It was Friday night; Tok and I were watching the television. ‘The Lost Valentines’ was on, then it strike me, how did Tok and Wan met. I glanced at her; she was calmed as usual, a smile spread across her face when she saw me looking at her. “What’s wrong, child?” she asked, I smiled at her and shook my head “It’s nothing Tok, it just came to me, how did you and Wan met?” I asked. A soft chuckle came out of her thin lips.

“Well, it was unlike the love stories you’ve heard. It’s…. different.”

“Different?” I thought, “How different?”

“Usually in love stories, the men are supposed to be the knight in shining armor while the women are a damsel in distress. It’s the other way around for me and your Wan.” She laughed, shaking her head. A smile appears on her face as she recalls back the memories of the day and she met Wan. “It was fifty years ago when I met your Wan, and I still remember it as if it was just yesterday...”

     

      She was a very diligent woman; she’d get every job done in a matter of time. Everyone adored her. She was nice and kind, she’d help anyone who is in need. It was just like any other day; Maria was getting her job done as usual. Everything was going well till she heard a scream coming from the other side of the building; everyone started to panic and went out to check what was going on. It turns out a fire had started and everyone was asked to evacuate the building immediately. Maria followed the crowd out of the building but then she heard a faint scream asking for help from the pantry. She dashed towards the pantry and the scream gets louder “Help! Someone help me!” a man cried, the pantry slightly glowed in a florescent orange border, whilst being attacked viciously by angry flames wiping out the burning the pantry. She sees the man on the other side of the room “Hold on! I’ll find a way to get to you!” she hollered. The man saw her and began to panic,

“No! Don’t! Call for help. You might get hurt” he said, worried that the young lady might get hurt from trying to help him.

“There’s no time, everyone is already out of the building.”

“But you’ll get hurt!”

“Shut up and just let me think of a way to save you.” She said, shushing the man. Maria looked around and found a safe place that she could go through. She walked slowly through a safe spot trying hard to avoid the burning loose woods; she knows if she accidentally hit the woods, her life would be over. Moving slowly, she managed to get through the fire and towards the man “I told you I can do it” she said, the man smiled at her and nodded “you were right. Now let’s get out of here before it gets worse” he said putting his arms around her trying to protect the petite young lady for the flames. They got out of the pantry safely and ran out towards the exit. Everyone cheered in excitement when they saw them walking out of the building. The paramedics approached them, checking if they were hurt anywhere.

“You were pretty brave out there, thank you.” the man said.

“Thank you for trusting me. I’m Maria” she said as she stretches out her arm, shaking the man’s hand.

“I’m Farouq.” He replied with a smile.

   m   It’s been a week since the incident; Maria has not seen Farouq since. She does think of him at some point, but never have she thought that she’ll meet him again. Fate finally brought them back together; Maria was on her way home from town when they bumped into each other.

“Maria!” Farouq approached her.

“Hi, Farouq, right?”

“Haha, yeah. H-how are you?” Farouq is rubbing his neck nervously.

“I’m doing great, how about you?”

“I’m great, all’s good” he said, “Um actually, I thought I’d never see you again. So I was wondering if you’d like to grab a cup of coffee sometime.” He is still rubbing his neck nervously; a charming smile spreads across his face.

“Coffee? I... Um, sure why not” she said, smiling.

“Great, I’ll see you tomorrow then?”

“Yeah sure” they went their separate ways for the day. Maria’s heart was beating so fast, she can feel butterflies fluttering in her stomach to the beat of her heart; red leaked into her cheeks as she nervously smiled and bit her lip. It was the first time a man has ever made her felt that way. ‘Am I in love?’ she asked herself, heart beating fast, the smile on her face has not faded since she met Farouq.

      You can see it in her eyes, the way it shines, the way her thin lips curve into a smile; you can tell that she’s happy. “That’s how I met your Wan, it is a little weird, but it’s unique. Until now, I still save your Wan” she says. “Honey, where’s my spectacle?” the voice of an old man called out from the room, “I’m off to save your Wan again, child.”