“Looking back at many things that happened in my life before you came, I know I’ve never been this happy, ever. You just had that quiet way around you that keeps me sane and hopeful of the best version of my life will only be with you. I don’t care how many worlds exist at a given point in time; all I’m contented about is that, in this world, the here-and-now, I have you.”
“There you go again with your mushiness. I think you’ve tricked me into liking you, dear sir. We’re just having breakfast, where did that monologue ever come from?”
“That just broke me up. I just had to say it. Maybe it’s because our order’s taking too long, or, I’m just so overwhelmed that I’m here with you. Either way, I’m happy with chances I have to spend with you. Oh, gee, here I go again. Bind me up, will you?”
“You, smooth-talker, you. I never thought of you this way, ever. You were always too serious, as if you were trying to solve all the world’s problems. You’re not Superman, you know. I’m just reminding you that. But now, here you are, flushed and seemingly in love, saying these things to me. Has the world been overcome without me knowing it?”
“You know, I don’t know how you do it, but that just made my heart skip a beat.”
“Well, I always have my mysterious ways locked-up. So, don’t you go asking me implicitly what my secrets are. Mind you, I could make your eyes pop off your sockets with just one look. It all starts with making your heart skip a beat.”
“That broke me up even more.”
“This is fun. It’s our morning. I could go on all day.”
Both of them just found themselves laughing all throughout the morning, with stories to tell and silent whispers.
This is how all good things start, with laughter and stories. It was an ordinary day when the two of them meet. No fancy fireworks, a figure from old romantic flicks, or a spell-bound relationship that broke the witch’s curse. They met. They became friends. That’s that.
But sometimes, you know reasons start from moments, and moments from multiple memories. Something always stands up above everything. A trough not even the smartest person can explain. But you also know that sometimes you don’t need to label explanations to each and every thing. You need to drink it up as they are. It may sound weird and all, but, in this world, what isn’t anyway?
They always met up that way: over breakfast, lunch or dinner; over coffee or even just over an unplanned hang-out across the vastness of the university. First things first. You might ask who I am and why I am telling this story. I don’t care if you don’t, I just assumed you do. Let’s just say I have this story in my pocket, I want it said just for the heck of it. You don’t need to read through, if you like. I suggest you stop at this point and go on with your life. For those who choose to stay, get bored at your own risk. No blames on me, please. You were forewarned.
I won’t give any names or places. Let’s just focus on the stories. This will be a short one. Around three pages if you copy and pasted this on MS Word, maybe even less. It’s about two star-crossed lovers. No, not really. I was just messing with you. But nevertheless, I admit, this is a short story, for now.
It’s about two students who had all the time and reason in the world not to find each other but eventually did. And maybe, just maybe, depending on them, they couldn’t have been any happier. Another caveat before I delve into the story. You won’t find conversations here, I’m just telling the story. The conversation you read above is just a sample, a situationer, if you will. But they talk this way, most of the time. With the guy mushing things up like an overnight boiled potato. And the gal, always had the sweetest words to say, and the most beautiful smile, ever, as far as I’m concerned.
The world is, fortunately, not flat. Chesterton once said that there were two ways how to get home: first, never leave, and second, walk around the whole world until you find yourself in the same place. He was an emo, too. He just didn’t know it. Why? Go figure.
So there are two individuals, a girl and a boy. The girl, an outspoken, introverted, intellectual with the most beautiful smile, ever. The boy, an extroverted, pseudo-philosopher who thinks he has all the answers. Simply, a know-it-all, who gets on your nerves sometimes.
These two had their own lives to run and own concerns to agonize on. But, of all the things that couldn’t have happened, they met. And of all the places they could have met, they met at the university. The boy, extroverted and irritatingly noisy, always had his way. In meeting people, making people laugh out of sheer pity of his lame jokes. The girl, exceedingly serious, oftentimes quiet, that maybe even Freud can’t read into her, but with a very developed perspective about many things. She pieces off arguments to get to the core of the problem, and, with ease, understands the most complex of things in this life. But at times, she doesn’t have a clue, as did the boy, when their paths cross.
Over the following days, weeks, and months, they got to know more of each other, they shared a group of friends who were seemingly as crazy as them, may be even more, they always found an excuse to celebrate the smallest things just to share a drink or two, or three, or four.
Again, many things could have happened otherwise with these two, but what happened was unexpected. They became good friends. They talked over the phone hours on end but not touching on personal things, they just enjoyed endless conversations. Laughter was their guard. But when the phone call ends, they go their separate ways. They seldom texted. It started that way.
Eventually, they would share a moment or two, talking in person, about a few personal things. But nothing too deep, they are too safeguarded for that, especially the girl. The boy seemed to be an open book.
Many things happened in between with their personal, individual lives. Things that have no place to be said here. They became closer, the conversations lasted long, and their laughter was louder. He missed her from time to time, until each and every time he does. The boy can’t wait for the next moments he could spend with her. Music has always been part of their interactions, even poetry. The boy was a nerd. Remember, Mr. Know-it-All?
They talked about everything and anything. It was more complicated now. They debated on many things. And they thought, against every qualm from their bodies, to diet and exercise. Talk about going against nature. They shared a bond, an unseen one initially, that connected them. They were happy with each other. Something they never expected consciously to happen.
Eventually, they went out, watching movies, eating together with more frequency. Visiting places together, planning places to visit since. They always found time for each other in spite of the schedules they have. They exchanged SMSs every time. They were just only a phone call away when they’re not together.
Eventually, you’d always see them together. Almost everywhere. With hands held or hooked. Once, they even planned to go on a picnic. At school, of all places! And they did. The audacity of these two! They braved the muddied quadrangle, with a camera in tow, and two slices of cake and two chocolate bars, it would seem as though they owned the place. But they were happy. They still are. Even happier than before.
They’ve been to many places, some places they frequent more every once in a while. And if you see these two, always remember, fairytales come true even if you don’t wish them, sometimes you don’t have to.
This is the story I have in my pocket. It isn’t as complicated as I thought it would be. But what’s good about this story, it goes on and on and on. It doesn’t end. The days just go on to seem brighter and happier. And they have more than a few smiles to share, pictures to take, and stories to tell. And I will always be there to, sort of, tell their stories.
(November 1, 2012 / 3:24 pm)
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