"I've waited and waited. Hearing footsteps from the far distance, my heart races, hoping it is you. But you have always disappoint me again yet again. Just because you took your time, my time is lost."

"You can apologize a trillion times but that is not what I want. What's the use of saying "Sorry" if you don't mean it. I just want to see this little change in you. Am I asking too much?"

They were the perfect pair who everyone envious. To others, they define the meaning of true love and practice it. Whenever they are together, Monica and Ash carries this aura which is scattered with sweet sugar floss and dyed with the colours of the rainbow. There has never been a time where they will quarrel over personal ideas. All of us thought fate has played its role well by bringing them together to fulfill their happiness. Or have we all mistaken it?

It was 19th October 1986. The sky was clear and the sun was beaming with joy. Everyone could feel the warmth from the sun's rays. Casted by the rays, the beauty of the island was outbursting with colours of happiness and youth. How everyone wish this day will never end. That was how Monica felt.

It was the perfect Saturday, and the day to be out in the sun. Couldn't hesitate any longer, Monica picked up the phone and dialed Ash's number.

"Ring, ring.."
"Hello, Ash here."
"Hi Dear."
"Oh hi Monica"
"I was wondering if you'll be free at 3 for tea?"
"Sure darling, anything will do. Meet you at 3, the old place"
"Alright. See you. Don't be late."
"Sure, lots of love dear."
"Bye"

That was the kind of conversation they had always with one another. So loving and caring. But never will they ever know that will be their last conversation...

The time was 1:40 pm.

Monica was preparing sandwiches for Ash. They were Ash's favourite and the reason for tying them together 5 years ago. That day was like today. The sun was happy and the island was smiling. Monica was having her sandwich for lunch at a park. Suddenly, a bicycle that looks like going to crash came speeding towards Monica's direction. She dropped her lunch and the bike went over it. Shocked by what she saw, she went to the man on the red bike who was Ash at that time. She wanted him to pay and he refused because it was not his fault. Remembering those days, Monica sliced the tomatoes with a smile on her face.

2:00 pm, that's what the clock says. Monica packed her belongings, took the lunch box and headed down to the place where they have agreed to meet. Still carrying the smile on her face, she was excited to see Ash again. His smiles, humor and caring eyes were all she could imagine in her head right now. Half an hour has passed since she took the bus. The clock was ticking. Tck, tck.

Looking at her watch, the time spells 2:40 pm. She was glad she arrived early and looked for the spot which she thinks was the best place to settle on. Laying out the mat and aligning the lunch box, she took out a book to read as she waited for Ash's arrival.

"Why isn't he here yet? Don't tell me he's late again." Monica thought as she looks at her watch that says 3:10 pm.

This wasn't the first time Ash was late for their meeting. It had happened many times and every time is due to either his work or family. Monica understands the kind of life he is going through but how she wished Ash can spend more time with her. She knows that she's asking too much and is selfish of her to think that way. But all she needs is that little bit from him.

3:30 pm. She couldn't wait any longer and was afraid something could have happened to him on the road. Leaving her things behind, she stood up and headed over to the road. Pacing up and down, she looked at the time as every 5 minutes passed.

4:00 pm and Ash was not there yet. Monica was getting really impatient now. She was fuming with anger yet hoping to see him soon. She waited and waited. Hearing footsteps from the far distance, her heat races, hoping it was Ash. Couldn't bottle up her anger anymore, she turned and twisted her ankle. Monica felt a great surge of pain and fell to the ground.

There after, a red car speeding on the road was riding at a distance. Monica saw the car approaching at high speed but was unable to get to her feet. The pain was unbearable and she was bitting on to her lips.

"Am I going to leave you without seeing your face one last time?"

In seconds, the car is coming straight at her.

"Just because you took your time, my time will soon be lost."

Bang

"What was that?" the driver in the red car thought to himself. He was awakened by the hump and was startled for a few seconds. As quick as lightning, he unbuckled himself from the car seat, opened the door and turned to see. In front of him was a woman covered in red with a white blouse. A trail of dark red liquid was seen flowing towards him.

"The back looks familiar." And in a split second, he shouted "Monica... Monica! Is that you Monica?"

Calling her name as he ran towards the motionless body, he picked the lady up and was stunned to see her. Monica was laying on his hands.

"Answer me Monica. Answer me! It can't be you. Why? MONICA!"

Hearing a familiar and wanted voice, Monica opened her tired eyes with the last bit of energy she had left. Seeing who she had always hoped to see, a smile appeared on her face and she raised her hands that was filled with blood, her own blood.

Angry with himself and as tears kept flowing down his cheeks, Ash grabbed Monica's hand and kept asking himself, "Why? Why?..."

Monica looked up and said something that Ash couldn't figure out what it was. All he could felt was the hot breath coming out form Monica's mouth. As she speaks, Ash could feel her drifting away. She was losing conscious and her eyelids were covering half her eyes.

"No Monica. Stay with me. You have too..." Hugging her even closer, afraid she would be stolen away from him.

Monica looked up at him again and as Ash looks into her half closed eyes, the bloody hand that he was holding on to firmly finally gave away. Monica's head dripped and laid on Ash's chest. She still carried the smile she always do. The kind of smile she always shows to everyone even when things seem so unfavourable.

Ash vision became blurred from all the tearing. Still hugging Monica in his hands, he was reluctant to let go. On this quiet road all that was left was not the aura of scattered sugar floss or even the colours of the rainbow. What's left was the soul of a single person, sitting in an area which is pitch black and darken by the colours of loneliness and guilt.

Date, 19th October 1990. Time, 4:10pm.

"The old place where we first met became our departing junction. I saw you made my favourite sandwich, the red and white checked mat and a book with the pages flipping with the wind. It was just like yesterday when we first met."

"Why couldn't you have waited her a bit longer. Or why can't I be a bit earlier? Just because I took my time, this had to happen? Eeither ways, you could have fed me on this mat watching the beautiful sunset. Looking back at this place where I first find happiness has now become a painful memory."

"This place isn't beautiful without you. The scenery sores my eyes as I look across this area. Tears flow down like a stream down my cheeks."

"The sunset is beautiful today. I hope you are with me here. Where are you?"

As Ash said those words, a gust of wind came and he felt he was been watched...

"I was happy to see you one last time...Ash..." Monica's last words...

"I came to this world not knowing the purpose. You mock me and force me to behave in this manner. I became your subject but will you ever be responsible for my death? In the nether world, I'll never know..."

He was born an average Joe. Skinny, fair and had dark black hair. He wore a pair of spectacles that made him looked like a gig and his high pants was just the thing that we could never compete. His behavior was one that was uniquely irritating. Never failed to make us boil and has always failed to make our day gay, he is none other Anti.

All of us hated him because of his stupidly behaviour. Anti was the subject that bonded us together. He wasn't just any other laughing stock but a fabulous clown that no circuses ever have. We all believe that the reason for his actions was to get our attention, our negative attention. It seems to us that the more we mock him, the more satisfaction he received and the happier we are.

Of course, at most times, he crossed the boundary and make us really mad. We were told to ignore him and leave his matters alone. But this time, things just get better and even better.

Anti was heavily mocked by the class today. He appeared to be different. The usual laughter of his seems to have vanished and he sat there quietly. The atmosphere around him became cold and dark. Being so still, we were not satisfied by his reaction. Sentences of sarcasm and discrimination were thrown at him like a javelin. An ordinary man would have gotten mad and gone berserk. But Anti stood up, walked silently to the doorway and vanished behind the corridor.

No one cared where he went. We just laughed our way back to our seats. Jokes were made about him crying for his mummy in the toilet or sitting at a corner sobbing with no one speak to. Our mouth open with laughter but our eyes saw something heavy dropping from the high floors to the ground. We froze and the room became cold.

The room remained the same. But with no laughter and an empty seat. Anti was absent that day. Will he ever come back to bond us? What should I feel?