Days From Disaster

Warning: Don't be misguided by the title, it is actually some sort of funny story..
With a tragic ending, no, no, really, who am i kidding.
I saved the cruel-evil part for my next Short Story Halloween Edition, so this should be enlightening.

Just like the documentary Seconds From Disaster, Days From Disaster is based on a true story.
Reader discretion is advised.

02:30:18:21 - The Beginner Perplexity
Once upon a time, I met my best friend's ex, whose name is Nathan, who apparently was still hoping wanted to celebrate my best friend Maya's birthday. We met at MKG to plan a surprise from him to her, when the first of many other disasters started to approach us. So I just got out of my shuttle when (for the first time ever, since I started taking my shuttle 3 years ago), I unfortunately experienced the street blocking. There were some Carnivals and Parades so they closed the street and the access to the Mall. I was surprised while knowing he had been inside already, but he also trapped there. For almost one hour, I searched the way to go inside with many other people. Some of other people even climbed up the wall while I refused to do the same way. When I was ready to give up, they opened the entrance. Finally, we met for the first time. As you could see, it was all started from a disaster.
 
01:19:24:18 - Bad Luck Continuance
I had another unexpected class while my subscription for the shuttle had been expired so, Nathan offered to help pick me up to college every weekdays for one week. Unfortunately the disaster kept happening for the whole 5 consecutive days.
Day 1: He was late and since it was his first time to pick me up to college, we were lost for few hours meanwhile he drove like a turtle. 
Day 2: His fuel was suddenly empty and we were stuck, pushed the motorcycle in the middle of the night to find a gas station.
Day 3: His tire was suddenly leaked and we were stuck, pushed the motorcycle in the middle of the night to find a workshop. (I can't believe I have to just Copy-Paste this words)
Day 4: His motorcycle was broken (go to hell) while he was picking me up. Why didn't it break before he pick me up? So yes, he pushed the motorcycle in the middle of the night to find a workshop. And i could believe by the end of day 5, he could have a six-pack which gratefully said, it didn't happen. But for what in the world we got home by a vehicle, if I wanted to go home by foot, no need to bother making a plan.
Day 5: Nothing happened. No ran out of gas, nor flat-tire, nor another broken machine. I was completely amazed on how that day could just run smoothly. I arrived at my home and uttered my wonder. He said that before he picked me up, he passed a narrow street carefully while suddenly all motorcycle parked beside the street were fallen down and the police came. He ran away as fast as he can. I couldn't help but laughed so hard at him.

01:15:29:10 - Winter-tale Emergency

I had an emergency things for my Thesis. As usual his heroic side were appeared as he accepted to help me out again. We got out, and suddenly a big storm, rain drench and cold attacked us without mercy. He got sick after that, once again became a victim of Disaster's curse.


01:09:13:19 - Fast Food Incident
We had another hang out (and dinner) session after work, so he picked me up at office as usual. Suddenly another rain drench attacked (and from now on, rain is officially our biggest enemy!). He got cold outside, waited, shivered, suffered below the tree. I wanted to just went home when he texted me, asked me to wait inside the building, so I didn't get wet and suffered like he did. My office friends asked me to go to McD with them by my office car. I called Nathan to ask him whether I could joined my friend to McD instead. He said he's fine and hung up. I thought that he was angry, but I still went out with my office friend anyway. Amazingly, he really was fine with it, he then picked me up on McD, drove me home. And from that time on, I knew that he is a really really great friend. It is indeed a precious friendship I should keep. Another disaster to go!

00:06:07:12 - The Ancient Bummer
We had fun by going to a Theme Park, it was overall a really stable condition. The day was sunny, the motorcycle was fine, the typical blue-skies-with-some-cartoon-bird-singing-along-through-a-musical I guess. I was really enjoying a lot of exciting ride while suddenly he said that he saw my ex there. I was shocked and looked around, got ready to embrace another disaster. But he then told that he was joking around and laughed like a devil. I got upset and chased him. By the end of the day, we got home and I was online when something showed up on my Facebook Newsfeed. My ex updated his location in the same Theme Park that day. I freaked out, it was true. What a bummer! Even the most exciting and fun thing to do (as innocent as going to a theme park) could turn into another disaster, oh well.

00:03:30:20 - Transformer Dilemma
So me and Nathan watched a new popular movie in the cinema. We got hurry from the office to catch up the premier which was predicted to be full of people. We even queued in a long line patiently. I thought that another disaster would come (like when we finally arrived into the counter, the ticket was sold out). But surprisingly, we got two great seats and went to the food court to wait for the showtime. The ticket was actually a little bit out of range but it didn't matter because we got it after a struggle called "queue-ing". Suddenly my mom called and angrily asked me to go home soon because (according to her) it's midnight already. Well, disaster came without anyone expect. We succeeded in buying the ticket and meaninglessly thrown it out later as Nathan asked me to just go home and obeyed my mom's command.
 
00:02:09:21 - Birthday Complexity
Disaster on a birthday? What could have been worse than that? Well yeah, for the first time in my life, I got stuck at my office on my birthday. My boss asked me to work overtime because there was some important deadlines. I don't need to go on the details about this disaster because I have told it thousand times above. But who could say that waiting outside the house full of mosquitos to give a birthday surprise for more than 3 hours was a nice lovely thing? Oh yeah everybody loves to give some blood charity to these cute mosquitos.

00:00:06:00 - Ultimate Disaster Countdown
I am honestly afraid as the countdown number getting fewer. The fact that Nathan will go outside the city as he accepted the promotion at his office in 6 more days is simply the greatest disaster above all. 6 more days from now, he's gone. And as i have experienced it, male friends are different with female friends. Unlike male friends, you could still connect with female friends who lived in another city. But with male friends, the excitement is when you really meet them and joke around. Texting regularly with male friends couldn't result any positive outcome. So yeah based on another experience, the friendship was completely over once they moved out..

There will be a farewell on Wednesday, but I don't know what happen after that.

And now, I am counting down..
to that one greatest last Disaster.

Happily Ever Faster

"Finally the prince met the princess and they married and lived happily ever after."
“Why does the prince always come at the end of the story, why couldn’t he come faster?”
“Let me ask you first, why wouldn’t you sleep faster, sweetheart? It’s night already. You have to go to school early tomorrow, okay.” She slowly pulled the blanket and turned off the light.

Closed the door behind her, she then walked down the street. No wonder the street was so quiet this time, it’s been midnight already. She walked across the street while suddenly two bright lights appeared in front of her. A car suddenly showed up without decreasing its speed.

And there's no time to get out of the way.

-------------------------------------------


"Who's calling you this early?" Felicia asked and showed up at Penelope's desk. “Hey Penny, are you listening?” She waved her hand at Penelope’s face.
"Yeah, sorry Fel, that is Mrs Cunningham Herbal something I guess, hahaha, she asked whether I get a headache, or feel confuse, and she knows the answer for my problem. I mean, please, I don't have any problem. Marketing strategy to sell stuff is getting way more creative nowadays. We have to learn from her. Anyway, I wanna thank you for the iPod Fel, it really understands me."
"No way Penny, it's nothing. Happy birthday to you once again! I'm glad you like it."
"No, no I mean, it really understands me. I played one song, and in the middle of the song, I feel like I wanna hear other song, let's say Michael Buble. And guess the next song? Exactly how I imagined it, I heard it. It always played that way."

Suddenly Michael Buble's Everything played on the iPod.

"See? So thank you so much for the gift Fel! I loved it so much."
"Yeah whatever, as long as you happy. So Penny, I stop by to tell you that I'm going out today, have another Market Visit with Henry! So see ya tomorrow mate!"
"Wait Fel, you look very happy today because of, these? Please Fel, I told you-"
“Penny, please, we have talked about this, and you have agreed with me right”
“Yeah I know Fel, you like him, he likes you, but you and Henry cannot be together because he is your supervisor”
“Yes Penny, if the relationship failed, me and Henry break up, I am literally in hell! Okay before you can say another word, which can make me late even more, I gotta go now. See ya tomorrow mate.” Felicia lifted her bag to her shoulder as she walked to the elevator.

But not until 5 minutes later, Felicia looked like she was forgetting something and ran back to Penelope's desk. “Hey Penny! Listen, I have just met your Prince came here riding his white horse” Felicia suddenly talked with the loudest voice she could ever shout while still caught her breath, followed by the loudest laugh that wasn’t helping at all.

“Bloody hell, turn down your volume Fel, the whole office can hear you for God sake!”

Felicia looked embarrassed for a while then continued with a very low pitched voice but still at the same amount of enthusiasm. “So listen Penny, I met this guy at the elevator, guess what he’s wearing! Guess what he looks like!”
“Feli sweetie, please. If you want to say something, can you slow down a little bit, please?”
“Alright, okay, so I have just met this guy at the elevator, not too thin, not to tall, dark brown hair-”
“blue eyes?”
“yes”
“not wearing a glasses?”
“exactly! And he wore a suit, real tiddy, and guess the other thing he brought!”
“what?!”
“a headphone connected to his iPod, and a cup of Starbucks!” shouted Felicia again.
“green tea soya latte?”
“exactly Penny, exactly! I mean who’ll go to Starbucks without buying a coffee?”
“Fel, you know me-”
“Yeah, and this guy! It was like you guys born to be with each other!”
“So why in the world I have never met this bloody amazing perfect Prince that you’re talking about Fel?”
“Because he is new here, Penny honey! I had a little conversation in the elevator, and he is a new employee on IT Department. His name is Leonard-"

"- Fitzroy" suddenly a good-looking man came to finish Felicia's sentence.
"Oh well, hello there, we met at the elevator- Penny, I got to go, it's late already, cheerio!" Felicia left as fast as she could, after making a nosy face behind Leo's back.

Now it's just Penelope and Leonard, and the awkwardness floated around them.

“Hey, nice iPod there!” Leo talked, broke the silence.
“Yeah, hi! We’ve never met right? Are you new here? I'm Penelope, Penelope Miles, but just call me Penny." Penelope shrugged her hands, offered a handshake.
"I'm, as you might have already known from your friend Felicia, I'm Leonard Fitzroy." He responded to the handshake.
"Well Leo, so welcome to the office. I heard you met my friend on the elevator. Please forgive her if she's a little bit loud and so cheerful, but she's one of the best girl I know."
"Yeah, inspiring, hahaha, anyway, I happened to be new at town as well. So would you come show me around? Let's say, a cup of coffee with me after office hour?" He asked while glanced at a Starbucks cup on her desk.

"Yeah, sure, why not.. Hey Leo"
“Yeah”
“Your face feels like familiar, have we met before?”

-------------------------------------------
 
 
"Good morning Penny!” Felicia got back to her cheerful yet annoying face. “So how was Friday?”
“Wow, it’s Monday already, how could days pass so fast?”
“Yeah yeah, time flies- Penny, please don’t change the subject.”
“I don’t wanna talk about it.”
“Why Penny why? I am dying here!” Felicia showed her very curious expression.
“Fine! You wanna hear it? Well Leo is not interested in me, he’s into you.”
“WHAT?!”
“Yeah he asked whether it was you who talked about him two days ago. He asked about your status, I said that you are single.”
“Well Penny, you know that I am with Henry-“
“But isn’t that make you still single right? Or is it?”
“Yes you’re right, I am single. Oh Penny how I wish life is as simple as fairytale. I like him, he likes me, we’re getting married and lived happily ever after.”
“Well, life is not a fairytale.”
“Yes it is not. Oh Penny, sometimes I just wish I can skip the process, right to the end where we live happily ever after. So I don’t have to get hurt, to have this pain, fear, uncertainty.”

“Yes Fel, you’re right. These all hurts. When would we be really happy?”
“Right now! What are you talking about Penny? Or is it the cold feet? Yes it might be! I got the cold feet too five months ago- but you stay with me the whole time- make me doing the right thing by marrying Henry, so I’m here for you right now.” It’s unbelievable how Felicia could just throw out a lot of things in one deep breath. She looked panic while still forcing a little smile on her face.
“Penny you better go now, go.” Felicia pushed her back a little then helped opening the big door.

Penelope looked around and got very shock. She walked down a long alley that turned out to be an aisle in a very long white dress. Her dad showed up and grabbed her right arm.

And right there in front of her was Leonard, stood still with the happiest face ever.

What is going on! What happen! It is not a relationship! It is a bloody marriage! A lot of things ran out of Penelope’s mind. Suddenly a big headache came, then the panic attacked. Shivering all over her body, she forced her stiff foot to slowly move ahead.

“Leonard Charles Fitzroy, do you take Penelope Arianna Miles to be your lawful wedded wife? Do you promise to be true to her in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, to love her and honor her all the days of your life?”
“I do”
“Penelope Arianna Miles, do you take Leonard Charles Fitzroy to be your lawful wedded husband? Do you promise to be true to him in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, to love him and honor him all the days of your life?”
“I err.. I”

The judging stared from the audiences made her headache even worse. The only things she knew about him was that, he’s not interested in her. He is into Felicia! The unsympathetic whispers started to be heard, got louder and louder. The cold wind crawled behind her neck, little by little, strangled her, crushed her heart. And the slight tremble came out of control in all part of her body as she tried to step forward. She breathed deeply then closed her eyes. The tears started to fill her eyes in, broke it into a thousand pieces. She couldn’t do it.

She couldn’t do it how she really wanted it so bad. She hated herself so much as she ran away outside the building. Penelope heard some footsteps behind her but she didn’t stop. She pulled herself in a narrow alley next to a red brick building, not so far from her marriage venue.

“Penny is it happening again?” The sound of an old lady from behind her back screwed the hell out of her. Penelope then looked upon and found a-middle-age woman stood behind her. She didn’t recognize that woman’s face.

“Who are you? How do you know my name?”

“Wait, you don’t remember? Oh so the memory’s disappeared when she did it.” The woman’s lower her voice like she was talking to herself before continued facing Penny and talked to her. ”Let me introduce myself, I am Bertha Cunningham. We are best friend here, but apparently we haven’t met in your current version of memory.”

“What did you mean? Wait, you are the woman who called me recently”

“Well, I had explained everything to you 3 months ago when we first met and you confusedly asked to me how you could suddenly ended up engage to Leo. Long story short, I guess I knew your problem. It’s in your mind.”

“I don’t understand” Penelope said weakly.

“You had a car accident three years ago, right? Dr Minkowski, your doctor, called and told me about your rare case which is also a part of my field research. You had an injury in your brain. There’s a paralyzed-brain-tissue, but you surprisingly survived while none others did. I tried to contact you ever since, but you never responded. Up until three months ago when you suddenly called me back and we met. Your facial expression was the same as I’ve seen today and you told me that you really confused, you were engaged to a person you didn’t even know. You told me: the last thing you knew, you were in your office answered to my phone call.” Dr Cunningham stopped for a while, then continued. “You know what? It doesn’t matter Penny, because you’ll forget and be your usual mind in a few minutes. Oh wait, Penny, what is the last thing you remember right now?”
“I was chatting with my friend about this new guy, Leo Fitzroy and suddenly I am marrying him! Wait Mrs Cunningham, what year is it right now?
“2017 Penny, why do you ask that?”
“I was chatting with Felicia at 2014! So my mind can do time-travel! I cannot believe it. And then you said it doesn’t matter, because I would forget all these 2017ish”
“I don’t know Penny, but I guess? You obviously forget the last time you visited here.”

“Well, life is not a fairytale.”

“Yes it is not. Oh Penny, sometimes I just wish I can skip the process, right to the end where we live happily ever after. So I don’t have to get hurt, to have this pain, fear, uncertainty-- Wait, Penny, hey Penny, are you even listening?” Felicia waved her hand at Penelope’s face, annoyed that Penelope has ignored her words again.

“Yeah sorry Fel, wait, what did you say?”
“Why did you daydreaming a lot recently Penny? What’s the matter? Have something in mind?”
“I don’t know Fel, I felt dizzy, I had a headache I guess.”
“Are you alright? You really have to get your total recovery from the accident Penny, you can still rest at home.”
“No I am fine Fel, hey what do you say before?”
“I said that I feel like I want to skip the process, Penny, right to the end where we lived happily ever after-“ suddenly Penelope interrupted Felicia’s word. “Fel, I feel like we’ve talked about this before, you and me, in this place, at the exact same condition.”
“What Penny? You mean like Déjà vu?”
“Yeah I guess Fel. So, yeah, in response to your statement, I should say that I disagree with it. I don’t feel like I want to skip the process Fel, I mean, the pain and the fear are the things, which keep happiness alive. If we live in the world of the every-second-is-happiness, then there would be no happiness at all. Everything would felt the same. And I think, if we skip the process, then we would have missed the struggle, then we would never learn to appreciate, to respect things more. All we can do is to find our purpose, to keep moving, to face all of our fear, whatever life may take us because, those are things that can make us stronger.” Penelope got closer to Felicia, continued her words. “And as for you Fel, you really are lucky that you have found one of your purpose, all you have to do is to walk through it, face it. I know you can do it.”

“I think you’re right Penny, I should talk to Henry now. I should take the risk and face all my fears, because it is worth it.” Felicia stood from the chair and walked towards the elevator before she stopped in the middle, got back to Penelope’s desk and said that very important word.

“It is not just me, i think you ALSO have found your purpose. Don’t give up on Leo yet, Penny.”

22

Once upon a time, I didn't even actually guess that I'll get tagged, but things happened. So yeah, I have been tagged to the recently popular "20 Things About Me" on Instagram but since I don't want to post any photo on my IG, I moved it here. And since 20 is close to 22, I'll do 22 things then. Just consider the plus 2 as bonus, so here we go.

1. My favorite number is absolutely not 4 8 15 16 23 42 hahaha, it is 8, 18 and ultimately 22, taken from my birthday date, so that's the reason I made this to be "22 Things About Me"

2. Sometimes I can be way too personal. That's one of another reason why I decided to not talking in Social Media too much, and write these things on my blog. Hey, people ain't read blog that much, right?

3. I love US Series. Have tried several recently like FWBL, Devious Maid, Law & Order, NCIS, CSI, True Blood, Revenge, Grey's Anatomy, 90210, Heroes, the slightly funny TBBT and even the breathtaking LOST, but none has the ability to ever defeat the after-more-than-3-times-rewatch-of-every-episode-but-still-the-most-awesome-of-all HIMYM

4. Ironically, as hard as I have given myself a shot onto watched Full House, Boys Before Flower, all that stuff, I couldn't like it even a bit. Yes, I don't prefer the Korean Series.

5. So yeah, US movies make a lot more sense to me, that's when I love 500 Days of Summer and Inception.

6. The thing that I like other than watch great movies, is to sing. That's why I love Karaoke so much.

7. I am very much into western music, the music you like to hear in radio right now they call it as a new song, sorry man it has been on my previous month playlist.

8. Speaking of music, I am a die hard fans of Justin Timberlake. I mean, who can beat an awesome successful guy full of talent, great dance with a classy sleek style and a nice suit and tie

9. And by mentioning the nice suit, it's not going to be complete without mentioning the guy who invented the catchphrase "Suit Up!" Yes, Barney Stinson, you are 100% awesome.

10. If I can have my own catchphrase, It would be "When life gives you lemon, give it to other people. Because you don't like to eat fruit." Or else we can say it's a quote, if it's too long to be a catchphrase.

11. So you heard me, I don't like fruit, juice or whatever product based on natural fruit. But it is fine by me if it's just the extract which came through some sort of chemical process.

12. I don't like vegetable either, eventhough I can still eat it if it is well hidden in my food.

13. But hey, I can have an Ovo-Lacto Vegetarian as my diet program. I love egg and cheese and milk big enough to make them as my only menu to eat everyday.

14. In the contrary to what I have just said, I have too much love for McD beef burger and fries as well, so then the diet program has always been a tough one for me.

See? How can you refuse it, right?

15. Which bring us to one of my biggest fear: getting fat (again).

16. Oh yeah, I have ever been a fat girl in the past, twice.

17. That might happened because I don't really like sports.

18. I don't really like sports doesn't mean I don't do it. The times I do sport, I prefer to play the workout game on my PS named Dance-Dance Revolution and jumped a lot.

Hell yeah that's my score

19. Going to gym and swimming regularly are two of my resolution that haven't come up to be a reality.

20. Since the number will be finished soon, I have to say that I love Design as much as I love Marketing Communication right now.

21. And that Dufan is the greatest place ever created on earth.

22. Finally, I type all of these posts, and in fact, all the Shorts that I have always been loved to write, by a qwerty keypad on my BB.

The Ringbacks

"Congratulations, you are our 1000th customer. We give you 2 hours free Karaoke session at room 307. Please follow our staff to the room, thank you"

Rey took a glance out of his cellphone for a while, couldn't believe of what he has just heard. He never got that much luck before. He didn't even know about that promotion. It's not that he couldn't afford to rent a room. He usually came here to have some nice drinks and Karaoke session at the bar. It's cheaper. But who cares, as long as it's free.

"Here we are, sir, please." The karaoke staff opened a high wooden door with 307 metal plate number's hanging in there. "Please come in, enjoy your time."

The Karaoke staff smiled and allowed him to come in.

And that door was the last thing he cannot remember.

-------------------------------------------

Sarah Wilson, October 2013, Chicago

UBS Tower Building

Her shoe dropped down the building. She couldn't believe she had reached this point. Fear, anger, guilt all blend into one. Sarah had at last, here already at the top of UBS Tower. This was the time to end this. Let all this pain went away. She stepped her foot to the emptiness of air, prepared to take the leap. The cold wind crawled behind her neck, little by little, strangled her. And the slight tremble came out of control in all part of her body as she tried to step forward. She breathed deeply, like it was for the last time. The tears started to fill her eyes in, broke it into a thousand pieces, blurred her sight out. This was the time..

The chest pain was real. The burden got heavier. No she wasn't ready. She stepped her foot back. It felt like something held her back. Someone watched her behind. She turned her head back.

"Sarah, please! Go out of there! For the love of God, would you? Please?!"

"Josh! What are you doing here? Why do you even think of coming back? Go Away!" shouted Sarah with her eyes full of tears

"Please can you come back here for a while. Sarah I beg you, please! Don't go this way."

“But for what in the world, I would have to live anymore? Josh! I gave up everything! My parent, my career! All so that I could be with you! D**n it Josh!" And with that word, all the tears started to break out of her defense, she couldn't bear it any longer.

"You know, I just ask you one thing! One thing! No shut it!" She added quickly "I know what you were gonna say, but long distance won't work, Josh! No it won't! And after all that I have sacrificed to be with you! I don't want to be the one who sacrificing myself all over again. So here, I make this sacrifice for the last time. And all these pain, all these big mistake that I had thrown my life away, has to end!" She continued with uncontrollably sob.

"No Josh, now just tell me that you won't go to Virginia again. Tell me you will quit the CIA, tell me you'll never leave again! You call them now!" Shouted Sarah hysterically. She shrugged her cellphone.

"Here, I'll call the CIA, I'll go tell them, but please would you go inside first Sarah, please!"

"I love you Josh" She stepped behind, moved back, came inside the window.

"I love you Sarah"

Afterall, she wasn't ready.

-------------------------------------------

Reynold Mckenzie, June 2014, Missouri

Pacsetter Electronic Inc

He breathed deeply, felt relieved. From now on, everything’s fine, everything would always be fine. With the proud on his face, he stared at his balance on the ATM receipt. He officially had his first permanent job, he had his life back on track at last. All these fears and insecurities had ended already. All the random jobs, he did it to collect some money. He finally had settled. Reminded of all the dark times when he barely even ate, lived alone in the roadside, had no education. Now he was living in a small flat, happily in a relationship and has a settled job.

"Hey kid, answer me?" Rey awoke from his deep thought, apparently didn't hear anything said before.

"I am sorry sir, I'm Reynold, Pacsetter operator for today, could you please repeat your complain?"

"Yes, so here, this cellphone hasn't work for at least the past 3 days, but I am in a hurry. So can I leave it here and I'll get back, umm, let's say tomorrow to take back my cellphone, Reynold?"

"Okay, I'll try to take a look at it first, see what I can do to fix this. Here, I made you the receipt, you can show this when you want to grab your cellphone tomorrow. I'll try to fix this as soon as I can." Reynold gave the receipt and got back to the counter. He took the cellphone, opened its casing and examined every little part of it. The electronic device was one of his expertise lately. He used to take a lot of different job until there was an opening in Pacsetter where he then tried to apply and got some training session in his probation period. But today was his first day as a permanent employee. He had to finish it tonight. But it was still a long ride there.

He thought, he knew that today would be different because today was his first permanent employment.

But that day passed differently because of another reason.

"Sarah!"

-------------------------------------------

Josh Gallagher, August 2014, Virginia

CIA Headquarter

I stare at my cellphone receipt on the table. It's been almost 2 months and I have never get it back. I know it might sounds weird but somehow I lost some part of myself that night. Or some of my memory? Or some of my heart? I guess I lost a lot of things in life.

So yes, me and Sarah. We broke up that night at the top of UBS Tower building. And she wasn't that devastated on the break-up. She accepted that pretty well actually, after I took her cellphone.

I tell it like this, not that I don't love her. In fact, she is the love of my life. I just had reached the stage of love which made me realize that I couldn't really make her happy so I have to let her go, find her own happiness one more time. Yes she always said she was having enough happiness with me, but deep down, I knew she didn't. She started to have a lot of nightmares and hallucinations. And in some other times, she said something about leaving her parent and her dream. It made me even sadder. For instance, she lived her dream as an Executive Financing at UBS which located at UBS Tower building, one of the skyscrapper in Chicago. And she still lived with her parent, occasionally, usually during Thanksgiving, or Christmas, or even 4th of July holiday, while spending the rest, being my fiancee.

I didn't know what had happened to us recently. We didn't even have a real issue. All I knew that day, I gave up upon Sarah torturing herself most of time. I couldn't stand it anymore. So I took her phone, left her right there at UBS tower, let her go. And I have to keep that phone away from her. Then as my gut has told me, she is happier than ever.

I knew about this weird cellphone for some more time but always refused to believe in it. I wasn't ready to take that away from her, to break the bond, to be out of her life. I had tried to throw the cellphone away and bought her a new one, but it was always back. One day I just knew that I had to be the one who thrown it away out of her life, just to make her happy once and for all. I had to go away and brought that cellphone with me. And yes, the cellphone was still with me, up until 2 months ago, when the cellphone was broken and I sent it to the repairman, his name is Reynold if I am not mistaken.

I show him the receipt on my table. Yes, Gio, I have lost it 2 months ago. I am so sorry, but the cellphone you're looking for isn't with me anymore. You can search that Rey-guy if you want, but I've searched the entire Missouri and I didn't find him.

Giovanni stares me across the desk, pauses for a while to understand what I have just told him. However, it is all too much to take. He looks like considering something before at last talks to me in a low-pitched voice.

"You have to be careful if you find that cellphone Josh, I mean the chip in that cellphone. The cellphone itself is harmless, you see a ton of this model circulate in the market. This is the top secret from CIA but since you will be assigned for this project then we have to tell you the information that might be useful for the investigation. And you have to understand why they made this cellphone "ringing" into people's head at the very first place. Oh yes, our code-name for this chip is Ring307." Gio explains the division-introduction brief to me. Curiousness and fury are mixed in a way that I cannot describe. This chip has destroyed Sarah and our engagement, and half part of me. Giovanni continues, breaks the silence.

"Some of our smarter underground researcher developed the device to alter people mind, to broadcast the same frequency as hypnotize. Because mastering people's mind is everything. You can ask someone do every favor you want, alter their mind, if it is the right person, you'll get everything you want in this world. The secret research started behind us, behind the CIA, a few years ago." Gio memories something before moves ahead.

"But apparently one of the researcher suddenly got the right mind and he stopped them by locked the function of Ring307, and hid it away. While this chip is locked pretty well, it still broadcasts some weak signal in that hypnotize frequency, so that would be the explanation of what happened to your ex-fiancee, Ms Sarah Wilson. Our source told us that they didn't find it in most people but well, some people's mind can be really triggered by Ring307. I cannot be sure why, but I guess because it's connected with her really good. There's few person needed to unlock this chip, one of them, is your Sarah, I have also ever heard about the face-detector for a girl in Missouri named Frysanthia" Gio suddenly pause for a while before he wipes his nose and continues.

"I didn't know more details about that, nor the reason why these girls were chosen as the key to unlock that chip. The Professor (that's how people here named him), unfortunately, had disappeared- protected for his own safety, so we couldn’t ask him anymore. They also hide The Professor identity as a part of their protection program. So yeah, we will never really find out everything"

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Reynold Mckenzie, June 2014, Missouri

Morris State Park

Suddenly, a bright light flashed from somewhere near. Then dimmed and disappeared seconds later. The frightened stare appeared in his face. Reynold was there, in the park, all of the sudden, he didn't even realize. He held the cellphone tightly, apparently had just took a photo. Someone watched him behind. He turned his head back.

"Sarah!"

"Rey! What are you doing here? I was looking for you everywhere. Why you didn't come home yesterday?! I worried about you!" shouted Sarah with her eyes full of tears

"Sarah, I beg you, please! Don't go this way. I didn't mean to hurt you. I really have no idea why I am here. All I remembered, I was still worked in Pacsetter yesterday and suddenly these all happened. It's all just blurred out." explained Rey with all the confusion on his face

"Wait what is it in your hand?" Sarah quickly took the black-rectangle-thing out of Rey's hand. Something really familiar slapped her face so hard, something from her past. The frightened stare quickly spreaded into her eyes too.

"Rey, I remember everything!"

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"What are you talking about Sarah? Please I don't understand. Please I want to see it too." Rey pointed the cellphone on Sarah's grip.

"No, you cannot have this! This thing had changed you entirely! See, you just have this for one night, one night Rey, again! And you’ve even already gone away from me without any news! This thing has a bad influenced on you, repeatedly, all over again! You couldn't be near this cellphone!" Sarah started to play with the cellphone before continued. "Wait, are you cheating on me?" Sarah showed the cellphone displaying a photo-montage of a girl, mostly sitting in a park bench as its wallpaper.

"So you like her huh! You collected her photos!" She started to cry more hysterically.

"Sarah, I don't know why I am here! I don't know anything. I don't understand! Rey held his tears and started to approach Sarah, whom quickly took a step back.

"No, Rey, go away! Now, you don't even have an explanation for what you've done? But for what in the world I would have to listen to you anymore? Rey! For God sake, could I be more important to you? I gave up everything! My parent, my career! All so that I could be with you! D**n it Rey!" And with that word, all the tears started to break out of her defense, she couldn't bear it any longer.

"I had experienced these before, or had I?" Suddenly some memories came up into his mind. Everything's going to reveal itself, right now, at this very moment.

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Josh Gallagher, October 2013, Chicago

UBS Tower Building

"But for what in the world I would have to live alone anymore? Josh! I'll give up everything! My parent, my career! All so that I can be with you! D**n it Josh!" And with that word, all the tears started to break out of her defense, she couldn't bear it any longer.

"You know, I just ask you one thing! One thing! No shut it!" She added quickly "I know what you were gonna say, but long distance won't work, Josh! Me in Chicago and you in Missouri. You won't even remember me! And after all that I have seen, all those ambition you put into making that chip on the cellphone. Then seeing you’re broken, when you had been forced to betray your friends and your hardworks for years. But you did the right thing Josh. You just have to let it go. Accept that you had chosen to reveal the chip to CIA." My heart had just rolled out, listened to her saying those things, she's so brave, much more braver than me.

"And not to mention that chip influenced you most, it changed you. All those ambitions and hallucinations. Sometimes you cannot even remember what you did. Josh, you have to let all these go, but you're not going through it by yourself. I am not ready, who'll be ready to throw their life away! But I'm going to make one last sacrifice to be with you! I don't want to be the one who sacrificing myself all over again, watched you torturing yourself. So, I make this sacrifice for the last time. And all these pain, if it will be a big mistake that I'll have to throw my life away, I have to.." She continued with uncontrollably sob. I wanted to hug her so badly. I wanted to find a peace, a bravery, so that I could let these all go. But yet, I wasn't ready, I had never ever ever been ready to finally give the cellphone to CIA and left all of this.

But I'll have her forever

"No Josh, now just tell me that you won't go to Virginia again, not going back to regret this cellphone no more. Tell me you will quit the CIA! You call them now." Shouted Sarah hysterically. She shrugged the cellphone.

I accepted the cellphone and dialed the number. This would be the end of everything.

Hello, Mr Petterson. This is Josh Gallagher. Before I'll change my mind, I hereby inform you that I'm currently at the top of UBS tower and I accept the CIA Protection Program. Please activate the program, code number RYN-001LD right away. I'm going resign from Ring307 and give the Ring307 back to CIA. You now have the access to erase mine and my fiancee memory and plant a new identity in our brain. Thank you, good bye Mr Petterson, it has always been nice to work to you.

I put out the cellphone and knew exactly a couple of minute from now, the agents would coming. I stared her eyes deeply, told something that I should have told her some time ago.

So now we could start over.

"So now we can live together Josh" she looked at my eyes deeply. Torn into sad and happy all at once.

"I love you Josh" She stepped behind, moved back, came inside the window.

"I love you Sarah"

Afterall, she wasn't ready. Neither was I.

But the footsteps behind us announced that the agents were coming.

I approached her. Hugged her so tightly and closed my eyes.

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Reynold Mckenzie/Josh Gallagher, June 2014, Missouri

Gators Karaoke Bar

And we broke up.

It has been passed few hours ago but her tears still seemed so clear in his head, or mine. She yelled, thought I cheated on her. And she ran away. But I couldn't blame her because a lot of things she had to receive. And I have to receive it too, just way too much. I didn't even chase her this time. Instead, I went to this small bar in the border of Missouri, tried to talk myself into sense.

I don't know who I am right now.

I am Josh, a reseacher at CIA headquarter in Virginia, happily engaged to Sarah Wilson, an Executive Financing of UBS.

Or am I Rey? I couldn’t even say I to "Rey". Because "he" is not even a successful person, live in a small district, who couldn't even keep "his" girlfriend Sarah from going away.

I wouldn't say Rey with I, eventhough it is me. I just couldn't accept it.

Or did I actually never accept "Rey" of all this time? I never really let go of the Ring307. Well, I don't know.

My head was so dizzy right now with hundred thousand information which suddenly filled up my head. It's all because of this cellphone.

"Congratulations, you are all our 1000th customer. We give you 2 hours free Karaoke session at room 307. Please follow our staff to the room, thank you"

I took a glance out of the cellphone for a while, just to see a karaoke staff talked to me. I couldn't believe of what I have just heard.

"Here we are, sir, please." The karaoke staff opened a high wooden door with 307 metal plate number's hanging in there. "Please come in, enjoy your Karaoke."

The Karaoke staff smiled and allowed me to come in, behind that wooden door which on a few minutes later, I wouldn't even remember anymore.

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CIA Agents, June 2014, Missouri

Gators Karaoke Bar

"Hey Barker, please re-read the order from Mr Petterson, I drank some tequila up front few minutes ago" Spencer asked while he sat inside karaoke room 307.

"Mr Petterson said that The Protection Program, code number RYN-001LD had fallen apart. We have to remove the planted identity named Reynold out of Josh's mind. And looks like we find the target in a right place, a bar, everyone can get drunk and forget things here." Some noises came up from outside the door, broke their conversation.

"Here comes the target, Spencer, on position" Barker snapped behind

They saw Josh on position and they injected the serum before he could move. They put some cable on Josh's head and turned on the computer. Barker put some code to the computer while Spencer put another cable into Josh's arm. The program on the computer worked and they arranged the position. Josh looked like fell asleep on the couch right now.

“It’s done. All the Reynold memories are gone. He would wake up with drunk memory in his head.”

Josh Gallagher vs Giovanni Walker, June 2014, Missouri 
Morris State Park (click here)

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Giovanni Walker, August 2014, Virginia

CIA Headquarter

“So, Josh, I got all of your story, but for the last time, I have to make sure about this. You really have no idea where is Ring307, right? Do you have any idea who The Professor might be?”

“No Gio, and I need you to leave right now, please. I am so dizzy”

Gio closes the door, talks to the nurse.

“How is he doing? He got the break-up memory in the top of UBS tower, right Cindy? I guess Ms Sarah Wilson would have been great to have another life without Mr Gallagher. She got too much signal exposed from the cellphone. She has the right to spend the rest of her life in a happier place.”

“Well said Mr Walker and good bye” Cindy the nurse smiles then walks back to the CIA Headquarter Care Unit. The patients need her.