Today is a new day

CHAPTER 1

TODAY IS A NEW DAY

 

I woke up with the sunlight shining down my face. Another day to go through again, I mutter to myself but then I’m glad I still woke up.  I know that I’m lucky to be given another chance to right my wrongs or just do the things that would make me feel happy but I do wish I can be given a chance to hibernate even if for one day a year only,  then I would pick every February 14^th. Before I slept I tried that stupid thing my mom told me when I was a kid. I stuffed my tummy with foods until I can’t take it no more then slept flat on my back. From what I heard sleeping with a full stomach can cause death. Well, guess that myth’s busted. It’s not that I’m trying to kill myself, I just can’t imagine how my mom would act by losing me. I guess I’m just tired and unhappy with my life now or maybe it’s just the February syndrome. You know when all the happy couple are outside scattered on the street displaying PDA and you’re all alone, f**k that. I’m 26 and loveless.. for 7 years now may I add. I do have a nice job working as a nurse for almost 4 years. If you would ask me if I love it while I was still a student, I would probably tell you, not that much but now I love being a nurse, it’s just that sometimes I imagine running my own restaurant or tea shop or whatever as long it’s a food business but still thanks to my dad for convincing me to take up nursing coz it’s really an awesome job.. but it’s not for the faint hearted and impatient people.

 

My first love is cooking. If only my dad allowed me to take up Culinary Arts maybe my depression today would be lessened or unless I’m single too then I guess there would be no change or I don’t know, maybe it would be more because I can see all those people buying sweets to give to their significant others while I’m here making sweets for them to enjoy. If I have my own shop now, I would probably put a big sign outside that says 20% off to those people who are still single or who got their hearts broken this Valentine’s Day or it sounds so.. morbid? At least they don’t have to wait for the 15^th to avail the discount and they can still get it freshly baked.

I have my family and friends to keep me happy, and I am happy most of the time but there are times when something is missing and I guess today is one of those days. God, it’s even worse than PMS-ing. Maybe I’m having a midlife crisis or I just hate Forever Alone February.

 

I stared at the ceiling for a long time before I decided to get up and prepare for work. I checked my clock and its 6:00AM. I’m on a 12 hour morning shift today. Well, I’m always on a 12 hour shift; it only changes whether I’ll be on a morning or a night shift. Living alone sometimes does have its disadvantage because you have to do all the work but I’m more comfortable in this way because you feel free to do whatever you want.

 

 

 

 

I went straight to my kitchen and cooked scrambled eggs and put bread into the toaster. Eggs and bread, yup that’ll do. Also, don’t forget the cup of coffee. Why is it that the before-sleeping-me is always an a*****e? Sleeping late always sounds so easy before you sleep and you have to face the consequences of your actions every time you have to wake up.

 

I went for a quick shower and looked on my reflection in the mirror. All I can see are my Asian features, the semi-Chinese eyes that I inherited from my dad, a not so blessed nose, and light skin for an Asian from my mom. I’m petite and 5’2. I like my hair long so I keep it past my shoulders always and sometimes dye it, and the color I picked the last time I went to the salon was the special light ash blonde. I don’t look that bad, I told myself and went straight to the cabinet. The only available scrub suit I have for today are my pink ones, since it’s Valentine’s Day I think I can fit in well today.

  

 

 

The hospital that I’m working for is only about 10 minutes away from my apartment. I still have an excess 15 minutes so I decided to visit the coffee shop just around the corner and grab a hot white chocolate. I guess the barista in the cashier is new since I haven’t since his face before. He has a face that can be compared to Narcissus. Yup, the guy who fell in love with himself because he thought that he’s too handsome to be with someone.

 

“Good morning! Anything you want?” he said as I approached the counter. God, he even has a sexy voice. I can’t concentrate and I suddenly felt like I ate a whole cage of live butterflies for breakfast.

“Uhm, I think I’ll have a large hot white chocolate.” I said.

“Only that? Nothing to munch it with?” he asked with a smile that can melt a girl’s heart.

“No, thanks. Don’t have time to eat.” I lied.. but if I can take you out…. Not now, brain!

“No time to eat but you have time to drink?” he asked smirking and arching an eyebrow. I have to control myself or I’ll jump at the counter and kiss this guy.

I just smiled back.

“You work in Capitol?” he asked.

“How did you know?”

“Lucky guess? By what you’re wearing I can tell that you’re a nurse and because of that the only nearest hospital here is the Capitol.”

“Not bad. Well, nice talking to you. I’ll go grab a seat.” I said as he handed me my change. I was about to turn when he called me.

“Oh, forgot to ask your name.” He said.

I paused for a while then he continued, “So that I can call you when your coffee’s ready.”

Oh, right for the coffee. Stupid. How crazy am I to think that he only asked for my name because he wanted to know me.

“Gabby” I replied smiling and then quickly turned my back so he won’t see how much I blushed.

Good thing I’m the only one in line today because if not I’m sure people at my back would be shouting at me by now. I should’ve asked for his name too, damn. He’s not even wearing his name tag. After a few minutes someone walked by my table. I’m too busy staring at the window that I didn’t notice him. It’s the Narcissus guy with my coffee and a brown paper bag.

“Here you go, a hot white chocolate and a ham and cheese croissant for the beautiful nurse.” He said.

“Personal delivery, huh?” I said while trying not to smile.

“Thanks but I only paid for coffee as far as I remember.” I said.

“Don’t worry the bill’s on me.” He said winking.

“Thanks again. Have to go. See you around.”

He offered his hand and said “Nice to meet you, Gabby. I’m Raleigh. I’ll just introduce myself since you forgot to ask my name.”

“Oh yeah, sorry. Nice to meet you, Raleigh.”

I shook his hand. F**k, it’s a bad idea.  I felt a tingling down my spine and feel like my knees are going to betray me. NEED TO ACT NORMAL, I said to myself. I suddenly felt like it’s hard to breathe and I am going to faint any minute now. I released his hand and said a quick goodbye and exited the door.

 

 I inhaled deeply for a few times until I’m sure I got the oxygen properly circulated thru my body. That will be the last time I’ll go to that coffee shop again, for now that is. Where the hell did he came from? I didn’t even see any signs that they are hiring for new employees and that the requirement is you have to be drop-dead-gorgeous. I’ve been going to this coffee shop since working at Capitol and now I have to look for another shop that is a bit near to my apartment and the hospital.

 

 

 

 

I need coffee to survive especially during my morning shift but one of my favorite drinks to buy there every morning is the hot white chocolate since I sometimes have time to make black coffee for breakfast and I don’t need that much caffeine to function. I look at the cup of the drink I had in my hand and say that I’ll miss it to the cup and placed the coffee lid slowly in my mouth and cursed. F**k, it burned my tongue. His face has been stuck on mind and at least I got distracted from thinking and imaging about Raleigh. The last time I felt like this much attraction to a guy was probably 2 years ago, with Aidan.

 

I shook my head and close my eyes hard enough and forced myself to push the memory of Aidan away from my not-so-smart brain. I took another sip of coffee and this time it doesn’t hurt that much as I’m hoping it would be for another distraction.

 

 

 

My thoughts went back to Raleigh. My imagination decided that this is the best time to imagine a happy future with the handsome guy you just met and gave you a free breakfast. I want to ask my brain why it likes to torture me so much.

 

Meet or see a handsome, your-panty-garter-just-suddenly-got-loose guy and your brain starts to imagine how happy you two would be if you end up together. Some days the brain likes to overwork and imagine too much in the far, far future like what will your wedding be like, what gown would you wear or how will your future kids look like? If only the brain can be a person I’m sure there are lots of news about them being killed that they would probably be extinct by now.

 

Author's Note

This is a first chapter draft and I have no idea how to write a book but I love to read books.

Reviews

[T. Adams]

Keep going. Finishing the idea of a story you had is a very gratifying experience. There is potential here, you just need some editing. First, get your ideas down, tell the story, then polish it.

[M.N.]

Thanks for your time! I've seen your page and wow, you've written a lot of books already.