INTRODUCTION (March 1, 2013)
She hands the money to the cashier after receiving her coffee. Accidentally the cashier's hand touches the girl's hand which makes the girl blushes. the girl lows down her face and smiles shyly alone. Her heart races fast and she suddenly loses word to say. After composing herself, she raises her head and looks at the cashier. She sees a handsome and tall man standing in front of her. He has black hair with fair complexion. He looks like Chinese. "Is it a love at a first sight?!" she asks herself sheepishly. At that moment the girl vouches to herself that this man is her lover, a person she has a cross on.
After that day, the girl keeps coming to the same coffee shop every day ordering the same kind of coffee from him. The girl orders the same coffee every day, because she wants him to remember her favorite taste of coffee.
On the fifth day when she shows up, the man asks her if she would like to order coffee frappe? As soon as she hears that, she smiles again, 'cos she thinks that he knows what she likes to drink. This makes the girl fells for him deeper and deeper. She pays her bill and leaves the shop and walks toward her school with the smile on her face. She tells herself that it is going to be a good day for her.
Reaching to the iPod in her bag, she turns on her music and listens to "You took my heart away."
'Staring at the moon so blue
Turning all my thoughts to you
I was without hopes or dreams
I tried to dull an inner scream but you
saw me through
Walking on a path of air
See your faces everywhere
As you melt this heart of stone
you take my hand to guide me home
and now
I'm in love
You took my heart away
when my whole world was gray
You gave me everything
and a little bit more
And when it's cold at night
and you sleep by my side
you become the meaning of my life...'
Originally, the coffee is bitter. But this time, the girl does not feel the bitterness of the coffee, but the sweetness. "Even the sun is hot, we won't sweat when we are calm inside," the girl thinks to herself.
CHAPTER ONE (March 9, 2013)
Having traveled for several thousands miles from Phnom Penh Capital of Cambodia to Pearl City of Hawaii, Lee wins the scholarship to pursue Television Production program at Pearl City Community College, Hawaii, United States of America.
Lee is a kind and gentle girl in her community. Lee loves kids. She has worked for a community education program on producing educational video clips for young children for several years. During her course of voluntarism, she has traveled throughout the country to explore and document the life of Cambodian children in remote area. She has worked with many poor parents who could not afford their children education.
Cambodia is a small country in Southeast Asia, bordering Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand. Cambodia has small population of 14 millions. Cambodia has recently reemerged from decades of civil war and on the road to reconstruct her image. Cambodian social structure has been destructed, and it takes years for her to refurnish. Moreover, Cambodia is and has been a patriarchy society for hundred years. Women are supposed to stay at home and raise the children; while, men go to work and earn a living. However, Lee has challenged this norms and be the first girl in her community to study abroad. This achievement makes her family as well as her community proud of her; so does Lee herself.
Lee was a committed student who ranked first or second every semester, and is a discipline staff who is responsible for her work. She looks fierce, but friendly inside. Stranger would not dare look at her if they don't know her at first place. In fact, when people start talking to her, they would feel comfortable talking to her. She has a kind heart.
Lee hopes that with her new knowledge from Pearl City Community College, she could help more children in Cambodia who have little access to education. She believes that education is the key to better life and future.
CHAPTER TWO (March 16, 2013)
Yong has been an actor for more than 10 years, starting his career at the age of 25. Yong earns his degree in Performance Arts from the United States. He became a well-known actor when he casted in a series movie called 'Autumn Love' shown in the state television in Thailand.
Yong was born in Bangkok, the capital of Thailand, to a Chinese merchant family. Yong's great grandfather had migrated to Thailand during the World War II. He, penny less, came to Thailand to seek fortune when his livelihood in his motherland could not be secured. He started a job as a laborer to another Chinese merchant who exported dry food from China. Because of hardworking and honesty, Yong's great grandfather was agreed to marry his boss' daughter. Yong's great grandfather was then in charged of his father-in-law's business. After many years of building reputation, Yong's family became one of the wealthiest business family in Thailand.
Though Yong has been raised in business family, he prefers being an actor and writer to businessman. After graduation, he went straight to the United States pursuing his desire despite family's disapproval. In the United States, Yong worked part time job in a coffee shop in order to support his study.
After 10 years in filming industry, Yong decided to retire and went to Hawaii starting his own little coffee shop. He also starts to write book which is his childhood dream.
Yong has been an actor for more than 10 years, starting his career at the age of 25. Yong earns his degree in Performance Arts from the United States. He became a well-known actor when he casted in a series movie called 'Autumn Love' shown in the state television in Thailand.
Yong was born in Bangkok, the capital of Thailand, to a Chinese merchant family. Yong's great grandfather had migrated to Thailand during the World War II. He, penny less, came to Thailand to seek fortune when his livelihood in his motherland could not be secured. He started a job as a laborer to another Chinese merchant who exported dry food from China. Because of hardworking and honesty, Yong's great grandfather was agreed to marry his boss' daughter. Yong's great grandfather was then in charged of his father-in-law's business. After many years of building reputation, Yong's family became one of the wealthiest business family in Thailand.
Though Yong has been raised in business family, he prefers being an actor and writer to businessman. After graduation, he went straight to the United States pursuing his desire despite family's disapproval. In the United States, Yong worked part time job in a coffee shop in order to support his study.
After 10 years in filming industry, Yong decided to retire and went to Hawaii starting his own little coffee shop. He also starts to write book which is his childhood dream.
CHAPTER THREE (March 20, 2013)
Lee loves coffee. Most of the time she spends times in coffee shop doing her homework and reading books. Lee loves reading romance story. Sometimes she fantasizes about being the girl in the story who fell into the prince's arms.
After viewing the books, Lee plans to visit Haleakala National Park, one of the two national parks in Hawaii. The other national park is Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Haleakala National Park is located on the island of Maui, covering an area of 134.62 square kilometers. Haleakala National Park is a wilderness area. Haleakala means "house of the sun" in Hawaiian. Haleakala National Park is divided into two distinct sections: the summit area and the coastal Kipahulu area. The summit area is surrounded by volcanoes. The coastal Kipahulu is a forested area which is designated the Kipahulu Valley Biological Reserve.
Lee hopes to visit Kipahulu in order to find some rare spices of flowers or plants for her assignment. Lee is new to the area and rarely makes new friends beside her classmates. Likewise, everyone in the class is in hurry to finish their assigned task. Lee has to depend on herself in order to get to the area.
Accidentally, Yong passes by, seeing Lee reviewing photos of plant and flower. Yong has been in love with plant since he was a young boy. He had his own garden at the back of his house where he grew flowers and plants. He has a great sea of knowledge on tropical flower and plant. He had read many books on tropical plants when he was in the United States doing his Performance Arts. To Yong, reading books on plant was his way of relax. Moreover, Yong thinks that reading books open his eyes to the world. Through books, he learns more about the world, the place where human beings live in, grow up, communicate, and share breath. Everyone depends on one another, just like the car depends on the engine in order to move forward. More or less, relationship cannot be cut off among human beings though they are born ethnically and culturally different.
"You love flowers, don't you?" Yong asks Lee.
"Yes... And I'm... doing... my research on Hawaii's flowers and plants and am going to visit Haleakala National Park," Lee falters the words as her heart pounds very fast.
"Do you mind if I join you to the park? I heard about the park; however, I've never been there myself," Yong gives Lee a smile and pulls a chair towards Lee, "I'm new here. I came here a month ago; yet, I haven't got a chance to get to know this city. I have been busy myself the whole month to set up this coffee shop. Still, many things to do with the shop. However, I think I hope give myself a time to relax."
Lee responds nothing to this when the staff brings Yong a glass of water. Yong gives the staff a nob, signalling the word "thank you."
Seeing Lee sitting there still and saying nothing, Yong awkwardly continues, "I'm sorry. I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Yong. I'm from Thailand. I myself loves flowers and plants. Back home in Thailand, I've got my own tiny garden where I have grown plants and flowers. I like observing the plants and flowers growing and flowering. Every time I was stressed out, I would go to my small garden, giving water to the plants. That's why when seeing you looking at flower book, I asked you. By the way, what is your name?"
"Lee. My name is Lee. I am from Cambodia." Lee says to Yong.
"Cambodia. We are just neighbour--Thailand and Cambodia. I have been once visiting Phnom Penh Capital and Siem Reap Province. I love the Angkor Wat temple very much. I really appreciate your rich culture. Moreover, our culture is very similar. Though there is misunderstanding between the two people, I still love Cambodia myself. How about you? Where do you live in Cambodia?"
Lee thought to herself for a few seconds, "this guy seems to know a lot about Cambodia," before giving Yong the responds. "I was born and grew up in Phnom Penh."
"So, do you mind if I join you to the park?" Yong goes back to his question and waits for Lee's responds.
"I think it should be fine, plus it is public park you can go there anytime, even without my permission," Lee adjusts her language so as to not show Yong how much she wants him to join her.
Yong smiles again and furthers that, "How do you get there? When are you going to the park?"
"This Saturday morning at 9 o'clock. I'm going there by bus. I already check the schedule. There are buses going there every couple hours. Are you sure you can join? You look busy with your shop," Lee asks to make sure the date and time is fine with Yong.
"I think I can join you, since there are not many customers during Saturday. The staff can manage to run it. By the way, I've got a car. I think I can drive you there. What do you think?"
Lee thinks a few minutes and reluctantly gives him a nod as if saying a "Yes." After seeing her response, Yong excuses her back to his work.
She smiles to herself and goes back to her book.
To be continued...
