ChapterXIII

Her phone beeped. It was him.

'I suggest you check your mail before your father does.' the message said.


She hurried to the front gate to get her mail. There was a parcel with her name on it.

She open it hurriedly, curious to see what was inside. There was a CD and a box.

'Listen to the CD first, the letter instructed.'

She rushed to her room and played the CD on her computer.

'I know its weird sending a CD. But you wouldn't listen to what I have to say over the phone. So here it is; my thoughts and feelings about everything that has happened between us. First of all I just want to say that being with you for the past two years of my life has been something special and something I'll treasure the rest of my life. I truely love you. At first I did not know the meaning of love. I look at my family and I feel that everything that is good has to come to an end some how. Now; after meeting you, I don't believe that is true any more.'

'I love you Yuki. And I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I want to wake up next to you. I want to always be there when you need me. To hold your hand when you are lonely. To hug you when you are cold. To kiss you when you are sad. And to love you when you feel there is no hope left.'

'I know your father strongly objects to us being together. There is nothing I can do about that. I would if I could. I swear. But I'd like you to understand something else. You're not a little girl any more. You're 21. Old enough to vote. Old enough to make your own decisions. If you love me as much as I think you do, you shouldn't hesitate to admit it to yourself and to your family.'

'I'm not trying to tell you to leave your family and be with me. That would be horribly unfair of me. What I am trying to say is that we are both in love. And its not puppy love, we feel strongly about each other; so strongly that it HAS to be right.'

'I've been saving money ever since I started working. At first I thought it was just for a rainy day. Then I realised that there could be no rainer day than a future without you. You're a really smart . With your grades you should be able to get a scholarship. And since I'm working I will be able to support you financially and emotionally. I'm making enough money so that I can support your studies and still live comfortably. We can trust and depend on each other Yuki, don't you see that?'

'Be strong Yuki, Don't let other people dictate what course you take in life. Chase your dreams and live your life as your own. If you father is angry at first it will pass. You are after all his favorite daughter. When he finally understand how deeply in love we are, I'm sure he will understand and relent.'

'Now open the box that came with the parcel.'

She opened the box to see a small diamond ring. Unconsciously she slipped it on. It was a perfect fit.

'I want to marryou Yuki... I've never been more serious about anything in my life. Slip the ring on Yuki. It belongs to you and like your pendant, it is my love oath to you. Undying and forever. I will be waiting for you at the McD's we first met, I like little ironies. Heh. Come see me if you want this to happen. Move in with me. If not, I'll understand if you want to disappear from my life. Change your hand phone number. Change your email address, Do what you will with the ring. I'll give you up and not contact you any more. But I will always love you. Always.'

The CD stopped playing and she found herself crying. Holding tight to her ring, she went to pack her bags.

'Where are you going?' her father asked. 'Whats with the luggage?'

'I'm sorry daddy but I've made up my mind. I'm marrying Vince. I love him and he loves me. We belong together.' she replied softly.

'What nonsense is this. I'll pull you out of college. In fact I'll stop you from having any social life, let alone marrying that heathen mongrel.' he shouted.

'I don't need your money any more daddy. I'm marrying Vince. That's what I've decided.' she said firmly.

'I love you daddy and it breaks my heart to do this. But I have to. I can't imagine a life without Vince.' she added.

'Puppy love Yuki. You'll get over it soon. Stop being so stubborn and put your luggage down,' he growled.

'I'm sorry daddy. I can't. Good bye daddy. I hope find the love in your heart to accept and forgive me.' she said, running outside.

'You will NOT leave me. I'm your FATHER. You WILL listen to what I have to say.' he said angrilly, grabbing hold of her luggage.

'Let go daddy... let go... PLEASE... don't make this harder than it already is. I'm calling him to pick me up.'

Her father pulled at the luggage, refusing to let go. Try as she might Yuki couldn't move the luggage from her father's grasps.

She took a step back and pulled as hard as she could.

Her hand slipped and she found herself falling backwards... right into an oncoming lorry.

There was a loud bang and sbe fell several meter away, bleeding from her nose and eyes.

'Yuki! Yuki!' he father exclaimed.

The lorry driver rushed out of the lorry. 'Its not my fault! She jumped in front of my lorry! There was nothing I could do!' he exclaimed.

A small crowd gathered around the fallen girl. Yuki's father was hysterical. Screaming her name and trying to raise her to her feet. A man approached the two and checked Yuki's vital signs.

'Its no good. I'm sorry sir. She's dead.'

Her diamond ring was blood red and her hand phone was smashed to pieces.

He sat at the table drinking strawberry milkshake. Waiting patiently. 'She's probably just delayed,' he thought.

Some time later, a waiter approached him, ' I'm sorry, but were closing now. Its already 1am.' the waiter said.

'It is huh.' he sighed.

'Give me a second will ya?'

'Sure. Take your time sir.' the waiter replied.

He dialed Yuki's hand phone number. 'Sorry, but the number you have dialed is not in service.'

He tried again but got the same response.

'So thats what she decided.' Teary eyed he called for the waiter, 'Could I have a strawberry milkshake to go please?'

'Sure sir. Here you go.'

He sipped on the mikshake as he walked out the door. 'Strawberry milkshake. Unbelievably sweet. Unbelievably wonderful. I'll never forget the taste.'

With that he walked slowly towards the car, weeping gently.