"I...I need to pedal more, but my limbs and my feet are aching," Bernice said softly to herself. She was using her brand new mountain bike...well, it wasn't exactly hers yet. It was going to be hers if she reached the top of the hill without stopping. A gold band with diamonds on her finger reminded her that she should reach her destination or else live a life full of agony.
A car was behind her. It was her fiancé's spy. Well, he was going to be her fiancé if she didn't reach the top of the hill so Bernice tried to move her legs with all her might.
"Boy, nothing is really stopping her...she must love the boss so much." Our boy got the story wrong, of course. All the while he thought Bernice should reach the top of the hill unless she wants the wedding off. He was hoping she would be tired by now and would stop so he could hold her in his arms.
"What if I try to stop her?" he thought, but decided against it. "If I tell her that I was in love with her since the first time I saw her, she might just laugh."
Jared, yes, that's the spy's name, was so deep in thought that he didn't notice that his car had hit a fire hydrant. The funny thing was the pressure of the water pushed the bicycle and Bernice on top of the hill. Bernice though tired started jumping with joy. Jared felt the earth eating him alive. His world seemed to have ended.
Bernice walked to Jared's car and helped him out, but Jared didn't move.
"If you won't get down that car, I will tell Horace you helped me win."
"Wouldn't he be glad that I helped you?"
"Huh?"
"Nothing."
Bernice stared at him. It was the first time she noticed his boyish looks. He was pouting, but still he looked beautiful.
"Let's walk to the valley," she said in a singsong manner.
"Aren't you a bit tired, Ms. Bernice?"
Bernice said nothing, just took his hand and pulled him out of the car. She forgot about her aching limbs and ran as fast as she could while still holding Jared. As they were nearing the valley, Bernice felt her knees go wobbly. She fell and Jared fell with her. They rolled downhill and knew exactly how Jack and Jill felt. They were locked in each other's arms for the longest time and did not notice it was nightfall already.
They fell asleep in that same position, facing each other, one side on the ground. Jared was the first to wake up. He stared at beautiful Bernice.
"You don't have morning breath at all...oh, am I tempted to kiss you."
"Why don't you?"
Jared pulled away.
"The flame just starts to burn then you become like..." She searched for words then saw something red near a barn they didn't even notice the previous night. "...a fire extinguisher!" Bernice stood up and started to run up hill leaving Jared dumbfounded.
"I can't believe he let me go!" Bernice cried out to her friend. Tracy already heard the story for a total of 975 times the past few months. She just whistled while filing her nails. Filled the sentences once in a while then when she had enough she blurted, "Yada, yada, yada, yada!"
Miles away, in Okinawa, Japan, Jared was thinking of her. He laid down on his steel cot dreaming of what could have been. He pictured her in the arms of Horace, probably pregnant by now.
Years later he went back to that valley near the barn where he last held her tight. That was the closest he ever was to her, but he knew he could've been much closer. He looked around and noticed something different about the barn. It was now fixed and repainted and there was a garden on one side and a garage on the other. Someone lived in the barn…err, house. Yes, it was transformed into a house.
Curiosity filled him so with careful steps, he approached the house. He was a bit thirsty and thought of that as an excuse. He didn't know why, but his heart was beating fast. He found a string if when pulled, would ring a bell. He pulled the string and her a loud, "Ding-dong!"
He was surprised to find Bernice standing in front of him.
"What are you doing here?" they said at the same time. They laughed. He looked at her hand and she looked at his. They both did not have a wedding band, but still it didn't prove anything.
"I was wondering who lived here and…well…uhm…I'm a bit thirsty and would love to have a drink, but…Horace…he...he might mind."
Bernice just smiled and pulled him close then closed the door behind him.
THE END
©1996-2003 Lara Mia Veronica M. Garcia
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