A short story

By Lista Dwi Puspita

Just One Kiss*

One kiss is all I want

To take away my tears
And to give me a healthy smile
One kiss is all I want
To give me hope
And take on life as it comes
One kiss is all I want
To show you I love you
And be there for eternity
*A poetry written by Gary R. Hess

The wind blew the leaves remaining the sounds like a man whispering.
Whispering a story about love and affection, about sadness and broken heart.
Moon brightly reflected itself on the ripples of the sea remaining its lighted
shadow. The moon’s light watered the sandy beach with its bright golden light
making the night more romantic. Under the dark sky with twinkle stars, a dating
couple were sitting on the sandy beach, having a date, but said nothing. Each of
them busied enjoying the night, still said nothing. He stroked her hair gently, as if
he wanted to say, “I love you”. She lay her head on his shoulder as she did not
want to let him leave her. For her, he was as a comfortable place where she
depended on, where she took shelter, and had a rest after a long tiring journey.
That is why she would never want to leave. For her, He was a man who could
protect and spoil her with too much love.
She stared at him. He is not handsome, she thought, making her anxious to
ask why she loved him, and did not find the answer. He was not handsome. Once
again, she said to herself. He was quite tall, has white skin, and some acnes on his
face. He was a boring man, not much talking, and....nothing interesting from him.
But...he was kind-hearted. That makes him different. She nodded as she agreed to
her own thought. And, smile alone. She held his hand, looked for the last warmth
in those hands which would leave her alone, and would remain some coldness. It
was the last time she met her after her graduation. They were already adult, and
had to choose their own dreams. That is why they had to be apart.
******
Emily woke up when hearing the phone rang. It must be Mike. She thought.
She got up and took the phone reluctantly.
“Hello....” Emily said while yawning.
“Hi, dear. My boss sees my hard work. Now, I was promoted to be
executive manager. It is great, isn’t it?”
“Oh, no” she said unconsciously.
“Why?” Mike said.
“Nothing” she said as if nothing happened.
“Please be honest!” Mike a little bit angry when hearing her responses.
“I don’t like you’re promoted. You would be so busy later. You know, we
have talked about this several times. Do you think our relationship is not
important?”
“Don’t be selfish. That’s my dream and you have to support it,” he said
angrily.
“.............” Emily was silent.
“I never forbidden you to reach your dream, so do you,” he added.
Emily was so angry. It is the first time, her boyfriend angry with her. And,
she would never let him do it again. She was confused. The situation would be
more difficult if he was promoted. There would be no time again for her.
Moreover, she did not want it happened. Distance may make them apart, but she
did not want if the time also make him further.
******
For several days, Emily was so afraid. Mike had not called her. She take her
mobile phone and sent a message for him.
“Dear, where are you?”

2
 She waited for several time. But there was no reply. She tried to be patient.
She took her mobile phone and tried to call him. No answer. Where is he? She
asked to herself. He may not be like that. She thought again.
May be he still attended a meeting with his boss. No, may be he is still
angry with me. Or, may be he don’t want to quarrel with me so he don’t reply my
message. Or...may be.....
Many possibilities came to her mind. But, it just made her more depressed.
She can do nothing. The phone rang waking her up from her own imagination.
She quickly took the phone, hope that it was her boyfriend.
“Hello”
“............” No answer.
“Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you,” said a girl who called her.
“Oh, my God! I almost forget today is my birthday”
“You are the first one who says happy birthday to me” she added.
“What about Mike?”
“He does not call me yet. May be this afternoon” Emily said lightly.
“Yeah, I hope he does not forget your special day,” the girl said.
Emily took a deep breath and said, “Yeah, I hope so”
Along the day, Emily was so worried. She did not hope that Mike forgot her
birthday. He had promised to back to his hometown and meet her. However, until
this evening he did not call her yet. Emily was giving up. She was feeling sad. She
never hoped he forgot her birthday. No one would never imagine someone she
loved would forgot her special day. Emily had been tired to wait. Finally, she fell
asleep.
When she woke up from his boring night, she looked at her mobile phone
and saw many messages from her friends. But, all of them did not interest her.
There was no messages from Mike, her beloved boyfriend. The day will run
slowly without her boyfriend. The bell rang. Lazily, she opened the door and
surprisingly found a big present covered by pink paper and roses on it. She
opened the gift, and was disappointed, not because the present but because the
giver was not here. She quickly dialled someone’s phone number and,
“Hello?” she said.

3
 “Hi, dear. Happy birthday to you” Mike said.
“I don’t need your present”
“You must be kidding. I bought it special to you, and it is not cheap”
“No, I don’t need your present; I need you, not your luxurious present” She
said.
“The present is useless without you. Now, you do not have enough time for
me. I know you are very busy. But please try to call me or send a message. It
won’t spend much time. I hesitate you still love me or not. It does not fair if you
sacrificed me just for your career,” she added with anger.
“But, my job is also important. I cannot live without my job.”
“But, please try to manage your time....” she tried to be patient.
“It is not about time, but about you who are too selfish and spoiled”
“Well, now, up to you. Just do what you want! She said angrily.
“What I want??? The problem is not on what I want but what you want!
Your desire is so troublous” he said.
“You do not love me”
“I just love a girl who understands me” Mike replied.
“So, why do we still maintain this relationship? For what? Just for status?”
“I don’t know”
“So, you love me or not?” she asked passionately.
“I don’t know,” he said.
His last word made her aware that her relationship with him must be ended.
She sat on the bench near the slide, looked at the children playing at the
park. She does not know a man approached her and sat beside her. It was Mike.
“Why do you come here?”
“I don’t know” the word again, she thought.
“So?”
“I just want to say that I still love you”
“I don’t care.”
“Up to you”
“What do you want me to do?”
“For what?” she asked

4
 “To prove my love”
“Nothing”
He stood up and kissed her forehead. She stood up, looked at him, and
leaved him. That is enough for her.

One kiss is all I want

Not to take away my tears
And not to give me a healthy smile
One kiss is all I want
Not to give me hope
And not to take on life as it comes
One kiss is all I want
To show how much you love me