John met a girl.
He met her at the concerts: Romeo and Juliet by Tchaikovski. He was sitting next to her. Throughout the concert, the girl was sitting properly upright. In the interval, she turned her face over and said, “this is quite a harmonious show.” He was going to agree, she kept saying, “but never-ending boring.”
“It is a good show, though,” He did not know how to reply.
“I don’t understand the sound at all.” She said, innocently.
When the show was finished, they stayed in line waiting for pickup coats together.
“Why do you come to the concerts then?”
“Because my ex-boyfriend loves classical music, especially today’s piece.”
“So you come here to recapture the past?”
“No! I hate him. He is a selfish guy. We used to fight a lot, and I did everything he wanted, but he still left for no good reason. It’s just… just really hard to forget him for some reason.” She took the coat after saying this.
They exited the auditorium. “It’s so dark out.” she looked worried.
“I can walk you home if you want. It’s not safe to walk alone out there.” He said.
It was December 3rd and freezing cold. There are no other pedestrians. They walked side by side, shoulder to shoulder. Sometimes one’s arm might hit the others, and sometimes the other way around.
“He’s such a pain in the ass, huh?” He asked emotionlessly.
“Not exactly. He was when we were together. He was my first love, well, sort of. Anyway, I loved him so deep that I don’t want him to get unhappy, and I would do anything to prevent that. He used to have a list for an ideal girl he wanted, and I tried hard to transform myself into that person. Then he dumped me, and that night was the most painful night. You know, it feels like the end of the world to a teenage girl. After that, I don’t feel pain anymore. I feel relieved.” Her voice was peaceful.
“Glad that you got over it. Boys in an age like that don’t know what they are doing.” He turned his face and looked her into the eyes.
“Thank you. I don’t know why I am saying this to you, dear stranger. Maybe the concert made me emotional.” She said it peacefully still.
“I hope you get over it soon. He’s a guy, just like any other guy. There are plenty of guys in the sea. You might have some sweet memories and you might love him deeply, but it’s all over now.” He said. She stayed quiet.
They arrived at the dorm. “Do you also live on campus?” She asked.
“I live in an apartment near here.” He answered.
“Okay, thank you for walking me back.”
“Don’t worry, goodbye.”
“Wait, I didn’t catch your name.”
“John, what about you?”
“Helen. Have a great night, John.”
It was after three months when they saw each other again. Her dorm held a party and invited some students who did not live in the dorm to have fun together. The air spritzed by rain and moderate temperature reminded everyone that summer was coming. People were dancing in the yard surrounded by dorm buildings. The sky was so clear that they didn't need any source of light other than starshine. It was that night he knew he would find her, possibly kiss her, or something even more sensual than that. He couldn’t tell if he liked the girl, but he needed someone badly, especially in a party where people were all getting so intimate. He scanned the crowd thoroughly and finally located her. She was alone. She was there like a sheep. He believed that he already got her.
But the moment he started to move, he stagnated. What was her name again? He asked himself. Will she remember me? By the time when he was hesitating, he thought tears came out of her eyes. He felt it because that made her eyes even brighter. No matter what, he pushed himself to walk toward her and sit down.
“You alright?” He asked gently.
She was surprised by the precipitate unacquainted consideration, so she turned around and looked at him. “I don’t know, sometimes I just feel like crying.”
“I’ve met you before, Helen.” For some reason he remembered her name instantly when she talked.
“We probably met, but I don’t remember you now. I don’t remember boys in general these days.”
“I am John. I met you at the concert.”
“Oh John. Will you make me happy?”
“My friends call me funny Johnny so I guess I can try. Do you wanna hear a story of twists and turns?”
“Now that wouldn’t work. Only can holding me tight make me happy.”
