It was sunset earlier than usual on that crisp and fair day. But I was still there, ambling on the russet fields looking around. I knew it was late. But I refused to go home, for I was waiting for someone. The weeds and grasses were all swaying gracefully with the course of the gentle breeze in the atmosphere. The meadow I was sauntering on was overlooking a wide sea. I could see the aquamarine waters under the cool orange skies. The calm waves smoothly striking the edge of the land made a rejuvenating sound of serenity. On the faded horizon, I could see a foggy mountain with a strange hut resting atop it.  As I meandered through the fields, I could also hear the relaxing chirp of the robins resting upon the large Acacia tree beside me. I could see the leaves of the tree slowly gliding down like pieces of brown paper, withering and falling from the heavens. Autumn was good. Since I was but a little kid, I have always found autumn to be one interesting – no, the most interesting of all seasons. It is a phase when everything wilts and withers. Everything turns orange and the temperature dies down. Autumn, besides its interesting events, always brings back many memories of my life. I lifted up my head and looked at the heavens and I saw it gradually getting darker and darker. Slowly, I started to daydream about the reminiscences I had in that particular season.

I had barely begun when I noticed someone arrive at the field. The person I had been waiting for had finally come. Quickly, I crouched and hid myself behind the tall auburn weeds. The moon was full and it had just begun to dominate the skies. I knew it was night. Through the moonlight, I could clearly see the person I waited for. She was there, standing near the edge of the land, gazing upon the extensive sea, staring blankly upon the tranquil horizon. She was beautiful. Her long hair was as smooth as strands of black silk. Her complexion was white and looked as smooth as a freshly-picked apple. I continued to look at her, for her beauty was worth of a million years of staring. Momentarily, she would look behind her, as if she had sensed my presence. She would give the grasses behind her a suspicious look, as if she was wondering if someone was watching her. But I didn’t care. I knew I was well hid under the dark shadows of the Acacia tree beside me. Every time she would look behind, I could see her lovely face under the white moonlight. Her eyes were glowing in the night, and her cheeks were rosy. As she continued to gaze perplexedly upon the sea, I also continued to gaze at her. It went on for a long time until the full moon was already high above the sky. She took a little white handkerchief from her pocket. She then gently wiped it on her rosy face as she slowly walked away from the russet field where we stayed for about an hour. I watched her every move while my mind contemplated on whether I should approach her or not. Part of me just wanted to go and introduce myself to her, but part of me kept on thinking that I was just plain crazy. What was I doing, following a girl around in a tranquil field? I didn’t even know who she was and what was she doing there.

It all began a few weeks before that very day, when autumn had just begun. I was riding my old rusty bicycle down the long asphalt road from work. It was a newly-discovered shortcut, and it was the first time I passed through that route. The sun was still warm and the fields were still filled with a few lush green grasses and yellow sunflowers. I was marveling at the picturesque sceneries when a girl – the very same beautiful girl – caught my eyes. She was there, standing at the very same spot, gazing upon the wide ocean. I kept my eyes focused on her, marveling on her beauty, not noticing that a large piece of rock was lying on the ground in front of my bike’s route. Needless to say, my bicycle tires tripped and I mindlessly fell down the road and scraped my knee, giving off a red liquid called blood. But little did I feel the pain of my tumble, for I was busy looking at her. My brain was too busy to tell my body that something bad had just happened. She looked so beautiful. Starting from that very day, I longed to see her at the end of each afternoon, like a chain smoker longing for a pack of cigarettes. Every afternoon, as I would ride home from my job, I would pass through that very same route and look at that very same pretty girl, standing on that very same spot, looking at that very same sea. Why she was there every day I did not knew. All I knew was that she was a mystery – a very perplexing mystery.

I went back to my senses under the shadows of the Acacia tree on that cool night. Before I could settle on introducing myself to her or not, she was already out of sight. The night fields were once again empty. I looked up the skies and once again saw the pallid moon, now partly concealed behind thick formations of nimbus clouds. It was going to rain. I stood up and left the shadow under the Acacia tree and gave the peaceful ocean one final look before picking up my bike which I left lying on the road. As I balanced myself on the old worn out seat of my bike, I used my feet to give its pedals a strong push. Autumn nights were cold. As I pedaled my bicycle down the asphalt road to my home, I could feel the windy chill around my whole body. I glanced at my side and the extensive field was still there. I saw the full moon still above the sky, and as I accelerated through the path laid before me, I had the eerie feeling that it was chasing me. As I rode my bike, the moon was always there, levitating in the sky, never out of my sight. I then saw the clouds getting thicker and thicker, slowly governing the sky. I had to hurry before it rains. Though I had my black ragged jacket on, my immune system had been weak since I was a little child and a little drizzle would surely cause me to catch a cold. I pedaled my bike a little faster. But it was too late. Rain fell down from the autumn heavens like millions of tears from the twinkling stars. The drizzle was cold and I was struggling to protect my head with my jacket when something caught my attention from afar.

There, on the other side of the field, was the same girl who left me earlier. She was there, struggling to get home amidst the unforgiving weather. The downpour was not too hard, but I suddenly felt that it was so malevolent. It did not spare her gorgeousness and sweet beauty, and so she walked as fast as she could. She was trying to find something that could shelter her from the rain. Her long black hair was soaked; her clothes were drenched. I knew it was the perfect time for me to make my move. I could not lose that possibly my only chance to get to know her and befriend her. I knew I could not waste even a single second. Quickly, I left my bike lying in the middle of the sodden road and risked my newly-bought pair of maroon slippers in the mucky field. I had to get to the other side before she was out of my sight. As I make my every step the only thing I could think of was her and my chance to finally talk with her. I suddenly glanced up and I saw the moon still there, following me like a watchful guardian overlooking its child. But there was no time to think of such similes. I had to progress and reach her as soon as possible.

With much delight, I managed to get across the grassland. I looked for a second and I realized that the field was wide. It’s hard to believe that I actually crossed that field, but I knew I did it because of her. I looked back at her again. She was still there, covering her head with her bare hands, trying to protect it from the harsh rainfall. I wasted no time. I ran towards her, slamming my feet on the ground and making a thumping sound against the wet earth. She heard my footsteps and she turned around, allowing me to once again see her angelic face. It was quite palpable that she was startled at my presence, as she backed away a few steps from where she was standing. I couldn’t blame her; after all, it was quite absurd for a beautiful girl like her to see a man running to her in such an empty and tranquil area. But I wanted to assure that she would not feel afraid of me; I wanted to show her that I was there for a purpose – and that purpose is her. I wanted to show her that I care for her and I wanted to protect her from harm. Without any hesitation, I took off my blue jacket, leaving body exposed to the rain.

“The rain is hard today and you might catch a cold,” I said. My voice was a little trembling as I talked. “Here, use my jacket.” I placed my jacket around her shoulders which were already soaked wet by the rain. The beat of my heart gradually got quicker and quicker, with fewer and fewer intervals between each pump. No words cold express the emotion I felt when I offered my jacket to her. But all those were about to change. “I’m sorry, stranger,” she said. “I am in a hurry. I have to go.” She forced the jacket I offered her off her shoulders and walked away from me.

“Wait,” I said. “I’m not going to harm you! I just want to help. The autumn rain is bad for you.” I walked and tried to catch up with her, but she staggered too fast it almost seemed like a run. My feelings were hurt by what she had done, but I did not hate her. My heart seemed like it was broken, rejected without a chance to prove itself worthy for her. After a few seconds, she was out of my sight. It was unfair. It was truly unfair. But I had no hard feelings. I remembered what my mother had always repeated to me when I was a little toddler. She always told me to look the bright side of things. That way, I would see the world in a different perspective – a better one. And so, I tried to understand why she ran away from me. Many different ideas flooded my mind. Perhaps she was just afraid. Perhaps she was shy. She was probably ashamed. She might have a problem. With all these excuses I made up, I felt a little better. What really troubled me was if I would still see her again the next afternoon. To make matters worse, I noticed that my wallet was missing. I knew I took it home from my job, but it suddenly disappeared from the deep pocket of my long white pants. In my mind, I tried to retrace my steps, and I hunched that it fell while I was concealing myself under the shadows of the Acacia tree in the middle of the fields. Even if I was not in the mood, I had to back to the tree to retrieve my wallet.

I kept on thinking on her as I walked that I didn’t notice that I was there already at the lone Acacia tree where I hid while I was gazing at her beauty. I strolled closer and closer to the large tree, and under its shadows I attempted to search for my misplaced wallet. My hands were already covered with chocolate mud before I finally laid my hands on the lost object. It was still there. I left it open, but thankfully, all my money were still intact. However, I was quite irritated to find out that a couple of small snails had invaded my wallet. I did not like insects and slugs. They were creepy. I picked up a small twig from the ground and used it to remove the mollusks. I sealed it and began to walk away from the Acacia tree. The rain had finally subsided. The beautiful girl was still bothering my mind. I forced myself not to think about it. Just then, on that very moment, I discovered something lying on the ground on the exact spot where she stood earlier when she was gazing at the sea.

I placed my wallet inside my pocket and marched towards the spot beside the once again serene ocean. On the damp grasses, I saw a transparent box lying on the ground. I went closer to it. It was a chocolate cake inside the box tied up with an elegant red ribbon. That object added to the mystery of the girl whose beauty I admired. Whether she intentionally left it there or accidentally dropped it no one knows. But one thing was for sure – the moon was still there, high above the sky, following me and watching my every move.