Hi...

"Tick... Tock... Tick... Tock... Tick... RINGGGGGGGGG!!!" went the alarm clock. The annoying clock jerked her out of dreamland. She pinched between her eyes, ignoring the alarm clock's desperate cries to turn it off. She realized she felt asleep on her desk. Papers that required her meticulous study were scattered across the table. The alarm clock continued ringing.

She moved away from her table and looked out the window. The city was already bustling. Smokes and smogs was already filling up the air. The honks and engines roared around.

"And they say the 12th floor has the best view..." she murmured and finally killed off the alarm clock as she made her way to the bathroom.

She left home at 9 that morning, all dressed up in her usual work clothes- her three-year-old jacket, the worn out pale blue shirt that she was able to hide its hideousness under the jacket, that same old black pants and heels that are probably meant to be made into waste. Her hair was messy as she stepped out of the apartment building. While walking towards the bus stop, she tied it up, hoping that no one would notice.

The bus stop was crowded as usual. It was the thing she hated the most. The long wait for the always-delayed bus, the need to squeeze in between smelly men and inconsiderate aunties, she hated it. She longed to own a car so that she could be away from these unnecessary problems. She gripped the strap of her bag.

"If only..." she muttered out but was interrupted rudely by a huge bang from the opposite end of the road. Together with the crowd, her attention shifted there. But the heads were numerous, she could only try and peep through a few gaps. At last, she got to know that it was a car accident from one of the bystanders.

"Or not..." she murmured again. The bus arrived.

As she boarded, she was knocked on the shoulder by some stranger rushing down from the bus.The stranger's papers flew and her bag fell.

"I'm sorry!" went the stranger and he quickly bent down to gather his papers, now scattered like leaves during autumn.

She rolled her eyes and offered him help.

As they were gathering the papers, the bus left, the driver unwilling to wait for such fuss. She gave chase but only for a few steps.

"WAIT!"

She sighed heavily.

Realizing what damage he had done, he quickly gathered the last of his papers and picked up her bag. Slowly, he approached the woman he made to have miss the bus.

"I'm sorry, miss. I didn't mean to..." he tried to reach out to her but she didn't move, as if petrified.

He tried again, "Oh, here's your bag," as he held it out to her.

She turned around and took her bag from his hand, never looking at him, never saying a word. She slowly made her way back to the hated bus stop.

"Ally?" the stranger asked.

She stopped, her heels scratching on the cement a bit. It was a familiar voice... an unmistakable voice.

She turned violently and gave him a good look for the first time.

"Hi..." he continued, as she recollected her memory.

"You are..." she paused, as they gazed at each other. He smiled.

She stood still, as people walked pass the both of them and the traffic minding its own business.

-End-