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I was walking that unforgettably perfect day when I caught sight of you. You had stopped beneath the cherry trees and stood there, staring at the sky. I stopped in my own tracks, entranced and slightly amused by the wonder in your endless green eyes as if you’d just seen the sky for the first time and let your imagination run away. But I knew it wasn’t. You were the smartest man I know, and you have influenced my own thoughts. A grin crossed my face as I entertained thoughts of why the sky was so amazing to you. Then you suddenly turned and caught my smile, and then returned it.
“I was told that today would be rainy,” you said with an irritated look. You closed your umbrella. “But the only thing falling from above us is cherry blossoms.”
You were right, as the street we were standing on was lined with cherry tree. A strong wind blew and sent the air into a flurry of pink. It was so furious that I had to shield my face from the fallen petals. When it was over I looked up at you, and laughed at the fact that you used your umbrella to protect yourself. When you closed it we shared a laugh.
“That was intense,” you commented, your eyes exploring my face and making me blush. Then with a heart-stopping smile you reached out and touched my hair, ran your fingers through it. “Your head is a bush of pink.”
I turned a bit more red at your openness. I knew other people would stare, as everyone knew you and could only guess what I was to you. I hated unnecessary attention and you knew that so you pulled your hand away.
“What are you doing for the rest of the afternoon?” I asked without thinking.
“I suppose I will finish my walk. Afterwards I will most likely return home.” Again your attention turned to the sky. “It’s such a beautiful day; I hope I will find new places to walk so I don’t waste time inside.”
“I know some pretty places to walk.”
“Care to show me?”
I agreed and we started off down the same road, first in silence, then you suddenly brought up your seeing me for the first time today. “I turned and saw you grinning. What was so funny?”
I blushed once more-you were always so good at that. That time, you caught me thinking about more than I should have been thinking. I confessed what I thought earlier, my wandering thoughts about your wondering look at the sky. “What were you really thinking?” I asked, forcing a bit of boldness from within me.
You chuckled. “I was thinking about how I hate being lied to about the weather.” I smiled. You continued, “Especially today. A walk, I feel, is quite important. Sitting at home doesn’t help me one bit. Now having my interest, I gently pressed for more. “I love this place, as it holds many precious memories such as my first years of teaching. No other place could make me feel the same way this city does.”
I acted on my sudden fear and said, “You want to go away?” We turned onto a narrow, barely-used path toward a small park in the far distance.
“Kind of,” you went on. “I’ve walked every path in this city, explored every part, every corner and tasted a bit of every liquor in every bar. It’s all the same now. It doesn’t change, which is what I feel this place needs. I’ve lived here for five years and it looks the same as when I first arrived!
“I remember when I first came here. I was stunned by the nature, which is limited but exquisite. The only change is the seasons, the autumn myriads of trees, the mild summers. But those five years have melded into one blur of an experience.”
“Is there as much snow where you come from?” I asked after a few seconds of silence.
“None at all.”
“Lakes or forests?”
“Like the snow, none.”
“I’m sure you’ve made friends and acquaintances, even though most people havn’tquite taken to your ways.” It was true you were different. You preferred to read rather than do sports, observed rather than participated. You thought before you acted, which I found most interesting of all. Your perspective was different and not easily understood or accepted by the locals.
“That’s true. Some people have accepted me. They tolerate me. People aside from you.”
I reddened just a bit, but not so much as before. It was true that I did accept him, perhaps a bit more than I wanted to admit. I accepted and really admired him. “And they share the same interests?” You nodded for confirmation. “When it’s snowing, you sit there and just watch it fall? When you come to a lake, all you do is sit beside it and talk?” Just as I spoke those words we came upon a solitary spot next to a large, beautiful clear lake. Its edges were outlined with cherry blossoms. The pink curved around and formed a pear shape. The cherry trees reflecting on the suface were slightly blurred due to a soft wind. I stole a glance at your awestruck face. “When you come upon a place like this,” I began softly, somewhat intimately, “what do you do? Just look?”
You took a long moment before speaking. “It’s like a mirror. So serene, I can’t shatter it.”
Again your words struck me in an indescribable way as they did so many times before. That was what I adored about you. I didn’t want you to go. I knew I had to change your opinion somehow. Secretly I raised my hand to touch the soft sleeve of your jacket. “That’s all you do?” When you nodded, I stepped in front of you and seized your hands. “Please pay attention, Sir, because this is something else you can do with lakes. They’re more for looking at!” With that, I pulled you backward with me into the shallow shore of the lake. I looked directly into your face and took pleasure in the surprise in your face as we fell to the water. I turned my body just a bit away, falling separately and making my own splash. For a moment I was submerged in the wonderful cool water. I opened my eyes under water and the sky was blurry and distorted I resurfaced and found you sitting waist deep in the water; your glasses had been washed clean off your stunned face. I couldn’t suppress my laughter.
You could only look at me, and I only looked at you, my laughter gradually stopping as I tried to figure out whether you were irate or otherwise. “Sir?” I asked uneasily, approaching you. I came close to you and waved my hand before your face. I was startled when you turned you head directly toward me. Even then I couldn’t read your eyes. Your pink lips moved a little as if you were about to say something.
But then for a second your eyes met mine, and your hand reached out behind my head and pulled me toward you. I was so close to your face that I felt your warm breath on my cheek. I could have sworn you were going to kiss me, from the look in your eyes I knew you wanted to. I felt the same way but I didn’t dare make any such move. Despite the chilly water and the breeze, which had gained a bit of power, I felt warm, being this close to you.
Once more you combed your fingers through my soggy hair, and you pulled away. In between your fingers you held a soaked cherry blossom petal.
“I guess I still have quite a bit to discover here,” you said tenderly, observing the pink in your hand. “I’ll stay.” With that you stood, the water coming halfway up to your knees, and returned to dry land. Seeing that there as nothing you could do about your disheveled appearance, you started on your way home.
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