short story

                                                     JUST LOVE HIM, JENNIE

R

enny raised her head when she knew someone calling her name.

“ Renny....... I’m coming back,” a beautiful voice called her.

She was under a round-shaped table looking for something important. Then she quickly ran to the source of the voice.

“ Hi, pal! How are you doing?” asked the one who just had arrived while hugging the woman in front of her and put her luggage unintentionally  so that it made something covered.

“ I’m ... just fine, you... are more and more beautiful,” she rolled her messy hair, releasing the hug.

“ You never change, always praise me, and never care of your appearance,” she acted like a wise mother advising her lovely daughter.

“ Jennie, don’t make a silly speech to me! It’s not the time to have lecture,” she turned her body and looked for something falling down to under the table back.

“ By the way, what are you doing? You look so worried and messy.”

“ You know, I’m just losing my motorbike key. I cannot go anywhere without it. It will be difficult to go work,” she explained in worry.

“ I think it’s not a big problem, you can use mine,” offered Jennie.

“ What? You mean... you’ve got ...” she tried to continue but Jennie pulled her arm and took her outside.

“ Look! You needn’t have to be worried about your losing key. You may use it,” she showed her new motorbike to Renny.

“ You are getting  richer! Just keep working abroad and make me fortunate all day,” she clapped her pal’s shoulder.

            They went round the town by riding the new motorbike Jennie bought. They had been friends since they were in Junior High School. They were so alike so that they were like siblings. Since they graduated from Senior High School, they decided to choose different ways to continue their carrier.

            “ We don’t do this for very long time, right?” asked Jennie.

Renny didn’t care of what Jennie said. She enjoyed the air greeting them. She never found the warm atmosphere from the best friend but with Jennie.

            Having been satisfied to spill their longing, they came back to Renny’s home. They looked so happy since they couldn’t stop laughing and talking about their beautiful past.

“ I’m really sorry to tell you so late, but I didn’t mean to ...”

“ Yeah, just forget it. Now you just have to tell me about your...”

“ What? I ... haven’t got someone,” she covered her face with her hands.

“ You must be telling a lie!” she threw a pillow to her.

“ What for?”

“ I promise, I won’t tell anyone about this. It’s just our secret. I swear.”

 “ Ok, I’ll tell you later then you introduce yours,” she turned her face and closed her eyes.

***

            They woke up early for they promised to pray together. Later they prepare to have a special breakfast. Renny decided to make fried rice because she knew that Jennie really loved it. They had breakfast together while talking more about their experience when they were apart.

            “ Since my parents passed away, I rarely have breakfast or dinner together but with you,” Renny started her words with tears.

“ Ren, I know what you are feeling, but please, don’t make yourself weak. Remember, you’re never alone. Don’t you know, here I am,” she tried to hug her best friend.

“ Thank’s Jen, now you are the only one I have. I hope you never leave me,” she put her arm around her.

“I promise,”

Suddenly, they heard someone knocking the door.

“ Let me open it, you just stay calm here, ok?” asked Jennie.

Jennie walked to the door and opened it.

“ Excuse me, I’m looking for Renny, is she at home?” asked a square-faced young man wearing stylish jeans and black shirt.

“Yes, she is. Please come in and wait for a moment.”

            Jennie called Renny to meet the guest. She was wondering about who the man was. But she kept her mouth silent until Renny told her.

“ Radit, why didn’t you call me first? It’s too morning, you know, I haven’t taken a bath”

“ I wanna make a surprise for you. This is from my mother,” he gave a box to Renny.

“ What is it? I have told you I never fond of something like..,”

“ Just open it, you will know what it is,”

 She opened the box and seemed to be curious of what it was going to be.

“ Radit, am I dreaming? Is it real? I can’t believe this, it’s really a beautiful bride gown,” she said while gawking.

“ Yes, my parents have decided to define the day of our wedding and they want to convince you by giving this,” he explained.

Renny didn’t realize that Jennie noticed them since then they had conversation.

“Oh yeah, I almost forget to introduce you. She is Jennie, my best friend. Jennie, it is Radit.”

Radit and Jennie shook their hands. But Radit got something strange in his mind. He was still curious about her. He couldn't lie himself that Jennie was more interesting than Renny. He looked at Jennie for some minutes,

" Radit, it's better to go home. You should go work early," advised Renny.

" You send me away?"

" No, I just want you to be better." she laughed.

***

             Renny told Jennie that she had been with Radit since six months ago, and then that morning Radit made all clear by explaining his intention.

" You must prove your promise," asked Renny.

" What promise?"

" You said that you would tell me about,hmmm, later then I showed you him."

" I... I'm sorry, I really don't have idea about that."

" You are cheating, you're liar, it's not fair!"

" Renny, please, don't force me to admit. Now there is no one," said Jennie 

" okay, I'll never talk about it anymore!" Renny got mad and leaved Jennie alone in the dining room.

              Renny was going to go work. She remembered that she couldn't go by her motorbike since the losing key was not found.

" Just take it, Renny. I really apologize for this morning," Jennie gave her motorbike key to Renny.

Renny was in silence, thinking of her selfishness.

" Jennie, it is I who should apologize to you. I'm really selfish and childish."

" Never mention it, Renny. Just go now before you're late. I'll keep your home safety."

              Finally, Renny went work by Jennie's motorbike. She was in hurry then she couldn't control the speed. She thought that she was accustomed to riding motorbike with high speed, and she was just fine. While she was riding, she got an sms from Jennie that her file was left at home. It was not her luck. When she was trying to make a turn, a big container from the opposite direction was passing.

***

             Jenny was crying on Radit's shoulder. She blamed it on herself. She thought that if she had not asked Renny to go in hurry, she mustn't have left her file. 

" Just pray for her, Jennie, you mustn't cry. Your make up will fade away," said Radit.

" Do you know, she was very happy when she opened the gift from your parents. But she cannot wear it."

" She will be peaceful there, and will be proud of you because you are the real best friend,"

" Renny, I'm really sorry to wear your bride gown, I promise I'll love him as you did," Jennie thought in her mind.
            Jennie didn't mind to live and spent all her days with Radit since she read Renny's diary telling that she was the only one best friend Renny had, the only family, and she wrote that whatever she had was Jennie's too. Everything she got, Jennie did too. But her main message was to love and to treat someone she loved as well as her.

Renny was coming to Jennie's dream and said, "just love him, Jennie."
Then she said goodbye by waving her hands.