A Bit of Love in Summer

 

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Simon's Love

He went all over the farm to look for Leanne. It's already 8:30 and he's been there for like an hour and a half. Finally he saw the boy he asked for Leanne's name weeks ago. "Hey, do you remember me?" smiling at him while asking.
 'Ahhh.. Oh, you were the one who asked me about Leanne's name." 
 "Righ, right!" he was excited. "Do you happen to see her today? I mean, this is the area where I saw her the first time. Is she coming here all the time? if not, when does she come often?" It was like he's running out of breath while asking. 
"I'm so sorry sir, but I lied to you that day." The boy was sincerely apologizing when he realized that Simon was desperate about the girl. 
"Whaaat? No, you can't just say that. You said that her name was Leanne, I remember you said that." Was terrified.
 "I'm sorry, I just made it up. Co'z I thought you're not serious about it. The way you described her, was exactly the same on how other describe that girl every time they visit here. I mean on this farm." now he sounds so scary as he continue.
 "What do you mean? wait, I don't understand.'' He was confused.
"That girl that you described to me that day, long black wavy hair with brown summer hat,  you said she's wearing a dress like a floral one with brown shoes.That's how others see her too. And It can't be her..."
"You're making me really confused now. Wait, what do you mean others? why would they see her in the same dress? I don't understand." Now he's lost. He feels like crying and he don't understand why. Frustrated. And the boy run away and leave him with so many questions. 
He rode on his bike and headed home. Still quiet and still not understanding of what the boy told him about Leanne. He was certain that he saw the girl just few steps away from him on that day. He never had a chance to come near her because it was all of the sudden when his dad hugged him and took his bag with him. And the moment he tried to look for the girl she wasn't there anymore. He stopped. He realized that he forgot the flowers. "Urggh!." Now he needs to go back to the flower shop near the farm where he left it. 
"I believe you came back for this." He turned his back as he heard a very sweet voice of a woman. An to his surprise, he fell out from his bike. "Oh, are you okay?" she tried to reach him. 
"It's you.." he said surprisingly as she looked at her.
 "It's me?? You know me?" she was like scared as she asked.
 "I was looking for you earlier, and.. and..." 
 "You were looking for me?!" now her voice was a bit sounds nervous."Why? I don't know you." she said while moving backwards. 
"No,no, no.. wait... Don't be scared. What I was trying to say is that.. I was looking for you..." "Why would you look for me? stop! don't come near me or I'll scream.." she said while moving fast this time. 
"Wait,"then he grabbed her hands slowly. "I was looking for you so that I can ask your name, I mean... you're beautiful.." Then she slapped him on the face.
 "Aaaaw! why did you slapped me?... I'm sorry I held your hand."
 "Let go!.." she screamed. 
 "Okay, okay, calm down.." as he let go her hand. "please don't go, I'm not a bad guy. I just live at Dawn Hill." 
"I don't care, you have to tell me why you were looking for me." she sound calm now. "Well, I just wanted to know your name...miss" 
"I don't give name to strangers." she said. 
"Of course, of course.. by the way, my name is Simon."
 "I gotta go, here's your flowers. You left that on our doorstep." and she lend it to him. 
"Outside your door? You mean it was your flower shop? "It's my nana's.. I mean grandma." 
"And the boy? he's like 13 years old."
 "Jona? You know him?" surprised as she asked him. "he's my brother."
 "You're name is Leanne?"
 "How did you know? huh!"
 "Hahahaha! So your name is Leanne?! You're brother was just trying to confused me." He was laughing and this time relieve. "Oh, Thank you!" 
"Ahh.. why do you want to know my name? You didn't answer me."She asked again.
 "Because, your the most beautiful flower I saw among the flowers in the farm on that day.." He smiled as he looked at her with all sincerity.
She smiled back. Not because he amazed her. It's just that, the way he said it, was funny. "Seriously? I don't think I'm the one you saw there."
 "It was you. I am so sure it was you." He said while smiling at her. A sudden silence. Leanne finally calm at the same time curious about Simon. They've been staring with each other for a while. Then, the church bell rung.  "Oops! it's almost 10.. Ahmm Leanne, are you going to church today?"
 "Yes, we do every Sunday.' She smiled.
 "Oh good! Can I invite you for lunch after? I mean, it's my birthday.. Just a simple lunch." He said while fixing his bike to take off. 
"I don't know.. I mean, I can't decide now. And I'm sorry... Happy birthday too.." she said. 
"Thank you. Okay.. I gotta go... Will I see you there at the church Leanne?"  
"Simon, Im sorry about earlier. I didn't mean to be hard on you. I just can't believe that.. you can see me. I'v been feeling alone for the longest time."
 "No, Its okay, really.. I'm so glad I met you. This is one of my happiest birthday.. I, I can't explain but, I am really happy I finally see you near me and know your name." he said while smiling. 
"I'm glad that you're happy. You know what, I need to go home and see if nana can talk to me also.. I hope I could meet you at the church." she waived at him and leave. 
During the mass, he decided to wait Leanne, before entering the church. The mass was about to start. "Simon, you need to get inside now," His mom as she called him. 
"Yep, I'll be right there mom." He said. It's been 20 minutes since the mass started and there's no Leanne showed up. He was excited and now feeling frustrated. He was about to get inside when he saw the boy with the old woman with him. "Jona!" He called him and Jona looked at him as he approached them. "Hi, I believe you're..."
"She's my Grandma, Mrs. Straw." as Jona cut him off. 
"Good Morning Mrs. Straw.. I'm glad to meet you.. Ahhmm are you feeling okay?" He asked the old woman as he noticed her eyes, it seems like she cried a lot lately.
 "Oh, Son, I'm so sorry.. It's been a hard days for us lately. This is not the right time but I appreciate your kindness." She said while sobbing. 
"It's okay Mrs. Straw. If I could be of help, please tell me." He said with sincerity. By the way, Jona, is Leanne with you?"
"Stop it.." He said while having a gesture like telling Simon not to mention Leanne's name while Mrs. Straw is listening.
 "Are you Leanne's friend?" Mrs. Straw asked him with surprise. 
"Yeah, I mean.. We were talking just earlier today. She brought my bouquet of flowers since I left it on your door step.. I was planning to get back there but she already had it with her. She said she will attend the mass today." Still looking around as he told her.
"Oh dear..." the old woman said. Then she burst into tears. 
"I told you, look what you've done." Jona said angrily as he tried to hold his grandma tighter.  
"I'm sorry... I don't understand.. what happened to her?" still clueless of what's happening that very moment. 
"She's gone son... She just passed away this morning." she continue crying. "She's been suffering for months now. Finally our Lord took her. She's with him now, resting with no pain." 
"What?' Mrs. Straw...." His face was blank with confusion.
"She's safe now son. I know its hard but we need to accept it. She's been in coma for 7 weeks caused by the tumor in her brain. Poor child. That sweet child." then she cried again. "I know she was in pain for the longest time." 
He felt like the world stopped and the color of the surroundings went blunt. He was speechless. "But i talked to her earlier.. I am certain and... and I hold her hand." Now he can feel the tears falling on his face. "It can't be.." 
"Maybe she wanted to say goodbye to you." Jona said while wiping his tears. 
"I don't know what to say. I didn't believe you when you said that you saw her. I was wondering because it is impossible for you to see her since she was lifeless for so long. I just thought you were making fun out of me." he continued. "We're going to meet Pastor Glenn today for the wake.. Please excuse us. Come on nana." Then he hold her while heading to the door of the church.  
He was stunned. it's like he's having a bad dream and he wanted to wake up. He didn't realized that he already sitting on the ground. So weak that he cannot move any parts of his body. He cried. He knew that he shouldn't be acting like that to a person or ghost that he just met. But he can't lie on how he feels. Leanne was so special to him that he tried to look for her every day since he arrived in Kennewick. There's something in her that made him feel alive again. He thought that he found the woman he wants to spend the rest of his life. He has so many questions in mind and that he wanted to scream. He never had her and now she's gone. He wanted to go back to last few minutes that they were talking in the farm on his way home. "Oh God, why didn't you let me come home a year before, so that I met her when she was okay?" He sobbed. "How can you let me feel this way?.. I'm sorry, I'm not blaming you. Please help me, help me to accept the fact that I lost the woman that I'm about to love." and he cried. Then he feels some kind of warm tap on his shoulder. He closed his eyes. "I know its you Leanne. I'm just sad I never made you feel happy. I have so many things to start with you. I am planning to do many things with you. I was looking for you all my life, and I thought I'd finally meet you." Tears still running down on his face. "If I was only given a chance... If I only  had the chance to meet you before. I'm sorry Leanne. I'm still glad we talked and had some lovely moment earlier. For me, it was real. God will take care of you now. . Until we meet again in our next life , there, I will never let you go again."

 

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