Sara's nonchalant attitude had devastated Riley up to a certain point. But, he could tell that Sara was trying to hold herself back. She was hiding her feelings for him. Everything he did, what he was today, was all because of her. For her.
Now, all she did it was to say that things were OVER between them. How could he bear to let her go? Again?
With these thoughts in his mind, he had ditched the banquet and insisted to drive the Mercedes Benz on his own. He had even dismissed the driver. Unknowingly, he had driven over to Sierra. It was known as the city of love. Coincidentally, it was where they had first met as kids.
Years ago, he had come here with his parents for a day out. Or, more like a field trip. Back then, he was a shy and introvert guy. He was the cold guy while she was more of an outgoing type. He had never known that she was in the same neighborhood as his. Coincidentally, she and her parents were there for a day out. He realized that when he saw his parents chatting and talking with her parents.
Sierra was a lovely countryside village. He parked the car on the dusty roadside. Then, he walked down the short cliff. A sparkle caught his eyes. He inched closer and saw the pond, he had known, reflecting the afternoon sunlight. He sighed deeply.
The pond rushed back a lot of memories. The village was not too far from his neighborhood in the city. He and Sara used to cycle here often.
When they had first met during the field trip, he did not like her much because she was quite cheeky back then.
The cheeky brat!
He clearly remembered their first and abrupt meeting. He was sitting the side of this very pond, throwing stones in an attempt to create the perfect ripple effect. Every time he threw, the stone would take a stride and gave hope, but then, it wound bounce under the water. He calmed himself chanting in his heart that he could do it. Better than anyone!
It was the thirteenth stone and it met with the same fate. Just then, another stone appeared out of nowhere. It took five classic leaps before dropping near the other edge of the pond.
It made him gasp in surprise. He lifted his head and saw a young girl standing nearby with a bouquet of wildflowers in her left hand. A girl? He found it surprising. The girl was wearing a frock of medium length. She looked taller than her age. Two tiny buns mounted on her tiny head with fringes covering her tiny forehead. Riley was staring hard and frowning to decipher the sudden appearance of the girl from nowhere.
"Incredible, right?" the girl turned her face and revealed a bright, dazzling and adorable smile.
Riley's frown changed into surprise. He opened and closed his mouth like a fish. Frustrated, he turned his face away.
"Can I sit here?" she had asked him in a sweet voice.
"It is a public place. Sit anywhere you want", He had replied haughtily.
The next moment, he felt her presence close to him. He turned his head and saw that she was already seated beside him with her legs crossed as she stared across the pond. Her chin rested on her left hand while her right hand was clutching the flowers sitting on her lap.
"How… how did you do that?" Riley took some courage to stutter out the question bugging him for a long time.
"Huh?" she turned her adorable and chubby face, "Oh, that?"
"Yeah, I mean the ripple effect?" Riley adjusted his posture to look at her.
"It's simple", she spoke casually without care, "First, you should choose a stone which is almost flat."
"Then?" Riley asked as he tried to search for an 'almost flat' stone.
"Then, focus on the ripple effect you want. Set an aim to hit. Grasp the stone like a disc and shoot! That simple!" She explained with a childlike nonchalance.
Riley's mouth formed an 'O'. He had a surprise written all over his face as he stared at the girl sitting beside her.
"Take a picture. It will last longer", she chuckled at his stunned expression.
Riley closed his mouth. He pouted as he looked away. Then, he grasped his newfound stone tighter. He felt a bit angry. Should she not coax him that he was angry now?
He waited for a long while only to see that the girl was busy examining the flowers in her hands. He huffed impatiently and threw the stone on the surface of the pond. It failed to create the intended ripple effect he desired.
He grew angry and frustrated. To add insult to the injury, another stone flew across the next moment, creating the perfect ripple effect. He sighed impatiently and turned to look at her, "How do you that?"
"Told you. Technique", she smiled innocently, unaware of the impact she was having on him.
He furrowed his brows and gave a sad pout.
"Fine", she smiled apologetically, "Here, let me teach you."
She took one of the stones he had collected and moved to sit closer.
"First, decide on how many leaps will it take for the stone to reach the other end. Then, decide an aim. Say, about one meter, and then…" she prepared to throw, "Shoot!"
The stone created a perfect ripple bound as it landed on the other side.
"Easy as that?" she looked at him expectantly.
He nodded, his eyes filled with a new zeal and determination. With his zeal renewed, he picked up a stone and tried to aim as she had taught to him, just then. He pursed his lips and 'shoot'. It did not create the best ripple effect, but it managed to take four leaps before it disappeared below the water surface.
"That was great. You did great", she praised with an earnest voice.
"Really?"
"Mm-hm", she nodded.
Riley smiled with happiness.
"What's your name?" she suddenly asked while fidgeting with the flowers in her hands.
"Riley. Riley Brown", he replied, "What about you?"
"Sara James", she replied lazily, "How old are you?"
"Ten years."
"Ouch…"
"What's wrong?" Riley asked with worry.
"I got myself an older brother", she chuckled making Riley frown.