If you looked at our year 2 class photo, he’s standing at the top row. I’m standing in the front row because for once in my life, I wasn’t the shortest in the class. In year 4, we were working on a group project on the floor. I was sitting near the heater and a small rodent ran behind me. I quickly crawled to your side and you scolded me for being scared. You lost my tennis ball in year 6. A few weeks later, you walk into my class in front of everyone and handed me a new ball.
...
More than a decade later and I find myself sitting patiently at the train station for you. You’re only a few minutes late and my heart starts to beat a little faster. This is my first time spending a couple of hours with you absolutely alone. I can’t be shy and I can’t hide from you today. I stand in front of the validate machine watching the train leave from the station. You call out my name; I turn around, smiled and inserted my ticket into the machine. I was already grateful for you just being there, knowing that you’d made time for us to catch up. I walked over to your side and kind of gawked at your new hair cut. It’s shorter! I say guys with shorter hair looks cleaner and neater.
We stood on the train wondering where we should go. I pulled out my phone to call Sophia. Ghastly voicemail! I stare hopelessly at my phone and you ask
“Was Sophia supposed to come?”
“No. Um…She can’t make it because she had a doctor’s appointment, Um. No. wait. Yeah, doctor’s.” I stammered keeping my head low.
Sophia calls back to say that she’s slept in and missed her appointment. That’s not good! She suggested really good “date” places to go to – Cinemas, Eureka Skydeck, the beach, Melbourne Uni… We finally agreed on a relaxing walk to Crown. It was the perfect weather for walking and exploring…even though you do have a habit of walking extremely slow!
You sat down next to an empty spot. My caution levels sky rocket so I decided to sit across you instead. Not too close at all. Oh and that was a very odd moment when I waited outside the station while you ran around inside trying to get your Myki to work. The sun was out, but it was still chilly in the city so we walked most of the time with our arms crossed trying to keep warm.
Then these dangerous never before thoughts came into my mind. What if I released my folded arms for a while? What if my hands became tempted to reach out for yours?
We stopped by a magic street performer in front of the pier. You asked me if I wanted to stay and watch, I said yes knowing that when you were a child you wanted to be a magician. The magician was very entertaining whilst manipulating our minds to see all his illusions. His appearance was simple. Standing behind a small table, coins and cards started to appear out of the blue. For his finale, he threw three cups to the audience to test out his reliability.
“To the man with the positive looking attitude”
He throws one of the cups to you. You checked it and handed over the cup to me. After I pressed the inside of the cup, you threw it back to the magician. The magician asks for your name and where you came from.
“I live here!” you replied.
“Well, get a roof!” he says pointing to the sky.
You lead me inside Crown. As usual, I am stunned at Crown’s appearance. Everything looked so precious and fragile, let alone very expensive. You already ate so I was the only one who bought lunch. One thing I’ve noticed when we walk through crowds is that I always arrive out of them first. You’re only a few steps behind me before we’d continue to walk. Sitting along the pier, I was too into my food to view the murky waters. Seagulls flocked around. I’m not sharing my food with them.
“Look, the birds missed you since you kept feeding them last time.”
“They were hungry…”
Aw, you’re so adorable to consider their well-being. I am delusional. We talked about our high school years. Ever since year 6, we had stopped all contact until I wished my first Merry Christmas to you in 2009. It was also my first time saying Happy Birthday to you last year too.
We reminisced about how we became friends with the people we’re with today, the sports we used to play, the teachers we use to have together and basically anything about us growing up since primary school. I feel as if I’ve gotten to know you more now. We weren’t there during high school, but now we do have some insight of what went on. You even told me you went through a rebellious stage. I didn’t know you had six ear piercings. Not strange at all considering I have zero.
A lady handed me a voucher to spend at a Japanese clothing store.
“This voucher will expire on the 30th October” I read out.
“Hey! That’s the day after my birthday!”
“Oh yeah, the 29th. Haha do you remember mine?”
“No. I don’t remember birthdays except for ____, _____, and _____ who were all born on the same day on July 9th. Or was it the 10th? Uh oh.”
Your memory is horrible. It is true that you remember complex processes, but fail to do so with simple things.
*Flashback*
“Did you go to Asean?” You asked.
“No. I was at home, TALKING TO YOU LAST NIGHT.”
Oh my gosh the pet store! You walked straight pass the puppies and kittens to the….goldfishes. There was a white puppy tied up in the store so anyone could pick it up or pat it. The little puppy walked over and started to bite my shoelaces! It was the cutest thing, but I could hear the store owners telling it to stop. I lifted up the puppy’s chin to direct it’s face away from my shoelaces and from that point on, I was in love with it!
I went over to your side to see your eyes glued to the tank. Leaving you to your fascination, I went back to the little puppy of joy that cost $700…I can so imagine you being a turtle person. You’d be 100 and still be holding a turtle in your hand or, that old guy who feeds birds – cause that’s your thing.
I always learn something new from you. The rails along Melbourne Central Station aren’t only for leaning, they’re for sitting too! In a blink of an eye, you've managed to sit yourself on two bars of steel. I tried to get on, but I kept slipping so I did push ups instead. I may not be as maneuvered as you, but I could exercise when waiting for the train!
To be honest, I was hoping that guy sitting next to you would get off so I can take his place. I let you play on my Ipod so you leaned in front of me so I could see the screen but upside down. You cupped my Ipod in your hands and when I would help you play the game, the train was jolty and I accidently poked your palm. The man got off and I scrambled to your side. I remember I did stare blankly at you for a split second before recollecting my words.
“Do you want to get a silicon cover or a hard case cover like mine?”
Why did I pause?
“…Silicon”
Your bus was arriving so I ushered you by tapping you lightly on the back.
“Go.”
We said our goodbyes and I watched you sprint away from me.
...
What if, I ran after you? What if I ran into your arms as you waited in line and told you not to go?
