Do You? (Short Story)
It is you who always runs towards me.
“Do you feel loved?”
“Yes.”
“Then it’s good.”
In the city full of clouds and fog— where the roads are always meandering and cold — I perceived my thoughts to appear tough. Hours elapsed, stations passed, and I was sure nothing wrong would happen to my nerves.
But when the train arrived, I vividly remembered that my feet felt like they didn’t touch the ground. I was walking towards the exit, and I couldn’t portray how you would come into sight.
“Is he going to give me a warm hug? Do I smell like sun? Will he just wave his hand, and then we directly go to a food house? Because I’m hungry. I should’ve felt my belly but can’t feel my body at all.”
I then told my best friend about that, and she just laughed and replied, “Oh, you will find it super interesting to meet someone again with different feelings.”
Who knew that the moment I stepped outside the gateway, I would notice a tall man with his black jacket wavering his eyes all around, seeking this short-haired girl?
No, no. This is not what I wanted — or what my nerves wanted. I flustered myself with butterflies and just stepped further from his sight. But you know what made me anxious?
He saw me! We made freaking eye contact, and I panicked.
Shit, shit. I met his eyes. I should run away.
I didn’t know where I was going, only that I understood the opposite direction of him was this way. My luggage went on strike when it scraped the cement floor.
But my feelings said worse. He is following me.
SHIT! His long legs helped him catch me in a flash.
“What a speed, young lady.”
Oh, God.
He called me from behind with the sound of, “Heh!”
Sounded angry, though.
But he managed to walk BESIDE ME NOW. Wow, I swore I never sweat this much in my whole life.
I exclaimed, tsundere-ly, “Don’t follow me!”
He ignored my warning and put his right arm around my shoulder. Shit, shit, shit. Nooooooo.
“Let me help you, young lady.” He forcefully snatched my luggage from my left hand. Oh, plus one for the act of service, old man.
When he spotted my wet front hair, he laughed. “The weather is that hot, huh?”
Arrrrgggghh. Just shut up.
“Are you happy being here?”
“Yes.”
“Are you happy to be with me every day?”
“Yes.”
In the city where cultural diversity is gold — where the north is on the top, and the south is on the bottom — I was waiting for a train to come. The train would be tiring since an 8-hour journey was traveled from the city full of clouds and fog. He was inside that moving vehicle.
I packed up my things and brought two helmets; one was full-faced. I was unsure if it was excitement or joy, but I couldn’t feel myself again. I parked my motorcycle carefully — oh, don’t mention that I literally forgot to take my lunch on that day off.
“I’ll wait in front of the station. I won’t wait for you at the exit door.”
He agreed, “Okay.”
When the announcement was heard, I looked for a spot where I could see people come and go. That bench was thin but indeed a spot he could see from the building.
My myopia wasn’t bad when I detected a tall man running outside the building with a white-patterned backpack.
“Is it him? Is he running because he saw me? Is he coming to my position?”
I texted him again, “I think I know where you are.” but he didn’t reply.
Okay, I would just wait here. God knew that I hated waiting for something, so an amazing view was served in front of my eyes.
I saw him excitedly running towards my bench — didn’t know if he was smiling or laughing, didn’t know what I was feeling. He then barged in and hugged me tightly. I couldn’t breathe, but I was happy in stealth.
“Don’t hug me!” again, tsundere-ly.
He sat before me, lower than my bench, and looked at my face adhesively.
I couldn’t hide my smile as well and just asked him.
“Hi, darling, how are you?”
“Do you want me to extend for a day?”
…
…
“How’s it? What’s your answer?”
“Can’t you see it in my eyes? Of course!”
“Aight, I will go back home the day after tomorrow.”
-Northeast, 10 Aug 2023.
