get a cold or something even worse. This is absolutely without any doubt, not a good night, as I thought.

Gladly, I managed to arrive back at the camp site safely. He was already there, preparing to cook the fish he caught. When he was about to put fish in the buttered cooking pan, he turned his head and looked at me. He was so confused. He chuckled for a split second and then asked, "you okay?"

The moment after he asked me that, I had recollection of our first date. He called me the night before our date, wanted to know if I was available in the morning. I was excited and nervous at the same time, I even closed my mouth with my hand to stop myself from shrieking. I didn't say anything back, I just nodded up and down instead. Stupid of me to think that he's actually physically right there in front of me asking me out. 

After a while, he said, "Hello? You still there?" thinking he lost reception. 

"Oh! Sorry! Sorry!" I apologized. "Yes, I'm available." 

"Great!" he cheered. 

The next morning, my mom drove me to the diner he requested. He was already inside, waiting for me. I was really nervous. Before I entered the diner, I took a deep breath. I didn't manage to read the label 'pull' on the door, so I tried to push it in, and I banged my head against the door. I accidentally attracted everyone's attention inside. He peeked out from his table to see who it was, he saw me and just waved happily. I was so embarrassed, I quickly pulled the door and ran to his table. I sat down and greeted him. 

"You okay? You seem tense." He asked. 

Ever since that wonderful and kind-awkward breakfast with him, we were officially together.

"Hey, what happened?" He asked me while I was enjoying our flashback, staring at nowhere, smiling like a psycho. 

"Oh, this? It's a long story. I assure you, it's nothing interesting." I mumbled. 

"Oh come on. I left you alone for half an hour. I came back and you were gone, then a few minutes later you're standing there soaking wet with your clothes on." He stated. "Well, you're right. It may not be that interesting after all." He went on in a sarcastic tone. 

"I got bored waiting for you, plus I was hungry, so I decided to go for a swim and catch a fish on my own. You were really taking your time." I teased. 

"Sorry, I didn't want you to catch me texting another girl that I'm seeing." He replied. 

"Ha Ha. Nice try. There's no reception here." I pointed out. 

"Well, not when I'm out there in the sea." He recalled. 

"What?!" I yelled. 

"Sorry babe, I just like having another one, you know? Just in case if we ever break up because of me cheating on you with a fake girl that I made up." He joked. He started laughing, so I slapped him. 

"Ouch!" He wailed. 

I pulled his shirt and kissed him. He was heartened. "Please. Don't ever do that again." I murmured. 

"I won't, and I'm sorry for scaring you like that." He comforted me, and kissed me again. 

I ran my hands over his soft brown hair. He took off my shirt as we kept kissing. As he was about to undo my bra, I smelled something like burnt popcorns. It totally ruined the moment when he smelled it too. We tried to find what that smell was coming from. Evidently, it was the butter that was left in the cooking pan. He immediately put the pan away. I laughed so hard. 

"What a great scent for making love." I addressed. 

"Yeah. They should make this into a scented candles. Popcorn lovers will definitely buy them." He continued. I laughed even harder.

Berry

Tonight’s the very last episode of my favourite new series. I can’t wait for the final battle of the Hopkins between the Ronalds. Last episode was pretty excellent. Every line they used, every camera angle they filmed the scenes, it was so perfect.

In a few minutes, it’s going to start. I got 6 cans of coke on my right, 2 packs of Doritos on my left and a very comfortable couch on my bottom. I also brought a blanket, just in case it gets cold here.

It’s started to rain outside. I had to increase the volume of the television so I could listen clearly. I had to get up and manually increase the volume beside the television. The remote for it got lost since last month. When I set the perfect volume, the show started. I quickly ran and jumped back on the couch.

As I was smiling when listening to the introduction music of the series, the house phone rang. I let out a loud sigh, got up, walked to the phone and answered it.

“Hello?”

While I was answering the phone, I also simultaneously tried to watch the show.

“Thank god you answered...”

I immediately ignored the show and concentrated more on answering the phone.

“Oh hey, what’s up?”

“Can you please pick me up? I’m having issues with family and I can’t handle it anymore. I just want to get out of here.”

“Oh alright, sure. I’ll be there in a few.”

She hung up the phone. I turned off the television and went upstairs. I put on whatever looks good and went back downstairs. I went back to the living room, grabbed my jacket, and went outside. I ran to my car, but I forgot my car keys. I went back in and tried to find it. I searched the living room, beneath the couches, under the cushions, in my room and couldn’t find the keys.

“For fuck’s sake, I’m already late!”

The house phone rang again. It’s probably her, I bet she’s going to ask where I am. I answered the phone.

“Hi, I know I’m late and I’m sorry, but I couldn’t find…”

“It’s okay, I’m outside already. I called a cab. Hurry.”

I opened the curtains and I saw her standing alone outside in the rain, shivering. I hurried myself outside and gave her my jacket. I brought her inside.

“Thank you.”

“So sorry you had to come here all by yourself.”

“I told you, it’s okay, at least I got out of there. I’m sorry I called, I hope I didn’t ruin your evening.”

“Oh, not at all. I was about to watch the last episode of a series, I can watch it next week.”

She was still shivering.

“Hey, let’s get you some dry clothes.”

“Please.”

“Just go upstairs, and go to the right. You can wear my clothes.”

“Okay. Thanks.”

She went upstairs and I went to the kitchen. I made hot chocolate for her.

I went upstairs and she was wearing one of my hoodies. She looks gorgeous in it because it’s oversized for her.

“Sorry. This is the warmest I can find.”

“It’s okay. Here, I made you this.”

“Thank you.”

“What’s up?”

“My parents and I had different opinions on some things and we started to argue and yell at each other. I’m sorry. I can’t talk about it now.”

“Hey I understand. I’m here for you if you’re ready.”

She finished the hot chocolate and lied down on the bed.

“Come here.”

I didn’t mind, so I lied down beside her. We spent the rest of the night talking.