Day 1

We stared close at each other. She raised her head to look at me, while I looked back directly to her eyes. It was clear that we had a difference in height, with her being short for her age. But I wasn’t that tall of a guy, either. We even had different feelings about us meeting again, as written on our faces. She looked indifferent but slightly curious, while I was nervous but also excited. I really liked this girl, see? But, me being this awkward nerd of a person who doesn’t know what to do in a situation like this, all I can do is to stare down at her. And she looked back at me with this face that told me she was asking herself why is a guy who she just met a few days ago looking at her in the most awkward way possible. Yet, she doesn’t seem to mind it, as she stared back at me as if the whole situation was nothing at all to her. But for anyone who can be considered as normal, this was not the definition of normal. Our situation can be described as two people staring directly at each other for a good, long while without doing anything. But I knew I had to do something to break the ice of this moment, but no idea what to do.

 

But she did break the awkwardness between us, as she smiled at me. She had this mischievous, toothy grin like that of a little girl, yet she looked like she was about to throw sand in my eyes as some sort of practical joke. I, being the person who awkwardly just stared at her, took her smile as a chance to tell her that I do pay attention, as I imitated this toothy grin she had. But I can feel as if my smile only looked forced and told her how screwed I am for meeting her again. Thus, the two of us were smiling at each other, in the same way but different meanings.

 

She finally broke the ice fully when she spoke, still grinning. “So, you’ve finally showed up again, huh?”

 

“Yeah,” I said to her. “In fact, I’m supposed to be the one who should say that, you know?”

 

“Maybe, but I beat you to it.” She replied, and then laughed proudly. “I’m really surprised that we will see each other again here in the park.”

 

“Me too,” I agreed with her. “In fact, I really want to see you again.”

 

She then asked, “Really? Why, though?”

 

“You know, I really don’t have any friends I can call in this city.” I explained to her. “But if I did have, then I forgot who.”

 

“What do you mean by that? You forget who your friends are? Are you serious?” She asked a lot of questions.

 

“Well, I don’t forget people or faces, but I forget who amongst them my friends are.” I answered, and then shrugged.

 

“That’s weird.” She said, with a surprised pout at her face. “Then how can we be friends if you will soon forget that we’re friends?”

 

“Because you’re interesting to me.” I told her. “And I want to be your friend. Other people don’t interest me as you do, so I tend to forget if I’m friends with them or not.”

 

“Why am I so interesting to you, then?” She asked me again. “I am not as interesting as you might think I am. Besides, I’m just ordinary. There’s nothing really interesting about me.”

 

“Because you’re cute to me, Marisa,” I said to her, as I grow slightly agitated and excited. “You look cute, your face is cute, your eyes are cute and your blonde hair is cute.” That was the first time I’ve addressed her name in this conversation, which was our second meeting.

 

“I bet you can’t say the same about my height and…” she then looked down her chest and then took a deep sigh, pretending to feel nonchalant but still actually affected.

 

“Those things don’t really matter to me.” I said. “I might be a breast man, but you are an exception.”

 

“That doesn’t help the case.” She said, downcast and annoyed.

 

“I already told you, it’s okay.” I said to her, as I tried to keep a straight face. I didn’t want to make sudden moves the whole time I was talking, as I kept thinking I might do something that might annoy her. But it seems as if that I said things that annoyed her already.

 

“But hey…” She said. “…It’s becoming obvious that you want to be something more than a friend for me, you know?”

 

I then grew more nervous, but I kept my composure. “If I really do want that, would you give me a chance?”

 

The two of us fell silent for a moment after the question. Again, we just looked at each other awkwardly, as if nobody wants to do anything for fear of annoying the other party. Perhaps this is the reason why I never really dated someone before. I was awkward, and so I thought I was simply asking for trouble if I ever tried to date. I simply don’t know what to do, and never minded going on my way alone as well.

 

But then, I met Marisa. Perhaps only time will tell if I will get steady with her.

 

“…You have to convince me, then.” She said, blushing visibly. We then smiled at each other, not mischievously, but serenely. I then knew that I had a chance, I just need to keep adjusting.

 

“You want some ice cream?” I asked her.

 

“You’re paying for it?” She threw me back a question.

 

“Yes. You want some?”

 

“Give me milkshake instead, and then we’ll talk.” She requested.

 

“Good idea.” I nodded, as we walked together to the local restaurant.