Catch a Falling Star

I have written some penny of thoughts regarding to literary stuff, including this short story; Catch a Falling Star. I have planned to make it into a mini novel and publish it through Wattpad. So, wish me luck for the ease in gathering moods and creativities! *fingers crossed*

The cover of my upcoming short story on Wattpad

                "Dear night, how does it feel, to be with countless stars, but crave for the sun....?"

As usual, Arki muttered while she was gazing at the darkest sky ever during this January, on her roof, at this hour. She was looking for an inspiration when someone interrupted her contemplation.

"So lonely."

Arki tried to find the voice. When she looked back across her house's roof, there was this guy. She then remembered that a family has just moved in there. Her parents had asked her to drop by but she couldn't make it. She didn’t know that the family has a son. She thought they have 3 daughters only.  It was also just weird to see a shirtless guy on the roof at this hour; 1 in the morning. Well, Arki always uses her nights to find inspirations for her next short story. She is one of contributors for her campus magazine. It is her job, to update the short story column with another new story.

"Hi, there." he greeted Arki.

"Well, hi. I barely knew you were moved to the next door. Welcome to Southwestern village." she smiled when she said that. She didn't know that her smile meant something to him.

"Yeah, I met your parents and your little sister, and her bunny, who is it?" he tried to say a word, "Mr. McKenzie" he said that and laughed. "What a great name!" he laughed that hard until Arki instinctively put her finger in front of her lips and 'sssshh...' him.

“Yeah, that is just funny, right? She once called him Neville Longbottom. She really loves the character. But she changed her mind as she thought it was weird. And McKenzie is even weirder.” Suddenly Arki felt so relieve with the laughter of hers that she just heard. That was the first time after months, after she broke up with her British ex-boyfriend. ‘What’s wrong with me? Isn’t it too fast?’ She had been wondering when the guy next roof stood up and tried to utter a word.

“Regarding to your words earlier, isn’t it too sad, when people pointed a  and told everybody whenever you feel lonely, there will always that star accompany you? Have you ever thought about the star’s feeling?”

“So many stars at night, why bother the loneliness?”

“The star that people always point their fingers on it is the loneliest creature ever.”

“How come?”

He didn’t answer. He just smiled and moved his eyes to Arki’s and she felt instantly something permeated to her chest. The eyes looked so sad. She didn’t know why. The view in the sky had been silenced both of them.

“In one minute. There will be a falling star. Prepare for the wish.” He smiled and gazed back to the sky.

Arki felt something about him. But she didn’t know why she felt like she had known him for a long time.

       “Oh, here it is!” Arki screamed and closed her eyes immediately. She felt something has changed her instantly. The meeting with this guy meant a lot to her. She feels that she can move on, completely move on and start living her life. There is no need to look back. The rear views on her mind have been smashed away from her mind.

             “What did you ask?” he asked Arki when she just opened her eyes.

            “I didn’t ask anything. I just feel so grateful for what I have been through all this time. God has been so nice to me and I couldn’t ask for more.”

             “Good.” He answered and smiled. They got this dead air when they looked at each other.

        Arki suddenly felt awkward and asked him, “How about you? What did you ask to the loneliest shooting star?” she smiled at the loneliest part.

           “Secret.” He smirked and it was sweet, at least that was what Arki thought.

           “I appreciate your privacy. It’s okay.” She smiled back to him and then continued, “I once was thinking that there wouldn’t be a day like this anymore in my life. But now I know that I was wrong.”

       “One thing that you should know, you are not alone. You should think about that star whenever you feel lonely.” His voice sounded so gentle and soft, just like the wind that attacked them at the time. They were both silent and just gazed the sky.

             “Well, you might catch a cold if you keep laying there. I suggest you to go back inside. And also… have I told you about my name?”

             She wished for this moment not to end that soon. Technically, she wanted to stay with him for the next couple of minutes. But she immediately burned that kind of thought. ‘At least I can still meet him tomorrow.’ She thought.

               “Hahaha yeah, you haven’t told me yet. Well, I am Arki. What’s yours?”

          “This is Jamie. Nice to meet you.” He smiled and Arki felt hurt at chest. ‘So bright like Polaris star’ she wondered.

           “Guess, I’ll catch you up later, or tomorrow because tonight may sound so wrong?” he asked Arki while playing with his brown hair. Arki just nodded.

“We’ll meet again when the sky is clear at night. See you.” He said that and got in to a window where he came out.

               “See you, Jamie.” Arki smiled and felt sad all of sudden.

                In the morning, Arki was ready to eat her breakfast.

             “My daughter finally came out of her cage!” her daddy also seemed happy that there wasn’t a grey cloud on the top of his daughter’s head this morning.

                  “Haha.” Arki just smiled and ate the toast.

              "....and she smiled..." dad continued praising Arki as if she had shut in herself for years. Well, only 2 months. She didn't want to come out for greeting other family members. After that incident, she found his ex-bf cheated on her.

             Then her mother approached the dining table, “Oh, dear… I forgot to tell our new neighbor about the next gathering at Brownson’s.”

          “Ng… can I visit them and tell them about the gathering, Mom?” Arki asked her Mom who instantly made a ‘wow’ face expression. ‘Ugh, come on, people change, Mom!’ “I have made friends with the son actually” she continued but she didn’t want to mention about the conversation they had last night.

     “Son? They don’t have any son, darling… I bet you were hallucinating again while contemplating and then disappointed that the imaginary friend you had just created didn’t come out in real life?” Mom made a point and looked so sad.

“Well, at least I've got a chance to give it a name.”

          "He has changed you dear...and I'm happy for that..." Arki found her Mom burst in tears and hugged her.

"Yeah, Mom... I thank him for that..."

THE END