"The Loyal Puppy"
At a young age I already have a sum of misfortune in my life. Then he suddenly barges in, uninvited in my life. My weak heart couldn’t take it and can’t resist the light he brought in my ominous world. I never hoped for a change in my life, but he came… I’m glad he came.
September 17, 2011
It was lunch time. I stayed in the library like the usual. Not because I don’t have food to devour, but I’m too sad to eat. I just wanted to be alone so I stayed on an empty shelf in the corner of the library. No one came at this part, but that’s what I thought…
I was about to shed a tear to celebrate my miserable life when I heard some footsteps nearby. I got tense, feeling threatened by the trespasser, and hid myself well, closing my eyes wishing the trespasser wouldn't notice me in this ridiculous state, looking pathetic.
I jump up and bump my head when I feel something cold touches my cheeks. My eyes widened when I realized who it was.
“Arabela…” he whispers softly. With that my heart raced.
Oh. How could I forget about him? He was the best thing that happened to my life.
“Zephron…” As his name escaped my lip, he smiled while directly looking at me.
What a beautiful creature I thought.
But I divert my attention away from him immediately.
I shouldn’t covet something good, I don’t deserve him.
“Hey! Why are you crying again? Did I do something that made you upset?”
“No…”
“Then why? I brought you ice cream. Just how you like it, Strawberry!”
Again, my eyes widen upon realizing that it was the cold thing I felt earlier.
His smile was so big, looking proud. It made me want to hit him, and so I did.
“Food is not allowed here! Idiot!”
He flinches, but then laughs afterwards as if I’m joking.
And so I got mesmerized again. Fallen to those smiling dark brown sparkling eyes.
You see, Zephron was so good to be true. He is a perfect kind of guy.
He may seem cold and intimidating when he’s alone (and girls of our batch love that part of him), but when he’s alone with me he’s playful and sweet. He always cheers me up. And he is my… friend- but I want more than that. But he was so hard to reach even if he was just Infront of me.
“Why are you staring at me like that?” He laughs nervously. His ears turned to red, a sign that he was embarrassed.
“Like what?” My heart starts pounding harder.
He peeled the ice-cream wrapper for me, leaving me with no choice but to eat it.
“Like you fell in love with me.” He said and pinched my cheeks.
My jaw dropped at him.
Is he flirting with me? Or am I too obvious.
When I didn’t reply, he placed his clean handkerchief in the cone and shamelessly shoved the ice-cream in my mouth in an unromantic way.
No, he’s not flirting with, obviously.
I pretended to be mad and grabbed his hair, which he laughed at. But deep inside his actions melt me instantly, faster than the ice cream I eat.
I love this cheeky side of him- no I love everything about him.
“How can I not…”
“What did you say?”
“What?” Oh goodness, he might have heard it! It is so embarrassing.
I blushed. “Nothing, puppy. Just shut up. I’m going to enjoy this-” moment with you. “ice-cream.”
“Okay, Master. I’ll stay quiet like your loyal loving dog.” He then started barking.
I laugh at his antics. He laughs with me.
And the next thing that happened… we got caught by the librarian. She was enraged and made us clean the whole library. It was supposed to be a punishment but we just laughed it away. Enjoying the companion of each other.
(Present Time)
It was such a beautiful memory that I cherished so much. And I’ve never forgotten it. That was the time when I felt a fire inside me, the hope he gave me. The reason to live no matter how life beaten me up. He is my savior and I was in debt to him ‘till I left this lonely world.
It was just unfortunate that life didn't favor us. Because Before I confessed my feelings for him, he vanished without a single word. Leaving me alone in this darkness I was in before he came to my life.
I smiled bitterly.
“Missed you puppy.” I was teary as I stared at the gate of our previous school. I passed by it while going home from work.
*dog barks*
My heart raced. Though I know it came from a real dog.
I felt a wet thing in my legs and there I saw a cute dog, wagging his tale on me.
And believe me when I say my soul just bid its good bye.
“Kyaahhhhh!!!” I stumble on the ground while shivering.
The dog is bewildered while looking at me standing still. It’s brown golden fur was being swept by air.
His fur reminds me of something… someone who is very close to my heart.
But this is a puppy… it’s not my puppy. Damn.
“Ara!”
I froze as I heard that voice. The familiarity sends warmth to being, but I just laugh off since it was impossible for him to be here.
I was about to get up and decided to just run away from the dog. But someone lent me a hand so I gladly took it.
“Sorry about my dog. Arabella seems to like you a lot. She chased you the moment she saw you.”
I frowned as I removed the dust on my skirt.
Great! Just Great. Who names their dog Arabella (my name)? Wait… that voice.
I look back to the guy who helped me get up.
I gasp while he doesn’t seem affected. He just beamed like me. And the sun seems to light brighter than before- no, he was the sun. He lit my world again.
“Zephron…”
“Arabella… I miss you.”
He extended his arms into me. And I would gladly be in his arms, but I didn’t.
“How dare you name your dog after me! YOU DIMWIT!” I was enraged while I hit him with my bag endlessly.
I didn’t expect that this is how we will meet again. Me hitting him, and him laughing as if it just tickles him. Damn, I miss his laugh. It was like nothing happened to us, like we’re not separated. No remorse, no awkwardness. Just me loving him and him being my loyal dog as always.
I stopped hitting him when I felt his arms around me.
“I miss you master. I finally came back to my home.” I heart skip a beat hearing his sincerity.
I shed the tears I was holding back these past years. The loneliness that drove me to the abyss was now gone. I felt alive.
“Then I welcome you back my puppy… and this master loves you so much.” Finally, I let it out.
I can’t deny it anymore. It’s my love for that keeps me alive. It’s the hope of this day to come is my last resort before I leave this miserable world.
“I love you too.”
I looked at him. His mesmerizing brown dark eyes, his warm smile on his plum pink lips. Everything shouts it's adoration of me, why didn’t I see this before? Am I too blind of my own feelings for him to not see these signs?
“Zephron…”
“I love you so much master.” He whispered again and leaned forward, aiming a sweet gentle kiss. And I gladly welcome him this time.
He is my puppy, the one I love the most in this world. My everything.
THE END
“What a miserable girl.” I said while looking at my writings.
I was writing the chapter of my novel. But I felt dismayed of how it turns out. It’s full of butterflies, warmth and cheesy lines. It felt unrealistic.
How can she depend on him? Is love really enough? What if he didn’t come back?
I sigh.
“Puppy…” This word left lips with a bitter smile.
He will never come again, Bella. I told myself.
From the first place, I was not pitying the character Arabella in the story I wrote. But I was referring to myself.
This story holds my hope and desire that was left in this world. This story is part of my life that never happens. Yes, we met and shared those lovely memories, but that was all. He left and he… will never come back just like in my story.
I sigh again before getting all the scratches of my story’s last chapter in the table. I left some money for my coffee and exited the coffee shop.
This is the reality, Bella. It’s just you from the start. Doesn’t mean you have a taste of love from the start, won’t guarantee that you’ll have it in the end. Just accept it, you are doomed to be lonely.
I was just walking down the street when something or more like someone bumped on me. My scratch scattered on the street.
“Not sorry. I meant it!”
I didn’t entertain what the guy that bumped me said, and pretend that I didn’t hear thinking that it was just a middle schooler tripping on the passersby.
I started picking up my scratch when I heard him speak again. And this familiar voice, it’s like deja vu.
I looked back at him. He was holding one from scratch, reading it shamelessly with an annoying smirk on his face.
“Okay, Master. I’ll stay quiet like your loyal loving dog. He then started barking. Hmmm… Zephron?!” He laughed. And I was embarrassed. “Your imagination really never failed to amaze me.”
He walks in front of me and leans to kiss my forehead then smirks at me.
“When did I become your loyal dog when you’re my puppy… Arabella?”
My heart raced. “Zephron…”
“Yes, my puppy?”
I blushed.
Damn that endearment he gave me. It still sounds so sweet even if it’s an insult.
And yes, I was his loyal dog, and he is my beloved master.
Finally, I was home.
