(Rylle Darryll T. Estrella, Author)

EDITOR’S NOTE: This first ever novel of mine is for all the people who did love through the years and for those who struggle for love. Carlisle and Erika is a symbol of pure love that God can offer in this world.

Prologue:

Love can twist the world. Love makes the ride in this crazy world worthwhile. Love keeps almost everyone going even in the darkest hours of their lives. But for me? I came up with a conjecture that Love isn't a matter to be taken, but a thing to be thrown away. I don't believe in true and greatest love. I have never regarded love as a sun for the photosynthesis of my own and water that helps me bloom as a person until one woman came into my life and changed everything.

I am lifeless, but I am alive; if you know what I mean. I am alone and it's my hobby to be just with myself, sitting in the old bench under this tree fronting the bay. My knees can't take it any longer if i'm going to do walking here and there; I am fragile and lame now. I feel the cold breeze that winter brings, that intrudes to my soul. It's December and everyone is busy for gifts, parties and etc.. Sky is so calm now, stars are filling the wide universe and it's blue moon. And Moon keeps me not fragile this time, moon anyway is not a source of my energy but i'll tell you later why I regarded it so. How lucky I am to see this phenomenon twice in my whole years of my life.

Gloria Port in Chicago is my native land. The Gloria Port now is far different to the Gloria Port before. Wayback year 1985, it has only two Restaurants- the famous T.F Center and the Dinner in a House food chain wherein every occasion, has musicians that plays romantic genre, where lovers prefer to be here because of it is one of a kind or such an ideal place. A smallest town in the West of Chicago, catering only not more than Four Thousand people. And you must be an immigrant when you don't know the person that walks or passes by on your house, it's like you're all family since you're only few. There are only few establishments that is so average to cater the necessities of our constituents. The majority is Roman Catholic which about 55 percent of the total population and about 45 percent is Christian. I do belong to Christian community, specifically Evangelical Church.

Gloria Port, a place where countless things had happened. Of course, count the saddest and yet the happiest years of my entire existence.

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I was seventeen years old, a young man with no visions in the entire life.

*Rrinnggg.. rinngg* the alarm clock rings

"My dear son, wake up now" someone tapped me at my back upon saying that phrase and due to my surprise, I wasn't able to control my force and suddenly I found her sitting on a floor; she pay a price indeed. And guess what? It’s not my nanny (I am now 17 but still I have my nanny since I am too irresponsible or in short, black sheep of the family). It is my Mom who received my powers awhile. But my Mom understands it since this is not the first time I did this. I apologized yet in a rush manner since I am bound late and it is the first day of school as a Senior, and I don't want to be late. I mean my apology, though.

Gloria High School is the only Secondary Institution in our locality. So, it must be hideous when you're not familiar with those people who are walking and passing by in front of you. Here comes the Nerd type of people with books in their hands, I bet they would die if in a single day they can't bring a book; Out Of The World type of students who were just sitting in under the yoke of the big acacia tree (how I wish that wind will blow the trunks and fall over their heads) and doing nothing but kissing, too Public Display of Affection however. Paved the way for these group, the very popular group, the Black People, don't be literal, I don't mean Africans here; these are the students with black lipstick in their lips and with heavy eyeliners with uncut long nails, no proper hygiene anyway. And of course, the people with No Vision in Life Group, as long as we have money in our hands, life can be controlled, count me in to this group. We are the group that when we walked in the hallway, students will give their ways for us. We are not celebrities but we are more handsome than Leonardo De Carpio, just honestly speaking.

It is first day of school and as expected I am all alone since my company was expelled last school year for their attempt to kill our Principal before and have to transfer to New York due to that. Too private that I can't tell it on you. I was walking in the hallway when I met the weirdest woman i've met since the day my parents sent me to the ground of education. The daughter of the widest farm owner in Gloria Port. Yes, they can afford everything but I do wonder why she's too poor when it comes to clothes. She always wear this sweatshirt whenever she went to school and I haven't seen her wearing shorts or pantaloons even once in a blue moon, but a dress. To cover her body? Or to keep her bad odor from poisoning others? Kidding aside. Seriously, I have this thought that she's 1800's type of woman, if you know what I mean. She is known for being gentle and kind, I even seen her giving her own meal to the street beggars. And being too religious is her nature. She always has books in her hands; remember what type of student she is? Nerd. Last school year, she finished as the class First Honor, having no grades less than 95. She must be so knowledgeable, if I am in her shoe I bet I am in the cemetery now being buried to tomb.

I don't think that even a single man will fall in love with her.

I looked for my name in the Bulletin Board if who my Adviser will be. My jaw almost dropped when I found out that my Adviser is Mrs. Green, and I just heard people's gossips that this year her class will conduct a research. I don't have a hint though but I don't want her at all. But I don't have any choice left, so here it is, face the reality. I entered the room quietly and my classmates simply gave their looks as if I am the hottest person alive. I directly went to the vacant seat on the second row. "Crap! what a mess, I bet my seatmate will surely be boring and I can't take this" I chuckle.

"Hey. It is a pleasure to be your seatmate" I started the conversation (though it was in a sarcastic way) with this lady beside me even I haven't seen her face yet since she was reading a certain book and she's facing the other side. ''Nice to be with you again Mr. Carlisle Alaska'' she replied. Holy Shit! She must be the weirdest woman in the school, Erika Sebastian. My eyes went bigger than the actual and I was stocked in a moment, hope she never noticed my surprising and tiger look. She gave her hands and I reached it to show my friendship with her but deep inside I wanted to punch the Office for having me in this class.

After five days, I feel relieved, no class since it's Saturday. I can hang out with my friends but I almost forgot that I don't have friends now here. Thus, I went to the busiest part of the town, just enjoying myself with this car of mine. I was in a gasoline station when I noticed Erika in a Pharmacy, she bought something there, a medicine of course and a sudden thought came into my mind like a rain. She's my seatmate and since Erika is the most excellent in the class, I could surely ask for help whenever I need it, therefore, I must be good to her. Pretty bright idea.

"Hey Erika. Would you mind if I will be taking you to your home?" I said. "Hello Carlisle, I am okay. I mean I want to be alone "she replied but I insisted "Look, how you cannot accept the offer of a kind man like me?" I talked as if this is a Romeo and Juliet conversation. Erika is so kind-hearted that she can't say No to anyone even in me that in the first place I have many crimes committed to her but she just let it go and act as if nothing happened. I can still remember when we were in Grade-V, I pushed her in compost pit because even there where the smell is so bad, and she still reads a book. I was suspended because of that. She was hospitalized afterwards and my parents paid the hospital bill since they never want that the figure they've carved for a long time will lose simply because of me.

*engine starts*

And I let the rock genre play along our way yet she pushed the button and kept changing it to solitude type. "Erika? we are not in a church or in a cemetery, what do you think?" I said as if I am a General and yes I am, anyway I am the owner of this car, so you can consider me as the General, only in the car though. "Yes but I don't like it at all" she rebutted with a strong feeling. I shrugged and chuckle, if only I don't have an intention of being good to you because you are my seatmate, I will never do this, be thankful that you're a woman that I can't let you out of my car. What happened next was that, we acted like a child inside the car because of the music type that we wanted to hear. So, after she clicked the button, it would be my turn until we reached her home that we never heard even a full duration of a single song, whether it is her favorite genre or mine. "Thank you for the ride, Carlisle" saying it upon waving her hands, I only nodded and replied "and thank you for always pushing the button for the music that I want" irony though, if you know what I mean. She never minded what I've said, she just smiled at me and she continued walking. I just glanced on the side mirror upon she's walking towards their house. No lust and romantic intention reigns, anyway. And I should not be falling with this woman.

7 o'clock in the evening, we are having a dinner with the employees of my Mom. Anyway, my Mom is the town Mayor and not to boast, we're also one of the well-off families here. And my Father is a stockholder in one of the biggest gasoline stations here in Chicago. After the dinner, people have different businesses with the people inside our house, busy chatting and chattering. An hour later, one by one, people went in their respective homes. The Attorney looking man now gone, the Secretary of my Mom which I admired the most because her brain and the Public Administrator who last year was stirred in the issue of Water System Scandal, I bet people easily forgets. Just an hour, the remaining persons in our staircase are My Mom and Dad and me, no conversation and exchanged of words took place until I almost reached my room when my Dad calmly said "Carlisle, take good care of your lady Erika, she's pretty however. I've seen you once driving her home". I almost got angry but at least I were able to hold it. "Shit dad. She's not even one of a kind." I directly went to my room and closed the door with a great force and even in my room I heard them laughing.

What I did was, I picked up my earphone and listened to some Kenny Rogers' songs. Did I tell you that I can't live this life of mine without an earphone? Yes, I can't, now you have an idea. I stood up and went to the bookshelf and have something to read and what I got was the Year Book. I haven't open this since the day this was given. No excitement, however somewhat for pass time I guess. So, here it is, I never opened it to the first page, I turned it to the 22nd page of the book and I guess I've seen a creepy one. It's Erika's photo with the LIFE WITH HAPPINESS IN THE FUTURE. My forehead wondered and it formed passages horizontally, if you know what I mean. I think and think why her caption goes like this. What's her problem? Was she unhappy? Yet one part of my mind says Why you are too keen about Erika? Yes, why am I going to bother myself with that silly woman? Oh come on! I threw away the book. I don't care about it anyway, just nonsense.

Mrs. Green is no different to other educators, she give lectures while sitting on the teacher's chair, opens the book and here it goes reading and reading until the bell will ring. She will probably say this phrase after going out "supercalifragilisticexpialidocious". Must be the longest expression in the world from the Mary Poppins. This time she's different as if she is thinking murder until words came out from her mouth "Since it's Christmas vacation, I want you dear students to do a research, choose your own topic, it would be up to you as long as not rotating around the bush" *gasping some air* and continued "do it with your seatmates. Class goodbye!" and here she goes, walking gracefully with a big ass. Going back to the situation. I can't have a worthwhile Christmas Vacation because of the Research given awhile. I can't be with my friends and ladies in the bar, I can't fornicate with them. However, I have this feeling that Erika will not bother me to help her since I would just be like counting posts while doing it. I am fine now with Erika as my partner since she was awarded as a Student Scientist of the Year last year. This must just be as easy as pie to her. *students chattering* .I turned my head and said "Erika, you can do it all alone, right?" I talked to her in the best way that I can, hoping that she will say yes. It took few seconds before she responded "Sorry but I can't. See you later after this class, Carlisle". My world seems to melt when she denied. I can't be with a strange woman I cursed to death before. Is there any way out? I think none.

She waited for me in the parking area. As expected, she reads a book. Here it is, I tapped down the book and moved closer to her that I can feel her carbon dioxide released from her nose. She's so gorgeous and I only noticed it now. Her face is so clean that no acne and pimples can be seen. She has this angelic face that I wanted to fill with all my kisses, her eyebrows is stunning, her blue eyes that captures me a lot and her lips which is very kissable that I wanted to kiss her a thousand times and a thousand more or even forever. Eye to eye ,we look at each other and I winked. And suddenly words came out unexpectedly "you're so beautiful". "What?" Erika replied upon wondering. "Are you sick?" telling me humorously. I knew Erika heard it very clear since I delivered it not in a vague manner. "Aa..aa. Nothing. I mean let's go" saying it upon putting my hands to my pockets. "Don't you ever fall in love with me" she added, as if she's teasing me. I turned and faced her for the second time, putting my hands to her hair and said "Sure, in your dreams? That is impossible." I mean what I said though but it really gave me a second thought. I don't know what had occured in me that moment but all I know it was true.

We need to rush things now since in the next day or so, we'll both be busy with our businesses.

We are on our way to the North Chicago to gather data about Chicago On Yesterday’s Inventions- our research title. Amidst travelling, we never talked a lot inside the car, maybe because we're not so close even before, maybe because I am her greatest enemy when we were a child or maybe because of what i've said earlier? Until we both break the silence when at the moment we utter the same line "Are you okay?"... "You first" for the second time we released the same words. Seems like we both know what are we thinking of. We laughed and continue laughing until we need to gasp some air. And chattering goes on along the way.

"What are we going to do here, Carlisle?" she asked me when I turned off the engine. "Aren't you hungry? We've been on a road for 5 hours Erika, you must be hungry, right?" She just nodded and it is a sign that her tummy must be fed up. I am still wearing my long sleeve that I wore in the school this morning and she wears her old and favorite sweater, of course. We were walking in the aisle when the her favorite song (Passenger Seat) was played by musicians "Carlisle! Gosh, it is my favorite song" she really mean what she said, I can see it through her eyes. "Wow! Sounds very wonderful and refreshing Erika" I rebutted, Yet it was true. As if we are just married couple walking along the aisles while romantic music plays. We sat down in a good for two table and realization struck me up, it's like we're in a relationship having candle light dinner, celebrating our anniversary on top of the mountain during sunset, cold breeze joins us and the choir is singing in the opposite side of the orchestra and the intense part is that I'll be asking her for a dance as the music continues to play. "Carlisle, what's your order?" she said, I can't still be moved from my imagination "Are you okay? Carlisle?" she added. Until in just one blink of my eye, the orchestra, aisles, choir and the cold breeze gone away. I am back to reality, having Erika in front of me holding the menu card, "yes! Anything you want, Erika." I was ashamed.

I shook my head and gently touched my forehead, thinking- What's happening in me? Perhaps, I am hungry that is why I am hallucinating now. But my heart tells me This is different. I know this is something new in my feelings and I can't prevent myself from that.

Dinner is being served and I can't help myself but look at her upon she absorbs all the food that she has taken. The air was slight strong that time, her smooth hair goes with the rhythm of the breeze adding beauty in her existence and when she stares at me seems like she's the first Miss Universe title holder from Finland.

Afterwards, we stood up and commence walking, going to my car.

Erika sometimes makes me crazy. I know this feeling.