I rode a train to Rome to visit my sister who was studying in one of the biggest universities there. I was sitting alone at the seats farther back and listened songs in my iPod, trying to kill time. I noticed people began filling in. I closed my eyes and attempted to catch up on my sleep.
I had been peacefully dozing off when I felt someone tap my arm tentatively.
I opened my eyes and saw a pretty brunette hovering over me. Her green eyes were framed by green nerdy glasses. She had pronounced features. Fierce brows that made her look like she's frowning, strong and clear cheekbones and her full pink lips...
She was just beautiful.
I figured she was one of those snotty girls who cares too much for make up, designer bags and the whole shebang.
I shook my head and tried to clear away my thoughts when she suddenly spoke, "Umm, hi. Can i sit on the vacant seat next to you? Everywhere else is full."
And her voice. It had that husky but cool feel.
Realizing what she said, I stood up and allowed her to sit beside me. She smiled at me and said thanks. I just nodded, still too drowsy to me comprehensive.
I sat down and closed my eyes for a few minutes when I felt a pair of eyes on me. I opened them again and saw her, the girl I mean, looking at me and sketching on a piece of paper with her pen.
She noticed I was awake and I raised my eyebrows at her as if saying What are you doing? She shrugged and said, "I'm sorry. I should have asked. You looked peaceful and I just found myself sketching. I'm sorry... I'm Andrea by the way." and offered her hand, smiling.
I shook her hand, "Brandon. Can I take a look at it?"
She shook her head, hesitating, "It's not good. I kept on messing up and I just couldn't get your hair right." and laughed halfheartedly.
I waved her off. "That's okay. I mean, I'm not much of a sight anyway but I wanted to see myself in the eyes of an artist."
She handed me the paper as my jaw hit the ground. She was simply amazing. She caught the blue circles under my eyes and the length of my lashes. She caught the little dimple by my chin when I closed my mouth. And she made me look like- well, I looked better than I usually do.
I couldn't help but smile at her. "What are you saying? You're incredible. Can I keep it?"
I figured she was the timid type because she just nodded and smiled.
"So.." I started as I racked my brain, thinking of something to talk about.
"So what?"
"So what are you doing here?" The second those words left my mouth, it felt stupid.
"I'm on a vacation alone. It's a graduation gift from my parents. You?"
"Visiting my sister," and that's where we hit it off. We started talking about random things and I got to know her better.
That she was from New York. She will be taking up Political Science at NYU next fall. That she had two serious boyfriends in the past and that those douche dumped her for a no good whore-ish type.
And in turn, I told her things I never thought I would tell a stranger before.
That I wasn't really from New Jersey. That my family and I just moved in from Iowa. That I was a secret geek. Tss. That I once had a serious girlfriend, the others well, they were just flings. That I come from a broken family and my step dad was a drunkass. And did I mention I slipped that I thought she was pretty?
Well yes. Yes I did. And we both turned red with my sudden admission. Out of politeness, I think, she said that I looked good too. Ha! How wish I could tell myself that.
I know I initially thought of her as the snotty and snobby type but she really wasn't. She was a normal introvert type school girl who gets dolled up by her older sister whom she loves so much.
After almost five hours, the train reached to a stop. Also it put a stop to our conversation. I honestly didn't want it to end. And I'm certain, not to be an egghead or something but, she was too.
"So," I started.
Here we go again, I thought to myself.
"So... I guess this is me," I said and started to get up.
"Yeah. It was really nice meeting you," she said with a smile that made me feel funny inside.
She offered her hand to shake mine but I took my chances. I know it seems weird and inappropriate but I leaned forward and kissed her cheek softly. And I would swear on the Rivet Styx she was again blushing. I smiled at the thought that I made her red.
"Wow."
"Wow," I repeated because that was only what I could muster.
I admit it. When I felt her soft cheeks grazed my lips, it felt nice and awesome and other good things I can't really explain.
"Maybe we could trade numbers?" I played and offered her my phone for her to key in her digits. In that instant I wanted to kick myself for sounding so stupid.
"Smooth move, dude," she taunted but got her phone out too and offered it to me.
We both keyed in our numbers and descended off the train. We said our good byes and both moved our separate ways.
When she was a good ten meters away, I called, "Hey, Andrea!"
She turned around and looked at me questioningly.
"I like you! I know it's too early for me to say that but I do," I paused an waited for her response.
Then I realized.
I just declared that I fancy her to the whole of the Ioannes Paolo II Stazione (Roma Termini). And I got glances from all the people around me. All sorts of glances actually. Girls were staring at me in awe. Guys were goofing around like doorknobs. And others looked at me like I was an idiot. But I paid them no attention.
She laughed lightly at my sudden admission and said, "Shut up. I like you, too!" and laughed again.
"And you're drawing attention, don't you know?" she added.
"I know. I just don't care," I shouted back and we didn't even bother to just walk up to each other and talk like normal people.
"Jerk."
"Whatever. I'll text you or I'll MSN or Facebook you, okay? I'm gonna find you in New York! Then you and me, we're going out on a date! I promise," I told her without minding the stares of people around me.
"Alright. I'm gonna wait for you there, okay?"
"Good," and I couldn't take it anymore. The sudden urge to hug her overpowered me. I dropped my bags and ran to her.
Like literally ran towards her.
And when I reached her, I hugged her tight, right then and there. In that moment, I wished time would stand still so I can just hold her longer. But I remembered my sister who's probably waiting for me somewhere in the station.
I kissed her one last time and watched her retreating figure with the thought: I am going to look for her. Whenever, wherever. And one day, I'm going to marry her.
Okay, the final bit was quite a long shot but I told myself someday I will. Who knows? I mean, maybe one day, fate will bring us back together.
Disclaimer:
1. Image from http://femaleimagination.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/departure-paulette-sedgwick.jpg?w=500&h=335
I had been peacefully dozing off when I felt someone tap my arm tentatively.
I opened my eyes and saw a pretty brunette hovering over me. Her green eyes were framed by green nerdy glasses. She had pronounced features. Fierce brows that made her look like she's frowning, strong and clear cheekbones and her full pink lips...
She was just beautiful.
I figured she was one of those snotty girls who cares too much for make up, designer bags and the whole shebang.
I shook my head and tried to clear away my thoughts when she suddenly spoke, "Umm, hi. Can i sit on the vacant seat next to you? Everywhere else is full."
And her voice. It had that husky but cool feel.
Realizing what she said, I stood up and allowed her to sit beside me. She smiled at me and said thanks. I just nodded, still too drowsy to me comprehensive.
I sat down and closed my eyes for a few minutes when I felt a pair of eyes on me. I opened them again and saw her, the girl I mean, looking at me and sketching on a piece of paper with her pen.
She noticed I was awake and I raised my eyebrows at her as if saying What are you doing? She shrugged and said, "I'm sorry. I should have asked. You looked peaceful and I just found myself sketching. I'm sorry... I'm Andrea by the way." and offered her hand, smiling.
I shook her hand, "Brandon. Can I take a look at it?"
She shook her head, hesitating, "It's not good. I kept on messing up and I just couldn't get your hair right." and laughed halfheartedly.
I waved her off. "That's okay. I mean, I'm not much of a sight anyway but I wanted to see myself in the eyes of an artist."
She handed me the paper as my jaw hit the ground. She was simply amazing. She caught the blue circles under my eyes and the length of my lashes. She caught the little dimple by my chin when I closed my mouth. And she made me look like- well, I looked better than I usually do.
I couldn't help but smile at her. "What are you saying? You're incredible. Can I keep it?"
I figured she was the timid type because she just nodded and smiled.
"So.." I started as I racked my brain, thinking of something to talk about.
"So what?"
"So what are you doing here?" The second those words left my mouth, it felt stupid.
"I'm on a vacation alone. It's a graduation gift from my parents. You?"
"Visiting my sister," and that's where we hit it off. We started talking about random things and I got to know her better.
That she was from New York. She will be taking up Political Science at NYU next fall. That she had two serious boyfriends in the past and that those douche dumped her for a no good whore-ish type.
And in turn, I told her things I never thought I would tell a stranger before.
That I wasn't really from New Jersey. That my family and I just moved in from Iowa. That I was a secret geek. Tss. That I once had a serious girlfriend, the others well, they were just flings. That I come from a broken family and my step dad was a drunkass. And did I mention I slipped that I thought she was pretty?
Well yes. Yes I did. And we both turned red with my sudden admission. Out of politeness, I think, she said that I looked good too. Ha! How wish I could tell myself that.
I know I initially thought of her as the snotty and snobby type but she really wasn't. She was a normal introvert type school girl who gets dolled up by her older sister whom she loves so much.
After almost five hours, the train reached to a stop. Also it put a stop to our conversation. I honestly didn't want it to end. And I'm certain, not to be an egghead or something but, she was too.
"So," I started.
Here we go again, I thought to myself.
"So... I guess this is me," I said and started to get up.
"Yeah. It was really nice meeting you," she said with a smile that made me feel funny inside.
She offered her hand to shake mine but I took my chances. I know it seems weird and inappropriate but I leaned forward and kissed her cheek softly. And I would swear on the Rivet Styx she was again blushing. I smiled at the thought that I made her red.
"Wow."
"Wow," I repeated because that was only what I could muster.
I admit it. When I felt her soft cheeks grazed my lips, it felt nice and awesome and other good things I can't really explain.
"Maybe we could trade numbers?" I played and offered her my phone for her to key in her digits. In that instant I wanted to kick myself for sounding so stupid.
"Smooth move, dude," she taunted but got her phone out too and offered it to me.
We both keyed in our numbers and descended off the train. We said our good byes and both moved our separate ways.
When she was a good ten meters away, I called, "Hey, Andrea!"
She turned around and looked at me questioningly.
"I like you! I know it's too early for me to say that but I do," I paused an waited for her response.
Then I realized.
I just declared that I fancy her to the whole of the Ioannes Paolo II Stazione (Roma Termini). And I got glances from all the people around me. All sorts of glances actually. Girls were staring at me in awe. Guys were goofing around like doorknobs. And others looked at me like I was an idiot. But I paid them no attention.
She laughed lightly at my sudden admission and said, "Shut up. I like you, too!" and laughed again.
"And you're drawing attention, don't you know?" she added.
"I know. I just don't care," I shouted back and we didn't even bother to just walk up to each other and talk like normal people.
"Jerk."
"Whatever. I'll text you or I'll MSN or Facebook you, okay? I'm gonna find you in New York! Then you and me, we're going out on a date! I promise," I told her without minding the stares of people around me.
"Alright. I'm gonna wait for you there, okay?"
"Good," and I couldn't take it anymore. The sudden urge to hug her overpowered me. I dropped my bags and ran to her.
Like literally ran towards her.
And when I reached her, I hugged her tight, right then and there. In that moment, I wished time would stand still so I can just hold her longer. But I remembered my sister who's probably waiting for me somewhere in the station.
I kissed her one last time and watched her retreating figure with the thought: I am going to look for her. Whenever, wherever. And one day, I'm going to marry her.
Okay, the final bit was quite a long shot but I told myself someday I will. Who knows? I mean, maybe one day, fate will bring us back together.
_____________________________________
Disclaimer:
1. Image from http://femaleimagination.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/departure-paulette-sedgwick.jpg?w=500&h=335
Nice Post! Glad I found this blog!
ReplyDeleteIf you're into photography, check out my blog. I'm a photographer!
www.electricbrandon.com
If you want, follow it and I'll do the same. Thank you. :)