chapter 1

I looked at the dark sky out of my window, and thinking that what should I do at this ending weekend.
Hey Nim, you're not thinking to go out at this time, right? Asked my mom with her staring eyes.
Erm...Why not, as I just back from Perth the past two weeks, I replied with a natural looks which I thought that could win the debate as I deserved that privellege.
Okay...better come back earlier and don't make me call, said my mom and sighed a little.

I picked up my cell and started sending messages to my friends. Inevitable and expected, Henry replied first. And followed up by Sail and Stephy. We decided to catch a movie at the Sky Mall. It is a great place for movie, at least I felt comfortable with, and it's usually full of teenagers. So, I started preparing and moved on.

I will need to pick up Sail and Henry, like usual. Sail don't have a car, and Henry always got his stupid reasons to avoid driving. I reached Sail's apartment, and she already waiting at the road-side. I guessed she just don't want to trouble me waiting for her. She walked towards where I parked my car. Slowly I can clearly see how she dressed. A white tent-dress with a short jeans. What an adorable outfit, I thought in my mind. And I suddenly figured out that maybe this is why I liked her.

She opened the door and hopped in. I glanced at her as she's so gorgeous.
What?! She shouted.
No..no..nothing, I replied panically. I quickly straighten my sight and drove toward Henry's house.
Hey, seriously you can tell me what's going on, am I looked weird on this dress? Sail asked curiously.
Nothing, really, I answerred. Just that you look great today.
I will only take that as a compliment, she stated like I was being sarcastic and looked away to the window.
I tried not to surprise with her word as I afraid the manly image to be stolen. Girls like bad-arses, thats what I thought.

Couple of turnings, and we reached Henry's house. Just like I had a deja-vu that we need to wait for him as he's still slacking around with his downloading. After 20 minutes, he walked out slowly, still enjoying his time, and he shaken the car while he hopped in. And I thought that I had knew him for more than 10 years, he's really getting weighted.
Sorry for the wait, Henry said after his big wide smile.
Oh...please don't try to be gentle only when a girl in car, I teased. And I'm hope to get a good response from Sail. Girls like bad-arses, keep to the protocol, I thought.
Nim, he already apologized, don't be a jerk, she grouched at my act.
What, am I wrong here or something, he just made us wait, didn't he? I tried to gain back my honor.
You could at least tell that nicely to him, again she pinned me with another point which I thought by using it I could impress her. Guess those who stated girls like bad-arses is no one but an arse-liar then.

Alright, it's enough for now, our movie almost, right? said Henry and he grinned. How bout a we let the car stay moving first. We stopped the arguement, and I drove off. On the way from Henry's house to Sky Mall, Sail seemed to avoid talking to me, and she chatted off with Henry. I regretted as I only can blame my self for that to happen. And I started to think that why all the girls always sided him, Henry, and not me. Am I not fun enough or my appearance's problem. I stopped thinking that because I don't think that I'm that bad looking after all, and there's still a girl who sided me always, she's Stephy.
Hey, where is Stephy? Sail asked. She's not going?
She's going by herself, heard that someone special is fetching her, I replied and Henry looked sad. I knew that Henry fell deeply on that girl, thats why I said it on purpose. Maybe I'm a jerk after all.
Stop that... , Sail whisperred to me and pushed me on my shoulder.
I acted like I don't really care, but I actually felt glad that Sail started talking to me again.

Finally, we reached the mall. I'm busy finding us a car park, Henry and Sail seem having a great topic about what to have with our supper. Soon after I had my car parked nicely, and we headed off to the mall. I parked just right at the side of the Gurney coast, and it got a long walk way lead us to Sky Mall. Lots of couple hanging around at the coast area, Henry looks even more pissed. I guess he's thinking something related to Stephy. Sail seem enjoying her "jumpy-move" which she hopping a little with her every step moving forward. I placed both of my hand into the jeans' pockets to avoid the cold air blowing from the sea.

Where are we heading? Henry asked.
The front gate, she said to meet there, I replied.
Stephy? Sail called out and smiled.
Yeah, I answerred and grinned back.
We reached the front gate, Stephy is not there.
We'll have to wait I guess, I said. After awhile I started to look around as I bored of waiting. And I saw that Sky Mall seem crowded with teenagers just like some concert is helding here. Sail glanced at me with her impatient look. I signed my hand, "just a little longer", to her. Henry walked back and forth just like someone who's waiting for his wife. As I thought of that, I laughed out unknowingly.

Why are you laughing there? Sail asked.
No, I just thought of something funny, I replied.
It must be about my dress, Sail said fiercefully. I know I'm not as pretty as Stephy, thats why you laughed.
No...I didn't mean that, I explained quickly. Actually it's...wow...what the..?!
Suddenly I felt the ground shaking hard. I heard the ground trembling, and followed by screams from the crowd. I fell on the floor as I caught off balance, and I guessed that I had injured my left arm as I started to feel shocking pain around there. Quickly, I turned my sight to Sail, she fell right on top of me. I tried to calm her, but before I got chance to say so, another wave of earthquake knocked all the lights off and sent me to sleep as something hit my head right on the back. The last thing I could see was Sail's frighten face, and there were screamings and...and...nothing but my sight went into total black!

Hey buddy, you hear me? A blurred voice with it's echo faded.
Wake up! Henry shouted while holding me up.
Nim, please wake up, Sail cried out. I slowly open my eyes, and everything looked blur. Henry slapped me in the face.
What are you doing? Sail shouted at Henry as she cried harder.
I just wanted to wake him up, Henry replied.
Well, you...did... , I said and grinned a little to Sail. Now that I regain my conciousness, and the view that I'm seeing looked so unreal. Ashes everywhere, burning cars and buildings, injured crowd, blood coverred wall and floor, and my friend, Sail, almost cried to death.
Henry calming Sail while I pinching myself to make sure I'm not dreaming. What could possibility causing such a damage to these wide-open area? I believe everyone is thinking this as I'm now.
What happen? I asked Henry, and for an instance I wished that this is all just a prank.
But his reply threw the reality straight back to me. As I wished I could know...he said with his voice sunk off.