Africa is the second largest continent in the world with approximately 30.37 million km2 area. There I've met a girl who wanted to find the purpose of her life.

I was sent to Democratic republic of the Congo, Maneima to check the residence's health. Since I have no family in my real country, I decided to stay here for a long time. Although it was hard to adjust because the weather here is equatorial, very hot and humid all year round, with no real dry season, I was happy to help everyone.

One day after I went to the capital, Kindu, I saw a woman who maybe shares the same nationality as mine. I could tell it based on her looks: Her small eyes and her pale skin. She's talking with African kids at the road side.

"Hi. Do you know where's Kabambare village?" she asked. Of course, kids didn't understand her because their language is Swahili.

"Je! Yeye ni mnyama?" (Is she a monster?) one of the kids asked to his friends.

The most common facial features of people in Congo are oval facial shapes, intermediate size noses with a down-turned septum tilt and intermediate size mouths with a flat V-shaped upper lip notch (cupid's bow). Their eyes were mostly situated closely together and their skin varies from bronze tanned or brownish black. When I first came here, kids were afraid of me because I look different.

"Hapana. Anaonekana kama daktari Mingyu," (no. She looks like doctor Mingyu) other kid explained.

The girl then got something from her pocket. It made my eyes wide opened when I saw candies on her palm. "Here. I'll give you this if you..." Before she could give them away, I held her wrist to stop her.

"What do you think you're doing?" I asked with a frown.

This clueless girl showed confusion on her face.

I looked back at the kids with a smile. "Ninyi watu, mnapaswa kwenda nyumbani." (Kids, you should go home)

"Sawa!" (Okay!) the kids chuckled before they ran away.

My face stiffened once again when I turned back to this girl's side. "How could you give them candy when it's so hard to get water here?"

"Ahhh," she gasped. "I'm sorry." She pulled back her hand from my grip then bowed her head. Is it because of the weather that her face are all red?

"What's the matter miss? Are you sick?" I asked.

"No. You're handsome."

Ohh. I see. It's been a long time since someone told me that. Clearing my throats, I changed the topic, "So what's your name?"

"(Y/n)." Her eyes were downcast.

"I'm Mingyu," I introduced. "I heard you're looking for Kabambare village. Actually I was going there too."

She lifted her eyes to me. "Really?" Then she pointed the owner jeep at the back. "We can go there together," she offered.

And so, I drove her vehicle on the bumpy road. It's not good to trust stranger but weirdly, when you meet people with same nationality in different country, it feels like reuniting with your sibling.

Miss (Y/n) was so quiet. She just kept on looking outside the window without saying anything.

"I came here to volunteer," I shared. She cocked at me then. "My team volunteered here to help people with water-borne disease. In the end, I decided to stay a few more years. What about you? Why are you here?"

She carefully detached her lips and answered me with one word. "Just."

A person who will stay in other country just because she likes it – that's weird.

"Hmmm." While nodding my head I look around her owner jeep. She has her luggage at the back and few jugs. It will be good if she has water on it. Then at the front side, I saw a calendar-looking book with lines on it as if she was counting the days.

Minutes after, we arrived at the Kabambare village. "We're here." Unbuckling my belt, I saw her scanning around in every sides. "Do you want me to help you carry your luggage?" I asked.

But she quickly refused. "No. I'm fine. Thank you."

Wow. She didn't hesitate at all.

"Okay," I murmured. "If you need some help, just look for me. This village is small by the way." I hopped down and we separated our ways.

Water-borne disease affects infants and young children. It was due of regional water crisis or lack of safe water to drink primary because of mixing sewage and drinking water supplies. When my team was here, government supplied enough water for the villagers. But now, I even used all of my savings to get them safe water to drink. 3.4 million died every year because of this disease, and it was labelled as the World's leading killer. As a fact, many children and babies have died here, and it feels awful that I don't have enough power to stop it. Even I, feel thirsty from time to time.

"Tumbo lako vipi?" (How's your stomach?) I asked to a kid who showed symptoms of the killer disease.

"Inauma," (It hurts) he said while pressing his stomach.

The only treatment for this is drinking plenty of safe water, rest, and take over-the-counter diarrheal medication. But...

"Una maji, daktari?" (do you have some water, doctor?) he asked with teary eyes.

What should I do? I didn't get some today. "Where should I get some water?" I murmured as I brushed my hair up.

"Excuse me," a voice called me. When I tilted my head, I saw her, miss (Y/n). "Do you need some help?"

Since the day she came here, it's the first time we've met again. "Ahhh yeah." I stood up and approached her. "There are kids who showed symptoms of the disease. It would probably help if I get some water for them to drink."

"Then, I can give you some."

"Pardon?"

"I have water... in my house."

She brought lot of jugs before. Does it mean, she storing them because she knows it's hard to get it here? But, if she'll give that... what about her?

"Are you okay about that? I mean... giving your stock of water."

"I have ways. W-Well, my parents are rich. I think I can get ways to supply it for free. Let me help."

That day was the happiest moment of my life.

(Y/n) started helping me and the villagers by supplying free safe water. Since that, the number of sick children decreased. She and I got closer, well... we're always together so it can't be help.

"Mingyu, aren't you sometimes got scared when you treat sick people? You could get it too," she asked while we're buying foods at the market.

"Ahhh, Waterborne diseases are conditions caused by pathogenic micro-organisms that are only transmitted by water. These diseases can be spread while bathing, washing, drinking water, or by eating food exposed to contaminated water. So there's nothing to be scared about," I answer.

"Ahhhh," she nodded with a sigh.

"Why?" I teased when I saw her worried face. "Are you scared that I'll get it? Will you miss me when I die?"

As her answer, (Y/n) glared at me. "Don't joke like that." And walked away.

"Hey! Come back! You don't know how to get home! Aren't you?!"

To be honest, it was me who will miss her if ever she decided to leave. Her shy gestures, her irritated eyes when she's mad, and her laugh whenever she played with kids; I would miss them so much.

As time passes by, I was getting convinced that my heart has finally fallen in love.

"Mzuri."

"Mijuri?"

"Hapana Hapana Hapana. M-zu-ri."

One time, (Y/n) was learning Swahili language with some kids in our neighborhood. I watched them from the side with a smile.

"Ahhh, Mzuri," she chuckled.

"Ndio~"

"Then, what about this?" (Y/n) pointed her ears.

"Masikio," the kids translated.

"Ma-si-kio," she repeated. "Then..."

"Subiri Subiri!" (wait wait!) I butted in and everyone looked at me as I approached. "Watoto, je! Unaweza kunitafsiri haya?" (kids, can you translate this for me?)

"Ndio!" (Yes!) kids answer. They are so cute!

My gaze met (Y/n)'s eyes. Then, I murmured, "Nakupenda sana."

All of the children who heard my words giggle so much, sending teaseful gaze towards (Y/n). "Yieeeee!"

Of course, (Y/n) doesn't have any idea why.

"What was that? Are you cursing at me?" she suspected. Geez~

"Ask them. If you want to know, then ask them," I said while pouting my lips. Blushing so hard, I walked away before the kids told her.

"Nakupenda sana," I repeated while walking. "I love you," I whispered, biting my lower lip in embarrassment.

Days here in Kabambare were doing fine. How should I explain this? It is as if (Y/n) was the answer to our prayers.

"What are you doing?" (Y/n) perched down on the grass beside me.

"Watching the beautiful sunset," I answered.

She watched it with me and mumbled, "Hmmm."

"Hey (Y/n)."

"Hmmm?"

"Thank you."

"For what?"

"For helping us. For helping everyone."

"..."

"Without you, days here could be hard."

"I'm happy if everyone is happy."

My head turned to her. The beautiful sunset light shone on her face and magically put me on spell – a kind of spell which drew me into her.

"But sometimes, I wished I could turn back time," she murmured.

"Why?"

She met my gaze. "Naku penda."

"..."

"I got to know that meaning of it. Is that true?"

My heart was beating so much. Never in my life I trembled like this.

"You're only joking right? Mingy..."

I pecked on her lips as my answer. Sharing my warm by holding her hand, I repeated the same thing; 1st peck, second peck, third peck... until our lips were moving in rhythm.

She's the only person for me. (Y/n)'s the only one.

"Will you still love me even if I choose to be selfish?" she whispered in the middle of our kiss. Everytime she speaks, our lips touches each other.

"Whatever you do, I'll always will." This is one of the most cliche answer but there's nothing I could think of, during the time when my heart almost explode.

She became mine.

I thought nothing will come over between us.

"W-What should I d-do? I don't think I can get any more water to supply," (Y/n) confessed this problem.

I knew that the day like this would come. And so I just smiled. "There's nothing we can do. We only have to work hard. Don't you think?"

(Y/n) gave me a faint beam. "Hmmmm. S-Sorry."

With no enough of water supply, many kids had fallen sick. Some of them died. And some is at the verge of giving up. As the doctor in charge, I was losing hope.

"Mingyu, are you okay?" (Y/n) asked when she saw me catching my breath after I checked countless of patients today.

I'm scared. I'm not dumb to notice but lately, I've been showing symptoms of the disease. Am I... going to die?

No no. I'm an adult. At least, I can endure this until I fetch some drop of water. Stay strong Mingyu. Stay strong.

"Do you want to drink some water?" (Y/n) offered. Even if I wanted to, there's none. So why was she asking the obvious question?

"I really wanted to," I laughed.

"Then, wait for me." (Y/n) ran away and I was left panting.

After minutes, she came back. Catching her breath, she showed me a jug of clean water she's holding. Where did she get that?!

"W-What's that?"

"Water," she said.

"No. I mean..." I stood up even though my knees were giving away. "Since when did you have that?"

"That's not important. Just drink this, please."

Can I really have it? By myself?

"Daktari! Daktari! Tafadhali angalia ndugu yangu! Anatetemeka kitandani kwake!" (doctor! Doctor! Please look at my brother! He's trembling in bed and his throwing so much!) A kid begged at me, pulling the tip of my shirt while crying.

This is not good. His brother could die right now!

"(Y/n)! Give me that!" I tried to snatched the water from her but her grip was strong.

"No!" she shouted. "No. You'll drink this. Mingyu, please."

I couldn't believe what I've just heard. "(Y/n). Someone is dying. How could you be so selfish?!"

"Mingyu, no!"

I got the water jug from her and ran to rescue the dying child. With that, he made it alive. When I came home, (Y/n) was waiting for me with lifeless expression.

My feet stepped in, and I wordlessly sat on my bed.

"Are you mad at me?" she asked.

But I didn't answer.

"You are," she nodded.

Sighing, I said, "It just... I was surprised. I thought you're someone who think others before yourself. What was that?"

Finally, our eyes met. "But you said... you will love me even if I'm selfish."

"Love? You're thinking about love when someone is dying?"

"Then what about me?"

"Huh?"

"What about me Mingyu?"

I didn't get what she means when she diverted our conversation to this. My head was aching so bad.

"I don't like..." I murmured. My eyes were closing. "S-Selfish love."

Black.

When I woke up, it's already morning. My body feels so light somehow. I slowly sat up then tried to remember what happened last night.

"(Y/n) came here. We fought. And then... I fell asleep?"

I had a dream. A girl put my head on her lap. She was crying so bad. "I can't be selfish when it comes to you. I'm sorry," she said before she kissed my lips.

It felt so real.

'Tok tok tok!' someone knocked on my door. I stood up and opened it.

"Daktari! Tazama! Njoo!" The elder in this village shouted like he wanted to show me something. So I followed him.

People of the village were swarming at a certain place. They are rejoicing, thanking the heaven. When I walked closer, my eyes widened when I saw the village's river which was dried has stream of water flowing right now!

This is a good news!

"(Y/n) will be happy if she heard about this!" I ran towards her house. After few loud knocks, I received no answer.

Is she still sleeping?

I tried to open the door. It wasn't lock.

"(Y/n)?"

No one is inside. But her belongings are still here. Where did she go?

"(Y/n)?" I called once again. My eyes tend to the calendar-looking book above the table. There are lines on it but she crossed them out until one line was left. "What is this for?" I wondered. Next, I caught a glimpsed at the letter beside it. I picked it up.

[Dear Mingyu,]

A letter for me?

[It's me, (Y/n). I wrote this after the day we kissed. But basically, this isn't my diary. I wrote it in case something happened and I am nowhere to be found. Do you remember the day when you asked me why I came here? In Africa? It was to find the meaning of my life.

Mingyu. I'm not a normal person.

You maybe won't believe it if ever you've read this while I'm still alive. But if I'm not, then I'm sure you will. My parents are descendants of Water tribe. We never got thirsty at all. By the touch of our hands, we can make water. That's how I provided water for this village. However, there will be a ceasefire for using my power. Everytime I used it, my life span will decreased. So I decided to spend my last days helping people with this.

One, two, three... hundred times. Even if I'll lose hundred days, I'm happy whenever I saved lives. However... I fell in love.

I thought I can die without regrets. But after I've met you, I... wanted to live a long life. The time when we confessed our feellings to each other was the time when I only have two lives left. So when you told me that you'll still love me even if I became selfish, if I... only live for us, if I can give the last drop to you... I am so happy. Finally, my life has meaning.

Hmmmm, I don't know how should I end this letter. Well... one thing is for sure. If the day came when I need to die for you, I'll gladly will. I love you.]

Since that day, the village where our love blooms has never experience the lack of water supply.

I came back to my country.

Here, I can drink as much as I want; Cola, Juice, beer... water.

When night fell and I lied down on my bed, I closed my eyes while thinking of her. Then, my tears came out.

Even if I drank so much... I feel thirsty without you.

The end.