Best Friend

BEST FRIEND

By: Kilaya Lee

1

Words Checked: 2539 Words in Oxford 3000: 96%

2

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Kilaya Lee, who now lives in Taichung, Taiwan, attends Wenzao Ursuline College of Languages. Her major is English, and minor is French. Her interests include listening to music, dancing, learning foreign languages and watching movies. Her favorite American series are “Sex and the city” and “FRIENDS”.

“Happy endings are just stories that haven't finished yet,” the main actress of “Sex and the city”, Carrie said. These words impressed Lee. She agreed on it, so she wrote the story with

3

different kinds of ending. She hopes her readers will find a message in her story.

4

CONTENTS

CHAPTER 1: Childhood

6

CHAPTER 2: Make a Move

11

CHAPTER 3: Stroke

17

CHAPTER 4: Admiration

25

CHAPTER 5: Heartache

30

CHAPTER 6: Escapism

35

CHAPTER 7: Secret

40

5

BEST FRIEND Chapter 1: Childhood Since I was born, my neighbor Joshua has been a good friend to me.

He was two months older than me.

We learned to walk and talk together. We were very close to each other.

I grew up in a small town in Arizona. It was a quiet and nice place.

There were not many cars, and the air was fresh. I was the only child in

6

my family. My father was a factory worker and my mom worked in a textile industry as a temporary.

Most of the time, she stayed at home and kept the house. Joshua’s mother, Mrs. Huston, was a housewife. Sometimes after cleaning the house, my mother would have a gossip with her. When I was a kid, Joshua and I always babbled as we played. We shared the same toys, lollipops and even clothes.

7

A few years later, we went to the same kindergarten, and we were in the same class. At first, I was afraid because it was a strange place for me. After finding out that Joshua was one of my classmates, I felt much better. It was the first time I felt “It was nice to have him with me�.

Soon I discovered that our toys were quite different. He liked playing with robots and squirt guns.

8

On the contrary, I liked playing with Barbie dolls and teddy bears.

Once a classmate took away my doll, and she did not want to give it back to me. I cried terribly. Joshua told to teacher, and I got my doll back. I was sure that having him with me was going to be great!

One morning, I spilt milk, and my mom got angry. She took away my toys and I felt very sad. “I want my toy,� I sobbed.

9

“Hey, don’t be sad. I will buy you a lot of toys after I become a boss of a big company, okay?” Joshua said.

Somehow I did believe that he would do that, so I was not that sad.

10

Chapter 2: Make a Move Later on, we attended the same senior high school. The school was not far away from our houses, so we walked to school together and went home together. Once I got appendicitis so I had to have an appendectomy. I was nervous and afraid. “You have to do it. Otherwise, you will continue feeling the pain.

The surgery is not going to be painful.

11

Don’t worry. I will wait outside for you. After the surgery, I’ll buy you a lot of chocolates,” said Joshua.

After the surgery, I did see him outside of the ward. I also saw a box of chocolates in his hand. It warmed my heart so that I did not feel the pain.

In senior high school, some students were childish. Some boys liked making fun of girls. They lifted our skirts or pulled our hair. Every

12

time there was someone who made fun of me, Joshua always protected me.

“Stop doing that. Do not make fun of her. She’s my best friend, and she’s on my side.”

I thought he was a hero, just like Prince Charming.

One day when I was in third grade, I saw a truck filling out furniture in front of Joshua’s house.

I ran to our kitchen and found my

13

mom.

“Why is there a truck outside?” I asked.

“It is used to carry the Huston’s furniture,” she said. “They are going to move to Manhattan. Hasn’t Joshua told you about that?” my mom replied.

I ran out of the kitchen and went to Joshua’s house.

“Why do you have to move?” I asked.

14

“Because of my parents’ job. My father has to go to Manhattan on business.” Joshua said.

“Where is Manhattan? Is it far away? Will you come back?” I asked eagerly.

“I don’t know,” he said sadly.

The next day, I went to school alone. I felt something wrong without Joshua being with me. I was disappointed and sad. It was so weird living without him. I had to go to

15

school alone. No one would watch cartoons with me in the evening.

Hide and seek was not interesting anymore. After that, I never saw him again.

16

Chapter 3: Stroke Many years later, I got the chance to attend one of the universities in the Manhattan. The first day of school, I was nervous because the surrounding was strange for me. I did not have any friends there, but I was kind of looking forward to beginning a new life in another city. Although I was in Manhattan, I never thought I would meet Joshua. I had no idea where he

17

would be, or what school he would attend. While I was walking in the hallway, I saw a familiar face. It was him - Joshua. He looked much taller and cuter now, especially, when he smiled. He wore a basketball jersey and had a basketball in his hand.

“Joshua, is that you? Joshua Huston?” I asked surprisingly.

“Oh! my god! Catherine. I never thought we would meet again,” Joshua said.

18

“Yep. What a big surprise! How’s it going?” I said.

“Everything is fine. How about you? What are you doing here? Are you a new student here?” he asked.

After a short conversation, I learned that he was a student in the Chinese Department. We were not in the same department. Because he was in a hurry, he told me his cell phone number and left.

The next day, he took me to visit

19

some places and introduced me many interesting places. Therefore, I got used to the new surrounding more quickly. When we had free time, we had lunch or dinner together.

Sometimes I would go to the school’s basketball court and watch him playing games. We both liked to go to the beach which was near school.

Once we went there at night. We lay on the sand and chatted about the things which had happened in our

20

childhood.

“Do you remember once you tried to teach me how to ride a bicycle?

You were totally frightened when I fell down from the bicycle. You almost cried. It was funny,” I said.

“Of course I do. I was so scared.

I thought you might get hurt and cry loudly. Fortunately, you didn’t. And I remember we usually bought ice creams on our way home,” Joshua said.

21

“Right. But the ice cream shop doesn’t open anymore,” I said.

“It was pity. I would like to go there and buy an ice cream again.

The owner was nice. She always had a kind smile on her face. Do you think

22

she still can recognize us even though it has been eight years?”

Joshua asked eagerly.

“Yes, but I don’t think that will happen. She passed away about two years ago.” I said.

As soon as he heard this, he became upset.

Even though she is no longer alive, she will live forever in our hearts. I was sure that she never forgot us, just like I never forgot

23

Joshua since he moved.

We talked a lot about our childhood. The happy moments we had, the gloomy moments we had, and almost every moment we had. I really missed the time. But as you know, time was never turned back.

24

Chapter 4: Admiration At school, I heard some things about Joshua. He was one of the most popular basketball players on the school team. Many girls admired him. Every time I went to the basketball court, there were always girls rooting for him. He was so popular that I even could hear girls talking about him while I was walking in the hallway. “Someone told me that Joshua

25

Huston is going to take Mr. Black’s courses next semester,” a girl said.

“Really? Then I’m going to take it, too. Then I will be able to see him everyday,” another girl said excitedly.

“Are you really that crazy about him? I’ve heard that Mr. Black is a boring person. If you take his courses, you will have a lot of reports to do.” the girl said.

“I don’t mind as long as I can be

26

his classmate and see him everyday.” another girl replied.

One day in one Geography class, my classmate Cyndi looked at me.

“Catherine, are you dating someone?” my friend, Cyndi, asked me.

“No. Why?” I asked.

“I’ve seen you going out with the school guy many times,” said Cyndi.

“Oh. You mean Joshua Huston?” I asked.

27

“Yes. That cute guy who plays basketball well,” she said.

“We are just good friends. We were neighbors,” I said.

“Wow. You are lucky. Could you please introduce me to him someday?” she asked eagerly.

I said nothing.

“Please~” she begged.

“Okay. I will try,” I said hesitatingly.

After that, I realized not only

28

some of my schoolmates were crazy about him, but also my friend was crazy about him.

29

Chapter 5: Heartache A year later, I went back to school after summer vacation. As usual, Joshua and I had dinner together. During dinner, he got a phone call. After hanging up the phone, he told me that he had to leave.

A few days later, he apologized to me for leaving while we were having dinner. “I am sorry that I left in such a

30

hurry that day,” Joshua said.

“It’s okay. I know you had something urgent.” I said.

“Thanks for understanding. Do you know Fenny? The girl who always comes to the court and watches me play basketball. She was sick and did not feel comfortable, so I took her to a clinic.”

Of course I know that girl. She is cute and adorable.

“That was nice of you. Does she

31

feel better?” I asked.

Soon I heard the news that Joshua and the girl were going out, but Joshua seldom mentioned the relationship to me.

We did not hang out as often as usual because he spent a lot of time with Fenny. Sometimes we went out for dinner, and then she would get crazy and go mad.

“I think we should meet less than usual,” I said.

32

“No, it’s okay. We don’t have to change. You know…I am comfortable when I am with you. You are funny and nice. I like sharing things with you. You are just like my confidant,” he said.

I should have been happy when I heard this from him, but I wasn’t happy at all. Many people said Joshua and Fenny looked good together.

They were just like meant to be. I could not deny it because it seemed

33

like that. I realized I was jealous when I heard something about them.

Had I fallen in love with Joshua? I think I had.

34

Chapter 6: Escapism Although I liked Joshua, I could not do anything. I tried to make myself busy, so I would not think of him all the time. I joined a club at school. I went camping with other schools’ students. I even found a part-time job at a supermarket.

Joshua and I met only once or twice a month. Because of the job and club, I had many chances to meet new people. There was a boy called

35

Stanley. We met at a school club. He was very nice to me. He always tried hard to make me laugh when I was upset. When the weather got cold, he always asked me to stay warm. It seemed that he cared about me.

On a Tuesday evening, while we were having dinner at a Japanese restaurant, he told me that he liked me. I persuaded myself that maybe I should give us a chance, so I tried to spend time with him and treated him

36

right.

A couple months later, while I was going to accept him, Joshua told me he had broken up with Fenny on the phone.

“I couldn’t put up with her anymore. She was totally spoiled by her parents,” he said.

That was why he broke up with her. I was influenced and lost. I did not know what to do. I still couldn’t make up my mind. I knew I couldn’t date

37

with other boys. Afterwards, I met Stanley at a restaurant.

“There is something I have to tell you,” I said.

“Yes?” Stanley said.

“You have been very nice to me and tried hard to make me feel happy. I had really appreciated it.

But you know…to me, it was really hard to stop loving him. I don’t want you to waste time on me. Waiting for someone to love you is really

38

unbearable. I know that feeling,� I said.

As expected, he was very sad.

39

Chapter 7: Secret A few days later, Joshua and I started to hang out a lot like before.

I knew I still liked him. Being with him I felt happy and satisfied.

One day, Cyndi bumped into us on the street. After that, she asked me if I could introduce him to her. I didn’t have any reason to turn her down, so I did. I knew she had a crush on him for a long time.

A few weeks later, after Joshua

40

and Cyndi had dated many times, they worked out well.

“Good morning, Catherine,” Cyndi said.

“Good morning, Cyndi. How are you?” I said.

“Great!” she said.

“I can tell. You look so happy.”

“How about you? Hey, I have to thank you for introducing Joshua to me. He’s really cute,” she said joyfully.

41

“Yes, he is. So…how was your date last weekend?” I asked.

“We went to the beach. It was romantic. The sand was clean and there were many couples lying on the beach. You know which beach I’m talking about, right? It was just near our school. Joshua said you liked it there very much,” Cyndi said excitedly.

I could feel the heartache, but I was glad to see this relationship

42

going well. Joshua was thoughtful, gentle and funny, and Cyndi was sweet and nice. Furthermore, they were both my good friends.

Sometimes they would invite me to go to the beach or have a meal with them, but most of the times, I refused. Hanging out with them made me feel uncomfortable and a little bit embarrassed.

Soon we were going to graduate.

I still could not get him out of my

43

mind. I knew he would always be my best friend. I also knew there was no chance to make him fall in love with me. I decided not to tell him the secret of my heart.

The End

44