Do You Remember Me?

Ramon remembered how he felt when he met Kelsey. Kelsey Dallas. She wasn’t your typical blonde-haired, blue-eyed girl. She was that girl who wasn’t afraid to go all natural with her hair. Her rich brown skin glowing, making the room shine. He reminisced how they played in the mud together as if they were pigs and chased each other with squirt guns. The boys would tease him for hanging around with a girl. But he didn’t care. To him, Kelsey was more than just a girl.

Then he saw her - at Carley’s Coffee Shop. She didn’t look like

she used to. What used to be a girl who loved to wear dresses, was a woman went

for a more casual look with a hoodie and a jewel-studded cap.

Ramon stroked his beard as he stared at the beauty once more. She was already at the front, trying to figure out what to get. He knew it was creepy to stare at a woman from a distance, but he couldn’t help it. It has been years since they’ve seen each other.

“That’ll be eight dollars, ma’am,” the barista told her.

The woman grunted as she dug into her wallet. “I’m sorry. I left

my card at home and I don’t have cash.”

That’s when Ramon stepped in. He pulled out his wallet, took out

some crispy dollar bills, and handed them to the gentleman. “It’s on me.”

The woman turned to him shyly. “You didn’t have to do that.”

“It’s no problem at all.”

She grabbed her coffee and walked past Ramon, but not before

mumbling a “thank you”.

A wave of realization hit Ramon in the face. He forgot to

introduce himself! He panicked as he watched the woman walk out of the shop.

“Wait!” He followed her to the door.

She turned to him, startled.

“Don’t you remember me?”

She looked him up and down, stepping back a few feet. “I’m

sorry. Am I supposed to?”

Ramon frowned. “It’s me, Ramon. Ramon Hawkins.”

She only gave him a strange look.

“From elementary school?”

She thought for a moment but shook her head. “Sorry. Doesn’t

ring a bell.”

She headed out to her car.

“How about we go out?” Ramon blurted out without thinking.

She walked back to him with annoyance on her face. “Excuse me?”

“L-like on a date? That might jog your memory.”

She scoffed. Without another word, she hopped into the car.

~

It was later in the day. Ramon drank his fifth coffee.

“Ray, you’re not helping yourself if you keep drowning yourself with coffee,” his friend, Gavin said.

“I can’t believe she didn’t recognize me.” Ramon looked down at the table.

His friend shrugged. “Maybe, she’s with somebody else.”

“Yeah, maybe.” Ramon sighed. “But that's not the reason to

act like you don’t remember someone.”

“True. I remember when I was in your shoes. When I met Angela

for the first time in years, she barely recognized me until we went out for

drinks. Now, we’re married with kids. Since you tried asking the girl out once,

ask her out again.”

“Wouldn’t that make me look desperate?”

“Hey, I looked desperate when I asked Angela out. Yet, it

worked.”

“So, should I try stalking her or-“

“No, no, no. Listen. If you see her again, don’t wait. Just ask

her out again.”

“I guess it won’t hurt. Thanks, man.” Ramon left the coffee

shop, the winter breeze gently blowing against his face. There was still doubt

in his mind whether this would work or not.

“Pssst.”

Ramon looked around to see where that noise came from. He

couldn’t find anyone, therefore he started walking again.

“Pssst. Over here.”

Ramon’s eyes finally landed on a man with a dark blue turban. He

wore glasses and had a beard, but only looked to be in his mid-twenties. The

young man motioned him over from an alleyway.

No way. He seems shady. As Ramon went on, he felt a force pulling him backward. The harder he tried to escape, the stronger the grasp grew. He was now face to face with the young man with a smirk on his face.

“So, I heard you were lookin’ for a girl.” he whispered.

“What the hell? How did you-?”

“Are you lookin’ for a girl or not?”

“First off, it’s none of your business. Secondly, who are you?”

“I’m glad you asked. I’m Javari the Kabari.”

“So, are you like some genie, or…?"

“Let’s just say I'm charming."

"Seriously, man. Where did you-"

“Look, as much as I love a round of Twenty Questions, we’re not going to get anywhere with that. Do you want me to help you find Kelsey Dallas or not?”

"Yes," he groaned.

Ramon couldn't help but wonder: Who was this guy? Where did he come from? And what exactly does he want from me?

Javari snapped his fingers, and a huge vortex appeared, showing Kelsey with another man.

“I’m through with you!” the man snapped, grabbing his suitcases.

“You can’t leave me,” Kelsey protested tearfully. “You can’t do

this to me and our children!”

“Watch me.” The man closed the door behind him.

Kelsey collapsed into the floor crying, then lifted her head up

just to shout, “I hate you! I wish I could forget you and every man I’ve ever

met!”

The whirlwind diminished, then vanished.

“That was two years ago,” Javari said. “She made the wish, and I

granted it.”

“But, did she know you existed?”

"Yes. Right after I made the wish. She wasn't sure how she felt about it. Right now, she has no clue that her husband walked out, or that you two met."

“Is there any way to reverse this 'wish', or 'spell', or whatever this is?”

As soon as Javari snapped his fingers, the two were in front of

a hallway door.

“Where are we?” Ramon asked.

“Kelsey’s apartment.”

“Oh, no, no, no.” Ramon backed away. “I can’t do this. I can’t

just come into her house like that. She doesn’t even rem-“

“Ramon. Shut up and let me work my magic.”

Ramon remained silent as Javari began reversing the wish. A sudden flash

came about and shook the whole building, making the man stagger back and forth,

and collapse onto the floor.

Ramon sprung to his feet. “What was that?”

“Just knock on the door and you’ll see.”

Ramon vigorously shook his head. “I can’t. She’ll-”

“Do it before I un-reverse the wish! Because I will do it!”

Ramon quickly knocked on the door, anxiety creeping into his

stomach. As the door swung open, the anxiety escalated.

She stood there with curiosity in her eyes. She studied his

face, trying to remember it. She stared for a few seconds, until...

"Ramon?" she gasped.

He cleared his throat and attempted to compose himself.

"Yeah. H-hey, Kelsey. It’s been forever.”

A small smile crept onto her shining face. "Yeah, it has.

Come in."

Ramon walked in and took in the place. It was small, yet comfy.

Nothing fancy.

Ramon and Kelsey planted onto the green couch, catching up on

what has been happening.

“Are those your kids?” Ramon referred to a picture of two small children on a slim table. It was decorated with a bluish green frame.

“Yep. The boy is J’wan and the girl is Ke’Andra, Keke for short. They mean the world to me.”

“Wow, if only I had kids,” Ramon joked.

“So, Ray. I don’t mean to sound rude, but how did you find my apartment?”

Ramon pursed his lips. “Let’s just say, it was just like magic.” Ramon saw Javari in a television screen, winking at him, then fading away.