MANDIE held tightly onto the train's handrail. She didn't have a car, so she was used to commuting. She watched what she thought was a couple, the guy holding onto the girl so tightly it seemed like she would fly inside the train. Suddenly, she felt envious. When would a guy hold her like that? But she shook off the feeling, reminding herself not to dwell on others' relationships. After all, she was content with her life - a beautiful house, enough food, a job - but sometimes, the frustration of not having a boyfriend nagged at her. She knew she was attractive, not too picky, but for some reason, no one seemed interested in her. Perhaps her perfect match hadn't entered her life yet.

Feeling very frustrated and longing for a boyfriend, she thought to herself how dry she was, even drier than a withered leaf from any tree. She had never had a boyfriend, and she couldn't understand why. She remembered a guy who courted her in college, but unfortunately, he wasn't up to her beauty standards. He was skinny, and a gust of wind could easily blow him away. He was also too smart, memorizing the entire history of the world, which she found boring. She rejected him, but she wasn't really picky; it was just a rare occurrence when she exercised her right to choose.

On the other side, she had a crush on the lead singer of a band in school. He was very handsome, and she was captivated by his beautiful voice. However, she experienced a huge embarrassment right in front of him. While he was performing, she was thrilled when he reached for her hand and pulled her onto the stage. But it wasn't to serenade her like other singers; he wanted her to sing her favorite song. Unfortunately, the microphone and the entire music system seemed to be against her, and all she could sing was a traditional folk song. To make matters worse, she even hit a low note, causing everyone to burst into laughter, including her crush. That embarrassing incident made her hate the vocalist and promise herself not to have a crush on him anymore.

As she daydreamed about those, Mandie absentmindedly hummed the lyrics to Taylor Swift's "Blank Space," lost in the beauty of the song. She didn't even realize she was singing out loud until the curious glances from her fellow commuters snapped her back to reality.

"Sorry, I got carried away by the beauty of the song," she said, feeling embarrassed as people stared at her, thinking she might be going crazy. She blamed Taylor Swift and her song which had gotten stuck in her head.

Despite her longing for a relationship, Mandie was content with her life. She worked as a freelance photographer, following her passion for the camera since she was young. Many people sought her services, and she humbly acknowledged that many praised her work. She covered all sorts of scenes, capturing people's different expressions, wildlife, and especially beautiful landscapes, her favorite subject. Whenever she saw breathtaking scenery, her hands would itch to take photographs. Her current client wanted her to capture images for a new ocean park, and she eagerly accepted the project, ensuring she would deliver the best shots.

She cherished her life, even though she was alone. Her parents had passed away early in her life - her father from a battle with cancer when she was eighteen, and her mother from an accident at work when she was twenty-three. She had accepted that life could be cruel and that some people leave the world early, believing that God had a plan for her. Now, at twenty-six, she had moved on and recovered from the loss of her loved ones.

The only sad thing was that she had no siblings, making her alone in the beautiful house her parents had left her, a glass house with a spacious garden surrounded by fresh flowers and a picturesque waterfall. It was the most beautiful house in their area, and people often complimented its beauty. She loved her home, as it was where she grew up and learned about life. It was the only treasure she possessed, and she promised her parents she would take care of it.

Her thoughts were interrupted by an announcement about their destination, and she quickly made her way to the exit. Once outside, she boarded a bus to reach the location of her photo exhibit in the city. Before meeting her client, she decided to visit the exhibit featuring her works.

Minutes later, she arrived at the photo exhibit, where many people were already viewing the photographs. She was thankful for the invitation to showcase her art. Despite having a prior appointment, she wanted to see her displayed works and how others appreciated them. It felt wonderful to have people admire her photographs. She approached a large framed picture she had taken of a waterfall surrounded by flowers. She had captured the various colors of the flowers. She never imagined that the location was right in her own home. She loved flowers and had no hesitation sharing their beauty with others through her photography.

A while later, she felt someone standing beside her. When she turned, she saw an old man smiling as he looked at the picture. She observed him, noticing the cane he held and the hat on his head. He had a mischievous twinkle in his eyes, and she couldn't determine his ethnicity.

The man noticed her looking and smiled, "What an amazing creation, isn't it?" he asked.

"Indeed, it's beautiful, isn't it?" she replied with a smile. He shifted his gaze to her.

"She captured it beautifully," he said.

"She?" she asked, puzzled.

"Yes, I believe the photographer is a girl."

"How did you know she's a girl?"

He shrugged playfully. She found it amusing talking to this old man. "It's natural for girls to have a fondness for flowers, so I'm sure a girl took that picture."

"Well, there are also guys who love flowers. Some may be fairy," she teased.

"Fairy?" he raised an eyebrow.

"They're gays, sir," she explained.

He laughed, "You're a funny little girl. Of course, it's not a ... what do you call it? A gay guy who took that picture. It's a she, I'm very sure."

"Perhaps, sir. And I'm also sure that the photographer is beautiful, fair-skinned, long-haired, sexy, with a pointed nose, slanting eyes, and kissable lips," she said, gesturing to her own features.

"How sure are you, dear, that she possesses all those characteristics?" he raised an amused eyebrow.

She struck a pose like a beauty queen, and she could tell that he was entertained by her. "Because I'm talking about myself. I am the most beautiful and talented photographer of those beautiful flowers," she said with a smile.

He chuckled, "You're quite the joker, young lady."

"I'm serious, sir. I am the one who took that photo," she said, pointing to the frame.

He looked at her doubtfully, but she could see that he was intrigued. She had to prove to him that she was the real photographer.

She took out her camera hanging from her neck as evidence. She was about to show him the picture when his phone rang. He apologized to her and took the call.

"I believe you now, dear," he smiled at her. "From the moment I saw you looking at that picture, I knew it was your creation."

"How did you know?" she asked, amazed.

"Because of that big printed name on the back of your shirt," he pointed to her name printed on her clothing. "And that print," he pointed to the bottom of the photograph where your name is also written. "I noticed your work the moment I entered the exhibit. It was really beautiful. I was about to leave when I saw you gazing at the picture, and I didn't hesitate to approach you, especially when I saw your name printed on your shirt. I like your creation," he said with a smile.

She also smiled. It warmed her heart to receive such appreciation for her work from others. She was delighted that he liked her creation. It was rare for an old man like him to appreciate photographs like hers.

"Thank you for liking my work, sir. Photography is my first love, and I am dedicated to my talent," she happily said. "By the way, what is your name, sir?"

"Just call me grandpa Dan, dear," he said with a smile. "You should be proud of yourself. That's a great profession and a talent. I can sense that you are a kind-hearted young woman," he said, sounding proud. "I wish my grandson would be like you. He gives me a headache, being so mischievous and stubborn. If you meet him, teach him proper behavior, Mandie."

"Sure, grandpa," she said cheerfully. "But who knows, maybe your grandson is a mischievous one, and my powers won't be enough to handle him," she joked.

"That boy is so frustrating. He's a handful," he said, shaking his head.

Maybe it was true that his grandson was incredibly stubborn. She could imagine him being mischievous. He paused when his phone rang. He apologized to her and answered the call, nodding as he listened. After the call, he put his phone back in his pocket and looked at her.

"My son called. He was looking for me. I told him I had somewhere to go while he was busy talking to one of his business associates," he explained.

"Does that mean your son is with you now?"

"Yes, he's been looking for me for a while. He even called the police to find me," he laughed heartily as if he found his son's actions amusing.

"Police? That's quite something," she commented, finding it entertaining. "Next time, please don't go out alone. It's dangerous nowadays."

"You're right, dear. You sound just like my child," he teased.

A little while later, a man came running towards them.

"He must be angry," he whispered softly enough for her to hear. She shook her head; he was a different kind of person.

"Where have you been? I've been looking for you everywhere," his son said, panting. "I've searched the whole city. I thought you were kidnapped," he added.

The man seemed to be around forty. He looked a lot like the old man.

"Don't make a fuss, I'm right here," he scolded his son. "By the way, this is Mandie, a talented photographer," he introduced her. "And this is my son, Jin."

The man turned to her, "Hello."

"Thank you, Mandie. I'm sorry if this old man bothered you," he joked. It was evident that the father and son had a good relationship.

"It's okay. I actually enjoyed chatting with him," she replied.

She heard the old man chuckle. "Really, Mandie?" he asked with a smile. It was heartwarming to see him so cheerful despite his age.

"Thank you for your patience, Mandie," she heard him say. "Alright, dear, we'll be going ahead."

Grandpa Dan frowned, but soon turned to her with a smile. "You know what, dear? You should come with us."

"Oh, no, thank you. I still have somewhere to go," she politely declined.

"Come on, don't be shy. We'll just drop you off where you need to go. Consider it my payment for bothering you," grandpa Dan insisted.

"He's right, Mandie," his son chimed in, "By the way, you can call me Uncle Jin, alright?" he said with a smile.

She nodded with a smile. It was heartwarming to see how kind the father and son were. She couldn't resist when Uncle Jin pulled her gently.

"Thank you so much, Mandie. My head is already hurting from his nagging. He and his son act like old women sometimes," Uncle Jin joked.

She sat in the front seat, with grandpa Dan at the back. The child he mentioned earlier must be his grandson.

"Your son took after you," grandpa Dan retorted.

"Whatever, old man," she heard his son reply.

It was not surprising to see the playful banter between the two. She smiled, but couldn't help but feel a little sad because she was all alone in life.

"Mandie, don't believe everything he says about his son," grandpa Dan said without giving in. "Once you see my grandson, you'll believe that he truly takes after his father."

"You're just trying to ruin my image, Dad," he complained. "Maybe Mandie will believe you."

"Oh, it's true!" Grandpa Dan insisted.

She laughed at the playful argument between the father and son.

"Let it be. Once I see your grandson, I'll judge for myself who he takes after," she interjected.

"Fine," grandpa Dan replied.

Throughout the journey, Mandie enjoyed herself. She met new people and could feel that they were good-hearted individuals, even though they came from a wealthy family.

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